Eastern District of Texas
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Smith County Man Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsTYLER, Texas – A 39-year-old Tyler, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Micol Jauron Sears pleaded guilty on Sep. 3, 2014 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine and was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider. Sears was also ordered to submit to forfeiture of $25,000.
According to information presented in court, on Apr. 9, 2014, a federal search warrant was executed at Sears’ residence in Tyler during which law enforcement officers located 1.8 kilograms of crack cocaine, six firearms and a safe containing $39,900 in cash. Sears had previously been indicted by a federal grand jury on Mar. 26, 2014 and charged with drug trafficking violations.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tyler Police Department, and the FBI HIDTA Task Force and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Baldwin.Jefferson County Man Sentenced in Synthetic Marijuana ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsBEAUMONT, Texas – A 46-year-old Port Arthur, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Michael Williams pleaded guilty on July 9, 2014, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute synthetic marijuana and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison on Jan. 27, 2015 by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark.
According to information presented in court, from May 2013 to November 2013, Williams conspired to receive synthetic marijuana from individuals in the Syracuse, New York area for distribution in the Port Arthur, Texas area. Williams was shipped boxes containing packages labeled with brand names such as: “Caution,” “Scooby Snax,” “Kush,” “WTF,” “Masterkush,” “Mr. Niceguy,” and “Klimax” on credit for approximately $4.50 per package. Williams would then sell the packages of synthetic marijuana to others for $8 to $10 per package and then either send money orders to Syracuse or deposit money into a Bank of America account in the name of another defendant.
In November 2013, a search warrant executed on Williams’ residence and vehicle revealed a phone, cash, and deposit slips linking Williams to the drug trafficking organization out of Syracuse. A federal grand jury in the Northern District of New York returned an indictment on Nov. 20, 2013 charging nine individuals in that organization with drug trafficking violations. Southeast Texans named in the NDNY indictment are Ali Bedwan, Joe Aref and Arafat Khdour. Bedwan pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge in Beaumont in 2014 and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison. Aref and Khdour are awaiting trial in Syracuse. Williams was indicted by a federal grand jury in Beaumont in May 2014.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Port Arthur Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Rawls.
Denton County Man Guilty of Wire Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsSHERMAN, Texas – A 35-year-old Little Elm, Texas man has pleaded guilty to federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Joey Earl Cooper pleaded guilty to wire fraud today before U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant.
According to information presented in court, from April 2011 to July 2012, Cooper controlled a Wells Fargo bank account in the name of Darmaini & Cooper BG, Inc., in Frisco, Texas. Cooper also operated a private postal center in Little Elm, Texas. During this time, Cooper devised a scheme to defraud two customers of his private postal center and Citibank by using the customer’s Citibank credit card, which was only provided to Cooper to pay for the customer’s mailings from his private postal center, to transfer funds from Citibank to his Wells Fargo bank account. Cooper would then withdraw the funds from his Wells Fargo account and use the money for his own personal benefit.
Cooper was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 13, 2014 charging Cooper with federal violations. He was arrested by Special Agents of the IRS Criminal Investigation on Sep. 14, 2014 at JFK International Airport in New York.
Cooper faces up to 10 years in federal prison and forfeiture of $1,001,360.92. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is being investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Andrew Williams.
Dallas Former Mortgage Broker Guilty of FraudRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsSHERMAN, Texas – A 55-year-old Dallas former mortgage broker has pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales.
Jose Antonio Caballero pleaded guilty to defrauding the Department of Housing and Urban Development and Federal Housing Administration today before U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant.
According to information presented in court, Caballero owned and operated American Processing Center, providing assistance to homeowners with mortgage loan modification programs, including the Home Affordable Modification Program. Between March 2011 and December 2011, Caballero worked with homeowners in Mesquite, Texas to obtain an extension and renewal of a loan and mortgage on their residence on Bayberry Drive, which was insured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In the process, Caballero falsified documents, including a Statement of Hardship Letter, a Monthly Income Expense Worksheet, and a Making Home Affordable Program Request for Modification and Affidavit. Caballero did so knowing the documents were fraudulent and for the purpose of defrauding the federal agencies.
Caballero also engaged in similar conduct with respect to 20 other properties located in Carrollton, Dallas, Farmers Branch, Fort Worth, Garland, Grand Prairie, Irving, Little Elm, Mesquite, and Rowlett, some of which were secured by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Caballero faces up to two years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.This law enforcement action is part of President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.
This case was investigated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher A. Eason.Anderson County Man Indicted on Federal Income Tax ChargesRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsTYLER, Texas – A 37-year-old Palestine, Texas man has been charged with federal income tax violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Jefferson Kincade appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell today and was released on an unsecured bond. Kincade was indicted on Jan. 21, 2015, and charged with 31 counts of preparing income tax returns with false statements in them, six counts of theft of government money, and six counts of aggravated identity theft.
According to information presented in court, Kincade prepared tax returns for individuals at a tax preparation business, EZ Tax, in Palestine, Texas. Kincade is alleged to have devised a scheme to prepare false tax returns, steal clients' refunds, and use the clients' and other individuals' identities to accomplish the theft. The indictment alleges that the goal of Kincade's false statements and representations in the tax returns that he submitted was to increase the amount of tax refunds to which the taxpayer would be entitled. All of these false statements and representations were about material matters, including such matters as filing status, dependents, wages, farm losses, business losses, withholding, education credits, distribution codes on retirement distributions, and itemized deductions. The indictment also alleges that Kincade was able to intercept the government tax refunds for his own benefit by printing the refund checks, not giving them to his clients, and then cashing them with the assistance of two individuals who were not associated with EZ Tax. This process involved Kincade's delivering refund checks along with his clients' identification information to an acquaintance who was also a client. Kincade's acquaintance would then deliver the checks to a third person, who owned a check cashing business located in Tyler, Texas. This third individual would cash the checks and give the cash to Kincade's acquaintance, and the acquaintance would deliver the cash to Kincade, who would keep the money.
If convicted, Kincade faces up to three years in federal prison for each of the 31 counts of preparing false tax returns, up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the six counts of theft of government money, and up to two years in federal prison for each of the six counts of aggravated identity theft.
Kincade was arrested by Texas Department of Public Safety. This case is being investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Gibson.
A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.Forfeited Funds Returned to Beaumont ISDRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsBEAUMONT, Texas – Nearly $900,000 of forfeited funds have been paid towards financial losses suffered by the Beaumont Independent School District (BISD), announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Devin Wayne McCraney, former Director of Finance for BISD, and Sharika Baksh Allison, former Comptroller for BISD, were sentenced on Sep. 18, 2014 for fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud upon programs receiving federal funds. McCraney and Allison surrendered to the Bureau of Prisons on Oct. 21, 2014.
As part of their sentences, McCraney and Allison were ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,041,705.27 to BISD. On Jan. 15, 2015, the U.S. District Clerk forwarded $896,915.33 in forfeiture funds to BISD as part of that restitution.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Joint Task Force established in March 2014 between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas and the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute major crimes involving abuse of the public trust in Jefferson County, Texas.
After McCraney and Allison were indicted in January 2014, more than $900,000 in assets, including cash and luxury vehicles, were seized pursuant to the Justice Department’s asset forfeiture procedures. The majority of those assets were forfeited to the federal government when McCraney was sentenced. Assets were also forfeited from Allison in the criminal case. Aside from those forfeited assets, McCraney and Allison had spent nearly all of the remaining money that they embezzled from BISD.
Because McCraney and Allison did not have enough other assets to pay anything towards the $4 million restitution judgment, the U.S. Attorney requested for the Justice Department’s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section (AFMLS) to approve application of the forfeited assets to the restitution debt so that the forfeited funds could be paid to BISD. AFMLS expedited the U.S. Attorney’s request and approved it in a matter of days.
