Western District of Louisiana

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Shreveport man pleaded guilty Thursday to possessing a pistol even though he was a convicted felon.

Alvin Kincerely Law Jr., 30, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to the guilty plea, a Shreveport Police officer conducted a traffic stop on a red pickup truck Law was driving on June 26, 2017. Before the truck came to a stop, the officer saw a black object being tossed out of the driver’s side window. The firearm was later retrieved and was found to be a Lorcin, Mira Loma, CA, USA, model: L380, .380 caliber pistol. Law has a 2011 felony conviction for possession of marijuana, fourth offense and cannot legally possess a firearm.

Law faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of May 8, 2018.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safe for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Session announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown is prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Bossier City woman pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm.

Erin W. O’Daniel, 35, Bossier City, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to the guilty plea, a Webster Parish sheriff’s deputy pulled over O’Daniel’s car on October 27, 2017 on Interstate 20. The deputy noticed a strong odor of marijuana and saw a large sum of cash in a bag in the center console of the car. The deputy searched the car and found two bags in the center console containing 282.7 grams of methamphetamine, two bags of marijuana, 14 ecstasy pills, a set of digital scales, plastic baggies and a .40 caliber loaded pistol. She was then arrested and taken to the Minden Police Department. She later stated she had more methamphetamine at home, and law enforcement agents recovered an additional 113.5 grams of methamphetamine in a box under her bed.

O’Daniel faces 10 years to life in prison for the conspiracy count and five years for the firearms count to run consecutive to the conspiracy count. She also faces four years of supervised release and a $10 million fine. The court set a sentencing date of May 8, 2018.

The DEA, Louisiana State Police, Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office and Minden Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys James G. Cowles Jr. and Aaron Crawford are prosecuting the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Lafayette man was sentenced last week to 168 months in prison for enticing a minor into sending images of child pornography online.

Steven Anthony Lemoine, 29, of Lafayette, was sentenced January 18 by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of receiving child pornography.  He was also sentenced to 15 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. According to the October 19, 2018 guilty plea, Lemoine posed as a female on Facebook and enticed a 12-year-old minor to send him images of child pornography on December 26, 2016 and January 5, 2017. Lemoine’s home was later searched, and he admitted to using the online persona to obtain the images.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) also encourage the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) 347-2423.  Investigators are available at all hours to answer hotline calls.  Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online by visiting their website at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp or through the Operation Predator smartphone application www.ice.gov/predator/smartphone-app.  Tips may be submitted anonymously.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Louisiana State Police and Marksville Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney John Luke Walker prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Lafayette man pleaded guilty Tuesday to sending obscene pictures to an undercover law enforcement agent posing as a 10-year-old boy.

Kory Issac Wilson, 39, of Lafayette, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Hanna to one count of transportation of obscene material. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell. According to the guilty plea, Wilson began communicating with an undercover law enforcement agent on October 12, 2016. The agent posed as a father who wanted help sexually exploiting a 10-year-old boy. Wilson then began communicating with a second undercover agent who posed as the 10-year-old boy. Wilson sent the second agent three sexually explicit pictures of himself via text message.

Wilson faces up to five years in prison, three of supervised release and up to a $250,000 fine.  The court set the sentencing date for May 18, 2018.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) also encourage the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) 347-2423.  Investigators are available at all hours to answer hotline calls.  Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online by visiting their website at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp or through the Operation Predator smartphone application www.ice.gov/predator/smartphone-app.  Tips may be submitted anonymously.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys T. Forrest Phillips and John Luke Walker are prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment charging a Shreveport businessman with scamming more than $96 million from investors and financial institutions.

David D. deBerardinis, 56, of Shreveport, was charged with four counts of wire fraud and one count of attempted bank fraud. According to the indictment, from 2008 to 2016, deBerardinis falsely represented himself through the use of fake documents, identities, business transactions and other false information to obtain more than $96 million from investors and lending institutions. He operated numerous business entities and represented himself as part of the petroleum industry involved in the sale, trade and transport of fuel. The defendant created fraudulent documents, including fake bank statements, fake checks, fuel trade agreements, promissory notes, tolling agreement letters, news articles, in-line production tickets and other fake documents to misrepresent his business activities to investors.  He even disguised himself as an Orthodox Jewish businessman at one point while trying to obtain investor funds from a New York-based private equity group after hiring a professional makeup artist.  He also falsely claimed to have obtained an international shippers’ license, which required vetting by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security.  Through these false statements and omissions to investors, deBerardinis obtained millions of dollars from investors in Shreveport, Louisiana and elsewhere. 

The defendant faces 20 years in prison for the wire fraud counts and 30 years in prison for the attempted bank fraud count. He also faces a $1 million fine, restitution, forfeiture, and five years of supervised release for each count.

The FBI, U.S. Secret Service and the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cytheria D. Jernigan, Christopher J. Stokes, Joseph A. Magliolo and Seth D. Reeg are prosecuting the case.  The investigation and prosecution of this case has been a cooperative endeavor between the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Shreveport and Dallas.

An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a former Vermilion Parish middle school teacher was sentenced last week to 70 years in prison for making and possessing child pornography.

James Stacey Harber, 33, of Abbeville, La., previously of Ohio, was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on three counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. He was also sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release and is required to register as a sex offender. According to the August 18, 2017 guilty plea, Harber began communicating with a woman in Abbeville while he was living in Ohio in 2010. They began having a sexual relationship online and communicating via online video. The woman later included her three minor children in the online sexual relationship. Harber moved to Abbeville in 2013 and gained employment at the Louisiana Office of Child Services and then as a middle school teacher. He sexually abused the woman’s children after moving to Louisiana in addition to recording sexually explicit images of them. Law enforcement agents searched Harber’s home on April 26, 2016 and found numerous images and videos of child pornography on various electronic media, which included images downloaded from the internet as well as images he recorded himself sexually exploiting the children.

