Eastern District of Texas
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
An Ivorian national has been extradited from France to the United States to face charges in the Eastern District of Texas related to a $14 million fraud scheme targeting travel agenciesRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A national of Côte d’Ivoire has been extradited to the United States to face charges in the Eastern District of Texas related to a $14 million fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Christian Marviv Ble, 39, was indicted by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud; wire fraud; and unauthorized use of an access device. Ble arrived in the United States from France on April 21, 2026, and is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
The three-count indictment alleges that Ble and his associates utilized an email phishing scheme to target victim travel agencies with deceptive emails. They sent emails claiming to be from the company that handles airline reservations for the travel agencies, stating there was a security update that required their login credentials. The emails included links to fake websites that closely resembled the real reservation company’s login page. When the travel agency employees entered their information, their credentials were stolen. The group then used the stolen credentials to access the legitimate reservation system and book airline tickets, charging the costs to the travel agencies’ accounts. In total, the scheme caused about $14 million in losses to approximately 430 travel agencies.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs secured the arrest and extradition from France of Ble.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Eastern District of Texas observes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, continues vigorous prosecution of those responsible for fentanyl-related overdoses and deathsRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs joins the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and the Executive Office for the United States Attorneys (EOUSA) in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This year’s theme is “Listen. Act. Advocate. Protect victims, serve communities.”
“An important part of protecting victims and serving our community is combatting the scourge of fentanyl,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “The cases below highlight our work to advocate for our victims and serve our communities by preventing future victims.”
On April 15, 2026, Isela Mendez was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for distributing tens of thousands of fentanyl-laced oxycodone pills from her home.
On February 26, 2026, illegal alien Victor Manuel Navarette Roman was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl that was imported from Mexico for distribution in the United States.
On February 26, 2026, Jessie Zavaleta Peralta was sentenced to over 19 years in federal prison for distributing large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
On February 10, 2026, Nathan Jesse Garcia was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and his co-defendant, Lino Hernandez, was sentenced to 13 years for their role in a fentanyl distribution conspiracy.
On February 4, 2026, Jaquavian Markeith Veasley was convicted by a jury in Tyler of providing the fentanyl that killed two victims. Veasley is awaiting sentencing and faces a minimum of 20 years and up to life in federal prison.
On November 3, 2025, Corey Bouchea Grant and Calvin Autae Thompson, were found guilty of trafficking multiple drugs, including fentanyl-laced heroin. Those drugs are believed to be responsible for the death of at least one victim in Lewisville. Both defendants are awaiting sentencing and face up to life in federal prison.
On October 30, 2025, Desmond Denard Brown was sentenced to over 17 years in federal prison for selling counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl.
On October 30, 2025, Trevorris Rashomique Woodard was sentenced to nearly 20 years in federal prison for his role in distributing fentanyl in the Longview area.
On October 27, 2025, Deablo Deshon Lewis was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after being convicted at trial of selling large quantities of counterfeit prescription pills, including oxycontin laced with fentanyl.
On October 1, 2025, Juan Manuel Navarette Robles, a high-level Mexican drug trafficker illegally in the United States, was sentenced to over 26 years in federal prison for distributing large amounts of fentanyl.
On July 30, 2025, Kym Andrew Wallace was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after supplying fentanyl-laced oxycodone that killed a 17-year-old. At sentencing, U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs said, “Thirty years in a federal prison cannot compare to the lifetime sentence of grief that the victim’s family faces as the result of Wallace’s actions. Wallace deserves every day of this sentence. Our office, and our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively work to protect our communities from drug traffickers like Wallace.”
On April 1, 2025, Lawrence Duguett Hardin, Jr. was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for supplying the fentanyl that led to an overdose death. A search of Hardin’s residence led to the discovery of 365.2 grams of fentanyl.
Achieving justice for victims and protecting their rights is our highest duty, and we are honored to participate in the national observance of this special week to honor victims and victim advocates.
For additional information regarding National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and resources for victims, please visit https://ovc.ojp.gov/.
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Two illegal aliens have been indicted for separate assaults on federal officers at the Livingston Detention Facility in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – Two illegal aliens have been indicted for assaulting federal employees at a detention facility in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
The assaults are alleged to have occurred at the IAH Polk Adult Detention Facility in Livingston where both individuals were being held pending their removal from the United States.
Andrei Siskov, 41, a Russian national illegally in the United States, was indicted by a federal grand jury this week and charged with assaulting or impeding federal officers. The two-count indictment alleges that on February 22, 2026, and again on April 4, 2026, Siskov assaulted detention officers who were contract employees of the Department of Homeland Security. On February 22, Siskov spit a mouthful of saliva in the face of a detention officer. On April 4, Siskov punched a detention officer in the face causing injury to the officer and leaving visible marks. Siskov faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
Rosbin Melgar-Lopez, 31, a Guatemalan national illegally in the United States, was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with assaulting or impeding a federal officer. The indictment alleges that on March 19, 2026, Melgar assaulted a Department of Homeland Security deportation officer. On that date, Melgar bit a detention officer on the forearm causing injury. Melgar faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
These cases are being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Gaston.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Eastern District of Texas observes National Crime Victims’ Rights WeekRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs joins the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and the Executive Office for the United States Attorneys (EOUSA) in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This year’s theme is “Listen. Act. Advocate. Protect victims, serve communities.”
According to a Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) report, there were 6.7 million violent victimizations of persons age 12 or older in the United States in 2024. Violent victimization includes rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault.