“Returning forfeited assets to the victims of financial crime is an important priority of the Justice Department’s asset forfeiture program,” said U.S. Attorney Bales. “We endeavor to seek restitution to crime victims whenever possible in our cases. Unfortunately, criminals often spend all of the money that they steal, which ultimately leaves very little else for the victims. Asset forfeiture is a key law enforcement tool because it helps to restrain a criminal’s assets and preserve them for crime victims.”
“Given how these defendants spent their ill-gotten gains and had very little of value to show for it, we are fortunate that there was anything to forfeit at all,” said U.S. Attorney Bales. “Thanks to the efforts of the task force, we were able to find what assets of value they did have, seize them, forfeit them, and now have them paid to BISD.”This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher T. Tortorice and Joseph R. Batte.
Head of the Gulf Cartel Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsBEAUMONT, Texas - U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that the current head of the Mexican drug trafficking organization, the Gulf Cartel, or Cartel del Golfo, has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in the Eastern District of Texas.
Juan Francisco Saenz-Tamez, 23, of Camargo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Saenz-Tamez entered his guilty plea on Jan. 13, 2015, before U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone.
According to information presented in court, a federal investigation into the large-scale trafficking of illegal drugs from Mexico into the Eastern District of Texas led to the identity of Saenz-Tamez. The investigation revealed Saenz-Tamez was responsible for the shipment of one-half ton of cocaine and 90 tons of marijuana into the Eastern District of Texas and then to locations across the nation, including Florida, Ohio, Michigan, Mississippi, Louisiana, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Maryland and Georgia. As a result of this scheme, $100 million was laundered by Saenz-Tamez and his drug trafficking organization.
Saenz-Tamez was indicted by a federal grand jury on Sep. 5, 2013 and charged with conspiracy with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy with intent to distribute marijuana, and conspiracy to money launder. Saenz-Tamez was arrested by federal agents on Oct. 9, 2014 while shopping in Edinburg, Texas.
Saenz-Tamez faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison for the drug convictions and up to 20 years in federal prison for the money laundering conviction. A sentencing date has not been set.
"This guilty plea marks a great victory in our long struggle against illegal narcotics trafficking and yet we must reiterate what should be self-evident - enforcement is only one part of the solution to what has been an interminable and ugly problem in American culture,” said U.S. Attorney Bales. “The American appetite for narcotics is a stain on our national honor and a dark cloud for our future. The agents working on this case are amazing - they are true American heroes and I congratulate them all."
IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cruz stated, "This is an important victory for the American public; the role of IRS-CI in narcotics investigations is to follow the money so we can financially disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations. We are committed to taking the profits away from drug traffickers and putting those individuals in jail. IRS-CI is proud to provide financial expertise as we work alongside our law enforcement partners and bring these criminals to justice."
“It’s a good day for law enforcement whenever we can take several tons of drugs off of America’s streets,” said Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Houston. “It’s even better when we can also dismantle and cripple the organization behind those drugs, and remove its leadership, as our law enforcement team did in this case.”
This case is the result of ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) joint investigations, Operation South Park, Operation La Mano Negra, Operation Frontera Chica, Operation Fowl Play and Operation Iceberg. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.This joint law enforcement investigation was led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations, Houston HIDTA Group 33, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Marshals Service, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Attorney General’s Office, National Guard of Texas – Joint Counterdrug, Beaumont Police Department, Houston Police Department, Nacogdoches Police Department, Nacogdoches Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Craft.
Beaumont, Texas, Attorney Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for Tax ViolationRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsSHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that a Beaumont attorney was sentenced to 12 months in prison for failing to file his federal income tax return.
Craig J. Schexnaider, 63, of Beaumont, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn for one count of failing to file an income tax return. He was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and serve one year of supervised release. He must also pay his tax liability of $98,805.57 to the U.S. Treasury. The court set a surrender date of February 11, 2015. According to evidence presented at the April 14, 2014 guilty plea, Schexnaider, an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Texas, had gross income in calendar year 2008 of approximately $140,000, an amount in excess of the $3,500 minimum that triggered the requirement to file a federal income tax return. And, even after he requested a six-month extension for the filing of his 2008 federal individual income tax return and the Department of the Treasury approved his request and granted an extension until October 15, 2009, Schexnaider willfully failed to file his 2008 federal individual income return by October 15, 2009 as required by law.
The sentencing resulted from a Bill of Information that was filed in November 2013 charging Schexnaider with four counts of failing to file income tax returns when he had the following in gross income: $73,920 in 2007; $143,797 in 2008; $110,669 in 2009; and $43,740 in 2010. The government dismissed the remaining counts after sentencing.
The IRS conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Flanagan prosecuted this recusal case from the Eastern District of Texas.Little Elm, Texas Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Produce and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsPLANO, Texas – A 38-year-old man has been sentenced to federal prison for child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Charles Smolens, of Little Elm. Texas, pleaded guilty on April 29, 2014 to conspiracy to produce child pornography and distribution of child pornography, and was sentenced to 365 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Marcia Crone.
According to information presented in court, in December of 2012, Judith Williams was babysitting an 8 month old baby girl when she videotaped herself performing a sex act on the infant. Williams then emailed the video to her boyfriend, Charles Smolens. During the investigation, FBI Agents discovered that Smolens had written a 22-page story about adults having sex with and raping children. Smolens also provided Williams with a thumb drive that contained hundreds of images of child pornography, including an image of an adult male attempting to perform a sex act on an infant as well as images of his live-in girlfriend’s six-year old daughter.
Judith Williams is scheduled for sentencing on February 25, 2015.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the McKinney Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tracey M. Batson and Amanda Griffith prosecuted the case.
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.
Former Beaumont Physician Sentenced for Health Care Fraud ViolationRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsBEAUMONT, Texas – A 75-year-old Beaumont doctor has been sentenced to federal prison for health care fraud violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
John Q. A. Webb, Jr., now living in Houston, pleaded guilty on July 23, 2014 to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark.
According to information presented in court, from January 2008 to December 2011, Webb, while he owned, operated and managed Beaumont Medical Clinic on Eastex Freeway in Beaumont, conspired with his office manager to have unlicensed individuals treat patients and then bill health care providers as if Webb had personally provided the services. To execute the scheme, Webb would allow unlicensed staff to prescribe controlled substances to patients when he was not on the premises and allowed his office manager to distribute the controlled substances directly to patients. Investigators have determined that the total amount of loss in this case for which Webb is responsible is $328,238.41. Programs suffering losses as a result of this scheme are Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Aetna. Webb was indicted by a federal grand jury on Dec. 5, 2013.
This case was investigated by the Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Department of Health and Human Services, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Levacy Cockrell.
Collin County Man Sentenced for Sherman Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsSHERMAN, Texas – A 47-year-old McKinney, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for bank robbery in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Elijah El-Jihad pleaded guilty on May 29, 2014 to bank robbery and was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison on Dec. 17, 2014 by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.According to information presented in court, on Mar. 31, 2014, El-Jihad entered the Woodforest National Bank located in the Kroger supermarket at 1820 Loy Lake Road in Sherman, Texas, and presented the teller with a note demanding money. El-Jihad fled the bank with approximately $800.00. He was seen entering his vehicle by witnesses after he exited the supermarket. El-Jihad was arrested in McKinney, Texas on Apr. 1, 2014 and admitted to robbing the bank. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on Apr. 9, 2014, charging El-Jihad with bank robbery.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William R. Tatum.
Galveston Woman Sentenced for Collin County Mortgage FraudRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsPLANO, Texas – A 68 year-old Galveston, Texas woman has been sentenced to federal prison for federal violations related to a mortgage fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Yvonne Gumaer pleaded guilty on Jan. 22, 2013 to making a false statement in connection with an FHA insured home loan and was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Richard Schell. Gumaer was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $791,782.89.
