Latest Legal News from the Federal Criminal Courts in the United States

July 11, 2007

Boumediene v. Bush; Court Turns Deaf Ear to Fundamental Principals of the Great Writ of Habeas Corpus and Gives Big Brother a Blank Check.

On April 2, 2007 the United States Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal from the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia which, in February, ruled that Guantanamo Bay detainees did not have a right to habeas corpus review of their indefinite confinement or any other constitutional protections. Boumediene v. Bush, 476 F.3d 981 (D.C. Cir. 2007). The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the Boumediene appeal effectively closes the door to any judicial relief for the approximately 385 held at the Guantanamo facility for more than five years - unless the Supreme Court at some point chooses to revisits Boumediene issues.

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JULY 10, 2007

DALLAS MAN SENTENCED TO NEARLY 16 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE, FOR POSSESSION OF A FIREARM

DALLAS - Michael Dewayne Vickers, age 45, of Dallas, Texas, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jane Boyle to 190 months in prison, without parole, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Vickers was convicted in January by a federal jury following a two-day trial before Judge Boyle. Vickers was sentenced as an Armed Career Criminal, which prescribes harsher punishment for offenders with three or more prior convictions for serious felonies.

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July 09, 2007

OCTAVIA CALDWELL PLEADS GUILTY TO CONSPIRACY AND IDENTITY THEFT IN CONNECTION WITH FILING MULTIPLE FRAUDULENT FEMA CLAIMS

(HOUSTON, TX) - Octavia Caldwell, 33, of Houston pled guilty today to conspiring to file false claims and aggravated identity theft in connection with her filing of multiple fraudulent FEMA claims for Hurricane Katrina and Rita relief, United States Attorney Donald J. DeGabrielle, Jr. announced today.

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JULY 06, 2007

TAX PREPARER ADMITS PERJURY - Defendant Admits Lying in Federal Grand Jury Proceedings

DALLAS - A Dallas tax preparer, Etienne Konan, appearing before U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater, pled guilty to a one-count Indictment charging him with Perjury before a Grand Jury, just days before his trial was to begin in federal court. “Any lie under oath is serious and this U.S. Attorney’s Office cannot and will not tolerate perjury,” stated U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas in announcing the plea. Konan faces a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Fitzwater on October 5, 2007.

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July 05, 2007

TEXARKANA MAN CONVICTED OF OIL FIELD FRAUD

United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced that a federal jury in Midland this morning convicted 50-year-old Dennis Keith Chambers of Texarkana, Texas, of wire fraud following a two-day jury trial.

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July 04, 2007

THREE TEXAS NATIONAL GUARDSMEN INDICTED FOR CONSPIRACY TO TRANSPORT AND TRANSPORTATION OF ILLEGAL ALIENS

(LAREDO, TX) – A six count criminal indictment has been returned by a Laredo federal Grand Jury charging three Texan National Guardsmen with one count of conspiring to transport illegal aliens and five counts of transporting illegal aliens, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today.

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July 03, 2007

ARMED DRUG COURIER SENTENCED TO MORE THAN 14 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE

FORT WORTH, Tx. — Raul Medina, Jr., of Addison, Texas, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John McBryde to 172 months in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Medina, 44, pled guilty in March to one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

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July 02, 2007

DUO CONVICTED OF VISA FRAUD AND MONEY LAUNDERING IN SCHEME TO SMUGGLE ILLEGAL CHINESE NATIONALS INTO US SENTENCED

[HOUSTON, TX] – Horacio H. Golfarini, 46, and Norman Chapa, 52, both of Houston, have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in an intricate scheme to smuggling Chinese nationals into the United States, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today.

United States District Judge Keith Ellison today sentenced Golfarini to18 months imprisonment and fined him $5,000 fine. Chapa was sentenced to serve 12 months and one day in prison and fined $3,000.

Golfarini and Chapa along with Kenneth L. Rothey, 66, a local immigration attorney of Houston, were indicted and charged with conspiracy, visa fraud, encouraging Chinese nationals to unlawfully enter the United States, and money laundering. Rothey is a fugitive and believed to be in China. Efforts are ongoing in an attempt to secure his return to the United States.

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JUNE 29, 2007

FEDERAL JURY CONVICTS ARMED DRUG DEALER WHO FACES LIFE IN PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE

DALLAS - Following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Jorge A. Solis, a federal jury found defendant, William Brent, guilty on all five counts of an indictment brought in connection with drug and firearms arrests in 2005, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Brent was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (crack cocaine), possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. William Brent, 33, faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison; he is scheduled to be sentenced on September 26, 2007. more...

JUNE 28, 2007

DALLAS COUPLE CHARGED IN FEDERAL CRIMINAL COMPLAINT WITH PRODUCTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

DALLAS — Douglas James Meyers and Amanda Renee Jenson appeared in federal court in Dallas this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeff Kaplan on charges outlined in a federal criminal complaint filed yesterday, charging each with production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper, of the Northern District of Texas. According to the affidavit filed with the complaint, Meyers, 45, and Jenson, 20, have been involved in a relationship for three years and reside in Dallas County. Both Meyers and Jenson are in custody following their arrest and today Magistrate Judge Kaplan set a probable cause/detention hearing for Friday, June 29, 2007. more...

June 27, 2007

FORMER UNT PROFESSOR PLEADS GUILTY TO PUBLIC CORRUPTION CHARGES

(Sherman, Texas) A 63-year old former University of North Texas professor has pleaded guilty to federal public corruption charges in the Eastern District of Texas. more...

JUNE 26, 2007

CONVICTED FELON SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON,WITHOUT PAROLE, FOR POSSESSING AMMUNITION

DALLAS. — Jackie Phillip Sosebee, a Wichita Falls, Texas, man, who pled guilty in February to possession of firearm ammunition by a convicted felon, was sentenced today to 180 months in prison by U.S. Senior District Judge Jerry Buchmeyer, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper. Sosebee, 41, has been in custody since his arrest in September 2006 on charges outlined in a federal indictment. more...

June 25, 2007

Former Port Lavaca Councilwoman Found Guilty of Voter Fraud

Debra M. Briseno found guilty of illegal voting

EDNA – A Jackson County jury today returned a guilty verdict against former Port Lavaca councilwoman Debra Martinez Briseno, 51. The jury found her guilty on two counts of illegal voting during the March 2006 Democratic primary, a third-degree felony. The punishment phase of the trial begins Monday. A third-degree felony carries a range of punishment of from two to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. more...

JUNE 22, 2007

SERIAL BANK ROBBER SENTENCED TO 17.5 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE

AMARILLO, Tx. --- Keith Anthony Williams, who admitted committing several bank robberies in Amarillo in 2006, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson to 210 months in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper. Williams, 40, was also ordered to pay $66,916 in restitution, the sum of money he stole from the banks. more...

June 20, 2007

Victoria Child Predator Caught by Cyber Crimes Unit Receives 70-Year State Prison Sentence

Dionicio Robles, Jr. receives maximum punishment for child sex crimes

VICTORIA – A Victoria child predator arrested by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s Cyber Crimes Unit has been sentenced to 70 years in state prison for using the Internet to exploit children. more...

JUNE 19, 2007

AREA RESIDENTS SENTENCED TO LENGTHY FEDERAL PRISON TERMS FOR ARMED BANK ROBBERY PLOT

FORT WORTH, Tx. — Three local residents who were convicted by a federal jury in February on all counts of a superseding indictment charging them with offenses related to an armed bank robbery plot they devised, were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John McBryde, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. more...

JUNE 18, 2007

ARMED GANG MEMBER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE

DALLAS - Bernardo Lozano, a Dallas resident, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. The sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater is the maximum punishment permitted by federal law and will begin after Lozano serves the remainder of his state prison term, which was imposed following violation of the conditions of Lozano’s state parole. more...

JUNE 15, 2007

FORMER CHECK CASHING BUSINESS OWNER FACES TIME IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR OPERATING WITHOUT A LICENSE

DALLAS - Yong Kyu Kim, who pled guilty in December 2006 to operating an “unlicensed money transmitting business,” was sentenced yesterday to serve one year and one day in prison, by U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Judge Kinkeade ordered that Kim surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on July 11, 2007. Kim will be deported after the completion of his sentence. more...

JUNE 14, 2007

MAN DUBBED THE “LEPRECHAUN BANDIT” CHARGED IN FEDERAL CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

FORT WORTH, Tx. — A federal criminal complaint was filed late yesterday in U.S. District Court in Fort Worth charging Richard Earl Kemp, 27, of Fort Worth, with robbing the Compass Bank, located at 2016 W. Rosedale Street in Fort Worth on April 2, 2007, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Kemp made his initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Bleil, who ordered that he remain in federal custody pending a probable cause and detention hearing set for Monday, June 18, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. more...

JUNE 13, 2007

AMARILLO, TEXAS, RESIDENT SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR POSSESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

AMARILLO, Tx. --- Amarillo resident, Ronald Frank Chernick, was sentenced this morning by U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson, to 10 years in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Chernick, 57, pled guilty in April to one count of possession of child pornography. Judge Robinson ordered that Chernick surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on July 2, 2007. more...

JUNE 12, 2007

ARMED CAREER CRIMINAL SENTENCED TO MORE THAN 15 YEARS
IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE, ON FIREARMS CONVICTION

DALLAS - Donald Cecil Cook was sentenced late Friday in federal court in Dallas to 188 months in prison as an armed career criminal, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Cook, 32, of Dallas, pled guilty in January to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced as an armed career criminal under federal statute because of his extensive history of violent felonies and drug trafficking crimes. Court documents show that Cook’s criminal history includes convictions for home and building burglaries in Dallas, the possession with intent to distribute the drug Diazepam, and the felony possession of cocaine and methamphetamine. more...