“These types of horrific cases must not be allowed to continue,” said Van Hook. “It is vital that the public and people in the community help to bring these cases to light as happened in this case. This 70-year sentence shows our resolve to prosecute and convict to the fullest extent of the law.”

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) also encourage the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) 347-2423.  Investigators are available at all hours to answer hotline calls.  Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online by visiting their website at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp or through the Operation Predator smartphone application www.ice.gov/predator/smartphone-app.  Tips may be submitted anonymously.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Abbeville Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney John Luke Walker prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced  that a woman who owned a Shreveport tax preparation business pleaded guilty Monday to filing false taxes for herself and her clients even after her electronic filing number was revoked.

Deborah A. Turner, 47, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark L. Hornsby to one count of making and subscribing a false tax return and one count of aiding and assisting in making and subscribing a false return. The plea will become final after it is accepted by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. According to the guilty plea, Turner owned Tax Express Refund, which is a tax preparation business located in Shreveport. The IRS revoked her Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN) in January 2014, but she instead started using her daughter’s EFIN to continue filing tax returns. She filed numerous tax returns for clients for tax years 2011 to 2013 containing false information so they could claim deductions, credits and expenses to increase the size of their refunds. She also filed a false individual tax return for tax year 2013 where she failed to report $336,865 of income she received from her business.

Turner faces up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $100,000 fine for each count. The court set a sentencing date of April 2, 2018.

The IRS-Criminal Investigations conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath and Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Cytheria D. Jernigan are prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a Shreveport felon pleaded guilty to possessing a pistol even though he was a convicted felon.

Jamario Montreal Harris, 31, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark L. Hornsby to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea will become final after it is accepted by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. According to the guilty plea, law enforcement agents found Harris in possession of a .40 caliber Glock pistol on March 20, 2017. He was previously convicted of a felony and not allowed to possess a firearm.

Harris faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of April 2, 2018.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safe for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Session announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath is prosecuting the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a former Breaux Bridge Police officer pleaded guilty to receiving sexually explicit images.

Craig David Jr., 29, of Breaux Bridge, La. pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Hanna to one count of receiving child pornography. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks. According to the guilty plea, David received child pornography starting in January 2017 using an electronic device.

David faces up to 20 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Those concerned may also leave tips with the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. Tips may be submitted anonymously.  The Lafayette FBI office number is (337) 233-2164.

The FBI and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth is prosecuting the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a St. Mary Parish man was sentenced last week to 18 months in prison for moving to Texas without updating his sex offender registration.

Forrest Tucker, 54, of Morgan City, La., was sentenced January 12 by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of failure to register as a sex offender. He was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release. According to the September 22, 2017 guilty plea, Tucker was convicted of a felony on April 17, 2008 that required him to register as a sex offender. After he served seven years in prison, St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s officers checked his address after his release in 2014, and Tucker was found absent from his Morgan City residence. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and U.S. Marshals arrested Tucker on May 4, 2017 in a hotel in San Antonio, Texas.

The U.S. Marshals Service and the St. Mary Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel prosecuted the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a Pollock prisoner pleaded guilty to possessing an improvised knife.

Torrey Griffin, 27, a Pollock prisoner, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to one count of possessing contraband in a prison. According to the guilty plea, Griffin was searched on July 30, 2017. A prison guard discovered that Griffin could not clear the metal detector and during a pat down, the guard removed a knife from Griffin’s pants. The knife was approximately six and a half inches long and made of metal sharpened on one end.

Griffin faces up to five years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for April 27, 2018.

The FBI and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons-Special Investigative Services conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo is prosecuting the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Chairman Joey Barbry pleaded guilty Wednesday to illegally taking more than $83,000 from the tribe’s check cashing business.

Barbry, 40, of Mansura, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to one count of theft from an Indian tribal organization. According to the guilty plea, Barbry cashed 105 non-sufficient fund (NSF) checks totaling $83,510 from July 2014 to November 2014 with the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana.  Barbry made the checks out to the Tunica Biloxi Financial Services (TBFS), which is an organization the tribe owns that functions as a check cashing business for the tribal casino.  Normal operation of the TBFS for NSF checks would require that the person writing NSF checks be placed into a computer tracking system and would be barred from writing further checks.  The violator would also be turned over to the Avoyelles Parish District Attorney’s Office for criminal prosecution if the money was not repaid.  TBFS manager Brent Barbre told employees not to input Barbry into the tracking system, and that he would handle the chairman’s NSF checks personally.  Brent Barbre allowed the defendant to continue writing NSF checks because he was the chairman of the tribe and Brent Barbre’s supervisor.

Barbry faces five years in prison, three years of supervised release, restitution and a $250,000 fine.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph is prosecuting the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Scott tax preparer was sentenced last week to 18 months in prison for falsifying tax returns and causing the IRS to pay out more than $105,000.

Vida Prejean Thomas, 44, of Scott, La., was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false documents under Internal Revenue laws. She was also sentenced to one year of supervised release and ordered to pay $105,813 restitution. According to the October 10, 2017 guilty plea, the IRS began investigating Thomas’ tax preparation business after receiving a tip alleging fraudulent activity. They interviewed nine of her customers and found that 2010 through 2013 personal income tax returns contained false information put there without their knowledge or authorization. The false returns Thomas prepared caused a loss of $105,813 to the IRS.

The IRS conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph prosecuted the case.