According to information presented in court, Gumaer was an escrow officer at Regency Title Company ("RTC") in Collin County. In 2008, Gumaer conspired with Larry Reisman, Kathy Moore, and others to knowingly and willfully make a materially false statement, for the purpose of influencing the FHA to insure a mortgage loan made to another person to purchase property known as the Thistle Way III Property from Reisman. Specifically, Reisman, the seller of the property, had not and would not pay or reimburse the borrower for any part of the borrower's closing costs which had not been disclosed in the sales contract, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1014. This scheme resulted in losses to mortgage lenders, including The Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac). Gumaer was indicted by a federal grand jury on Mar. 15, 2012.
Others who have been sentenced in connection with the mortgage fraud schemes include
Kathy Moore, 50, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, who was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $774,377.63; and Larry Reisman, 52, of Dallas, who was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1.5 million.This law enforcement action is part of President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.
This case was investigated by HUD-Office of Inspector General, IRS Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Housing Finance Agency-Office of Inspector General, U.S. Secret Service, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andy Williams and Chris Eason.
Jefferson County Man Guilty of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsBEAUMONT, Texas – A 36-year-old Beaumont, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Jonathan Van Johnson pleaded guilty on Mar. 18, 2014, to possession with intent to distribute phencyclidine (PCP) and was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.
According to information presented in court, on May 21, 2013, law enforcement officers executing search warrants at Johnson’s residence in Beaumont discovered approximately 536 grams of PCP, as well as additional drugs and paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking activities. The search of Johnson’s residence and his arrest was the result of an investigation into illegal drug activity in the area. Johnson was indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 6, 2013 and charged with drug trafficking violations.
This case was investigated by the Beaumont Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall L. Fluke.
Henderson County Man Guilty of Federal Income Tax ViolationsRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsTYLER, Texas – Joseph A. Masso, a 64-year-old resident of Athens, Texas, pleaded guilty to federal income tax violations, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Masso was charged with making and subscribing to a false tax return for the calendar year 2011 in violation of 26 U.S.C. ' 7206(1). According to information presented in Court, Masso formed a Texas limited liability company known as Lone Star Western & Casual LLC in December 2007. Lone Store operated retail clothing stores in Athens, Corsicana, and Waxahachie, Texas. For tax years 2009-2011, Masso falsely understated the gross receipts for these businesses on his IRS Form 1040 Schedule C by more than $5 million. As a result, he falsely understated his tax liability for the three tax years by approximately $950,000.
At sentencing, Masso faces imprisonment for up to three years. Masso has already agreed to pay restitution in excess of $900,000 to the IRS as well as a civil fraud penalty of more than $450,000.
In a related civil action, Masso agreed to forfeit $800,000 to the United States. The funds were originally seized during the execution of federal seizure warrants.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Coan.
Denton County Sheriff’s Deputy Indicted on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsPlano, Texas –U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that a deputy with the Denton County Sheriff’s Department has been indicted on child exploitation charges in the Eastern District of Texas.
The defendant, Joe Edward Cummings, 36, of Justin, TX, was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 10, 2014. According to the indictment, between June and October 2014, Cummings transported child pornography using the internet and a cloud-based storage service and he possessed digital media that contained child pornography files.
Cummings appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Don Bush for an initial appearance on December 12, 2014. If convicted, Cummings faces a term of imprisonment of not less than five years and up to twenty years in federal prison.
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.
The indictment is the culmination of an investigation conducted by the United States Secret Service and Texas Department of Public Safety – Texas Rangers, with assistance from the Justin Police Department, Denton County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshal’s Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa Miller.
The grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Southeast Texans Guilty in Counterfeit Check ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsBEAUMONT, Texas – Four Southeast Texas residents have pleaded guilty to federal counterfeiting charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Felicia Nicole Ardoin, 30, of Beaumont, Sonja DeAnn Lee, 31, of Orange, Texas, Norris Marie Narcisse, III, 26, of Port Arthur, Texas, and Kevin Douglas Orphe, 41, of Port Arthur, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to counterfeit business checks. The pleas were held today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith F. Giblin.
According to information presented in court, a joint task force was formed after the Beaumont Police Department received an unusual number of complaints from merchants, financial institutions, and account holders that they were the victims of counterfeit checks from January 2012 through January 2014. Twelve companies in the Golden Triangle complained their bank accounts were compromised by 144 counterfeit checks manufactured to appear as legitimate payroll checks. Numerous grocery stores and other merchants who cashed the checks were also affected by the organized counterfeiting activities of the defendants. Losses to merchants and financial institutions exceeded $110,000.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment on Sep. 3, 2014 charging these four defendants and Kenneth Ray Smith, 39, of Orange, with federal violations. Smith pleaded guilty on Nov. 13, 2014, to the conspiracy charge and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The defendants face up to five years in federal prison for the conspiracy conviction. Smith faces up to an additional 10 years in federal prison for the firearms conviction. Sentencing dates have not been set.
In addition to these five defendants, another 25 persons either cashed the checks or otherwise negotiated the checks knowing them to be counterfeited. Those persons will be prosecuted in state courts.
This case was investigated by the Beaumont Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Homeland Security Investigations HSI-ICE and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Rawls.Jefferson County Man Guilty of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsBEAUMONT, Texas – A 41-year-old Port Acres, Texas man has pleaded guilty to federal drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Chad Piazza pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Dec. 9, 2014 before U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.
According to information presented in court, beginning in January 2012, Piazza and a co-defendant, Wendy Claudine Hopkins, 45, of Groves, Texas, conspired to distribute methamphetamine in the Jefferson County, Texas area. As part of his plea, Piazza admitted that he was a member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas and used his association with the ABT to further his drug trafficking activities.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment on May 15, 2014 and charged Piazza and Hopkins with drug trafficking violations. Piazza entered his guilty plea during jury selection for his trial, which was set to begin yesterday.
Hopkins pleaded guilty on Nov. 5, 2014 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Both defendants face a minimum of 10 years in federal prison. Sentencing dates have not been set.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Port Arthur Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross.Jasper County Man Guilty of Distributing CocaineRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsBEAUMONT, Texas – A 28-year-old Jasper, Texas man has pleaded guilty to federal drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Shane Dwayne Hadnot pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith F. Giblin.
According to information presented in court, on Nov. 7, 2013, Alfred Wright, of Jasper, Texas, was reported missing by his family after his truck broke down in rural Sabine County, Texas. Articles of Wright’s clothing were found on private land, approximately a mile from where Wright was last seen. After searchers initially failed to locate Wright, his body was found on Nov. 25, 2013 in brush near where his clothing had been found. An investigation into the cause of Wright’s disappearance and death revealed his involvement with Shane Hadnot. Phone records, witness statements, and drug evidence located during the search of Shane Hadnot’s car, indicated that Hadnot was selling cocaine to Alfred Wright.
During the two-day period before Wright’s death, Hadnot and Wright exchanged 20 text messages. The indictment alleges that on Nov. 7, 2013, Wright sent a text message to Hadnot at 12:36 pm requesting to purchase cocaine and other illegal narcotics from Hadnot. Wright went missing approximately five hours later. An autopsy was performed on Wright’s body and toxicology testing revealed that Wright’s blood contained cocaine, methamphetamine and Xanax. The final autopsy report, and other experts in the fields of pathology, toxicology, and anthropology concluded that Wright’s cause of death was an accident due to combined drug intoxication. Hadnot was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 6, 2014 and charged with drug trafficking violations.