JUNE 11, 2007

BUSINESSMAN WHO WAS CONVICTED ON MAIL AND WIRE FRAUD CHARGES SENTENCED TO 50 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON

Defendant Must Also Pay More Than $300,000 in Restitution to Victims

DALLAS — Suman K. Varansi, who was convicted late last year on mail and wire fraud charges, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle to 50 months in prison and ordered to pay $301,575 in restitution, announced United States Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Varansi, a citizen of India, present in the United States on a non-immigrant H1-B employment-based visa, defrauded other Indian immigrants by promising to help them obtain “green cards” in exchange for a fee. He collected the fee, but did not provide the assistance promised. more...

JUNE 8, 2007

DFW TAX PREPARER CHARGED WITH RUNNING TELEPHONE EXCISE TAX REFUND FRAUD SCHEME

DALLAS — Agents with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation, arrested Herbert Jena, a local tax preparer, yesterday afternoon on charges in an indictment that was returned by a federal grand jury in Dallas earlier this week and unsealed today, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas and Eric Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Field Office of IRS Criminal Investigation. Two other defendants charged in the indictment, Aurora Perez and Nancy Munoz, worked with Jena at his tax preparation businesses. Perez surrendered to federal authorities this morning and Munoz is expected to surrender soon to federal authorities. Jena and Perez appeared this afternoon before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Dallas who released each of them on bond. Jena was also arraigned today and entered a not guilty plea. An arraignment date has not yet been set for Perez. more...

JUNE 7, 2007

DALLAS MAN FACES LIFE IN PRISON FOLLOWING CONVICTION ON DRUG AND FIREARMS CHARGES

DALLAS - Following a two-day trial, and ten minutes of deliberation, a federal jury convicted Shelvin Lynn Holman, 47, of Dallas, on all three counts of an indictment, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Holman faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison. Holman will be sentenced on September 7, 2007, by U.S. District Judge Sidney Fitzwater, who presided over the trial. more...

June 6, 2007

U. S. SETTLES LAWSUIT AGAINST HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT

(HOUSTON, TX.) After a lengthy investigation, the United States and the State of Texas have settled a lawsuit against the Harris County Hospital District (Hospital District) for more than $15 million, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. Under the terms of the settlement, the Hospital District has agreed to pay to the United States and the State of Texas $15,449,126, one of the largest settlements for cases brought under the False Claims Act in the Southern District of Texas, and to comply with Medicare and Medicaid regulations in the future. more...

JUNE 5, 2007

HELENA LAB EMPLOYEE SENTENCED IN FRAUD SCHEME

BEAUMONT, TX – United States Attorney John L. Ratcliffe announced today that a 56-year-old Helena Laboratories employee has been sentenced for his part in a complex mail fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas. more...

June 4, 2007

TWENTY-TWO DEFENDANTS INDICTED FOR ALLEGEDLY PARTICIPATING IN STAGED ACCIDENT SCHEME

Victim Insurance Companies Defrauded of More than $1 Million

DALLAS — Federal, state and local law enforcement officers arrested 19 out of 22 defendants yesterday who are charged in a federal indictment with participating in a massive staged accident scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. The 71-count indictment was returned by a federal grand jury last week and unsealed yesterday. more...

June 1, 2007

LUBBOCK, TEXAS, BUSINESSMAN ADMITS DEFRAUDING EMPLOYER OF MORE THAN $2 MILLION

LUBBOCK, Tx. — U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas, announced that today, in federal court in Lubbock, Donovan Frank Laughlin, a/k/a Donnie Laughlin, pled guilty to an Information charging one count of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity (money laundering). more...

May 31, 2007

MOTHER SENTENCED IN SHAKEN BABY CASE

United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced that twenty-two year-old Priscilla Settle formerly of Ft. Hood, Texas, was sentenced today to 48 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for causing serious bodily injury to her one-year-old daughter. more...

MAY 30, 2007

FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTS FORMER DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT (DISD) EXECUTIVES ON CONSPIRACY, MONEY LAUNDERING, BRIBERY AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE CHARGES

Houston Businessman Also Charged in 16-Count Indictment

DALLAS — A 16-count federal grand jury indictment, returned last week and unsealed this morning, charges former Dallas Independent School District (DISD) executives, Ruben B. Bohuchot and William Frederick Coleman III, along with Houston, Texas, businessman Frankie Logyang Wong, with various offenses related to their operation of a bribery and money laundering scheme involving DISD technology contracts, more...

MAY 29, 2007

CONVICTED DRUG DEALER SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE

Defendant Failed to Abide by Conditions of Pre-Trial Release

DALLAS - Jose Antunes-Aguirre, 47, was sentenced to 300 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Jorge A. Solis, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper, of the Northern District of Texas. Aguirre, a Terrell. Texas, resident, was indicted in September 2003 in the Northern District of Texas, and charged with one count of possession with the intent to distribute and the distribution of methamphetamine. more...

May 24, 2007

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION EMPLOYEE CONVICTED OF EMBEZZLING BENEFITS ORDERED TO PAY BACK MONEY

(CORPUS CHRISTI) – Nina Berlanga-Aleman, 55, a Social Security Administration employee, has been ordered to pay back almost $14,000 in social security benefits she embezzled for a former inmate, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. more...

May 23, 2007

Three Starr County Medical Suppliers Sentenced Following Medicaid Fraud Investigations

Separate schemes defrauded state Medicaid system of more than $200,000

RIO GRANDE CITY – Three Starr County medical suppliers pleaded guilty to stealing more than $200,000 from the state’s Medicaid system. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) investigated the two separate cases, which were prosecuted in cooperation with the Starr County District Attorney’s Office. more...

May 22, 2007

MEXICAN ALIEN SMUGGLER SENTENCED FOR BRINGING
UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS AND ASSAULTING BORDER PATROL AGENTS

(LAREDO, TX) – Timoteo Macias-Tejeda, 28, a Mexican national has been sentenced to a lengthy prison sentence for smuggling undocumented aliens into the U.S. and for assaulting Border Patrol agents during the smuggling, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. more...

May 20, 2007

WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, MAN SENTENCED TO MORE THAN 11 YEARS
IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE, ON CRACK COCAINE CONVICTION

DALLAS - Entonyo Elijah Jones, of Wichita Falls, Texas, was sentenced today by U.S. Senior District Judge Jerry Buchmeyer to 135 months in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper, of the Northern District of Texas. Jones, 24, pled guilty in February to a one-count indictment charging possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (crack cocaine). more...

MAY 17, 2007 PHONE:

PORT ARTHUR MAN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR GUN & DRUG CHARGES

BEAUMONT, TX – United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that a 23-year-old Port Arthur man has been sentenced to 57 months in prison for federal drug and gun crimes in the Eastern District of Texas. more...

MAY 16, 2007

Amarillo Home Builder Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison

Paul David Gillette Pled Guilty to Structuring Transactions

AMARILLO, Tx. — Paul David Gillette, a home builder in the Amarillo, Texas, area, was sentenced on Friday to 30 months in prison and fined $5000 by U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Gillette pled guilty in March to one count of structuring transactions to avoid reporting requirements. Following the sentencing, Judge Robinson remanded Gillette, 44, to the custody of the U.S. Marshals. more...

May 15, 2007

ICE special agents arrest convicted child predator, process him for deportation
Canutillo man served time for exposing himself to two girls walking home from school

EL PASO, Texas - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents on Friday arrested and placed into deportation proceedings a Canutillo man who was convicted two years ago on two counts of indecency with a child. more...

MAY 14, 2007

FEDERAL CRIMINAL COMPLAINT CHARGES FIVE WITH KIDNAPPING RICHARDSON, TEXAS, MAN

DALLAS — U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Robert E. Casey announced that a federal criminal complaint was filed today in U.S. District Court in Dallas charging five defendants in the May 4, 2007 kidnapping of Carlos Moreno Esquivel. more...

MAY 13, 2007

FEDERAL CRIMINAL COMPLAINT CHARGES FIVE WITH KIDNAPPING RICHARDSON, TEXAS, MAN

DALLAS — U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Robert E. Casey announced that a federal criminal complaint was filed today in U.S. District Court in Dallas charging five defendants in the May 4, 2007 kidnapping of Carlos Moreno Esquivel. more...

MAY 10, 2007

FRISCO, TEXAS, MAN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE, ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CONVICTION

LUBBOCK, Tx. — Joshua Heath Zuniga, of Frisco, Texas, was sentenced today in federal court in Lubbock, Texas, by U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings, to 120 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Zuniga was also ordered to pay for any costs associated with counseling services for the minor victim. Zuniga, 24, pled guilty in February to one count of possession of child pornography. He has been on bond since he surrendered to federal authorities in June 2006, after learning a federal arrest warrant was issued for him on charges outlined in a criminal complaint. Following the sentencing today, Judge Cummings remanded Zuniga to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. more...

May 9, 2007

Child Pornographers Investigated by Cyber Crimes Unit Receive Tough Prison Sentences

Former soldier, high tech worker found guilty on child pornography charges

AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s Cyber Crimes Unit continued its aggressive crackdown on child pornographers Friday, when a former Fort Benning soldier was sentenced to 40 years in state prison and an Austin-area technology executive was sentenced to nine years in federal prison, both on child pornography charges. more...

May 8, 2007

NINTH DEFENDANT–JOSE CEDENO-ZETINA–SENTENCED IN AUSTIN BROTHEL CASE

United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced that in Austin this morning, Jose Cedeno-Zetina (aka “Antonio Cedeno-Zetina”and “El Maya” ), a native of Mexico, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for his role in an Austin prostitution ring. United States District Judge Sam Sparks also ordered that Cedeno-Zetina be placed under supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term. more...