MONROE, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a Monroe city postal carrier assistant pleaded guilty to taking parcels containing prescription drugs.

Bryan C. Massey, 31, of Oak Ridge, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. Hayes to one count of theft of mail matter by a postal service employee. The plea will become final after it is accepted by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. According to the guilty plea, law enforcement agents learned that Veterans Affairs (VA) parcels containing prescription drugs were reported missing at the Main Post Office in Monroe. Agents narrowed down where the thefts were taking place and set up cameras. They recorded Massey, who worked as a city carrier assistant, taking the drug parcels and attempting to conceal his thefts by hiding the drug parcels among others he was carrying. When questioned, Massey admitted to taking at least 11 VA parcels from November 2016 to June 2017. Agents also searched his vehicle and found three pill bottles in the front right pocket of Massey’s postal uniform jacket. Each pill bottle contained an assorted number of white pills, which Massey had stolen from the VA parcels.

Massey faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of April 24, 2018.

The U.S. Postal Service-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary J. Mudrick is prosecuting the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Mexican national was sentenced last week to 24 months in prison for reentering the United States illegally for the third time.

Isais Hernandez-Vasquez, 33, of Mexico, was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of reentry by a removed alien without permission. According to the September 7, 2017 guilty plea, Hernandez-Vasquez was arrested on July 17, 2014 in St. Martin Parish. He pleaded guilty and was convicted on June 2, 2017 of attempted possession of methamphetamine. Agents later encountered him and discovered that he had been previously removed from the United States. He was removed on August 27, 2009 and April 3, 2014 after criminal convictions. He was not authorized to return to the United States.

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti prosecuted the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Tullos man pleaded guilty Thursday to possessing a homemade silencer that he had not registered.

Joshua Womack, 33, of Tullos, La., pleaded guilty before Chief District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. According to the guilty plea, law enforcement agents received information that Womack possessed a rifle with a silencer on December 15, 2015. Agents later questioned Womack, and he admitted to owning a Marlin, .22 caliber rifle. He told agents that he did not own a firearm silencer but had possessed one that was attached to the rifle. The silencer was not registered in the National Firearms and Registration and Transfer Record.

Womack faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $10,000 fine. He also faces forfeiture of the weapons seized. The court set sentencing for April 6, 2018.

This investigation and prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Department of Justice initiative to promote firearm safety and to reduce firearm crimes by preventing the possession and use of firearms by dangerous and persistent felons and others not authorized to possess a firearm.

The ATF and Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Lafayette woman pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing almost $1.5 million from a Broussard oilfield related company.

Susan M. Benoit, 54, of Lafayette, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Hanna to two counts of wire fraud. The plea will become final after it is accepted by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell. According to the guilty plea, Benoit worked for a Broussard, La., oilfield related company from 1998 to 2016. As the accountant and later as Chief Financial Officer, Benoit had access to the company’s bank accounts and transferred $1,490,588.70 from company accounts to her personal bank account.

Benoit faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, restitution, forfeiture and a $250,000 fine. The court set April 10, 2018 as the sentencing date.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly P. Uebinger is prosecuting the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a former U.S. Postal employee from Pitkin pleaded guilty Thursday to burning U.S. mail.

Mark Wayne Thompson, 50, of Pitkin, La. pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to one count of use of delay or destruction of mail by a postal employee. According to the guilty plea, Thompson took mail from his rural postal route in Elmer, La., to his residence from December 1, 2016 to May 1, 2017 where he burned it. He estimated that he burned at least 20 tubs of mail.

Thompson faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set an April 6, 2018 sentencing date.

The U.S. Postal Service-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys T. Forrest Phillips is prosecuting the case.

LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Lake Charles woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing more than $71,000 of her deceased father’s Social Security benefits.

Heather Vincent, 43, of Lake Charles, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Kay to one count of theft of government funds. According to the guilty plea, Vincent’s father died on February 1, 2014. From that time until February 28, 2017, Vincent did not notify Social Security that her father was deceased, and she received and spent $71,463 in benefits as they were deposited into his bank account.

Vincent faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set an April 17, 2018 sentencing date.

The Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Forrest Phillips is prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Freeport, Texas, man was sentenced last week to 88 months in prison for transporting a minor to Shreveport to engage in prostitution.

Jacob Cuellar, 27, of Freeport, Texas, was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of illegal transportation of an individual to engage in prostitution.  He was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.  According to the guilty pleas, Cuellar and co-defendants Quince Aluiso, 20, and Shawn Aluiso, 28, both of Clute, Texas, transported a minor to Shreveport on October 6, 2015 to engage in prostitution. Law enforcement agents responded to an online advertisement the same day in an undercover capacity.  The defendants were later arrested at a Shreveport hotel.

Shawn and Quince Aluiso pleaded guilty to illegal transportation on March 16, 2017.  Shawn Aluiso was sentenced on July 24, 2017 to 100 months in prison and five years of supervised release.  Quince Aluiso was sentenced on September 18, 2017 to 22 months in prison and five years of supervised release.  They are both required to register as sex offenders.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Shreveport man was sentenced last week to 63 months in prison for possessing a sawed-off shotgun hidden behind a wall.

Dylan G. Fausto, 25, of Shreveport, La., was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the September 14, 2017 guilty plea, law enforcement agents searched Fausto’s residence on January 2, 2017 while executing a search warrant for another individual. During the search, they found a sheetrock panel leaning against a wall in the master bedroom closet. Behind the panel, agents could see the end of a shotgun and discovered it was a loaded sawed-off 12-gauge Mossberg pump shotgun. Fausto was previously convicted of a felony and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

This investigation and prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Department of Justice initiative to promote firearm safety and to reduce firearm crimes by preventing the possession and use of firearms by dangerous and persistent felons and others not authorized to possess a firearm.