According to EOUSA, in fiscal year 2025 across the country, Victim-Witness professionals from the U.S. Attorney community, contacted victims more than 513,000 times regarding services and court updates; our Asset Forfeiture personnel contributed to almost $331 million in forfeited funds being granted to victims through remission or restoration; and our Financial Litigation Programs collected over $1 billion in restitution from criminal defendants for the benefit of victims.
“In the Eastern District of Texas, we have experienced Victim-Witness professionals who listen to victims and answer their questions,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “Our Financial Litigation and Asset Forfeiture teams act diligently to maximize asset recovery on behalf of victims; and every day, our Assistant U.S. Attorneys appear in court to advocate for the rights of victims under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA) and take steps to protect them.”
Achieving justice for victims and protecting their rights is our highest duty and we are honored to participate in the National observance of this special week to honor victims and victim advocates.
For additional information regarding National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and resources for victims, please visit https://ovc.ojp.gov/.
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Northwest ISD teacher indicted for child pornography violationsRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A Denton man has been indicted and charged with federal child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Kyle Lee Roy Francis, 24, was named in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with receipt and possession of child pornography.
Francis has voluntarily resigned from his position with Northwest Independent School District.
If convicted, Francis faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations Dallas Child Exploitation Group and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Calli Bailey.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Texarkana, Texas man sentenced to over 21 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
TEXARKANA, Texas – A Texarkana, Texas man has been sentenced to a lengthy prison sentence for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Timothy Brooks, 46, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 255 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder III on April 15, 2026.
According to information presented in court, a federal drug trafficking investigation led authorities to Brooks. A search of his Texarkana residence in May of 2024 revealed an ice chest containing 10.8 kilograms of methamphetamine. Also located at the residence was a firearm, marijuana and other drugs, and various drug trafficking paraphernalia such as digital scales.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Texarkana, Texas, Police Department; and Miller County, Arkansas, Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Richards.
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Houston man sentenced to federal prison in ATM hook and chain crime spree involving Prosper bankRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A Houston man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for a violent crime spree in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Cody Williams, 27, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank theft and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on April 15, 2026. Williams was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $71,639.
According to court documents, from June 2020 to June 2024, Williams was involved in a crime spree referred to as “Hook and Chain” burglaries, which involved stealing a truck, attaching hooks and chains to the vehicle, and using it to drag the door off an ATM to retrieve the cash currency from the machine. This crime spree involved several burglaries in Texas and Arizona, including the Texas Bank on South Preston Road in Prosper. The conspiracy resulted in a loss of over $400,000 in bank funds and damage to property.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Fort Worth Police Department, and Pottsboro Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.
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Illegal alien sentenced 27 years in federal prison as part of Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –A Mexican national illegally living in the United States has been sentenced to 27 years in federal prison as part of the Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Israel Sanchez Arciga, 48, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute and possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 324 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on April 14, 2026.
According to information presented in court, Arciga and others were importing liquid methamphetamine from Mexico, completing the manufacturing process in Texas and then distributing multi-kilogram quantities of highly pure methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas. Arciga, an illegal alien, was also in possession of a firearm when he was arrested on July 14, 2023, outside the methamphetamine conversion lab in Rice, Texas, where he was living.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office, Flower Mound Police Department, Garland Police Department, and Hunt County Sheriff’s Office, with additional assistance from the Texas Department of Public Service and Navarro County Sheriff’s Office.
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Dallas woman sentenced to 22 years in federal prison as part of the Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking fentanyl in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A Dallas woman has been sentenced to 22 years in federal prison as part of the Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking fentanyl in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Isela Mendez, 45, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute and possess with intent to manufacture and distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 264 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on April 15, 2026.
According to information presented in court, Mendez was identified during an investigation involving the influx of counterfeit oxycodone, and other prescription pills, in the Eastern District of Texas and surrounding areas. It was determined that Mendez worked with others to distribute tens of thousands of “M30” fentanyl-laced pills. Mendez’s son, Nathan Garcia, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison as part of the same conspiracy on February 9, 2026.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Dallas Police Department.
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Dallas mechanic sentenced to lengthy prison sentence as part of the Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –A Dallas auto mechanic has been sentenced to a lengthy federal prison sentence as part of the Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking methamphetamine and cocaine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Jose Cruz Badillo-Rivera, 50, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant III on April 14, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in January of 2020, an on-going drug trafficking investigation in the Eastern District of Texas identified Badillo-Rivera as a multi-kilogram methamphetamine distributor who was negotiating drug transactions at his Dallas automotive mechanic shop.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.
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Collin County man sentenced to 15 years in federal prison as part of the Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking meth and cocaine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –A McKinney man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison as part of the Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking methamphetamine and cocaine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Eraldo Orozco-Fernandez, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine and was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant III on April 14, 2026.
According to information presented in court, on March 31, 2023, Orozco-Fernandez was stopped for a traffic violation in McKinney. A search of the vehicle during the stop revealed approximately 3.76 kilograms of cocaine, a firearm, and over $2,800 in cash. A search of Orozco-Fernandez’s McKinney residence yielded another eight kilograms of methamphetamine, approximately one kilogram of cocaine and $6,000 in U.S. currency. Orozco-Fernandez admitted to being involved in a conspiracy responsible for distributing methamphetamine and cocaine in the Eastern District of Texas.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Collin County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.