May 7, 2007

LEWISVILLE MAN SENTENCED FOR POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

SHERMAN, TX – United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that a 66-year-old Lewisville man has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography in the Eastern District of Texas. more...

MAY 6, 2007

FEDERAL JURY CONVICTS PONZI SCHEME OPERATOR WHO DEFRAUDED INVESTORS OF $25 MILLION

James Ray Phipps Ran “Life Without Debt” Pyramid Scheme from Colleyville, Texas

DALLAS — A federal jury has convicted James Ray Phipps, on all 19 counts of an indictment charging various offenses related to an elaborate pyramid investment scheme he operated, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper, of the Northern District of Texas. After eight days of trial, that began on April 23, 2007, before U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn, the jury found Phipps guilty of three counts of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud, 11 counts of money laundering, one count of corrupt endeavor to obstruct and impede the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) laws, and three counts of income tax evasion. more...

May 3, 2007

Attorney General Abbott Halts Unlawful Marketing of Cocaine Drink

Temporary restraining order protects consumers against product marketed as street drug alternative

DALLAS – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today filed a legal action against a Nevada company and its three Texas distributors for the marketing and selling of an energy drink as an unapproved drug, claiming it is a “legal alternative” to illicit street drugs. more...

May 2 , 2007

FORMER ELSA CITY POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR ACCEPTING MONEY TO PROTECT DRUG LOAD

(MCALLEN, TX) A former Elsa City Police Officer has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for accepting bribes to provide protection for drug loads, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle and Special Agent Ralph G. Diaz, Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced today. more...

MAY 1, 2007

PARTNERS IN DALLAS LAW FIRM PLEAD GUILTY TO TAX EVASION

DALLAS — Dallas area lawyer Gregory Bryan McDonald pled guilty today in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul D. Stickney to one count of tax evasion, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. His former partner, David Cole, of Roanoke, Texas, pled guilty to the same offense last week. Both are to be sentenced on August 15, 2007. more...

APRIL 30, 2007

FORT WORTH MAN WHO RAN INVESTMENT SCHEME SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE

Defendant Also Ordered to Pay Nearly $1 Million in Restitution

FORT WORTH, TX. — Robert Eon Marshall was sentenced this morning by U.S. District Judge John McBryde to 120 months in prison and ordered to pay $915,449 in restitution, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Following the sentencing, Judge McBryde ordered that the U.S. Marshals take immediate custody of Marshall. more...

APRIL 29, 2007

PRISON GANG LEADER SENTENCED TO MORE THAN 32 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE, ON METH AND FIREARM CONVICTION IN PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS PROSECUTION

DALLAS - Guadalupe Rodriguez, of Dallas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle to 387 months (more than 32 years) in prison and four years of supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Rodriguez, 32, pled guilty in November 2006 to one count of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of carrying and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Rodriguez was held responsible for more than 662 grams of methamphetamine discovered in his possession during three separate traffic stops between December 2005 and June 2006. In each of these incidents, Rodriguez possessed loaded firearms, thousands of dollars in cash, drug distribution paraphernalia, and large amounts of methamphetamine. more...

April 26, 2007

MEXICAN FISHERMAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR ASSAULTING US BORDER PATROL AGENT

[BROWNSVILLE, TX] – David Sanchez-Gonzalez, a resident of Playa Bagdad, Matamoros, Mexico, was sentenced to a prison term for assaulting a U.S. Border Patrol Agent who was attempting to conduct a lawful immigration inspection of his fishing vessel, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. more...

April 25, 2007

San Antonio- ODESSA PAIR PLEAD GUILTY TO ILLEGAL POSSESSION, USE OF MOLOTOV COCKTAIL

United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced that Zachary Waid Lackey, 20, and James Craig Light, 21, each of Odessa, Texas, pleaded guilty this week to federal charges related to their illegal possession of an incendiary device commonly known as a "Molotov cocktail." Each faces up to ten (10) years in prison when they are sentenced in June. more...

APRIL 24, 2007

HARRISON COUNTY MAN SENTENCED FOR MAIL FRAUD

TYLER, TX—United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that a 29-year-old Marshall, Texas man has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $296,164 in restitution for mail fraud in the Eastern District of Texas. more...

April 23, 2007

Former Shelby County Official Charged with Diverting Taxpayer Funds for Personal Use

Attorney General seizes accounts after $190,000 stolen from county’s indigent health care fund

CENTER – A former Shelby County assistant auditor was arrested today for diverting $190,000 from the county’s indigent health care fund. The suspect, Marilyn Lout, 70, will be co-prosecuted by lawyers with the Office of the Attorney General. more...

APRIL 22, 2007

HARRISON COUNTY MAN SENTENCED FOR MAIL FRAUD

TYLER, TX—United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that a 29-year-old Marshall, Texas man has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $296,164 in restitution for mail fraud in the Eastern District of Texas. more...

APRIL 19, 2007

SIX FORMER EMPLOYEES AT SWIFT & COMPANY MEAT PROCESSING PLANT IN CACTUS, TEXAS PLEAD GUILTY

AMARILLO, Texas - Six former employees of the Swift & Company Meat Processing Plant in Cactus, Texas, pled guilty yesterday in federal court in Amarillo, to charges stemming from the December 12, 2006 immigration enforcement action at the plant, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. more...

APRIL 18, 2007

DALLAS MAN SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR CONSPIRING TO TRAFFIC IN COUNTERFEIT GOODS

DALLAS - Mark Thomas Geis of Dallas was sentenced today to five years in prison following his guilty plea in September 2006 to an indictment that charged him with conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn also ordered that Geis, 37, pay $1.5 million restitution to the U.S. District Court for distribution to Cisco Systems, Incorporated. Geis was taken into custody at his rearraignment in September. more...

APRIL 17, 2007

FORMER POSTAL EMPLOYEE SENTENCED TO NEARLY FOUR YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE, FOR STEALING MAIL

DALLAS — Stephen Glenn Edwards, a former employee of the United States Postal Service who admitted stealing mail, was sentenced this morning to 46 months in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Edwards, 35, of Irving, Texas, was ordered to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on June 5, 2007. more...

April 16, 2007

TWO MORE CHARGED WITH HURRICANE KATRINA FRAUD
Indictments bring to 45 the number of individuals charged with FEMA fraud in the District

HOUSTON, Texas – U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle today announced the recent return of two separate indictments charging Bobby Hammond, 28, and Yashica Lyons, 20, both of New Orleans, LA, with fraudulently obtaining Hurricane Katrina disaster assistance. more...

April 15, 2007

Federal Grand Jury Indicts Mabank Man Investigated by Attorney General Abbott's Cyber Crimes Unit

Harrison Havens, Jr. suspected of stockpiling and distributing child pornography

TYLER – A federal grand jury has indicted Harrison Havens, Jr., 55, of Mabank after an investigation by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s Cyber Crimes Unit indicated that he used the Internet to stockpile and distribute child pornography. more...

April 12, 2007

DALLAS AREA MAN CHARGED FEDERALLY IN HOUSTON FOR ATTEMPTING TO ENTICE A CHILD

(HOUSTON) A 37 year old Garland, TX man, charged with attempted enticement of a minor via the internet, has been ordered held in federal custody without bond pending further criminal proceedings, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. more...

APRIL 10, 2007

GRAND JURY RETURNS SUPERSEDING INDICTMENT IN
METHAMPHETAMINE ORGANIZATION CASE CHARGING ADDITIONAL DEFENDANTS WITH CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MONEY LAUNDERING

AMARILLO, Tx. --- Last week a federal grand jury in Amarillo returned a superseding indictment in the case U.S. v. Sitthiphone Phengsengham, a/k/a “Teddy Phengsengkham,” et al. adding two additional defendants to the indictment that already charged 22 individuals with various offenses related to their role in a methamphetamine organization that operated in Amarillo, more...

April 10, 2007

EAGLE PASS MAN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON IN PROJECT SAFE CHILDHOOD CASE

United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced today that 64-year-old Clifford Bendler of Eagle Pass, Texas, was sentenced this morning to 108 months in federal prison followed by ten years of supervised release for possession of child pornography. more...

APRIL 9, 2007

GARLAND, TEXAS, MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT TO RECEIPT OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

Defendant Faces Up to 20 Years in Prison

DALLAS --- Kimberly Layne Johnson, 48, pled guilty this morning in federal court to one count of receipt of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. He faces a maximum statutory sentence of not less than five years, nor more than 20 years, in prison, a $250,000 fine, and a lifetime of supervised release. Johnson, who has been in custody since his arrest in January, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 13, 2007, by U. S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater. more...

APRIL 8, 2007

GARLAND, TEXAS, MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT TO RECEIPT OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

Defendant Faces Up to 20 Years in Prison

DALLAS --- Kimberly Layne Johnson, 48, pled guilty this morning in federal court to one count of receipt of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. He faces a maximum statutory sentence of not less than five years, nor more than 20 years, in prison, a $250,000 fine, and a lifetime of supervised release. Johnson, who has been in custody since his arrest in January, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 13, 2007, by U. S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater. more...

APRIL 5, 2007

FEDERAL GRAND JURY IN AMARILLO CHARGES WOMAN WITH MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS

"The following article includes allegations as released by the government and should not be taken as truthful evidence or as any indication of guilt. As these allegations remain unanswered by the accused and unadjudicated by a court, they remain unproved and are just as likely false."

AMARILLO, Tx. --- A federal grand jury in Amarillo has returned a one-count indictment charging Kristina Marie Sheppard, 31, of Canyon, Texas, with one count of making false statements, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. more...

APRIL 4, 2007

OWNER OF COUNSELING SERVICE ADMITS DEFRAUDING MEDICAID

A woman who owned and operated a counseling services business in Dallas pled guilty today in federal court to one count of health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Dolores Johnson, 53, faces a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and restitution. She is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2007 by U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade. more...