The ATF, U.S. Marshals Service and Bossier City Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany E. Fields prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Shreveport man who was previously convicted last week of a felony pleaded guilty to possessing three handguns he tried to hide near the U.S. court house.

Deantre D. Caldwell, 30, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty Friday before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to the guilty plea, Caldwell was traveling in the front passenger seat of a car that was rear-ended on April 24, 2017 near the intersection of Caddo and Market streets. The two drivers and Caldwell exited the vehicle. Caldwell had one of the drivers retrieve a backpack containing firearms from the front seat of the car he was traveling in, and he hid it in bushes outside of the Tom Stagg Federal Building and U.S. Court House. When officers arrived, a guard on duty at the federal court house informed the officers that he had seen Caldwell move the backpack. Officers found the bag, and it contained a Diamondback, model: DB-15, multi-caliber pistol; a Glock, model: 27GEN4, .40 caliber pistol; and a Glock, model 30GEN4, .45 auto caliber pistol. The drivers said the backpack belonged to Caldwell. The defendant was convicted of illegal use of a weapon on February 21, 2007 in Caddo Parish and was restricted from possessing firearms.

Caldwell faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of April 27, 2018.

This investigation and prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Department of Justice initiative to promote firearm safety and to reduce firearm crimes by preventing the possession and use of firearms by dangerous and persistent felons and others not authorized to possess a firearm.

The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany E. Fields is prosecuting the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a man from Maurice pleaded guilty last week to shipping methamphetamine to Louisiana.

Eric Perrin, 36, of Maurice, La., pleaded guilty Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carol Whitehurst to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell. According to the guilty plea, Perrin previously lived in Arizona where he met other individuals who used the drug. He later used his Arizona connections to have methamphetamine packaged and delivered to him in Louisiana. Perrin scheduled a packaged delivery of drugs to his home on August 12, 2013. Law enforcement agents intercepted the package, made a controlled delivery and arrested Perrin. Law enforcement agents found approximately 260 grams of methamphetamine in the package.

Perrin faces five to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a $5 million fine. The court set sentencing for April 6, 2018.

The Homeland Security Investigations, Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office and Lafayette Metro Narcotics conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moore is prosecuting the case.

MONROE, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that two Monroe women were sentenced Monday for a scheme to issue new titles for stolen automobiles.

Ashley Owens, 31, of Monroe, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to 76 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and three years’ supervised release.  Felicia Simpson, 40, of Monroe, La., was sentenced to five years’ probation on one count of misprision of felony, and Quinetta Grant, 45, of Suwanee, Ga., will be sentenced at a later date.  According to the guilty pleas, from November 2014 to June 2015, the defendants illegally provided new titles to customers who possessed stolen automobiles.  Owens would receive the titles from Grant and then deliver them to Simpson who worked for a private title processing business in Monroe.  Altogether, 104 fraudulent titles were processed involving high-end late model luxury vehicles including Mercedes, BMW, Bentley and Lamborghini.

The FBI, Louisiana State Police, Miami Dade Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia and the Monroe Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Texas man was sentenced last week to 240 months in prison for conspiring to transport methamphetamine and cocaine.

Erasmo Aviles Jr., 35, of Spring, Texas, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release.

Evidence was admitted at a three-day trial in August of 2017, that on May 12, 2016, Aviles was traveling east on Interstate 20 in Bossier Parish in one car that was traveling in tandem with another vehicle driven by co-defendant Francisco Guardiola, 25, of Spring, Texas. Louisiana State Troopers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicles. Aviles denied any wrongdoing and a search of his vehicle produced a camouflaged two-way radio set to channel two. The vehicle Guardiola was driving was searched. Troopers found 1,048 grams of methamphetamine and 361.8 grams of powder cocaine. They also found a camouflaged two-way radio of the same type found in Aviles’ vehicle that was also set to channel two.

Guardiola pleaded guilty on March 15, 2017, to all three counts and was sentenced on September 5, 2017 to 121 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

The DEA and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison D. Bushnell and Tennille M. Gilreath prosecuted the case.

MONROE, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a man from Mexico pleaded guilty to being an illegal alien in possession of a rifle.

Gerardo C. Rodriguez, 53, of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. Hayes to one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. According to the guilty plea, Union Parish Sheriff’s deputies responded to a disturbing-the-peace call on December 11, 2016 in Bernice, La. The deputies found Rodriguez intoxicated, arrested him and towed his vehicle. Deputies noticed a gunshot wound in his leg. Rodriguez told deputies in an interview the next day that he had shot himself with a .22 caliber pistol while drinking heavily. He also told deputies that he owned the Savage rifle (Model 110E in .270 caliber), which was seized from his vehicle. He admitted to reentering the United States illegally and possessing the rifle as a convicted felon. Rodriguez was removed to Mexico on December 21, 2004 as an aggravated felon.

Rodriguez faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for April 11, 2017.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike O’Mara is prosecuting the case.

MONROE, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a Bastrop farmer was sentenced to 108 months in prison for creating shell farms so he could receive more than $5.4 million in subsidy payments to which he was not entitled.

Brad A. McIntyre, 35, of Bastrop, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, five counts of mail fraud and four counts of money laundering related to engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity.  He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $4.3 million in restitution to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency and Risk Management Agency. The court also ordered him to pay a $1.6 million money judgement of forfeiture. McIntyre was previously found guilty by a federal jury at a trial, which started July 10 and ended July 21, 2017.