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Burleson man sentenced to lengthy federal prison sentence as part of the Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking fentanyl in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –A Burleson man has been sentenced to over 11 years in federal prison as part of the Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking fentanyl in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Zachary Don Mathis, 32, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on April 14, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in March of 2022, Mathis was identified during a drug trafficking investigation involving the distribution of fentanyl-laced pills in the Eastern District of Texas. Mathis admitted to being involved in a conspiracy responsible for distributing at least 4 kilograms of a mixture containing fentanyl which he would provide to others for further distribution in the Eastern District of Texas.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.
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Homeland Security Task Force investigation leads to 27-year sentence for Guatemalan man trafficking cocaine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –A Guatemalan national has been sentenced to over 27 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Crysthian Omar Escobar Angel, 48, a Guatemalan national, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine knowing it would be unlawfully imported into the United States. Escobar Angel was sentenced to 327 months in federal prison on April 7, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant.
According to information presented in court, in 2015, federal agents identified and began investigating a large-scale drug trafficking organization operating throughout Central and North America. The organization used a sophisticated infrastructure to manufacture and distribute multi-ton quantities of cocaine from Colombia, through Central American countries and into the United States for further distribution. Escobar Angel was identified as managing a portion of those activities in Guatemala and indicted in the Eastern District of Texas in 2019.
Based on information presented in court, Escobar Angel was involved in threats of violence including this statement he sent in a text message, “Let me talk with someone I am just going to need some specifics for tomorrow and we will throw some poison on him…. [l]eave that [expletive] to me…. Let’s [expletive] him up….”
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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Collin County man sentenced to federal prison as part of Operation Take Back America for robbing firearms storeRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A McKinney man has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison in connection with the robbery of a firearms store in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Brandon Elliott Bennett, 22, pleaded guilty to conspiracy of theft from a federal firearm licensee and theft from a federal firearm licensee and was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on April 7, 2026.
According to information presented in court, on May 5, 2024, Bennett conspired with others to rob Mister Guns, a licensed gun store in Plano, by ramming a vehicle into the front entrance of the business, knocking off the entrance door and causing extensive damage to the storefront. Once inside, Bennett smashed several glass display cases with a sledgehammer, and stole over 60 firearms, including rifles, handguns, and pistols. Bennett fled the scene and later sold the firearms for profit.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chalana A. Oliver.
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New Yorkers sentenced to federal prison for illegal counterfeit passport operation in the Eastern District of Texas as part of Operation Take Back AmericaRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – Two New York women have been sentenced to federal prison for an illegal counterfeit passport operation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Ciera Julieth Blas, 32, of Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty to fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on April 7, 2026.
Kelly Josek, 41, of New York, New York, also pleaded guilty to fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents and was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison by Judge Mazzant in January 2026.
According to information presented in court, officers with the Flower Mound Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Blas, where Josek was a passenger. During the stop, officers discovered seven U.S. Passport Identification Cards along with accompanying bank cards matching the names identified on the passports. The investigation was turned over to the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service who later discovered that Blas and Josek used the personal identifying information of over 80 other individuals, along with passport-style photos of 12 different individuals, to create counterfeit passport cards bearing their names and images.
“This case highlights the significant work of local law enforcement in protecting our communities, and our nation every day,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “In this case, a routine traffic stop was anything but routine. Counterfeit passport cards, and other identifying documents, enable all types of crime from fraud to terrorism. We take these crimes very seriously and we appreciate the Court sentencing Blas to the statutory maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment and Josek to over seven years.”
“Today’s sentencing is very welcome and the positive result of several years of unceasing investigative work by the DSS Resident Office in Dallas,” said Ryan Pack, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Houston Field Office. “The significance of the penalty clearly demonstrates how seriously fraud involving the use of counterfeit U.S. passport cards and other official government documents is taken.”
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Flower Mound Police Department, and the U.S. Secret Service. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.
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Dallas man sentenced to lengthy federal prison sentence under Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking fentanyl in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –A Dallas man has been sentenced to over 12 years in federal prison under the Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking fentanyl in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Marvin Alexander Portillo, 29, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on March 31, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in June of 2023, Portillo was identified during a drug trafficking investigation involving the distribution of fentanyl-laced pills in the Eastern District of Texas. Portillo admitted to being involved in a conspiracy responsible for distributing at least 400 grams of a substance containing fentanyl in the Eastern District of Texas.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.
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Illegal alien sentenced to federal prison under Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –A Mexican national illegally living in the United States has been sentenced to five years in federal prison under the Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Sergio Uriel Munoz-Rodriguez, 44, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on March 31, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in 2020 federal agents identified Munoz-Rodriguez while investigating drug trafficking activity in the Metroplex area. Munoz-Rodriguez admitted to being involved in a conspiracy responsible for distributing at least 15 kilograms of a substance containing methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas. It was also determined during the investigation that Munoz-Rodriguez is a citizen of Mexico and illegally in the United States.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.
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Denton County man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison under Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –A Denton man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison under the Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Brandon Lynn Hunter, 41, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on March 31, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in 2021, Hunter was identified as a source of methamphetamine in the Denton area. A search of Hunter’s residence in June 2021 resulted in the seizure of over 35 grams of methamphetamine and drug trafficking paraphernalia. Hunter admitted to being involved in a conspiracy responsible for distributing at least 45 kilograms of a substance containing methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Denton Police Department; Pilot Point Police Department; Little Elm Police Department; Cooke County Sheriff’s Office; Denton County Sheriff’s Office; and Texas Department of Public Safety. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.