April 3, 2007

FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTS FIREMAN FOR PRODUCTION AND POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

(BROWNSVILLE, TX) A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging John Craig Zimmerman, 50, of Los Fresnos, TX with four counts of possession and production of child pornography, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. more...

April 2, 2007

Brenham Man Arrested Twice by Cyber Crimes Unit Pleads Guilty, Receives 10-Year Prison Sentence

John David Payne solicited sex online and traveled to Bastrop for meeting more...

April 1, 2007

HOUSTON MAN SENTENCED TO LENGTHY PRISON TERM
FOR TRAFFICKING IN METHAMPHETAMINE AND COCAINE

(BROWNSVILLE, TX) Jason Lawson Komp, 35, previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute kilogram quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine has been sentenced almost 15 years in federal prison without parole, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. more...

MARCH 29, 2007

ARMED DRUG DEALER CONVICTED BY DALLAS JURY

Faces Up to Life In Prison

This week a federal jury found Javary Treymayne Trigg of Wichita Falls, Texas, guilty on all three counts of a superseding indictment, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Trigg, 28, was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Trigg is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge Jerry Buchmeyer on July 20, 2007. He faces a maximum statutory sentence of up to life in prison more...

MARCH 28, 2007

FEDERAL JURY CONVICTS DISD EMPLOYEE

Following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay, a federal jury deliberated less than five hours before convicting Marsha August Ollison, a former employee of the Dallas Independent School District (DISD), on all three counts of a federal indictment charging theft from an organization receiving federal funds, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Ollison, 43, who has been on bond since her arrest in September, will be sentenced on July 30, 2007, by Judge Lindsay. She faces a maximum statutory sentence of 30 years in prison, a $750,000 fine and restitution. more...

MARCH 27, 2007

ITT Corporation to Pay $100 Million Penalty and Plead Guilty to Illegally Exporting Secret Military Data Overseas

WASHINGTON—ITT Corporation, the leading manufacturer of military night vision equipment for the U.S. Armed Forces, has admitted sending classified materials overseas and will pay a $100 million penalty, Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division Kenneth L. Wainstein and U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia John L. Brownlee announced today, along with the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). more...

March 26, 2007

WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS MAN SENTENCED TO THREE LIFE SENTENCES FOR DRUG AND FIREARMS OFFENSES

U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper announced that Wichita Falls, Texas, resident Maurice Johnson, Jr., a/k/a “Crackcorn,” was sentenced today before the Honorable Jerry Buchmeyer, United States Senior District Judge to three life sentences and three sentences of 360 months imprisonment. After a three-day jury trial in December 2006, Johnson, 38, was convicted on all six counts in a federal indictment charging him with various drug and firearms offenses. more...

March 25, 2007

PROJECT SAFE CHILDHOOD NETS FIRST INDICTMENT IN WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS UNDER SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION AND NOTIFICATION ACT (A.K.A. ADAM WALSH ACT)

Project Safe Childhood Also Going Strong In Western Texas As “Think Before You Post” Campaign Gets Underway more...

MARCH 22, 2007

FEDERAL JURY CONVICTS REAL ESTATE INVESTOR IN MORTGAGE FRAUD SCHEME

U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper announced that a federal jury convicted Vernon Cooks, Jr. a/k/a Jibreel Rashad on all counts of a federal indictment that charged him with operating a mortgage fraud scheme in the Dallas area from approximately May 2003, through December 2004. more...

March 21, 2007

PSJA ISD TRUSTEE AND OTHERS ARRESTED IN BRIBERY SCHEME

[McALLEN, TX] – A fifteen-count federal indictment charging a long-time Pharr San Juan Alamo Independent School (“PSJA-ISD) district trustee and two McAllen area businessmen with conspiracy, extortion, and bribery was unsealed today following the arrest of the three men by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle and FBI Special Agent in Charge Ralph G. Diaz annouced today. more...

MARCH 20, 2007

LONGVIEW MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MONEY LAUNDERING

TYLER TX—United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that a 37-year-old Longview man has pleaded guilty to money laundering charges in the Eastern District of Texas more...

MARCH 19, 2007

FEDERAL GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENTS IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

"The following article includes allegations as released by the government and should not be taken as truthful evidence or as any indication of guilt. As these allegations remain unanswered by the accused and unadjudicated by a court, they remain unproved and are just as likely false."

Federal Charges Include Guns, Drugs and Stolen Mail more...

March 15, 2007

29-YEAR OLD HELD WITHOUT BOND IN CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE

[MCALLEN, TX] – Benito Delgado, Jr., 29, of San Juan, Texas, in federal custody on charges of receipt and possession of child pornography, has been ordered held without bond pending further criminal proceedings, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. more...

March 14, 2007

Federal judge denaturalizes Mexican national who lied on his application
Longtime El Paso man, who unlawfully procured U.S. citizenship, pending removal proceedings

EL PASO, Texas - A longtime El Paso resident lost his U.S. citizenship on Thursday, and was placed into deportation proceedings, after an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents revealed he provided false information on his naturalization application. more...

March 13, 2007

San Antonio, Texas MIDLAND SECRETARY PLEADS GUILTY TO MAIL FRAUD CHARGE

United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced today that 47 year old Martha Jan Russell, of Midland, Texas, pled guilty to a single count of mail fraud. She entered her plea this afternoon before Magistrate Judge L. Stuart Platt. more...

MARCH 12, 2007

OPERATION ICEBOX DEFENDANTS SENTENCED FOR DRUG CRIMES

Meth Distribution Ring Sends Two More to Federal Prison

TYLER, TX – United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that one women and one man have been sentenced to federal prison for drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas. more...

March 11, 2007

TWO LONGVIEW MEN SENTENCED FOR FEDERAL DRUG AND FIREARMS VIOLATIONS

TYLER TX—United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that two Gregg County residents have been sentenced for federal drug and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas before United States District Judge Leonard E. Davis. more...

MARCH 7, 2007

WICHITA FALLS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO DRUG AND FIREARM OFFENSES
AND FACES 15 YEARS TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT, WITHOUT PAROLE

Andrew Eugene Byrd, of Wichita Falls, Texas, pled guilty in federal court in Dallas this week to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (commonly known as "crack" cocaine), possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Byrd, 27, who was indicted by a federal grand jury for these four offenses in December 2006, faces at least 15 years to life in prison, without parole, for these crimes. Sentencing is scheduled for June 22, 2007, in Dallas before U.S. Senior District Judge Jerry Buchmeyer. more...

March 6, 2007

TWO HURRICANE EVACUEES WHO TEMPORARILY RESIDED IN DALLAS FOLLOWING HURRICANE KATRINA, FACE FEDERAL CHARGES FOR DEFRAUDING FEMA OF APPROXIMATELY $50,000

"The following article includes allegations as released by the government and should not be taken as truthful evidence or as any indication of guilt. As these allegations remain unanswered by the accused and unadjudicated by a court, they remain unproved and are just as likely false."

A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging Kenyara T. Batiste and Michael B. Harris with offenses related to a scheme they ran to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) of approximately $50,000 in Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) funds, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Batiste and Harris temporarily resided in Dallas following their evacuation from New Orleans, Louisiana, following Hurricane Katrina. more...

March 5, 2007

LAREDOAN CHARGED WITH UNLAWFULLY IMPORTING PRE-COLUMBIAN ARTIFACTS

"The following article includes allegations as released by the government and should not be taken as truthful evidence or as any indication of guilt. As these allegations remain unanswered by the accused and unadjudicated by a court, they remain unproved and are just as likely false."

(LAREDO) - Jorge Ernesto Lanas-Ugaz, 44, of Laredo, has been arrested and charged with unlawfully importing Pre-Columbian artifacts from Peru into the United States without authorization, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. more...

MARCH 04, 2007

FORMER JACKSONVILLE POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED ON CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND RETALIATION

(Tyler, TXUnited States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that a 33-year-old former Jacksonville police officer has been sentenced to 144 months in federal prison on charges of civil rights violations and retaliating against a witness. more...

MARCH 1, 2007

DEA ARRESTS FUGITIVE

"The following article includes allegations as released by the government and should not be taken as truthful evidence or as any indication of guilt. As these allegations remain unanswered by the accused and unadjudicated by a court, they remain unproved and are just as likely false."

U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge James L. Capra, of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Dallas Division, announced that Kevin Wayne Blevins, a fugitive who was listed as one of DEA’s Most Wanted Fugitives on the DEA website, http://www.dea.gov/fugitives/dallas/dal-list.htm, was arrested by DEA agents last week at the Mexican - U.S. border. more...

FEBRUARY 27, 2007

OPERATION ICEBOX DEFENDANT PLEADS GUILTY

(Tyler, TX)United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that a 26-year-old Tyler man has pleaded guilty to federal drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas. more...

February 26, 2007

4 members of marijuana-trafficking network each sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison

El Paso men were part of Marquez drug group, a multi-million dollar criminal enterprise

EL PASO, Texas — A federal judge here sentenced four El Paso men this week for their roles in a multi-million dollar marijuana-trafficking organization, which was the target of a two-year investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). more...

FEBRUARY 25, 2007

DALLAS COUNTY MAN SENTENCED TO MORE THAN SIX YEAR IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE, ON CHILD PORN CONVICTION

Defendant Had More than 1000 Images of Child Pornography

William Lynn Rawls of Cedar Hill, Texas, was sentenced today by U.S. Senior District Judge Jerry Buchmeyer to 78 months in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Rawls pled guilty in October to one count of possession of child pornography in interstate commerce. Judge Buchmeyer ordered that Rawls surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on April 24, 2007. more...