Evidence admitted at trial revealed that McIntyre, a fourth generation farmer and the owner of Delta Agriculture and Company, sought to avoid the Farm Service Agency direct program payment limitation of $40,000 per year per farm entity member.  From August 2009 until February 2013, McIntyre conspired to create fictitious farm operations. When applying for FSA’s direct program payments, McIntyre listed the names of his relatives and employees as the owners of these entities when in fact he controlled and managed all of these farming entities.  The Farm Service Agency’s Supplemental Revenue Assistant (SURE) and Crop Assistance Program (CAP) payments were each limited to $100,000 per person who experienced a qualifying crop loss because of disaster. These fake farms also fraudulently received disaster program payments from FSA.

When the FSA mailed agricultural subsidy checks to the entities, they went to U.S. Post Office boxes in Mer Rouge, La., established and controlled by McIntyre. He unlawfully received more than $5.4 million during the course of the scheme.

“I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s office, OIG special agents and our investigative partners for their hard work on this investigation,” USDA Office of Inspector General Special Agent-in-Charge Dax Roberson stated. “When the integrity of USDA’s farming programs is violated by criminal conduct, the Office of Inspector General will pursue justice to the fullest extent of the law.”

“Brad McIntyre was sentenced today for his scheme to defraud the U.S. farm subsidy program and for his associated money laundering violations,” Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Ted A. Magee, IRS Criminal Investigation, stated. “He was held accountable for his fraud and the spending of his ill-gotten gains.  IRS - Criminal Investigation special agents are experts in following the money, which ultimately demonstrates that monetary gain is often the reason for criminal activity.   I am especially proud of the work we do with our federal law enforcement partners and of our financial expertise that is utilized to make sense of complex schemes such as this one and helps put criminals like McIntyre in prison where they belong.”

The USDA-OIG and IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Cytheria D. Jernigan and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany E. Fields prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a Shreveport man who was previously convicted of two felonies pleaded guilty to possessing a loaded revolver.

Kevin Anthony Dison Jr., 21, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to the guilty plea, Shreveport Police officers stopped the vehicle Dison was driving on April 11, 2017. Police searched the vehicle and found a loaded Rossi revolver, model .38 caliber, which was located on the floorboard partially under the driver’s seat. The revolver could be seen by anyone driving the vehicle. Dison was previously convicted of felony theft in April 2015 in Caddo Parish and simple burglary in April 2016 in Bossier Parish.

Dison faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of March 23, 2018.

This investigation and prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Department of Justice initiative to promote firearm safety and to reduce firearm crimes by preventing the possession and use of firearms by dangerous and persistent felons and others not authorized to possess a firearm.

The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford is prosecuting the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Honduran citizen was sentenced last week to 18 months in prison for possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.

Franklin Reyes, 36, of Honduras, was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by an alien illegally present in the United States. According to the September 1, 2017 guilty plea, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s officers responded to a report of shots fired on January 7, 2017 at a Lafayette apartment complex. After arriving, they heard a gunshot come from one of the apartments. Reyes opened the door of an apartment holding a .38 special revolver, which officers knocked from his hand as they arrested him. Officers found bullet holes in the walls and ceiling of the apartment and 11 expended ammunition casings scattered around the apartment. Reyes was previously removed in February of 2003, May of 2007, March of 2012, January of 2013 and December of 2013.

The ATF, Homeland Security Investigations and Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel prosecuted the case.

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a Fort Polk soldier with manufacturing and detonating a chemical weapon in the Kisatchie National Forest adjacent to the Fort Polk Army installation.

Ryan Keith Taylor, 24, of New Llano, La., was charged with producing, possessing and using a chemical weapon in violation of federal law.  According to the indictment, Taylor manufactured and detonated a chemical weapon on April 12, 2017 in the Kisatchie National Forest that resulted in the release of highly toxic chlorine gas into the atmosphere.

Taylor faces up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

The FBI and U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Command investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis E. Robinson are prosecuting the case.

 An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a former Homer Police officer was sentenced to 10 months in prison for his role in a vehicle fraud theft and insurance scheme.

Donald W. Malray, 52, of Homer, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of mail fraud conspiracy. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay $13,610.50 restitution and a $3,500 fine. According to the August 30, 2017 guilty plea, Malray and another individual planned a scheme to fake a vehicle and trailer theft, and then file an insurance claim to collect the money on the value of the property. On August 4, 2015, Malray and the other individual transferred the ATV and trailer to Malray’s possession after they met in Ruston, La. Malray then instructed the other individual to call the Homer Police Department and report the ATV and trailer stolen. The insurance company paid the individual in the conspiracy with Malray approximately $13,000 on September 8, 2015. Law enforcement agents recovered the ATV and trailer on January 31, 2017 in Ruston, La.

The DEA and the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. Cowles Jr. prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that the co-owner of Explo Systems Inc. pleaded guilty to conspiracy and false statements concerning the storage of munitions at Camp Minden that led to an explosion.

Explo co-owner David Alan Smith, 62, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Horsnby to one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of making a false statement. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote.

Explo Systems Inc. is a private company whose primary business operations involved the demilitarization of military munitions and the subsequent resale of the recovered explosive materials for mining operations. According to the guilty plea, the U.S. Army awarded Explo a contract on March 24, 2010 to dispose of 450,000 155 mm artillery propelling charges designated as M119A2 for $2,902,500. The Army and Explo officials later amended the contract on March 6, 2012 to dispose of 1,350,000 charges for $8,617,500.  The contract required Explo to properly store and dispose of the demilitarized M6. The contract also required Explo to document the sale of the demilitarized M6 by completing an End User Certificate (EUC). On the EUC, the purchaser of the demilitarized M6 certified the purchase and compliance with applicable federal laws. Once the EUCs were certified, Explo submitted the EUCs to the Army.