“Today’s guilty plea signals that this investigation has reached a significant point of closure,” said U.S. Attorney Bales. “Shane Hadnot is being held accountable for his criminality and the associated factual context for Hadnot’s plea provides the truth for why Alfred Wright lost his life in the Sabine County woods. Of course, today’s court activity will provide little solace for Mr. Wright’s family who lost a husband, father, brother and son. Can anyone doubt that the distribution and use of illegal narcotics is a cancer in American society? On behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Texas Rangers, DEA and FBI, I again express our sorrow and our condolences to those who loved Alfred Wright. I also want to commend the Rangers, the agents and the officers who worked countless hours to determine what happened and who should be held accountable – they have done their duty and I am honored to be associated with this team.”
Hadnot faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is being investigated by the Texas Rangers, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brit Featherston and John B. Ross.Cherokee County Men Sentenced in Armed Robbery Crime SpreeRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsTYLER, Texas – Two Jacksonville, Texas men have been sentenced in connection with a violent crime spree targeting area businesses in the Eastern District of Texas announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today. The sentences were handed down today by U.S. District Judge Michael Schneider.
Jonathan Roshard Brown, 22, pleaded guilty on May 20, 2014, to interfering with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act conspiracy) and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence and was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for the Hobbs Act conviction and 80 months for the firearms conviction.
Michael Dangelio Johnson, 25, pleaded guilty on Feb. 12, 2014 to interfering with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act conspiracy) and was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison today.
According to information presented in court, Brown, Johnson and two co-defendants conspired to commit robbery, which unlawfully obstructed, delayed and affected commerce in violation of federal law. Specifically, they committed four armed robberies in Jacksonville during a crime spree which began on Oct. 2, 2011 when they stole $9,465 from the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Jacksonville. On Nov. 2, 1012, they robbed the Razorback Grocery on Hwy 69 in Jacksonville. Brown brandished a handgun and demanded money from the owner. Razorback Grocery suffered a loss of approximately $16,000 in cash and $6,900 in Texas lottery tickets. On Nov. 16, 2012, Brown, Johnson and another defendant again robbed the owner of the Razorback Grocery while he was waiting in the commercial drive-thru line at the Austin Bank on West Commerce Street in Jacksonville. During the robbery Brown fired a handgun, striking the victim. The bullet passed through the victim’s hand, throat and shoulder. The victim survived after being airlifted to a Tyler hospital. The defendants obtained an undetermined amount of cash from the victim’s vehicle. The armed robbery resulted in the closure of Razorback Grocery and the temporary closure of Austin Bank. On Nov. 23, 2012, Brown and another person attempted to rob the owner of the Fast Fuel on Hwy 69 in Jacksonville. The owner was able to strike Brown and flee.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is aimed at reducing gun and gang violence, deterring illegal possession of guns, ammunition and body armor, and improving the safety of residents in the Eastern District of Texas. Participants in the initiative include community members and organizations as well as federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
This case is being investigated by the FBI East Texas Gang Initiative and the Jacksonville Police Department with assistance from the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Moore.Three Former Beaumont ISD Employees Guilty in Warehouse Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsBEAUMONT, Texas — Three former Beaumont Independent School District employees have pleaded guilty to federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Daryl Glenn Johnson, 44, of Beaumont, pleaded guilty to conspiracy today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Giblin. Erin Gipson Johnson, 38, of Beaumont, and Kailyn DeShondra Pete, 25, of Beaumont, each pleaded guilty to fraud upon programs receiving federal funds today before Judge Giblin.
According to the indictment, from July 2009 through June, 2012, Daryl Johnson, who was employed as the warehouse supervisor for the school district, first his wife, Erin Johnson, and then a friend, Kailyn Pete, placed on the BISD payroll as temporary employees. However, neither Erin Johnson nor Kailyn Pete ever actually worked as a BISD warehouse employee. Daryl Johnson had the autonomy to hire temporary warehouse employees on his own, and the authority to determine how many hours they would be paid, and could do so unilaterally and without the authorization or direct knowledge of anyone else. Daryl Johnson used this authority to fraudulently verify that both Erin Johnson and Kailyn Pete worked the hours indicated on their respective timesheets, which included extensive amounts of overtime when he knew that they in fact had not worked any of the hours. From July 2009 through May 2011, Erin Johnson was paid $193,998.37. During the timeframe of June 2010 through May 2012, Kailyn Pete was paid $90,041.05. The defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 6, 2014.
The defendants each face up to five years in federal prison at sentencing. Sentencing dates have not been set.
This case is being investigated by the joint Task Force with the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, the Beaumont Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joe Batte and Christopher T. Tortorice.
Gregg County Businesses Busted in Synthetic Drug OperationRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsLONGVIEW, Texas – U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that three individuals have been arrested following a lengthy investigation into a synthetic drug operation in the Eastern District of Texas.
On Dec. 3, 2014, a combined task force of federal, state and local law enforcement executed federal arrest warrants and search warrants in Longview, Texas as a result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Tyler Task Force. In April 2014, law enforcement agencies, initiated an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation into a synthetic marijuana trafficking organization based in the East Texas area. This investigation involved extensive surveillance and controlled purchases of controlled substances, controlled substance analogues, and drug paraphernalia. To date, law enforcement officials have seized several products containing illegal synthetic drugs.
The operation resulted in the arrest of Jeremy Chad Tidwell, 39, of Gilmer, Texas, his wife, Shanna Peek Tidwell, 36, of Gilmer, and Jeremy’s brother, Brian Tidwell 42, of Arlington, Texas. Four retail stores, all located in Longview, were searched as part of the law enforcement operation. Approximately $1 million cash and two vehicles were seized, as well as synthetic drugs during the operation.
The defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 12, 2014 and charged with two counts of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute synthetic drugs containing Schedule I controlled substances and controlled substance analogues, one count of conspiracy to offer for sale misbranded or altered drugs, one count of conspiracy to sell drug paraphernalia, and one count of conspiracy to money launder. The defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love today for an initial appearance.
If convicted, the defendants each face up to 20 years in federal prison.“Today’s enforcement operations are indicative of the DEA’s commitment to rid East Texas communities of dangerous and unpredictable substances such as K2, also known as Spice (synthetic cannabinoids), that were being distributed by an organization that generated tremendous illicit profits from sales to multiple users,” said the DEA Dallas Division’s Special Agent in Charge Daniel R. Salter. “Citizens in East Texas can rest assured that the DEA and our law enforcement partners are determined to ensure that Gregg County and the surrounding communities remain a safe place to live. The success of this intensive and thorough investigation is an outstanding example of cooperative law enforcement efforts and determination.”
The DEA Task Force in Tyler includes officers from the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson Police Department, Kilgore Police Department, Smith County Sheriff’s Office, and Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, as well as DEA Special Agents.
Other agencies assisting in the joint investigative effort included the U.S. Attorney’s Office - Eastern District of Texas, DEA Tyler Task Force, Gregg County Sheriff’s Office, Gregg County Organized Drug Enforcement Unit (CODE), Longview Police Department, Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, Kilgore Police Department, Lakeport Police Department, Gladewater Police Department, Arkansas Attorney General’s Office, and the U.S. Marshals ServiceAn indictment or arrest is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Newton County Former Youth Pastor Sentenced for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsBEAUMONT, Texas – A 23-year-old former youth pastor has been sentenced to federal prison for child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Trevion Lechay Ethridge, of Newton, Texas, pleaded guilty on June 3, 2014 to production of child pornography and was sentenced to 280 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark.According to information presented in court, from November 2012 to March 2013, while Ethridge was the youth pastor at a Newton County church, he persuaded a minor to video and photograph pornographic images and to send the pornography to Ethridge via smart phone. Ethridge was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 3, 2013. Trial began in this case on May 12, 2014 and was recessed after two days. Trial resumed on June 3, 2014, at which time Ethridge changed his plea to guilty and under oath, admitted to sending the minor pornographic images and videos of himself and enticing the minor to send pornographic images and videos in return.
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 ICE-HSI, the Newton Police Department and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randall L. Fluke and Lauren Gaston.