February 23, 2007

WOMAN WHO STOLE IDENTITY OF US CITIZEN AND CONVICTED OF BEING IN US ILLEGALLY AND HARBORING ILLEGAL ALIENS SENTENCED TO PRISON

(McALLEN) – Rocio Garcia Duran, 29, of the Dominican Republic, who attempted to steal the identity of an U. S. citizen of Puerto Rican descent, was sentenced to prison today for being unlawfully in the U. S. and harboring illegal aliens, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. more...

FEBRUARY 22, 2007

SPURGER MAN GUILTY OF SOLICITING SEX FROM A MINOR

Teacher’s Aide Nabbed in Online Undercover Operation

BEAUMONT TX – United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that a 26-year-old Spurger man has pleaded guilty to soliciting sex from an underage child. more...

February 21, 2007

RIO GRAND CITY POLICE OFFICERS SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR PROTECTING DRUG LOADS

(MCALLEN, TX) Three former police officers convicted of accepting money to provide police protection for vehicles carrying loads of narcotics were sentenced to prison terms today, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced. Victor Benitez , 33, of Roma, TX; Eddie Alvarez, 30, of Sullivan City, TX; and Melissa Martinez, 30, of Roma, TX, were convicted in March 2006 after pleading guilty to various counts relating to their use of their official positions with the Rio Grande City Police Department to protect vehicles they believed to be loaded with narcotics between September 2003 and May 2004. more...

February 19, 2007

Former Telecom Owner Convicted for Scheme to Defraud Federal E-Rate Program

WASHINGTON — A federal jury in McAllen, Texas, convicted the former president and owner of ATE Tel Solutions Inc., which does business as ATE Telecom Solutions Inc. (ATE Tel), on seven of nine counts of wire fraud in a scheme to defraud the federal E-Rate program, the Department of Justice announced today. Rafael G. Adame was convicted of submitting fraudulent applications for payment on behalf of ATE Tel to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). The indictment against Adame was returned on Dec. 6, 2006. more...

February 18, 2007

FOUR-YEAR FUGITIVE RECEIVES MAXIMUM PRISON SENTENCE FOR SMUGGLING AND TRANSPORTING ILLEGAL ALIENS

United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced that in San Antonio this morning 36-year-old Maria Magdelena Parra-Luna, a citizen of Mexico and a fugitive from U.S. law enforcement for over four years, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison–the statutory maximum–for conspiring to transport hundreds of illegal aliens. In all, nine defendants including her husband, Guillermo Parra-Luna, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in the illegal alien smuggling operation. The charges arose from the discovery of 32 undocumented aliens in a mobile home in Campbellton, Texas, on August 20, 2002. The illegal aliens, who were from Honduras and Mexico, crossed into the United States near Piedras Negras, Mexico, and were guided by “coyotes” on foot through Maverick and Zavala Counties to a pick-up point west of La Pryor, Texas. One of the Honduran immigrants, Victor Manuel Romero-Lopez, became ill during the journey. more...

FEBRUARY 16, 2007

BEAUMONT MAN SENTENCED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING SCHEME

Defendant Receives More Than 12 Years in Federal Pen

BEAUMONT TX – United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that a 34-year-old Beaumont man was sentenced for drug trafficking and money laundering in the Eastern District of Texas. more...

February 14, 2007

FAKE INVESTOR SENTENCED IN EAST TEXAS FOR MAIL FRAUD

TYLER TX – United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced that a 55 year-old Florida man has been sentenced to 71 months in federal prison for mail fraud in the Eastern District of Texas. more...

February 13, 2007

SERIAL BANK ROBBER SENTENCED TO 79 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON

(HOUSTON, TX) Lewis Gilmore Hurst, 46, of Austin, Texas, has been sentenced to a total of 79 years in federal prison, without parole, for three armed bank robberies, and multiple federal firearms charges, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. more...

February 12 , 2007

FOUR IN CUSTODY ON DRUG AND MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGES

"The following article includes allegations as released by the government and should not be taken as truthful evidence or as any indication of guilt. As these allegations remain unanswered by the accused and unadjudicated by a court, they remain unproved and are just as likely false."

(HOUSTON) The joint efforts of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCEDTF) and Strike Force investigation has resulted in the arrest of four persons for their alleged involvement in the distribution of cocaine from Texas to Alabama and New York and the laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. more...

February 10 , 2007

EDINBURG MAN ARRESTED AND ORDERED HELD WITHOUT BOND FOR DISTRIBUTION AND RECEIPT OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY TRIAL

"The following article includes allegations as released by the government and should not be taken as truthful evidence or as any indication of guilt. As these allegations remain unanswered by the accused and unadjudicated by a court, they remain unproved and are just as likely false."

[MCALLEN, TX] – Ruben Gomez, 47, of Edinburg, Texas, has been ordered held without bond following his arrest earlier this week on charges of possessing child pornography on his personal computer, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. more...

FEBRUARY 9, 2007

TWO LOCAL MEN SENTENCED FOR ROLE IN CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE UNITED STATES TO OBTAIN
DOCUMENTS FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS

Shariq Ahmed Khan, 44, was sentenced today to 33 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John McBryde, following his conviction in October by a federal jury on various charges related to his participation in a conspiracy to obtain documents for illegal aliens by fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Co-defendant Syed S. Shahabuddin, 40, pled guilty in October to one count of conspiracy to transport and harbor aliens and was sentenced today to five years probation and ordered to pay a $20,000 fine. Their co-defendant, Sunny Khanna, who pled guilty in September to aiding and abetting fraud and misuse of documents, was sentenced last month to 18 months imprisonment and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. Khanna’s sentence was a downward departure from the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines in recognition of his assistance in the prosecution of his co-defendants. Sunny Khanna, 48, is a former resident of Colleyville, Texas, but now resides in Irving, Texas. Shariq Ahmed Khan is a resident of Colleyville, Texas and Syed S. Shahabuddin is a resident of Naperville, Illinois. more...

FEBRUARY 8, 2007

FORMER DISD EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL CHARGE

Gloria Grace Orapello, a former employee at the Dallas Independent School District (DISD), pled guilty today in federal court to one count of theft from an organization receiving federal funds, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper, of the Northern District of Texas. Orapello entered her guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul D. Stickney. Orapello faces up to ten years imprisonment and a $200,000 fine. As part of her plea agreement with the government, Orapello agrees to pay $100,000 restitution to the DISD. She is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle on May 17, 2007. more...

FEBRUARY 7, 2007

TEXARKANA, TX MAN INDICTED FOR HURRICANE RELATED FRAUD

"The following article includes allegations as released by the government and should not be taken as truthful evidence or as any indication of guilt. As these allegations remain unanswered by the accused and unadjudicated by a court, they remain unproved and are just as likely false."

Federal Charges Filed Alleging Defendant Filed Over A Dozen FEMA Applications
TYLER TX – United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that a federal grand jury has indicted a 36-year-old Texarkana man for fraud related to hurricane relief in the Eastern District of Texas. more...

FEBRUARY 6, 2007

FEDERAL JURY CONVICTS AREA RESIDENTS ON ARMED BANK ROBBERY PLOT

Defendants Face Up to Life Imprisonment

A federal jury today found three area residents guilty on all counts of a superseding indictment charging them with offenses related to an armed bank robbery plot they devised, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper more...

February 3, 2007

Incident at 12818 Huntington Venture Drive

"The following article includes allegations as released by the government and should not be taken as truthful evidence or as any indication of guilt. As these allegations remain unanswered by the accused and unadjudicated by a court, they remain unproved and are just as likely false."

A suspect wanted for a murder in Huntsville, Texas, was found dead at 12818 Huntington Venture Drive about 4:35 a.m. today (Feb. 3). more...

FEBRUARY 1, 2007

PRESIDENT OF PURPORTED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IN IRVING, TEXAS SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON AND ORDERED TO PAY MILLIONS IN RESTITUTION

DALLAS - Barbara Hildenbrand, the President of Community Housing Fund (CHF) and co-defendant Gerald Stone, owner of Ranscott Construction in Irving, Texas, were sentenced today in federal court in Dallas, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. U.S. District Senior Judge Barefoot Sanders sentenced each defendant to 24 months in prison and ordered both to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on March 8, 2007. more...

FEBRUARY 1, 2007

SERIAL BANK ROBBER SENTENCED TO MORE THAN 12 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE

Defendant Dubbed the “Envelope Bandit”

DALLAS - Mark Anthony Ortiz, dubbed the “Envelope Bandit,” was sentenced today in federal court in Dallas, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle sentenced Ortiz, to 150 months imprisonment and ordered him to pay $25,280 in restitution. more...

JANUARY 30, 2007

DALLAS MAN CONVICTED FOR POSSESSION OF A FIREARM

Michael Dewayne Vickers, age 45, of Dallas, Texas, was convicted today by a federal jury for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Vickers will be sentenced on May 11, 2007 by United States District Judge Jane Boyle, who presided over the two-day trial. Vickers faces 15 years to life imprisonment, without parole, because the sentencing law classifies him as an Armed Career Criminal, which prescribes harsher punishment for offenders with three or more prior convictions for serious felonies. more...

JANUARY 29, 2007

FORMER HOUSING MANAGER PLEADS GUILTY TO EMBEZZLING HUD FUNDS

BEAUMONT, TX – United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that a 66-year-old Eagle Lake, Texas man has pleaded guilty to embezzling from a HUD-funded apartment complex in Nacogdoches. more...

JANUARY 26, 2007

FORMER JASPER COUNTY CONSTABLE PLEADS GUILTY TO METH CHARGE

BEAUMONT, TX – United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that former Jasper County Constable FREDDY EARL PETERS has pleaded guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute the drug. more...