On October 15, 2012, an explosion occurred at a munitions storage igloo on Camp Minden. The explosion contained approximately 124,190 pounds of smokeless powder and a box van trailer containing approximately 42,240 pounds of demilitarized M6. The damage destroyed the igloo and trailer, shattered windows of dwellings within a four-mile radius, and derailed 11 rail cars near the storage igloo.  

As part of the guilty plea, Smith agreed that he conspired with others to defraud the United States by impeding federal, state and local authorities from properly monitoring the operations at Explo’s Camp Minden facility.  Smith also agreed that he conspired with others to submit false end use certificates in order to obtain money to which he was not entitled.

Smith faces five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine for each count.  As part of the plea agreement, Smith agreed that he owes restitution in the amount of $35,398,761.

The Environmental Protection Agency-Criminal Investigation Division, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation, Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service, FBI and the Louisiana State Police-Emergency Service Unit investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell is prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a Shreveport felon pleaded guilty to possessing a revolver.

Christopher Deshun Owens, 28, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark L. Hornsby to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. According to the guilty plea, Shreveport 911 operators received a call on August 10, 2017 from Owens’ ex-girlfriend. They heard the ex-girlfriend and Owens arguing about a firearm. Owens had entered the ex-girlfriend’s home with a firearm. Police later arrived and detained Owens. A Charter 2000, Shelton, Conn., Model: Undercover, Caliber .38 SPL revolver was recovered from a child’s dresser drawer in the house. Owens initially denied carrying the gun but later admitted to it. Owens was previously convicted in Bossier Parish for possession of marijuana, second offense.

Owens faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of March 27, 2018.

This investigation and prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Department of Justice initiative to promote firearm safety and to reduce firearm crimes by preventing the possession and use of firearms by dangerous and persistent felons and others not authorized to possess a firearm.

The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown is prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Benton man pleaded guilty Tuesday to taking out loans totaling $177,000 for three cars that didn’t exist.

Larry Wayne Toms Jr., 41, of Benton, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of bank fraud. According to the guilty plea, Toms, who is a car dealer in Bossier City, La., submitted fraudulent loan applications for the purchase of three cars from June 1, 2015 to July 23, 2015 to the Post Office Employees Federal Credit Union in Shreveport, and the credit union disbursed $177,000 to Toms. The three vehicles listed in loan applications did not exist.

Toms faces up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a $1 million fine. The court set a sentencing date of March 23, 2018.

The FBI conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg is prosecuting the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Houston man was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison for possessing with intent to distribute cocaine after the drug was found in his car.

Isidro Badillo, 22, of Houston, Texas, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release. According to the July 11, 2017 guilty plea, Lake Charles police officers stopped Badillo’s vehicle August 8, 2016 on Interstate 10. Police officers searched the vehicle and found 9.282 kilograms of powder cocaine in the trunk. Badillo knew of the cocaine and said he was driving to an unspecified location outside of New Orleans for delivery and later distribution.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Lake Charles Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a man from California was sentenced Wednesday to 12 years in prison for conspiring to transport methamphetamine.

Maquel L. Shelby, 37, of Hawthorne, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release.  According to the August 30, 2017 guilty plea, a Louisiana State trooper conducted a traffic stop on a Dodge Durango Shelby was driving January 31, 2017 on Interstate 20 in Bossier Parish. Codefendant Bryanna Warren, 27, also of California, was riding in the car along with two children, ages 5 and 2. After being questioned, Shelby admitted there was a pistol in the vehicle’s glove compartment. As the trooper walked over to the vehicle to speak to Warren who was seated in the front passenger seat, she pulled out a loaded S&W .40 caliber pistol from a diaper bag and handed it to the trooper. She admitted to trying to hide the firearm after taking it from the glove compartment. The vehicle was also searched, and troopers found 2 pounds of methamphetamine in a backpack. After the arrest, Shelby admitted he had picked up the methamphetamine from Shreveport and was instructed to bring it to Monroe, La.

Warren pleaded guilty on May 25, 2017 to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and was sentenced on October 19, 2017 to five years in prison and three years of supervised release.

The DEA and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. Cowles Jr. prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Mexican citizen was sentenced last week to 33 months in prison for reentering the United States illegally after being previously removed.

Marco Grijalva-Lopez, 34, of Mexico, was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien. According to the August 9, 2017 guilty plea, Bossier City police arrested the defendant for shoplifting on April 14, 2017. After further investigation, law enforcement agents discovered that Grijalva-Lopez had two prior convictions for assault of a family member in Harris County, Texas.  He was removed on May 30, 2015 and banned for life from entering the United States.

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Bossier City Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. Cowles Jr. prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a man from Mexico pleaded guilty to reentering the United States after being deported.

Tomas Tavera-Morales, 31, of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carol Whitehurst to one count of illegal reentry of a previously deported alien. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell. According to the guilty plea, the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office contacted Homeland Security Investigations on August 21, 2017 for assistance surveilling a possible illegal alien. Law enforcement agents later observed Tavera-Morales walking behind a residence near Third and Eastern avenues in Crowley. Agents contacted him, and he identified himself using a different name. After his arrest, he admitted that he lied about his name, and that he had been previously deported.

Tavera-Morales faces up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for March 18, 2018.

Homeland Security Investigations and Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo is prosecuting the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Shreveport man was sentenced last week to 46 months in prison for stealing 44 firearms from a Princeton gun shop.