Marshall man armed with Glock-switch sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for $100 robberyRead the Press Release
MARSHALL, Texas – A Marshall man has been sentenced to 100 months in federal prison in connection with a violent armed robbery in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Jaquallon Tyjuan Hargett, 20, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge J. Rodney Gilstrap on March 24, 2026.
According to information presented in court, on April 16, 2024, Hargett, armed with a pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device, robbed an individual of $100 at an ATM in Daingerfield, Texas. A machinegun conversion device, also commonly referred to as a Glock-switch, is a small mechanism that can be attached to the rear of the slide of a firearm, converting a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic machinegun.
“This case demonstrates why we cannot, and we will not, allow Glock-switches to proliferate on the streets of East Texas,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “This sentence, 100 months in prison for robbing $100 from a citizen of our community, shows that crime simply does not pay on our watch. Law enforcement conducted an excellent investigation that brought this criminal to justice. They have my sincere appreciation.”
“Protecting the communities we serve is fundamental to the mission of my agency,” said Daingerfield Police Chief Tracy Climer. “This successful investigation was accomplished through swift collaboration and dedicated investigative work.”
“ATF is proud to stand alongside our local, state, and federal partners in bringing this offender to justice,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Brian Garner. “This case highlights the real and growing danger posed by illegal machine gun conversion devices, which turn firearms into extremely lethal weapons. Through strong collaboration and determined investigative work, we were able to hold a violent offender accountable and make our communities safer. We will continue to prioritize cases like this to disrupt criminal activity and protect the public.”
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case was investigated by the Daingerfield Police Department; Marshall Police Department; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Texas Department of Public Safety and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Farahnak.
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Honduran national extradited from Guatemala to the Eastern District of Texas to face international drug trafficking chargesRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A Honduran national has been extradited to the United States to face drug trafficking charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Baldemar Roque Negrete, also known as Chele Peña, 52, a Honduran national, was extradited from Guatemala to the United States on March 20, 2026, to face international drug trafficking charges in the Eastern District of Texas.
Roque Negrete was charged by indictment on August 14, 2019, with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine knowing it would be imported to the United States for distribution.
Roque Negrete is set for an initial appearance in federal court in the Eastern District of Texas on March 24, 2026.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division, FBI, and DEA Guatemala City Country Office.
The Justice Department extends its gratitude to the Government of Guatemala for making the extradition possible. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Guatemala.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Former Costa Rican government official and fellow drug trafficker extradited to the Eastern District of Texas to face international drug trafficking chargesRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – Two Costa Rican national, including a former government official, have been extradited to the United States to face drug trafficking charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Celso Manuel Gamboa Sanchez, 49, and Edwin Danney Lopez-Vega, also 49, were extradited from Costa Rica to the United States on March 20, 2026, after being charged in separate indictments in the Eastern District of Texas with drug trafficking violations. Gamboa Sanchez and Lopez-Vega are the first Costa Rican nationals extradited to the United States since Costa Rica reformed its constitution in May 2025 to allow for the extradition of Costa Rican nationals for drug trafficking offenses.
On June 23, 2025, Costa Rican police arrested Gamboa Sanchez, a former Costa Rican government official and judge, and Lopez-Vega on drug trafficking charges filed in the United States. Prior to his arrest, Gamboa Sanchez was a major drug trafficker in Costa Rica and had facilitated the shipment of tens of millions of dollars’ worth of cocaine from Colombia through Costa Rica to the United States and Europe. Gamboa Sanchez was indicted on July 9, 2025, and charged with conspiring with other international drug traffickers to manufacture, distribute, and transport significant quantities of cocaine, much of which was trafficked through Costa Rica and ultimately into the United States for further distribution. Gamboa Sanchez has held several governmental positions in Costa Rica, including Minister of Public Security in 2014, a position charged with overseeing crime prevention in the country, and judge from 2016 to 2018.
In a separate indictment, Lopez-Vega was charged on June 11, 2025, with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine knowing it would be imported into the United States. The two-count indictment alleges that beginning in 2008, Lopez-Vega was involved in a conspiracy to traffic cocaine not only to the United States, but to countries throughout South, Central, and North America, including Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Mexico.
The defendants are set for initial appearances in federal court in the Eastern District of Texas on March 24, 2026.
These cases are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.
These cases are being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division, FBI, and DEA San Jose Country Office. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wes Wynne.
The Justice Department extends its gratitude to the Governments of Costa Rica, the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic of Costa Rica’s Office of Technical Assistance and International Relations, and its prosecutorial and law enforcement authorities for making the extradition possible. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica provided significant assistance in securing the defendants’ arrest and extraditions from Costa Rica.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Deplorable conditions and deceptive business practices lead to federal charges under the Animal Welfare Act for Hopkins County dog breederRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A Hopkins County woman has been indicted and charged with federal violations related to an unlicensed breeding facility in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Kristine Michelle Hicks, 51, of Cumby, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas this week charging her with acting as an animal dealer without a license and four counts of wire fraud. Hicks appeared in federal court on March 23, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Don D. Bush.
According to the indictment, in December 2025, an investigation into Hicks’ breeding facility, “Giant German Shepherds,” began after a video surfaced on social media showing Hicks tying a dog to a tree and shooting the animal three times, killing it. The investigation revealed that from June 2024 through December 2025, Hicks is alleged to have operated a dog breeding and dog sales business in Hopkins County for which she did not have a license. The indictment describes deplorable conditions the animals were kept in, with most animals requiring emergency care due to starvation, parasite-related illnesses, lack of veterinary care and immunizations, and inadequate shelter from environmental exposure.