JANUARY 25, 2007

BANK ROBBERS SENTENCED

Two men who pled guilty to robbing banks were sentenced today in federal court in Dallas, announced Richard B. Roper, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. more...

January 23, 2007

LUBBOCK MAN SENTENCED TO 87 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE,FOR POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

United States Attorney Richard B. Roper announced that Michael R. Bennett has been sentenced by the Honorable Sam R. Cummings, United States District Judge, to 87 months imprisonment. Bennett, age 24, of Lubbock, pled guilty in September to one count of possession of child pornography. He has been on bond since his surrender to federal authorities in June 2006 but was ordered to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on February 8, 2007 to begin serving his prison sentence. more...

January 23, 2007

Bayer Corp. pays states $8 million, agrees to post results of studies clearly outlining any risks

DALLAS - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today reached an agreement requiring Bayer Corp. to fully disclose when drugs pose risks for patients with specific health conditions. Under the multi-state agreement, Bayer will pay 30 states $8 million, including $200,000 to the state of Texas. more...

January 20, 2007

ROUNDUP IN EASTERN AND NORTHERN DISTRICTS OF TEXAS

"The following article includes allegations as released by the government and should not be taken as truthful evidence or as any indication of guilt. As these allegations remain unanswered by the accused and unadjudicated by a court, they remain unproved and are just as likely false."

(Sherman, TX) United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today a combined task force of federal and state law enforcement agents has begun arresting individuals involved in drug trafficking in Collin and Dallas Counties. The arrests mark the final phase in this investigation into the sale and distribution of marijuana, methamphetamine, and cocaine in the Eastern and Northern Districts of Texas. more...

JANUARY 18, 2007

BANK ROBBER SENTENCED

United States Attorney Richard B. Roper announced that James Glen Horton, age 39, who committed the aggravated bank robbery of the Plains Bell Federal Credit Union (PBFCU), in Lubbock, Texas, on October 19, 2005, was sentenced yesterday in Lubbock by United States District Judge Sam R. Cummings to 84 months imprisonment.

According to documents filed in Court, on October 18, 2005, James Edward Peacock, David Aaron Johnson and James Glenn Horton drove to Lubbock from Amarillo in Johnson’s girlfriend’s (Erica Nicole Edwards) car and checked into the Motel 6 on 66th Street in Lubbock. The trio located a maroon Pontiac Grand Am that they had stolen the week prior and decided to use it to rob the PBFCU the next day. more...

January 17, 2007

ALICE WOMAN CONVICTED IN ADOPTION SCAM SENTENCED TO PRISON

(CORPUS CHRISTI) A young woman from Alice, Texas, convicted of wire fraud and mail fraud arising from a scheme to obtain money and property from persons seeking to adopt a child has been sentenced to prison and ordered to pay thousands in restitution, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. more...

January 16, 2007

EL PASO BAIL BONDSMAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR PROVIDING FEDERAL JUDGE WITH FRAUDULENT DOCUMENTATION

United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced that 54-year-old David Delgado, owner and operator of Casa Bail Bonds, was sentenced to two years in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release for making false and fraudulent statements on two separate occasions including a falsified death report on a Mexican national facing a federal drug charge in an attempt to get the charge dismissed. more...

JANUARY 14, 2007

IRVING, TEXAS, MAN SENTENCED TO 18 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE,
FOR ROLE IN CONSPIRACY TO PROVIDE COUNTERFEIT DOCUMENTS TO ILLEGAL ALIENS

Sunny Khanna was sentenced today to 18 months imprisonment by the Honorable John McBryde, following his conviction in September for aiding and abetting fraud and misuse of documents, announced United States Attorney Richard B. Roper. Khanna’s sentence is a downward departure from the United States Sentencing Guidelines in recognition of Khanna’s assistance in the prosecution of his co-defendants, Syed S. Shahabuddin and Shariq Ahmed Khan. Syed S. Shahabuddin, who pled guilty to conspiracy to transport and harbor aliens, will be sentenced next month. Another co-defendant, Shariq Ahmed Khan, was convicted by a federal jury in October on numerous related charges and will also be sentenced next month. Sunny Khanna, age 48, is a former resident of Colleyville, Texas, but now resides in Irving, Texas. more...

JANUARY 12, 2007

SERIAL BANK ROBBER PLEADS GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT

A man who admitted committing numerous bank robberies in the Northern District of Texas, and elsewhere, pled guilty today in federal court in Fort Worth, Texas, announced United States Attorney Richard B. Roper. Ronald Lee Williams, Jr., age 36, who has been in custody since his arrest in Arlington, Texas, in mid-October 2006, faces a maximum statutory sentence of 80 years imprisonment and a $1 million fine. He is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge John H. McBryde on April 27, 2007. more...

January 11, 2007

SENTENCING OF GLOBAL LIMO, INC. AND OWNER

(McALLEN, TX) United State Attorney Don DeGabrielle Jr. announced the sentencing of James H. Maples, the owner of Global Limo, who was given 5 years probation and a fine of $10,000.000 after a jury found him guilty of violations of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations in October, 2006. As conditions of probation, Maples is required to spend six months in a halfway house, followed by six months home confinement. The court also ordered that Maples could not be employed by any transportation company during his term of probation without consent of the court. In addition, the company formed by Maples under the name Global Limo was given a $100,000.00 fine. more...

January 9, 2007

THREE SENTENCED TODAY IN FEDERAL COURT FOR SEPARATE FIREARMS VIOLATIONS

(Tyler, TX) United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that three men were sentenced today in separate federal cases filed in the Eastern District of Texas. United States District Judge Michael H. Schneider presided over the sentencing hearings. more...

JANUARY 8, 2007

LOCAL MAN SENTENCED TO 63 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE, FOLLOWING CONSPIRACY AND IDENTITY THEFT RELATED CONVICTIONS

Bryan Wayne Cason was sentenced today to 63 months imprisonment following his conviction in October 2006 on 12 counts of an indictment that charged him with numerous offenses relating to the conspiracy he ran in which he stole mail and used the information to steal others’ identities, announced United States Attorney Richard B. Roper. Cason’s sentence, imposed this morning by United States District Judge David C. Godbey, is the maximum allowable under the United States Sentencing Guidelines. Judge Godbey also ordered that Cason pay $10,887 restitution, jointly and severally with his co-defendant Sylvia Renee Hunsuckle. Hunsuckle, age 35 of Grand Prairie, Texas, pled guilty in April 2006 and testified against Cason at his trial. On October 30, 2006, co-defendant Hunsuckle was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment. more...

JANUARY 4, 2007

ABILENE, TEXAS, WOMAN SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE, FOR RUNNING ADOPTION SCAM

Defendant Caused Victims’ Losses of Approximately $35,000

United States Attorney Richard B. Roper announced that Tawana Lynn Howard was sentenced today in federal court in Lubbock, Texas, by the Honorable Sam R. Cummings, United States District Judge, to 24 months imprisonment. Howard, age 26, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, admitting she ran an adoption scam in which she defrauded adoption agencies and potential adoptive parents. Judge Cummings ordered that she surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on February 8, 2007. more...

January 3, 2007

MOUNT PLEASANT MAN SENTENCED FOR FEDERAL FIREARMS VIOLATIONS

(Texarkana, TX) United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that a 45-year-old Mt. Pleasant man has been sentenced for federal firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas. more...

December 26, 2006

Convicted drug trafficker sought by federal agents

Four other narcotics network members get sentences from 30 to 150 months

Roberto Portillo-AlvidrezEL PASO, Texas — A Mexican national convicted of drug charges that resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) remains at large today and is wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service. more...

December 22, 2006

WOMAN WHO STOLE IDENTITY CONVICTED OF HARBORING ALIENS & BEING IN THE U.S. UNLAWFULLY

McALLEN, Texas – A federal jury found Rocio Garcia Duran, 29, of the Dominican Republic, guilty of four counts of harboring illegal aliens and one count of being unlawfully in the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle today. more...

December 19, 2006

ILLEGAL ALIEN PREVIOUSLY DEPORTED SENTENCED TO LENGTHY PRISON TERM FOR DRUG OFFENSE AND ILLEGAL PRESENCE IN U.S.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Juan Pablo Martinez-Longoria, 27, a resident of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, was sentenced to over nine years in prison for possessing with the intent to distribute 92.8 Kilograms (204 pounds) of marihuana and for illegally re-entering the United States after being deported as an aggravated felon, announced U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle. more...

DECEMBER 19, 2006

CONVICTED FELON SENTENCED TO MORE THAN 8 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE, ON
FIREARM CONVICTION

United States Attorney Richard B. Roper announced that Dallas resident, Vincent Edward Young, was sentenced by the Honorable Sam A. Lindsay, United States District Judge, to 97 months imprisonment. Young, age 35, pled guilty in September to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Young has been in state custody since his arrest in November 2005, but his federal sentence commenced running as of the date of his federal sentencing. He faced up to 10 years imprisonment for this crime. more...

December 15, 2006

RAYMONDVILLE MAN CONVICTED OF ASSAULT ON FEDERAL OFFICER

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A federal jury has convicted Carmen Carlos Garza, Jr., 68, of Raymondville, Texas, of assaulting a Federal Officer, U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. more...

DECEMBER 14, 2006

STOCKBROKER SENTENCED TO 33 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE, FOR SECURITIES FRAUD

Defendant Also Ordered to Pay More Than $2 Million Restitution to the Victims of His Fraud

Charles Dwain Davis, Jr., who worked as a stockbroker in Dallas, was sentenced to 33 months imprisonment following his guilty plea in July to one count of securities fraud, announced United States Attorney Richard B. Roper. The Honorable Sidney A. Fitzwater also ordered that Davis pay $2,345,348.58 in restitution to the victims of his crime. Judge Fitzwater ordered that Davis, age 47, surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on January 23, 2007, to begin serving his prison sentence. more...