Texarkana Federal Prison Employee Guilty of Having Sex with an InmateRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsTEXARKANA, Texas – A 38-year-old Texarkana, Texas woman has pleaded guilty to federal charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Shelonda Chares pleaded guilty to an Information charging her with sexual abuse of a ward today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven.According to information presented in court, on June 1, 2014, Chares, while employed as a Bureau of Prisons Case Manager at the Federal Correctional Institution in Texarkana, engaged in a sexual act with a federal inmate detained at the facility.
Chares faces up to 15 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Inspector General and the Bureau of Prisons and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Locker.Jefferson County Man Sentenced for Federal Income Tax ViolationsRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsBEAUMONT, Texas - A 44-year-old Port Arthur, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for income tax violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Theodore Paul Victor, Jr., pleaded guilty on June 10, 2014, to tax evasion and was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone. Victor was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $432,438.78.
According to information presented in court, for the calendar year 2009, Victor failed to disclose all of his taxable income resulting in a tax loss. At sentencing, Victor was ordered to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $70,467.17 and restitution to his former employer, the Medical Center of Southeast Texas, in the amount of $361,971.61. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on Apr. 2, 2014.
This was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross.
Smith County Woman Sentenced to Prison for Student Financial Aid FraudRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsTYLER, Texas – A 32-year-old Flint, Texas woman has been sentenced to federal prison for violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Mindy Ritch pleaded guilty on May 5, 2014, to student financial aid fraud and was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider. Ritch was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $564,447.72.
According to information presented in court, from January 2010 to February 2013, Ritch fraudulently obtained funds from the Federal Pell Grant Program and the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program to which she was not entitled. Ritch was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 26, 2013.This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Education – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Tyler Junior College Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld prosecuted this case.
Smith County Bank Officer Sentenced for Embezzling FundsRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsTYLER, Texas - A 59-year-old Lindale, Texas woman has been sentenced to federal prison for embezzling bank funds in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Mary Jane Haxton pleaded guilty on July 18, 2014, to misapplication of funds by a bank employee and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis on Nov. 12, 2014. Haxton was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $446,344.66.
According to information presented in court, Haxton worked as a cashier at Lindale State Bank from 1984 until early 2014. In 2004, Haxton began embezzling funds totaling $445,940.66 by misapplying the funds to personal accounts which she owned or controlled. In December 2013, Lindale State Bank merged with Texas Bank and Trust and became an official branch of Texas Bank and Trust. After the merger, the accounting department was in the process of reconciling accounts and discovered the funds had been misapplied.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
Former Shelby County Hospital CFO Guilty in EHR Incentive CaseRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsTYLER, Texas – The former Chief Financial Officer of Shelby Regional Medical Center has pleaded guilty to federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Joe White, 67, of Cameron, Texas, pleaded guilty on Nov. 12, 2014 to making a false statement before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.
According to information presented in court, White was the Chief Financial Officer for Shelby Regional Medical Center in Center, Texas, which was owned and operated by Dr. Tariq Mahmood. White oversaw the implementation of electronic health records for the hospital and was responsible for attesting to the meaningful use of electronic health records in order to qualify to receive incentive payments under Medicare’s Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program. On Nov. 20, 2012, White knowingly made a false statement to Medicare falsely representing that the hospital was a meaningful user of electronic health records, when the hospital did not meet the meaningful use requirements. As a result, Shelby Regional Medical Center received $785,655.00 from Medicare. White was indicted by a federal grand jury on Feb. 6, 2014.
White faces up to five years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the Texas Office of the Attorney General – Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (OAG-MFCU), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth C. McGurk and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld.
Any individuals with knowledge of these or other health care fraud violations are encouraged to contact the Department of Health and Human Services’ fraud hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (447-8477).
Van Zandt County Convicted Felon Sentenced for Federal Firearms ViolationRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsTYLER, Texas - A 27-year-old Grand Saline, Texas, man has been sentenced to federal prison for federal firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
James Matthew Herring pleaded guilty on Aug. 6, 2014, to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis.
According to information presented in court, on Jan. 21, 2014, Herring was stopped by a sheriff’s deputy because he matched the description of a burglary suspect. During the traffic stop, a revolver and a semi-automatic pistol were located on the ground near the car. Drug paraphernalia, cash, and methamphetamine were also found in a bag near the vehicle. Herring submitted to a search of the car, during which deputies located another revolver in the dash where the radio had been and a bag of ammunition in the trunk. Further investigation revealed Herring was a convicted felon having been found guilty of theft and evading arrest with a vehicle in Collin County, Texas. As a convicted felon, Herring is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. Herring was indicted by a federal grand jury on Apr. 23, 2014.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, aimed at reducing gun and gang violence, deterring illegal possession of guns, ammunition and body armor, and improving the safety of residents in the Eastern District of Texas. Participants in the initiative include community members and organizations as well as federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
This case was investigated by the ATF, the Grand Saline Police Department and the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.Lumberton Karate Instructor Sentenced for Child Pornography ViolationsRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsBEAUMONT, Texas - A 60-year-old Lumberton, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Ronald Seabridge, Sr., owner of Brass Dragon Karate, was found guilty by a jury on Feb. 27, 2014, of receiving, distributing and possessing child pornography and was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison on Oct. 28, 2014 by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield.
According to information presented in court, in 2009, federal agents executed a search warrant at Seabridge’s residence/karate studio in Lumberton as the result of an undercover operation which determined Seabridge was using a peer-to-peer file sharing program to receive and distribute child pornography. Seabridge’s computer and hard drives were seized and a forensic examination revealed over 300 images of child pornography. Seabridge was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 23, 2013.
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.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Lumberton Police Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randall L. Fluke and Christopher T. Tortorice.Justice Department Protects Eastern District of Texas Election ProcessRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsBEAUMONT, Texas – U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Eastern District of Texas have been appointed as District Election Officers (DEOs) for the upcoming Nov. 4, 2014 general election. The DEOs will be responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Attorney Bales said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud. The Department of Justice will act promptly and aggressively to protect the integrity of the elction process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on election day.
Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice.
The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on Nov. 4, 2014, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, U.S. Attorney Bales stated that Assistant U.S. Attorneys/ District Election Officers Michelle Englade, Tom Gibson, and M. Andrew Stover will be on duty in the Eastern District of Texas while the polls are open. AUSA Englade can be reached by the public in Beaumont at 409-839-2538, AUSA Gibson can be reached in Tyler, Texas at 903-590-1400, and AUSA Stover can be reached in Plano, Texas at 972-509-1201.
In addition, the FBI will have Special Agents available in each Field Office and Resident Agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The FBI can be reached by the public in the Eastern District of Texas at the following telephone numbers:
Beaumont – 409-832-8571
Frisco – 214-705-7000
Lufkin – 936-637-3834
Sherman – 903-892-8754
Texarkana – 870-773-3382
Tyler – 903-592-4301Complaints about ballot access problems or discrimination can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington, D.C. at 1-800-253-3931 or (202)307-2767 or by email to [email protected] or by complaint form at http://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php.
U.S. Attorney Bales said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate. It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available immediately to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”U.S. Attorney Invites Senior Citizens to Fraud Workshop in Allen, TexasRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsALLEN, Texas – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas will provide a free presentation to senior citizens on Thursday, November 20, 2014, at the Allen Public Library, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales.
The presentation will discuss ways to identify and prevent Medicare fraud. Seniors will be advised of common schemes used by fraudsters and given real-life examples of previous fraudulent activity. While the U.S. Attorney’s Office will not be able to advise seniors regarding their individual medical benefits or claims, seniors will be given important information on how to protect their personal information and who to contact if they suspect they are being victimized.
The event will be held from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014, at the Allen Public Library located at 300 N. Allen Drive, Allen, Texas. While the event is free, seating is limited to approximately 40 people. To reserve a seat, or for more information, please contact Ann Williams at 972-423-3932.