The indictment also alleges that in addition to operating an unlicensed facility, Hicks made fraudulent claims as to the parentage, health, and training of the dogs to inflate the sales price of the animals, often by thousands of dollars. Hicks also fraudulently claimed the dogs were of a certain temperament bred specifically to be trained as service animals. One such dog was sold to a paralyzed, bed-ridden, disabled veteran. The dog was aggressive, drew blood several times, and had to be muzzled before any veterinary care. Hicks also purported her animals to be healthy, AKC (American Kennel Club) registered dogs and promised to provide paperwork as proof. Instead, Hicks sold dogs that were of mixed breeds, randomly sourced from other litters, and had diseases or were in an otherwise unhealthy state.
If convicted, Hicks faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General and the FBI. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Morris.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Richardson man convicted of federal child pornography violationsRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A Richardson man has been convicted of federal child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Justin Philip Ciruti, 42, was found guilty by a jury of distribution and possession of child pornography following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on March 19, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in September of 2024, a social media platform reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a user had distributed child pornography via a direct message. That referral was received by the Richardson Police Department, who investigated the case and determined that the child pornography distribution resolved back to Ciruti’s residence in Richardson.
On December 2, 2024, a search warrant was executed at Ciruti’s residence and electronic devices were recovered. A forensic analysis of the devices revealed some 200 images and approximately 200 videos of child pornography saved in various places, including in an encrypted application and a video player application. The video file which was originally reported by the social media platform was also recovered.
Under federal statutes, Ciruti faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Richardson Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa Miller and Calli Bailey.
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Dallas man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –A Dallas man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Esteban Castillo, 26, of Dallas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on March 19, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in 2021, federal agents began investigating a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating a narcotics distribution cell in the North Texas area. The investigation revealed Castillo was part of a conspiracy purchasing large amounts of illegal drugs including methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana for further distribution. The conspiracy involved at least 45 kilograms or more of methamphetamine.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Denison Police Department, and Mesquite Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Johnson.
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Guatemalan national extradited to the Eastern District of Texas to face international drug trafficking chargesRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A Guatemalan national has been extradited to the United States to face drug trafficking charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Elmer Antonio Pancan Barrios, aka “Chepio,” 42, was extradited from Guatemala to the United States on March 5, 2026, after being charged in a federal indictment in the Eastern District of Texas with drug trafficking violations.
The indictment alleges that Pancan Barrios conspired with and assisted other international drug traffickers to manufacture, distribute, and transport significant quantities of cocaine into the United States for further distribution.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
If convicted, Pancan Barrios faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division in conjunction with DEA Guatemala City Country Office; DEA Bogota Country Office; DEA Cartagena Resident Office; DEA Panama Country Office and DEA San Jose Country Office.
The Justice Department extends its gratitude to the Government of Guatemala and its prosecutorial and law enforcement authorities for making the extradition possible. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Guatemala.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Correctional officer sentenced to 10 years for trafficking meth in federal prisonRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A correctional officer has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Martel Devante Gilliam, 22, of Beaumont, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on March 11, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in March 2024, Gilliam, a correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) in Beaumont, was identified as a source of supply for illegal drugs at the prison. On March 8, 2024, after Gilliam reported to work, a canine alerted to the presence of narcotics on Gilliam’s vehicle during an open-air sniff. A search of the vehicle revealed approximately 125 grams of methamphetamine; 28 grams of cocaine; 459 grams of synthetic marijuana; vacuum sealed packages of tobacco and marijuana; $5,700 cash; and a pistol.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Bureau of Prisons, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James.
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Nacogdoches County felon sentenced to federal prison for firearms violationRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas –A Nacogdoches convicted felon has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
William Charles Fincher, 42, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on March 10, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in July 2024, local law enforcement was dispatched to Fincher’s Nacogdoches residence in response to a domestic disturbance. During the response, it was discovered there were multiple firearms at the residence. Further investigation revealed Fincher is a convicted felon and prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Nacogdoches Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter.
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Federal inmate sentenced for threatening Bureau of Prisons AdministratorRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A federal inmate has been sentenced to additional time in prison for threatening a prison official in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
John Robert Bond, 55, pleaded guilty to making threats against a federal official and was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael J. Truncale on March 11, 2026.
According to information presented in court, on May 25, 2025, Bond stated that upon his release from prison he was going to “blow up” the home of one of the prison administrators at the Federal Correctional Complex in Beaumont. Bond was scheduled to be released on June 13, 2025. In response to the threat, jailers searched Bond’s belongings and found notes describing the administrator and the location of their home. As a result, Bond was charged with a criminal violation and not released as scheduled.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John B. Ross and Chris Jackson.
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Four Houston gang members guilty of conspiracy to commit bank robberies and juggingsRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – Four Houston criminal street gang members have been convicted of conspiracy and bank robbery in connection with a string of ATM robberies and “juggings” in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Charles Bernard Byrd, a/k/a “Doughboy,” 34, of Houston, was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to commit bank robbery and aiding and abetting bank robbery.
Byrd’s co-defendants, Kendrick Douglas Warren, a/k/a “Bullet,” 38, Derrick Deshaun Brooks, a/k/a “D-Brooks,” 36, and Derramy Deonita Foster, 42, all of Houston, pleaded guilty prior to trial.
The verdict against Byrd was reached on March 5, 2026, following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Michael J. Truncale. Byrd faces up to 25 years in federal prison at sentencing.