DECEMBER 14, 2006

WOMAN SENTENCED TO 30 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR EMBEZZLING FROM EMPLOYER

United States Attorney Richard B. Roper announced that Christina Hill Gomez was sentenced today in Amarillo, Texas, to 30 months imprisonment by United States District Judge Mary Lou Robinson. Gomez pled guilty in September to one count of embezzlement from a federally funded program. Judge Robinson also ordered Gomez to pay $144,419 restitution and ordered her to file all outstanding tax returns. She was ordered to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on January 8, 2007 to begin serving her prison sentence. more...

December 13, 2006

WHITNEY MAN INDICTED BY FEDERAL GRAND JURY IN FIREARMS THEFT CASE

United States Attorney Johnny Sutton and ATF Special Agent in Charge James “Dewey” Webb announced that 26 year-old Jason Carl McCoy of Whitney, TX, faces federal firearms charges for stealing over 75 firearms from a Federal Firearms Licensee. more...

DECEMBER 11, 2006

FORT WORTH MAN SENTENCED TO 40 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOLLOWING CONVICTION ON DRUG AND FIREARMS CHARGES

Defendant Attempted an Escape Plot That Involved Murdering Deputy U.S. Marshals

United States Attorney Richard B. Roper announced that Brian Keith Casper was sentenced today in federal court in Fort Worth, Texas, by United States District Judge Terry R. Means, to 480 months imprisonment, without the possibility of parole. Casper was convicted earlier this year by a federal jury on firearms and methamphetamine charges. more...

December 8, 2006

DEL RIO MAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON IN COCAINE-FOR-HAND GRENADES CASE

United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced that Alvaro Larios of Del Rio, Texas, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for trading two ounces of powder cocaine for 15 hand grenades. more...

DECEMBER 8, 2006

PHYSICIAN PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT
IN DALLAS TO CONSPIRACY CHARGES

Case is a Spin-off of Rakesh Johar Saran Rogue Internet Pharmacy Case

William Frank McArthur, III, a licensed physician, pled not guilty to federal charges at an arraignment hearing today in U.S. District Court in Dallas, before the Honorable Jerry Buchmeyer, United States Senior District Judge, announced Richard B. Roper, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. Dr. McArthur, a physician licensed in Mississippi and Georgia, who currently practices family medicine in south Georgia, was arrested on November 15, 2006, in Jesup, Georgia, on charges outlined in a federal indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Dallas. more..

December 7, 2006

CUBAN SENTENCED FOR FEDERAL DRUG VIOLATIONS

(Tyler, TX) United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that a 45-year-old Cuban native has been sentenced to federal prison for drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas. IDAEL VIERA was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Leonard Davis today. more..

DECEMBER 6, 2006

PHYSICIAN PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT IN DALLAS TO CONSPIRACY CHARGES

Case is a Spin-off of Rakesh Johar Saran Rogue Internet Pharmacy Case

William Frank McArthur, III, a licensed physician, pled not guilty to federal charges at an arraignment hearing today in U.S. District Court in Dallas, before the Honorable Jerry Buchmeyer, United States Senior District Judge, announced Richard B. Roper, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. Dr. McArthur, a physician licensed in Mississippi and Georgia, who currently practices family medicine in south Georgia, was arrested on November 15, 2006, in Jesup, Georgia, on charges outlined in a federal indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Dallas. more..

December 5, 2006

GUILTY PLEA ENTERED IN SCANNING DEVICE STRAW PURCHASE CASE

United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced that in San Antonio this afternoon, 44-year-old Seyed Abolghassen Rohani Eftekhari, a Canadian citizen born in Iran, pled guilty to attempting to purchase a “guided wave” scanning device with the intent of providing the unit to a third party from Iran without an Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) license. more..

DECEMBER 1, 2006

Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Federal Tax Charge

Robert John Tesson of Dallas, a tax preparer, pled guilty in federal court on Wednesday, November 29th, to one count of filing false or fictitious income tax returns, announced United States Attorney Richard B. Roper. Tesson faces a maximum statutory sentence of three years imprisonment, a $100,000 fine and restitution. He is scheduled to be sentenced by the Honorable A. Joe Fish, United States Chief District Judge, on February 20, 2007. more..

November 29, 2006

GREGG COUNTY RESIDENTS SENTENCED FOR METHAMPHETAMINES

(Tyler, TX) United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that one woman and three men from Gregg County have been sentenced for federal drug and firearm violations in the Eastern District of Texas by United States District Judge Leonard E. Davis. more..

November 29, 2006

FEDERAL JURY FINDS RAPPER “TWISTED BLACK” GUILTY IN DRUG CONSPIRACY CASE

United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced that Tommy Delando Burns, 35, of Fort Worth, Texas, was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base, “crack.” Burns, who is a rapper known professionally by the name, “Twisted Black,”was also convicted of two additional counts of distribution of cocaine base, “crack.” The jury did not reach a verdict on a fourth charge of distribution of cocaine. more..

NOVEMBER 28, 2006

INTEGRIS BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER TO PAY U.S. $12.2 MILLION TO RESOLVE FALSE CLAIMS ACT ALLEGATIONS

United States Attorney Richard B. Roper announced that Integris Baptist Medical Center, Inc. and Integris Health, Inc. have agreed to pay the United States $12,200,000.00 to resolve allegations they violated the False Claims Act by submitting inflated claims to the Medicare program in their annual cost reports. Integris Baptist Medical Center is a not-for-profit health organization located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and it operates the state’s largest Medicare certified Heart, Liver, and Kidney transplant program. Integris Health, Inc. is the parent corporation for Integris Baptist Medical Center. more..

November 25, 2006

GAINESVILLE MAN SENTENCED FOR FEDERAL FIREARMS VIOLATIONS
(Sherman, TX) United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that a 34-year-old Gainesville man has been sentenced for federal firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas. more..

NOVEMBER 21, 2006

SERIAL BANK ROBBER SENTENCED TO 87 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE

Defendant Also Faces Murder Charge in Collin County

Caster Deryl Chatman, Jr., a/k/a “Cash” and “Junior,” was sentenced today to 87 months imprisonment by the Honorable A. Joe Fish, United States Chief District Judge, announced United States Attorney Richard B. Roper. Chatman pled guilty in July to robbing numerous banks in the Dallas area in November and December 2005. more..

November 20, 2006

OPERATION KINGS COURT DEFENDANTS PLEAD TO FEDERAL DRUG CHARGES

(Lufkin, TX) United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that three defendants in the drug investigation known as Operation Kings Court, have pleaded guilty to federal drug charges in the Eastern District of Texas. JOSE REYES-GARCIA, 30, RAUL GUTIERREZ-PEREZ, 28, and JAVIER LOPEZ, 28, admitted to their roles in the massive drug conspiracy today before United States Magistrate Judge Earl S. Hines. more..

November 20, 2006

Attorney General Abbott Hails Lengthy Sentence Handed Down Against Ex-attorney In Estate Theft Case
Colin Kaufman sentenced to 45 years for draining estate of dying man

CORPUS CHRISTI - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott hailed a jury’s 45-year sentence handed down today in a Nueces County criminal fraud case against Colin Kaufman, 59, a disbarred attorney. He was found guilty last week of a first-degree felony for cleaning out much of the estate of elderly coma victim Col. Arthur Wilson Carothers. more..

November 17, 2006

WOMAN CONVICTED OF BRIBERY TO SERVE PRISON TERM

McALLEN, Texas – Paulita Nilo, 24, of Mercedes, Texas, was sentenced to prison for bribery of a public official, U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today.

Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa sentenced Nilo on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006, to a year and a day in federal prison, without parole. Nilo was ordered to surrender to the U.S. Marshals on Dec. 29, 2006. The prison term will be followed by a two-year term of supervised release. more..

November 16, 2006

THREE SENTENCED FOR FEDERAL FIREARMS VIOLATIONS

(Sherman, TX) United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that three men have been sentenced for federal firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas. DOMINIE LARAY JOHNSON, 24, of Gurdon, Arkansas, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Michael H. Schneider for receiving a firearm while under indictment. more..

November 14, 2006

ORANGE COUNTY MAN SENTENCED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING

(Beaumont, TX) United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that a 42-year-old Orange, Texas man has been sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for dealing drugs in the Eastern District of Texas. more..

November 13, 2006

ODESSA MAN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON IN IDENTITY THEFT CASE

United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced today that 20 year old Rogelio Lujan of Odessa, Texas, was sentenced by United States District Judge Robert Junell to thirty-six months in federal prison following his conviction on wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. By pleading guilty on August 23, 2006, Lujun admitted that in September and October 2005, when he was employed in the catalog department in JCPenney's in Odessa, he had access to the identification information and credit card numbers of JCPenney's customers. more..

NOVEMBER 9, 2006

Operator of For-Profit Software Piracy Web Site Pleads Guilty Caused Up To $25 Million in Losses to Software Industry

WASHINGTON—The operator of a for-pay Internet site that reproduced significant amounts of pirated computer software pleaded guilty today in federal court, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg of the Eastern District of Virginia, announced today. more..

November 9, 2006

EL PASO BAIL BONDSMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO PROVIDING FEDERAL JUDGE WITH FRAUDULENT DOCUMENTATION

United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced that 53-year-old David Delgado, owner and operator of Casa Bail Bonds, pled guilty this morning to making false and fraudulent statements on two separate occasions including a falsified death report on a Mexican national facing a federal drug charge in an attempt to get the charge dismissed. As a result, Delgado, who remains in federal custody on a $20,000 bond, faces up to five years in federal prison per count. more..

November 8, 2006

FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTS FIFTEEN INDIVIDUALS FOR CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS

(Tyler, TX) United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that a federal grand jury has returned numerous indictments this week charging 15 defendants in separate cases of federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas. more..