Former Eastern District of Texas Prosecutor Recognized by Homeland SecurityRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsWASHINGTON D.C. – A former deputy criminal chief has been recognized by the Secretary of Homeland Security for his work on a precedent-setting work visa case in Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Charles Johnson recognized former Eastern District of Texas federal prosecutor Shamoil T. Shipchandler and his former investigative team at the DHS Secretary's Award Program on October 21, 2014, in Washington D.C. The recognition, in the form of the Secretary's Meritorious Service Award (Silver Medal), represents one of the highest awards for service granted by the Secretary of Homeland Security. The award honors exceptional individual leadership or service that is distinguished by achievements of marked significance over time to DHS, and recognizes a body of work characterized by superior performance related to significant accomplishments that significantly improved the effectiveness of DHS. In this case, the award was presented for investigating and bringing to justice an illegal visa fraud operation that resulted in the largest immigration fine to date.
In his prepared remarks to awardees, Secretary Johnson said, “It is no small task - but a great privilege - to select the best of the best for special recognition."
Shipchandler led a team consisting of HSI Supervisory Special Agent Brian Gray, DHS Special Agent Edward Koranda, DHS Auditor Christina Morales, DHS Attorney Judson Davis, and Department of State Special Agent Timothy Forte, in the investigation and settlement of claims against Infosys Corporation, an Indian company involved in consulting, technology, and outsourcing services. According to court documents, the government alleged instances of Infosys circumventing the requirements, limitations, and governmental oversight of the H-1B visa program by knowingly and unlawfully using B-1 visa holders to perform skilled labor in order to fill positions in the United States for employment that would otherwise be performed by United States citizens or require legitimate H-1B visa holders. The government also alleged that Infosys did so in order to increase profits, minimize costs of securing visas, increase flexibility of employee movement, obtain an unfair advantage over competitors and avoid tax liabilities.
The unique settlement in the case involved the payment by Infosys of $34 million, the largest payment ever levied in an immigration case. The agreement also required additional auditing for I-9 forms; a reporting requirement for B-1 usage; an agreement to continue to use only detailed invitation letters, and the continued use of corporate disciplinary processes for employees that violate the immigration laws of the United States.
“Infosys was a precedent-setting case,” said U.S. Attorney John M. Bales, “and the case was investigated and resolved in a precedent-setting district. Successful prosecutions are based on a team effort, and I am delighted that DHS has singled out the Infosys team for special recognition.”
Head of the Gulf Cartel Appears in Beaumont Federal Court on Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsBEAUMONT, Texas - U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that the current head of the Mexican drug trafficking organization, the Gulf Cartel, or Cartel del Golfo, has made an initial appearance in the Eastern District of Texas on drug trafficking charges.
Juan Francisco Saenz-Tamez, 23, of Camargo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, was arrested by federal agents on Oct. 9, 2014 while shopping in Edinburg, Texas.
A federal investigation into the large-scale trafficking of illegal drugs from Mexico into the Eastern District of Texas led to the identity of Saenz-Tamez. The investigation revealed thousands of kilograms of cocaine and marijuana were shipped into the Eastern District of Texas and then to locations across the nation, including Florida, Ohio, Michigan, Mississippi, Louisiana, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Maryland and Georgia.
Saenz-Tamez was indicted by a federal grand jury on Sep. 5, 2013 and charged with conspiracy with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy with intent to distribute marijuana, and conspiracy to money launder. Saenz-Tamez was transported from McAllen, Texas to Beaumont where he appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn for a detention hearing and initial appearance today.
If convicted, Saenz-Tamez faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison for the drug charges and up to 20 years in federal prison for the money laundering charge.
"The news that Juan Saenz-Tamez has been arrested is further proof that justice is prevailing in Mexico,” said U.S. Attorney Bales. “I am encouraged that the efforts of so many law enforcement officers are now paying off. Congratulations to them and I look forward to seeing Saenz-Tamez answer for his crimes in a Beaumont courtroom."
“Juan Francisco Saenz-Tamez became the head of the Gulf Cartel following the 2013 arrest of former leader Mario Ramirez-Trevino,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. “He moved steadily up the cartel ranks, working as a lookout, record keeper, plaza boss, and finally its leader. Thanks to the quick actions of DEA and our local partners, we were able to identify and safely arrest Saenz-Tamez while he was in the United States. He oversaw much of the violence and bloodshed that has plagued Mexico and DEA is pleased he will face justice in the United States.”“The arrest of Juan Francisco Saenz-Tamez, will put a stop to his role in the distribution of illegal drugs and the laundering of drug proceeds,” said IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cruz. “Laundering their profits is as important and essential to drug traffickers as the distribution of their illegal drugs. IRS CI is proud to provide assistance as we work alongside our law enforcement partners to bring these criminals to justice."
This case is the result of ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) joint investigations, Operation South Park, Operation La Mano Negra, Operation Frontera Chica and Operation Iceberg. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
This joint law enforcement investigation was led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Marshals Service, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Attorney General’s Office, National Guard of Texas – Joint Counterdrug, Beaumont Police Department, Houston Police Department, Nacogdoches Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Craft.
A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Anderson County Man Guilty of Child Pornography ViolationsRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsTYLER, Texas – A 25-year-old Palestine, Texas man has pleaded guilty to child pornography charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Joshua Quick pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography today before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell.According to information presented in court, on Sep. 14, 2013, Quick received child pornography on a computer after using the computer to solicit the participation of a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct persuading the minor to produce images depicting child pornography. Quick was indicted by a federal grand jury on Feb. 26, 2014.
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.
Quick faces a minimum of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office and the Urbandale, Iowa Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld.Former Booster Club President Guilty of Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsBEAUMONT, Texas – A 53-year-old Beaumont man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. attorney John M. Bales.
William Elzy Kelley, Jr., also known as Bo Kelley, pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with wire fraud today before U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.
According to information presented in court, Kelley was president of the West Brook High School Football Booster Club from 2012 to February 2014. During which time Kelley had access to the Booster Club’s funds, which were kept in separate checking and savings accounts. From Sep. 2013 through Feb. 2014, Kelley withdrew funds from these accounts to pay personal expenses, including, but not limited to rent payments at Stoneleigh Apartments, college tuition, and other household bills. Kelley carried out the scheme by withdrawing cash and depositing it into his personal bank account and by using the debit card and writing checks on the account for his personal use. Kelley is specifically charged with using the Booster Club debit card to make a payment to Stoneleigh Apartments in the amount of $922.42 on Dec. 3, 2013.
Kelley faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Joint Task Force established in March 2014 between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas and the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute major crimes – more specifically, violent crime and crimes related to the abuse of public trust in Jefferson County, Texas.
“We have all been terribly disappointed with instance after instance of graft, abuse of authority and now, in Mr. Kelly’s instance, just plain theft,” said U.S. Attorney Bales. “This defendant masqueraded as a volunteer who only had West Brook’s best interests at heart – instead, he looted the booster club and so now he will join the growing parade of those who will be held accountable for violating our trust.”
"Today's guilty plea is a prime example that our investigations are not limited to only public entities, but actually encompass a broad range of fraud involving related organizations and associations,” said Jefferson County District Attorney Cory Crenshaw.
If you have any information related to this or any other matter related to fraud, please call the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 409-832-8571.This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Beaumont Police Department, and the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph R. Batte and Christopher T. Tortorice.
Comal County Woman Sentenced for East Texas Tax ViolationsRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsSHERMAN, Texas - A 61-year-old Spring Branch, Texas woman has been sentenced to federal prison for income tax violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Shirley Jean Emert pleaded guilty on Feb. 6, 2014 to making and subscribing to a false tax return for the calendar year 2010 and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Richard Schell.