According to evidence introduced at trial, the Beaumont Police Department and FBI were investigating a series of bank robberies targeting ATM repair technicians during 2024. On October 8, 2024, at approximately 4:45 p.m., two men wearing masks and gloves (later identified as Derrick Brooks and Derramy Foster) robbed an ATM repairman in the drive-through of PNC Bank located on Phelan Boulevard in Beaumont. The men pushed the technician out of the way and removed $153,000 of the bank’s cash before speeding away in a black sedan toward Interstate 10. The men completed the heist in less than 20 seconds. Security cameras videoed the robbery but there were no suspects or leads.
A similar robbery was committed around 1:15 p.m. on December 31, 2024, when two men wearing masks and gloves (later identified as Derrick Brooks and Kendrick Warren) robbed an ATM repairman in the drive-through of the Education First Federal Credit Union located on Laurel Avenue in Beaumont. The men rushed the technician, ordered him to “move,” and took $146,000 of the bank’s cash. The men completed the heist in less than twenty seconds and sped away in a stolen red SUV.
Just fifteen minutes later, BPD officer John Cross located the SUV abandoned in a nearby parking lot. Although the license plate had been removed, police were able to use license plate reader images from earlier in the day to identify the SUV. The police also found that it had caravaned from Houston to Beaumont with a black 2018 truck that was registered to Brooks. Investigators also learned that minutes after the robbery the same black truck left Beaumont travelling west on I-10 toward Houston.
BPD requested assistance from the Houston Police Department Criminal Apprehension Team and were able to locate and stop the black truck as it exited I-10 in Houston, just 84 minutes after the robbery in Beaumont. At the arrest, Byrd was the get-away driver and Warren and Brooks were passengers. The officers also found a bag containing exactly $146,000 cash, the same amount that had been taken from the credit union, as well as gloves like the ones used in the robbery and a Texas paper license plate that matched the one displayed on the red SUV earlier in the day.
Further investigation revealed that Byrd, Warren, Brooks, and Foster were members of the 100% Third Ward gang that operates from the Third Ward area of Houston to commit a variety of criminal acts, including juggings and robberies. “Juggings” are burglaries or robberies that target victims observed leaving a bank or other financial business in supposed possession of cash or other items of value. The 100% Third Ward gang is also known as the “103 gang.”
Other evidence introduced at trial showed that the men engaged in a conspiracy from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2024, during which they orchestrated multiple juggings, burglaries, auto thefts, and the two ATM bank robberies. Byrd and his coconspirators committed one of their juggings just an hour before robbing the Education First Federal Credit Union on New Year’s Eve. In that instance, the men positioned the black truck to surveil the drive-through line at Chase Bank on Dowlen Road in Beaumont. After the defendants saw a customer accept a cash pouch from the teller, they followed her truck from the bank to the HEB down the road, where the men positioned the red SUV and waited for her to enter the store before smashing her window and burgling her truck while she shopped.
Warren pleaded guilty on September 15, 2025, to conspiracy and bank robbery and faces up to 25 years in federal prison at sentencing.
Brooks pleaded guilty on September 16, 2025, to conspiracy and two counts of bank robbery, and faces up to 45 years in federal prison at sentencing.
Foster pleaded guilty on September 15, 2025, to bank robbery and faces up to 20 years federal prison as sentencing.
The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case was investigated by the Beaumont Police Department, the Houston Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Memorial Villages Police Department, the West University Police Department, the Shiner Police Department, and the FBI, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John B. Ross and Jonathan Lee.
Marion County man charged with assaulting mail carrier in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
MARSHALL, Texas – A Jefferson man has been arrested in connection with the alleged assault of a mail carrier in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Alton Ray Jackson, 43, was arrested pursuant to a federal complaint charging him with assault of a federal employee. Jackson was brought before U.S. Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne on March 6, 2026, for an initial appearance.
Jackson faces up to eight years in federal prison if convicted.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Jefferson Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin Farahnak and Whitney Tharpe.
A federal complaint is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Jefferson County felon charged with federal firearms violation in Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been charged with a federal firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Terrance Von Spain, 46, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas this week charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
If convicted, Spain faces up to 15 years in federal prison.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Federal inmates charged with assault in Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – Six federal inmates have been charged with assault in connection with an attack on a fellow inmate in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Earnest Dale Collins, 29; Anderson Garcia, 27; Ira Hall, 38; Quincy Homere, 40; Richard Royal, 41; and Eric Terrill Spencer 34, were named in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas this week charging them with assault with a deadly weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury in an alleged attack on a fellow inmate on May 2, 2025. The altercation took place at the Federal Correctional Complex in Beaumont.
If convicted, the defendants each face up to 20 years in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Batte.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Federal inmate charged with possessing contraband in prisonRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A federal inmate has been charged with allegedly possessing contraband in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Robert Anthony Summers, 44, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas this week charging him with possession of a prohibited object, specifically a weapon or shank, at the Federal Correctional Complex in Beaumont.