November 8, 2006

THREE INVOLVED IN SHOOTING OF FEDERAL AGENT PLEAD GUILTY

McALLEN, Texas – Leobardo Villarreal, 24, Juan Villarreal, 27, and Abel Rangel, 33, all from Mission, Texas, pleaded guilty for their roles in an attempted May 2005 carjacking that left a female Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent wounded, U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. more..

November 7, 2006

DIRECT LINK TO MEXICAN SOURCE OF DRUG SUPPLY SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON

LAREDO, Texas – Humberto Garcia, also known as “Beto,” 39, of Laredo, will be serving 30 years in federal prison for his role as a leader in an extensive marihuana distribution organization, U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. more..

November 3, 2006

Federal jury finds Mexican national guilty of naturalization fraud Man loses U.S. citizenship; faces up to 10 years in prison

EL PASO, Texas - A federal jury here convicted a local resident Tuesday for naturalization fraud, following a joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (CIS). more..

NOVEMBER 3, 2006

Another Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Transporting Aliens Near San Angelo, Texas

One of Aliens Transported in Vehicle Was Killed When the Vehicle Rolled in Traffic Accident

Another man who transported illegal aliens near San Angelo, Texas, in March 2006, was sentenced today in federal court in Lubbock, Texas, announced United States Attorney Richard B. Roper. United States District Judge Sam R. Cummings sentenced Agustin Anorga to 71 months imprisonment. more..

November 1, 2006

MIDLAND MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN NATIONWIDE OPERATION EMISSARY CASE

San Antonio, Texas

United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced today that Donald Ray Wilson of Midland, Texas, pleaded guilty to possessing images–hard-copy and digital– of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The charge carries a minimum ten and maximum twenty year sentence in federal prison. The government is requesting a sentencing enhancement due to the defendant’s 1984 conviction of Indecency With a Child. more..

October 31, 2006

WOODVILLE MAN CONVICTED ON DRUG CHARGES

(Beaumont, TX) United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that a 35-year-old Woodville man has been convicted of federal drug charges in the Eastern District of Texas. The guilty verdict was returned late today against WILLIAM DANIEL PICKETT, JR., following a trial before United States District Judge Thad Heartfield. more..

OCTOBER 30, 2006

TWO COUNTERFEITERS CONVICTED IN TRIALS IN FORT WORTH

In two separate trials held last week in United States District Court in Fort Worth, Texas, two defendants, Clayton Dale Elliott and Clyde Wesley Stringer, were convicted of manufacturing counterfeit currency, announced United States Attorney Richard B. Roper.

A jury convicted Clayton Dale Elliott, age 41 of Haltom City, Texas, of one count of manufacturing counterfeit United States currency, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 471. At trial, the government presented evidence that Elliott, aided and abetted by his co-defendants more..

OCTOBER 27, 2006

PAIR SENTENCED IN MAIL AND ID THEFT RING

More than 5000 Pieces of Stolen Mail Recovered

Richard B. Roper, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, announced that Bedford, Texas, residents, Andrea Garay and Joseph Murnin were sentenced today in federal court in Fort Worth Texas, by the Honorable John McBryde, United States District Judge. Garay was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment and Murnin was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment. They were ordered to pay approximately $30,000 in restitution. more..

October 26, 2006

TWENTY-TWO YEAR OLD MAN FROM EDINBURG CONVICTED OF RECEIVING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

McALLEN, TX – Jorge Vasquez, 22, of Edinburg, Texas, was convicted of the federal felony offense of receiving child pornography via the Internet, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today.

At a re-arraignment hearing this afternoon before United States District Court Judge Randy Crane, Vasquez pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography and admitted that he downloaded thousands of images of child pornography via the Internet onto his home computer. Vasquez now faces a sentence of not less than five years and a maximum of twenty years in prison, more...

OCTOBER 23, 2006

Former Mansfield, Texas Police Officer Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison, Without Parole,on Federal Child Porn Conviction

United States Attorney Richard B. Roper announced that David Neal Looney was sentenced today by the Honorable Terry R. Means, United States District Judge, to 57 months imprisonment, more...

OCTOBER 20, 2006

FORMER SAVINGS AND LOAN CEO SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE

Edwin T. McBirney, III, Is Former CEO of Sunbelt Savings of Texas

U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper announced that Edwin T. McBirney, III, was sentenced today by the Honorable Sidney A. Fitzwater, United States District Judge, to 97 months and ordered to pay a criminal forfeiture of $2,054,366.00 and $312,828.00 restitution. A federal jury convicted McBirney in January on 27 counts of a superseding indictment charging him with six counts of mail fraud, 11 counts of making false statements, nine counts of concealing assets from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and one count of money laundering. Judge Fitzwater ordered that McBirney surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on December 5, 2006. more...

October 18, 2006

DELTA COUNTY SHERIFF RESIGNS, PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL CHARGES

(Sherman, TX) United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that the Delta County Sheriff has pleaded guilty to federal charges committed while he served in that capacity. MARCUS L. BASSHAM, 45, of Cooper, Texas, resigned his position as Sheriff this morning before pleading guilty to unauthorized access of a protected computer and tax fraud before United States Magistrate Judge Don D. Bush. more...

OCTOBER 28, 2006

DALLAS CLUB OWNER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR FORCING WOMEN TO WORK AS HOSTESSES IN HIS NIGHTCLUB

A Korean businessman who required Korean women to work at his club in Dallas, Texas, to pay off smuggling debts he had paid for them, was sentenced today in federal court, announced United States Attorney Richard B. Roper. Sung Bum Chang, a Korean American man that owned and operated the nightclub “Club Wa,” was sentenced by the Honorable Sam A. Lindsay, United States District Judge, to 10 years imprisonment and ordered to pay $37,000 restitution to the victims of his crime. Chang pled guilty in June to one count of forced labor in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. more...

OCTOBER 13, 2006

INFOCOM CORPORATION AND ITS OPERATORS SENTENCED IN FEDERAL COURT

ELASHI BROTHERS CONVICTED FOR DOING BUSINESS WITH TERRORIST

In a series of hearings conducted this week in federal court in Dallas by the Honorable Sam A. Lindsay, United States District Judge, Bayan Elashi, Ghassan Elashi, Basman Elashi, and Infocom Corporation were sentenced, announced United States Attorney Richard B. Roper. The three defendants, along with their brothers, Hazim and Ihsan “Sammy” Elashi, operated a family-run, Richardson, Texas, business, Infocom, that sold computers and Internet services mostly to customers in the Middle East. more...

OCTOBER 13, 2006

OPERATION “FISH BOWL” DEFENDANT SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE, FOR DISTRIBUTION OF CRACK COCAINE

United States Attorney Richard B. Roper announced that the first defendant to be sentenced in the recent “Operation Fish Bowl” case, was sentenced today in federal court in Fort Worth, Texas. Bertrand Bell, a/k/a “Bee Bee,” was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by the Honorable John McBryde, United States District Judge. Bell pled guilty last month to one count of conspiracy to possess and distribute more than five grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base (crack cocaine). more...

October 12, 2006

TWO CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING

LAREDO, TX – Jose A. Garza-Robles, 18, and Hector Herrera-Sifuentes, 26, both permanent resident aliens from Mexico, were indicted for kidnapping a United States citizen in September 2006, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. more...

OCTOBER 12, 2006

DALLAS MAN SENTENCED TO 10 YEAR IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE, ON FEDERAL FIREARMS CONVICTION

Case Result of Project Safe Neighborhood Initiative more...

October 11, 2006

LITTLE ROCK MAN GOES TO PRISON FOR STOLEN MAIL

(Texarkana, TX) United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that a 25-year-old Little Rock, Arkansas man has been sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for possession of stolen mail in the Eastern District of Texas. more...

October 9, 2006

MEXICAN CITIZEN CONVICT OF POSSESSING 881 KG OF MARIJUANA

McALLEN, TX - Noe Bustos-Nunez, 28, a citizen of Mexico, was convicted of both counts of a two count indictment for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and for possessing with the intent to distribute 881 kilograms of marijuana, United States Attorney Donald DeGabrielle announced today. more...

October 7, 2006

AMERICAN MEDICAL RESPONSE PAYS $9 MILLION TO SETTLE CIVIL FRAUD CASE
WASHINGTON - American Medical Response Inc. (AMR), one of the nation's largest ambulance providers, has paid the United States over $9 million to resolve allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act, the Justice Department announced today. The government alleged that the ambulance company provided illegal inducements to hospitals in Texas in exchange for referrals. more...

October 5, 2006

FORMER SAN ANTONIO DOCTOR AND WIFE INDICTED FOR DEFRAUDING THE I.R.S. AS PART OF A NATIONWIDE SCHEME

United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced that a federal grand jury in San Antonio, Texas, has returned an indictment charging a San Antonio couple with defrauding the Internal Revenue Service by creating false expense reports in two fictitious companies that offset their actual tax liability. more...

October 3, 2006

MAN GUILTY OF FEDERAL DRUG AND GUN VIOLATIONS

(Beaumont, TX) United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that a 20-year-old Silsbee man has pleaded guilty to federal drug and gun charges in the Eastern District of Texas. JABARIAN GACOBE ELAM entered his guilty plea today before United States District Judge Thad Heartfield. more...

October 3, 2006

JURY CONVICTS BROWNSVILLE MAN OF IMPORTING HEROIN, METHAMPHETAMINE AND COCAINE

BROWNSVILLE, TX – Fernando Marshall, 62, of Brownsville, Texas, was convicted late yesterday by a jury’s verdict of all counts of an eight-count indictment arising from his smuggling of a load of drugs containing three different types of controlled substances into the United States, announced United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle today. more...

 

 

 

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