Ryan P. Hiroms, 26, of Shreveport, was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of theft of a firearm from a federal firearms licensee. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $27,723.61 restitution. According to the August 7, 2017 guilty plea, law enforcement agents responded to a call on November 30, 2016 of a burglary at a gun shop in Princeton, La. Someone had broken into the building and stolen 44 firearms. Employees reported that two men had entered the business the day before and were looking at the firearms that were later stolen, and employees said the two men were also acting suspicious. A customer identified Hiroms as one of the two men who had entered the business. Agents also used video footage and fingerprints from one of the handguns Hiroms examined that day to identify him. Agents arrested Hiroms on December 2, 2016. They found a firearm in his vehicle that matched one that was stolen, and he was wearing attire similar to that seen in the business’s video footage. He later admitted to breaking into the gun shop and stealing the firearms.

The ATF needs help locating the remaining firearms stolen as well as other suspects in the case. If you have any information, call the ATF’s Shreveport Field Office at (318) 424-6850.

The ATF and the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown prosecuted the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Ruston man was sentenced Thursday to 24 months in prison for cyberstalking a woman and posting nude pictures of her on various websites.

Wesley Ballew, 39, of Ruston, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to one count of cyberstalking. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $7,500 restitution. According to the July 19, 2017 guilty plea, Ballew ended a relationship with a woman in 2009. He later posted nude pictures and identifying information of the woman to websites and social media sites. Ballew posted the pictures multiple times over the course of several years with the intent to harass and cause emotional distress. He also caused financial stress as the woman spent more than $7,500 in an attempt to remove the postings from online sites.

The FBI conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a man from Minden pleaded guilty to possessing a revolver.

Jeremy Moro, 40, of Minden, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to the guilty plea, the Minden Police Department arrested Moro while investigating a domestic abuse issue on September 8, 2016. After responding to the complaint, police found Moro laying on his couch with a Taurus Model: The Judge 45 caliber five shot revolver in the waistband of his pants. He was previously convicted of a felony for his role in a cross-burning in October 2008 in Louisiana.

Moro faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, forfeiture of the seized firearm and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of March 1, 2018.

This investigation and prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Department of Justice initiative to promote firearm safety and to reduce firearm crimes by preventing the possession and use of firearms by dangerous and persistent felons and others not authorized to possess a firearm.

The ATF, FBI, Webster Parish Coroner’s Office and Minden Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary J. Mudrick is prosecuting the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a Mexican citizen was sentenced to 46 months in prison for reentering the United States illegally.

Jose Luis Gamez-Verdugo, 49, of Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien. According to the August 8, 2017 guilty plea, Gamez-Verdugo was found on April 9, 2017 in Vermilion Parish. After further investigation, it was determined that he had been removed from the United States on five previous occasions. The most recent removal was on June 16, 2011 in Brownsville, Texas.

United States Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Forrest Phillips prosecuted the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a Mexican citizen was sentenced to 15 months in prison for reentering the United States illegally for a fourth time.

David Acuna-Ontiveros, 31, of Nogolas, Sorora, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien. According to the July 28, 2017 guilty plea, Louisiana State Police arrested Acuna-Ontiveros on April 24, 2017 at the Morgan City Department of Motor Vehicles. The defendant was attempting to obtain a driver’s license using a stolen identity. Acuna-Ovtiveros was found with another person’s driver’s license, birth certificate and Social Security card. He admitted after the arrest that he was in the United States illegally and had paid money for the stolen identity. After further investigation, law enforcement agents found that the defendant had been removed in February of 2005 and March of 2006. He was also arrested in December of 2012 and removed in September of 2013 after serving time for a felony.

United States Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and the Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a Mexican citizen was sentenced to 11 months in prison for reentering the United States illegally after being removed at least three times.

Juan Jose Mendoza-Ibarra, 38, of Mexico, was sentence by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien. According to the September 1, 2017 guilty plea, the defendant was found to be in Lafayette in July of 2017 after an arrest. He had previously been removed from the United States at least three times on March 11, 2016, August 5, 2016 and February 10, 2017.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic Rossetti prosecuted the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a federal jury found a Clayton man guilty of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and firearms charges.

Robert L. Snyder, 41, of Clayton, La., was found guilty of one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of an unregistered firearm, and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  United States District Judge Dee D. Drell presided over the trial. The defendant’s trial started Monday and ended Wednesday with the jury returning the guilty verdict after deliberating for about three hours.  Evidence admitted at trial revealed that law enforcement agents learned that illegal drugs were being sold out of a Clayton residence. After a search of Snyder’s home, police found more than 100 grams of methamphetamine along with numerous firearms, $1,600 in cash and $10,000 in money orders. Law enforcement revisited the property on March 4, 2014 and found more firearms in the home.  In total, law enforcement found 15 weapons and ammunition. Among the firearms was a .22 caliber rifle with the serial number removed.

Snyder faces 10 years to life in prison for the methamphetamine count, up to 10 years in prison for possession of an unregistered firearm, and up to 10 years in prison for each count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He also faces not less than five years of supervised release, a $10 million fine and forfeiture of items seized during the investigation.  The court set sentencing for March 6, 2018.

The U.S. Marshals Service, FBI, ATF and the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tennille M. Gilreath and Mary J. Mudrick are prosecuting the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Krotz Springs man was sentenced Tuesday to 41 months in prison for possessing firearms and ammunition after being convicted of a felony.

Paul Joseph Viola, 46, of Krotz Springs, La., was sentenced by U.S.  District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and two counts of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. He was also sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.