If convicted, Summers faces up to 5 years in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Prisons and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Beaumont felon charged with federal firearms violation in Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been charged with a federal firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Koy Wayne Dodd, 42, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas this week charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
If convicted, Dodd faces up to 15 years in federal prison.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Illegal alien sentenced for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –A Mexican national illegally living in Dallas has been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Francisco Ortuno, 29, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 170 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on March 4, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in 2021, federal agents began investigating a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating a narcotics distribution cell in the North Texas area. The investigation led to multiple seizures of methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, firearms, and large amounts of U.S. currency. On October 4, 2022, federal agents executed a search warrant at a residence in Dallas used to traffic narcotics by the DTO. Upon knocking and announcing, agents were fired upon by a suspect inside the house. That suspect and the defendant, Francisco Ortuno, both fled the residence on foot leading to a chase until they were caught and detained. Inside the residence, agents seized over 30 kilograms of methamphetamine, four firearms, multiple drug ledgers, and supplies used to convert methamphetamine.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wes Wynne.
Ellis County woman sentenced for trafficking cocaine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –An Ennis woman has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for trafficking cocaine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Isabel Salas, 42, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on March 4, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in July 2022, federal agents began investigating a suspect who had been arrested with eight kilograms of heroin in Chicago. Salas was identified during this investigation, and a search warrant was executed at her Ennis residence on November 30, 2022, resulting in the seizure of over 600 grams of cocaine, eight firearms, and over $28,000 in U.S. currency.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wes Wynne.
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Dallas woman sentenced for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –A Dallas woman has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Samantha Mendoza, 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on March 4, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in 2021, federal agents began investigating a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating a narcotics distribution cell in the North Texas area. The investigation led to multiple seizures of methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, firearms, and large amounts of U.S. currency. On December 15, 2022, federal agents observed Mendoza provide a weighted package to another person. A search warrant was executed at Mendoza’s residence resulting in the seizure of 950 grams of methamphetamine, three firearms, multiple drug ledgers, methamphetamine conversion supplies, and over $85,000 in U.S. currency.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wes Wynne.
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Mexican national sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas –A Mexican national been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for drug and gun violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Victor Manuel Navarette Roman, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and was sentenced to a total of 216 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on February 26, 2026.
According to information presented in court, Roman was a high-level source of supply for illegal narcotics, specifically fentanyl and methamphetamine, imported from Mexico for distribution in the United States. A search of Roman’s residence resulted in the seizure of an AR-15 pistol as well as fentanyl and methamphetamine.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William R. Tatum.
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Garland man sentenced to federal prison for trafficking drugs in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas –A Garland man has been sentenced to over 19 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Jessie Zavaleta Peralta, 37, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine and was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on February 26, 2026.
According to information presented in court, Peralta was part of a drug trafficking organization that trafficked methamphetamine that had been imported from Mexico. Peralta stored large amounts of methamphetamine, and other narcotics, at his Garland residence before distributing in the Metroplex.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William R. Tatum.
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Longview tax preparer guilty in tax fraud schemeRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Longview tax preparer has pleaded guilty to a federal violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Marneitha Reese Scott, 57, of Gilmer, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to aid, assist, counsel, or advise in tax fraud before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell on February 18, 2026.
According to information presented in court, Scott owned a tax return preparer business operated under the name of F.A.S.T. Financial Firm (“FAST”), with two locations in Longview. Scott and others recruited tax preparers to work at the businesses to prepare and file income tax returns for clients. With others, Scott created a scheme to defraud the United States by instructing the tax preparers to create fraudulent entries on client tax returns, including, for example, claims for business losses when the client had no business. The tax returns were filed by Scott or employees working at her instruction. The tax preparation business was paid a fee by the clients for preparing and filing the returns. Scott's conduct resulted in a known tax loss for tax years 2019 – 2022 of $243,899.00.
Scott faces up to five years in federal prison, a potential fine, and restitution at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson.
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Chinese National sentenced for role in pig butchering schemeRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Chinese national has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a scheme to launder the proceeds of cryptocurrency investment scams and other fraudulent schemes involving millions of dollars in victim funds, announced Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Fei Liao, 31, of San Gabriel, California, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker on February 19, 2026. Liao was ordered to forfeit over $2.3 million in seized currency and to pay restitution of more than $2.8 million to the victims that directed money to his accounts.
According to information presented in court, Liao and others conspired to open shell companies and bank accounts to launder victim proceeds of cryptocurrency confidence schemes – also known as “pig butchering” scams. Pig butchering fraud schemes (a term derived from a foreign-language phrase used to describe these crimes) consist of scammers encountering victims on dating services or social media, or through unsolicited messages or calls, often masquerading as a wrong number. Scammers initiate relationships with victims and slowly gain their trust, eventually introducing the idea of making investments using cryptocurrency. Once funds are sent to scammer-controlled accounts, the investment platform often falsely shows significant gains on the purported investment, and the victims are thus induced to make additional investments. Ultimately, the victims are unable to withdraw or recover their invested funds and suffer significant financial losses.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, Tyler Resident Office and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Austin Wells.
If you or someone you know is a victim, report it to www.IC3.gov. In the report, please reference “Pig Butchering PSA” and include as much information as possible in the complaint including names of investment platforms, cryptocurrency addresses and transaction hashes, bank account information, and names and contact information of suspected scammers. Maintain copies of all communications with scammers and records of financial transactions.
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Healthcare executives guilty in multimillion-dollar healthcare fraud conspiracyRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – Two healthcare executives have pleaded guilty to federal charges related to a multimillion-dollar fraud conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Mouzon Bass, III, 60, of Highland Park, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Lance Wilson, 57, of Allen, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The guilty pleas were heard by U.S. Magistrate Judge Aileen Goldman Durrett this week.
According to information presented in court, Bass, the sole owner and president of Vivature, a healthcare billing company, and Wilson, a senior executive at Vivature, were involved in conspiracies to defraud others in connection with COVID-19 testing and an athletic training billing scheme.