Testimony and evidence at a three-day trial that ended on August 2, 2017 revealed that ATF agents received an anonymous call in October of 2015 reporting that Viola was a felon in possession of firearms. In an undercover operation conducted between October 31, 2015 and November 13, 2015, law enforcement agents obtained photographs of a Remington 1100 12 gauge shotgun, a .22 caliber Remington Speedmaster Model 552 semi-automatic rifle, and a .22 caliber Ruger model 10/22 semi-automatic rifle in Viola’s trailer in Krotz Springs. While the investigation was still ongoing, on November 28, 2015, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents found Viola hunting in the Sherburne Wildlife Management area in St. Martin Parish in possession of a loaded .35 caliber Whelen single shot rifle and five rounds of ammunition. On December 7, 2015, ATF agents searched Viola’s trailer in Krotz Springs where they found and seized 13,428 rounds of ammunition.  During his arrest on January 21, 2016 in Krotz Springs, law enforcement agents found 10 .22 caliber rounds of ammunition in a magazine for a Ruger 10/22 rifle, one round of Hornady .444 Marlin ammunition, three rounds of .243 Winchester ammunition and two rounds of .308 Winchester ammunition.

The ATF and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel prosecuted the case.

LAFAYETTE, La. – Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that the Lafayette Police Department has been awarded $1,249,999 in grant funding through the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) COPS Hiring Program (CHP).

Sessions today announced $98,495,397 in grants to 179 law enforcement agencies throughout the country for the COPS Hiring Program, which allows those agencies to hire 802 additional full-time law enforcement officers.

“Cities and states that cooperate with federal law enforcement make all of us safer by helping remove dangerous criminals from our communities,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “Today, the Justice Department announced that 80 percent of this year’s COPS Hiring Program grantees have agreed to cooperate with federal immigration authorities in their detention facilities. I applaud their commitment to the rule of law and to ending violent crime, including violent crime stemming from illegal immigration. I continue to encourage every jurisdiction in America to collaborate with federal law enforcement and help us make this country safer.”

“I want to be the first to congratulate the Lafayette Police Department on being awarded this grant,” Van Hook stated. “This will allow the department to add new officers to their ranks, which will only enhance the great work that they perform on a daily basis.”

CHP provides grant funding directly to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to support hiring additional law enforcement officers for three years to address specific crime problems through community policing strategies.

In September, the Justice Department announced additional priority consideration criteria for FY2017 COPS grants. Applicants were notified that their application would receive additional points in the application scoring process by certifying their willingness to cooperate with federal immigration authorities within their detention facilities. Cooperation may include providing access to detention facilities for an interview of aliens in the jurisdiction’s custody and providing advance notice of an alien’s release from custody upon request. One hundred and forty three of the 179 (80 percent) awarded agencies received additional points based on their certifications of willingness to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

The complete list of award recipients can be found here.

The COPS Office awards grants to hire community policing officers, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders and all levels of law enforcement. Since 1994, the COPS has invested more than $14 billion to help advance community policing.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Shreveport mental health facility administrator was sentenced Tuesday to 26 months in prison for taking part in a kickback scheme.

Tom McCardell, 64, of Lafayette, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on 14 counts of paying illegal kickbacks. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $20,000 fine. McCardell was found guilty after a four-day trial that ended February 9, 2017.

According to the evidence presented at trial, McCardell operated a kickback scheme from July 2011 to November 2012 while he was administrator of Physicians Behavior Hospital (PBH) in Shreveport. He paid kickbacks to an Alabama resident, who had no medical training or background, to recruit and refer patients to PBH for psychiatric and substance abuse treatment. The hospital would then purchase bus tickets for the patients to travel to PBH in Shreveport. Many of the patients traveled unattended without escort. To avoid detection and suspicion, the defendant arranged for the kickbacks to be issued in the name of the patient recruiter’s son. The defendant also ordered PBH personnel to create an employee file in the name of the recruiter’s son in order to provide cover for the illegal kickback arrangement. During the scheme, McCardell caused the hospital to pay the recruiter’s son checks totaling $41,000 to which he was not entitled. As a result of the illegal kickback scheme, the hospital billed more than $6.7 million dollars to Medicare and was paid more than $1.2 million dollars. 

The Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General and the FBI investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Earl M. Campbell and Tennille M. Gilreath prosecuted the case.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a man from Many was sentenced last week to 110 months in prison for possessing a shotgun that he also sold.

Frank Manning Jr., 37, of Many, La., was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the August 1, 2017 guilty plea, Manning sold a Crescent Arms 20 gauge shotgun on May 25, 2016 for cash at a Many residence. Manning has prior felony convictions for drugs and domestic abuse battery in Desoto and Sabine parishes.

This investigation and prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Department of Justice initiative to promote firearm safety and to reduce firearm crimes by preventing the possession and use of firearms by dangerous and persistent felons and others not authorized to possess a firearm.

The ATF and the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. Cowles Jr. prosecuted the case.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Leesville man was sentenced last week to 40 months in prison for taking part in counterfeiting $100 bills in order to purchase prepaid cards.

Deldrick Shykil Fowler, 25, of Leesville, La., previously of DeQuincy, La., was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of counterfeiting obligations to the United States. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the August 10, 2017 guilty plea, Fowler helped another unnamed conspirator on December 27, 2016 use a genuine $100 bill to make 58 counterfeit copies. The conspirator then passed $1,500 worth of counterfeit bills at a DeRidder, La., department store in exchange for three prepaid debit cards. The conspirator discarded the unused counterfeit bills in a trashcan at a park. The counterfeit bills were later found and provided to law enforcement officers. The officers located Fowler the next day and discovered him with two of the three prepaid cards. He had already spent the third card.

The U.S. Secret Service, Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office and the DeRidder Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth prosecuted the case.