The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is up to 20 years in federal prison, a potential fine, and restitution at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case is being investigated by FBI, Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, and Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anand Varadarajan and Adrian Garcia.
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Liberty County man sentenced to 9 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamineRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Liberty man has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Claude Gilbert, 64, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on February 12, 2026.
According to information presented in court, after conducting an investigation, agents executed a search warrant at Gilbert’s home in September 2024 and found a safe in his bedroom containing 51 grams of actual methamphetamine, a digital scale, plastic baggies, three firearms, and ammunition.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Jackson.
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North Texas men receive lengthy federal prison sentences for trafficking fentanylRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas –Two North Texas men have been sentenced to lengthy federal prison sentences for trafficking fentanyl in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Nathan Jesse Garcia, 24, of Dallas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to manufacture and distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on February 9, 2026.
Lino Hernandez, 25, of Arlington, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to manufacture and distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 156 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on February 9, 2026.
According to information presented in court, from at least 2022, Garcia and Hernandez conspired with others to distribute fentanyl in the Eastern District of Texas.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Dallas Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather H. Rattan.
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Dallas man sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for trafficking heroin and methamphetamine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas –A Dallas man has been sentenced to 27 years in federal prison sentences for drug trafficking in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Adan Mendoza, 37, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture and distribute heroin and methamphetamine and was sentenced to 324 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on February 9, 2026.
According to information presented in court, from at least 2019, Mendoza conspired with others to distribute heroin and methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather H. Rattan.
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Titus County drug trafficker convicted of supplying deadly fentanyl-laced pillsRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Mount Pleasant man has been found guilty of federal drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Jaquavion Markeith Veasley, 36, was found guilty by a jury of five counts of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death or serious bodily injury. The verdict was reached on February 4, 2026, following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle.
According to information presented in court, beginning in 2023, Veasley conspired with others to distribute illegal narcotics that he knew to be laced with fentanyl resulting in the death of at least two individuals.
“The law designates illicit fentanyl as a narcotic, but illicit fentanyl is also a weapon of mass destruction,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “Veasley’s greed turned the fentanyl he sold into a deadly weapon which destroyed two lives and forever altered the lives of the victims’ families. In the Eastern District of Texas, we cherish our duty to defend this great nation and its citizens. Those who spread this poison in our communities should be on notice that we will not stand for it.”
“This conviction underscores that federal drug trafficking is not a victimless crime, it is inherently violent and deadly,” said the Special Agent in Charge Brian Garner of ATF’s Dallas Field Division. “The distribution of fentanyl fuels addiction, drives violent crime, and destroys families and communities. ATF will continue to work alongside our federal, state, and local partners to target those who traffic in these lethal substances and hold them fully accountable under federal law.”
“The Mount Pleasant Police Department is committed to actively pursuing those responsible for causing the deaths of others through the distribution of narcotics,” said Chief of Police Mark Buhman. “We are thankful for the support of our fellow partners in law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work in holding Veasley accountable.”
At sentencing, Veasley faces at least 20 years and up to life in federal prison. The statutory sentencing range prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Texas Department of Public Safety; and the Mount Pleasant Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucas Machicek and Emil Mikkelsen.
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Jefferson County felon charged with federal firearms violation in Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been charged with a federal firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
David Earl Greer, Jr., 23, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas this week charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
If convicted, Greer faces at least 15 years in federal prison.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Jasper County felon charged with federal firearms violation in Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Jasper man has been charged with a federal firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Kenneth Mitchell Woods, 28, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas this week charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
If convicted, Woods faces at least 15 years in federal prison.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Jasper Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Inmates indicted for murder at Beaumont federal prisonRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – Four federal inmates have been charged with murder in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Conrad Edward Nedd, also known as CJ, 41; Jeremy Crow, 32; Ramon James Ybarra, also known as Apache, 35; and Curtis Ray McClendon, 43; were named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas, charging them with murder.
The indictment alleges that on November 21, 2025, the inmates were involved in an altercation resulting in the death of another inmate at the Federal Correctional Complex in Beaumont.
If convicted, the defendants each face up to life in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Prisons and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Guatemalan nationals extradited to the Eastern District of Texas to face international drug trafficking chargesRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – Three Guatemalan nationals have been extradited to the United States to face drug trafficking charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Adelfo Federico Valdez Santos, aka “Lico Valdez,” 43; Pedro Pablo Oliva Catalan, aka “Peke,” and “Peques,” 36; and Kelvin David Beron Ramirez, aka “Catracho,” and “Crunchi,” 37, were extradited from Guatemala to the United States on January 30, 2026, after being named in separate federal indictments in the Eastern District of Texas charging them with drug trafficking violations.
The indictments allege that Valdez, Oliva, and Beron conspired with and assisted other international drug traffickers to manufacture, distribute, and transport significant quantities of cocaine into the United States for further distribution.
These cases are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
If convicted, Valdez, Oliva, and Beron each face a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.
These cases are being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Dallas Field Division in conjunction with DEA Guatemala City Country Office; DEA Bogota Country Office; DEA Cartagena Resident Office; DEA Panama Country Office and DEA San Jose Country Office.
The Justice Department extends its gratitude to the Government of Guatemala and its prosecutorial and law enforcement authorities for making the extradition possible. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala provided significant assistance in securing the defendants’ arrests and extraditions from Guatemala.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Rattan.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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