According to information presented in court, Emert embezzled funds from her employer, Applied Concepts, in the amounts of $53,859 in 2008; $126,202 in 2009; $172,965 in 2010; and $166,254 in 2011. Emert failed to report the income on the corresponding tax year returns. Emert’s willful act of falsely reporting income on her tax returns for the years 2008 through 2011 resulted in income tax due and owing in the amount of $159,907.
Emert was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $697,187.78 to Applied Concepts and the IRS.
This case was prosecuted by the Eastern District of Texas on behalf of the Northern District of Texas. This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigations and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Andrew Stover.
Van Zandt County Man Guilty of Federal Income Tax ViolationsRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsTYLER, Texas - A 48-year-old Edgewood, Texas man has pleaded guilty to federal income tax violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Bruce Steven Martin pleaded guilty on Sep. 18, 2014, to willfully failing to file a federal tax return before U.S. Magistrate Judge Don D. Bush. Martin appeared before Judge Bush today for a detention hearing and was ordered to be detained.
According to information presented in court, Martin admitted to receiving income during calendar year 2010 and willfully failing to file an income tax return with the internal Revenue Service. Martin was indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 13, 2013. After he missed several court appearances, he was ordered to be detained. Martin faces up to 12 months in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Andrew Williams.
Port Arthur Woman Charged in SYAM Tax Service SchemeRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsBEAUMONT, Texas – A 61-year-old Port Arthur, Texas woman has been charged for her role in the SYAM Tax Service Scheme in the Eastern district of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Diana Broussard McCoy was indicted on Oct. 1, 2014 by a federal grand jury charging her with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
McCoy joins Shannon Tecoko Mays, 36, of Dallas, who was previously indicted on Feb. 5, 2014, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Mays is currently scheduled for trial on Dec. 8, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Ron Clark.
According to prosecutors, an investigation began in August 2012 in response to numerous complaints to state and federal authorities from citizens in Port Arthur, Anahuac, Nacogdoches and Lufkin, Texas regarding income tax returns that were being fraudulently prepared on their behalf. During the investigation, it was discovered that Mays was operating numerous offices across the United States under the name “Syam Tax Services, L.L.C.” and “Baby Momma Tax.” Although the principal office was located in Dallas, Mays also operated or sought to operate satellite offices in numerous other locations, including Fort Worth, Houston, New Orleans, Memphis, Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles.
The indictment alleges that Mays employed McCoy as a “recruiter” for Southeast Texas, paying her between $50-100 for every client she successfully brought into Syam Tax. Mays targeted individuals who were generally exempt from having to file income tax returns because they would be less likely to discover a fraudulent tax return had been filed on their behalf. In order to avoid detection, Mays altered the taxpayer’s address and phone numbers on the returns so that any phone calls or correspondence from the IRS would not reach the taxpayer. The scheme also used electronic deposits to ensure paper checks would not be mailed to the taxpayer.
On Aug. 22, 2012, Port Arthur Police and federal investigators executed a search warrant on McCoy’s residence in Port Arthur. Officers recovered numerous boxes of documents that contained the personal information of Port Arthur residents and had previously been faxed to Syam’s Houston office.
For the tax year 2011, Syam Tax filed 4,226 tax returns claiming approximately $3,150,406. If convicted, McCoy faces up to 20 years in federal prison.This case is being investigated by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Port Arthur Police Department, the Texas Attorney General’s Office – Consumer Protection Division, and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Baylor Wortham.
It is important to note that a grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt.
Gregg County Man Guilty of Dealing Cocaine in East TexasRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsTYLER, Texas – A35-year-old Longview, Texas man has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Antonio Cortez Gonzales pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana today before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.
According to information presented in court, on Aug. 19, 2013, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Gonzales’ Longview residence. The search revealed 150 grams of cocaine, 6.5 kilograms of marijuana, empty wrappers for kilogram quantities of cocaine, guns and ammunition. Further investigation revealed kilograms of cocaine were being transported from Houston to Gonzales in Longview for distribution to others. A federal grand jury returned a 30-count indictment on Apr. 23, 2014, charging Gonzales and 17 others with drug trafficking violations.
Gonzales faces up to life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is the result of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) joint investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Ann Cozby.
Collin County Photographer Guilty of Sexually Exploiting ChildrenRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsTYLER, Texas – A 54-year-old McKinney, Texas photographer has pleaded guilty to child exploitation charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Todd Fleming pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of children today before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell.According to information presented in court, from 1999 to 2007, Fleming coerced minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. Fleming was indicted by a federal grand jury on Apr. 17, 2013 and charged with child exploitation violations.
“This criminal case should serve as a wake-up call to all parents to regularly monitor their children’s friends and Internet behavior, and to educate their children of the potential dangers of online predators,” said David M. Marwell, special agent in charge of HSI Dallas. “For years, this school photographer assumed the online identities of many young girls to entice other girls to produce child pornography for him. At the same time, he groomed still other young girls to produce his own child pornography.”
“Thank goodness that Todd Fleming will no longer be able to prey on unsuspecting children,” said U.S. Attorney Bales. “Kudos to the investigative team who successfully brought Fleming to his well-deserved appointment with justice. And I agree with SAC Marwell – the most important takeaway from this case is the need for parental vigilance and communication with their children. For our part, we will continue to have zero tolerance for child pornographers.”
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Texas Department of Public Safety – Criminal Investigations Division and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld.
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.
Fleming faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.East Texans Charged in Red River Army Depot ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsTEXARKANA, Texas - U.S. Attorney John M. Bales and Colonel Brandon Grubbs, Red River Army Depot Installation Commander, announced today that seven individuals have been indicted on federal charges involving conspiracy to commit an offense and to defraud the U.S. government and theft of government property or money in the Eastern District of Texas.
The defendants were named in a 2-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Sep. 17, 2014, charging them with conspiracy to commit an offense against and to defraud the U.S. government and theft of government property or money. These violations are alleged to have caused over $2 million in losses to the Department of the Army and Red River Army Depot. Those charged are:
Kenneth Ray Shackelford, 54, of Texarkana, Texas
Anthony Paul Vera, 54, of Dekalb, Texas
Shaun Dennis Knorr, 35, of Douglasville, Texas
Patrick Ray James, 54, of Hooks, Texas
William Robert Barr, 56, of Atlanta, Texas
Rodney Glen Cornelius, 63, of Queen City, Texas
William Randall Scott, 59, of Dekalb, TexasThe indictment was unsealed today and the defendants are scheduled to make initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven on Oct. 2, 2014.
Red River Army Depot (RRAD) is a Department of the Army installation in Bowie County, Texas, that employs a large civilian workforce. RRAD’s primary mission is to repair tactical vehicles for the military. RRAD maintains a fleet of tractor-trailers to bring tactical vehicles to and from RRAD for them to be repaired.
Benny Woodard, deceased, of Dekalb, Texas, was an Army civilian employee at RRAD who was responsible for the maintenance of the fleet of tractor-trailers. According to the indictment, it is alleged that beginning in January 2007 until the time of his death in April 2013, Benny Woodard conspired with other RRAD employees and local vendors in the Texarkana area to defraud the Department of the Army by billing RRAD for tires and parts never received and for services never rendered. Shackelford, Vera, Knorr, James, and Barr are vendors of tires, parts, and repair services in the Texarkana area that are alleged to have conspired with Benny Woodard in the alleged scheme. Cornelius and Scott were RRAD civilian employees who are alleged to have facilitated the scheme at the direction of Benny Woodard.
If convicted of conspiracy to commit an offense against or defraud the U.S. government, the defendants each face up to five years in federal prison. If convicted of theft of government property or money, the defendants each face up to 10 years in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigations Division, and the Red River Army Depot Criminal Investigations Division. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Ryan Locker.
An indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.Plano Gymnastics Coach Sentenced for Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsPLANO, Texas – A 26-year-old Plano gymnastics instructor has been sentenced to federal prison for child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Lyndsey Ryan Cox, also known as Coach Wes, pleaded guilty on June 17, 2014 to a charge of coercion or enticement and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Richard Schell.According to information presented in court, in July 2013, Cox used his cellular phone to entice or coerce a minor to engage in sexual intercourse. Cox was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 15, 2013 and charged with child exploitation violations.
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, Plano Police Department and Collin County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey M. Batson.Orange County Man Guilty of Child Pornography ViolationsRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsBEAUMONT, Texas – A 32-year-old Orange, Texas man has pleaded guilty to child pornography charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Jason Ryan Bickham pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on Sep. 17, 2014 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn.According to information presented in court, law enforcement authorities were alerted by a citizen that Bickham had images containing child pornography on his cellular phone. Bickham provided officers consent to search the phone. A forensic analysis of Bickham’s phone revealed multiple images and videos of child pornography. Bickham was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 4, 2014.
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.
Bickham faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Orange Police Department and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall LO. Fluke.Jefferson County Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking ViolationsRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsBEAUMONT, Texas – A 26-year-old Port Arthur, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Michael Joseph Barrett IV pleaded guilty on Feb. 11, 2014, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.
According to information presented in court, on Feb. 19, 2013, law enforcement officers responded to a residence on 32nd Street in Port Arthur after receiving information regarding suspected manufacture of methamphetamine at the location. Consent to search was obtained and a search of the premises revealed a small amount of cocaine, a semi-automatic pistol, and various items associated with methamphetamine manufacture, including a three liter bottle containing a methamphetamine mixture. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on Dec. 4, 2013, charging Barrett with drug trafficking violations.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Port Arthur Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall L. Fluke.
Former Beaumont ISD Employees Sentenced for Stealing over $4 MillionRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsBEAUMONT, Texas – The former Director of Finance and Comptroller of the Beaumont Independent School District (BISD) have been sentenced to federal prison for federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Devin Wayne McCraney, 35, of Beaumont, pleaded guilty on Apr. 14, 2014, to the charge of fraud upon programs receiving federal funds and was sentenced to 68 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark.
Sharika Baksh Allison, 43, of Beaumont, pleaded guilty on Apr. 14, 2014, to the charge of conspiracy to commit fraud upon programs receiving federal funds and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison today by Judge Clark.
McCraney and Allison were also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,041,705.27.
According to information presented in court, McCraney, Director of Finance for BISD, and Allison, Comptroller for BISD, devised schemes in which they embezzled over $4 million from BISD. They were indicted by a federal grand jury on Jan. 8, 2014.
“These punishments demonstrate that if you violate the public trust, being the true will of the citizens of Beaumont to have and maintain a responsible public school system, you will be punished,” said U.S. Attorney Bales. “The Beaumont school district enjoys many good, dedicated educators and employees. This is the beginning of the end for those who chose to breach our trust, and it also begins the removal of the cloud that remains over the heads of those great employees who, on a daily basis, are responsible for the care and education of Beaumont’s children.”
“These defendants knowingly and willfully abused their position of trust to steal education funds that were supposed to be used to provide services for the most innocent of victims – school children. That is unacceptable,” said Neil Sanchez, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s South Central Regional Office. “I’m proud of the work of OIG Special Agents and our law enforcement colleagues for holding these individuals accountable for their criminal actions.”
"Personal greed put the children of BISD at risk, and eroded the public's trust in our system," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner. "Let today's sentences help restore that trust and remind others that our elected and appointed officials must and will be held accountable at all levels of government. We cannot do this job alone, and we encourage individuals with information about public corruption to come forward."
“Today’s sentencings are just one step in the process of holding certain officials accountable for breaching the public’s trust,” said Jefferson County District Attorney Cory Crenshaw. “Today’s results are another example of the task force’s cooperative - federal, state and local law enforcement - efforts to investigate corruption within the BISD. Our mission, of identifying those who have failed to uphold their duty to the children of this community by committing fraud, will continue. Those who have committed crimes will be punished, and confidence in our school district will be rebuilt.”
McCraney and Allison were both ordered to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons unit where they will be assigned by 2:00 pm on Oct. 21, 2014. McCraney requested a facility close to West Lake, LA. Allison requested the facility in Bryan/College Station, Texas, as it is the only federal facility housing women in Texas.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Joint Task Force established in March 2014 between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas and the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute major crimes – more specifically, violent crime and crimes related to the abuse of public trust in Jefferson County, Texas.
If you have any information related to this matter, please call the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 409-832-8571.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher T. Tortorice and Joseph R. Batte.
Captured Fugitive Guilty of Health Care Fraud ViolationsRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsTYLER, Texas — A 44-year-old captured fugitive has pleaded guilty in connection with a federal health care fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales.
Vivian Yusuf, formerly of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud on Sep. 17, 2014 before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.
Yusuf, a fugitive, wanted since March 2011, was arrested on June 3, 2014 at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. Yusuf had been indicted for conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, and aggravated identity theft on Jan. 12, 2012.
According to information presented in court, Yusuf, the former owner of Ivy Health Care Supply, a Houston-area medical supply company, and Aghaegbuna “Ike” Odelugo, James Reese, and others carried out a scheme to defraud Medicare through the marketing of power wheelchairs and accessories, as well as “ortho kits,” which primarily consisted of a bag of orthotic items, including braces, wraps, and supports, and a heat lamp or heat pad. As part of the scheme, the defendant and her co-conspirators illegally obtained protected health information, including names, dates of birth, and Medicare numbers from elderly individuals. Yusuf and her co-conspirators supplied beneficiaries with kits and power wheelchairs which were not prescribed or otherwise authorized by a physician and which were not wanted by the beneficiaries. Claims were submitted by the defendant and her co-conspirators for approximately 790 beneficiaries located primarily in Texas and Louisiana. In some instances, physicians’ signatures were forged and false claims were submitted to Medicare in the names of Medicare beneficiaries who were deceased. By means of fraudulent billing practices, the defendant and her co-conspirators unlawfully submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare of more than $3.4 million and obtained more than $1.6 million.
Odelugo and Reese were indicted for their involvement in similar health care fraud schemes. Odelugo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, and money laundering and was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison. The loss to Medicare as a result of Odelugo’s scheme was approximately $9.9 million. Reese pleaded guilty to health care fraud and tax evasion and was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison. The loss to Medicare as a result of Reese’s scheme was approximately $8.6 million.Yusuf faces up to 10 years in federal prison when she appears before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider for sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the Texas Office of the Attorney General – Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (OAG-MFCU), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken McGurk are prosecuting this case.
Beaumont Federal Inmate Sentenced for Deadly AssaultRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsBEAUMONT, Texas – A 23-year-old Forsyth, Missouri man serving time at a Beaumont federal prison has been sentenced for the deadly assault of another inmate in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Jacob Smith pleaded guilty on Apr. 16, 2014 to assault with intent to commit murder and was sentenced to 150 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark.
According to information presented in court, on Oct. 25, 2012, Smith was incarcerated at the Beaumont Federal Correctional Institution – Medium facility in Beaumont, Texas. Smith and another prisoner entered the cell of inmate Edward Lee Bowlin, who they incorrectly believed was incarcerated for crimes related to sexual contact with children. They assaulted Bowlin with their hands and feet and then left the cell. Shortly thereafter, Smith returned to Bowlin’s cell and continued to beat him causing Bowlin to sustain serious head and brain trauma. Bowlin fell into a coma, in which he remained until his death on Nov. 25, 2013. Smith was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 7, 2013.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher T. Tortorice.
Sixteen Indicted in North Texas Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsSHERMAN, Texas - U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that 16 individuals have been indicted on federal charges involving bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in the Eastern District of Texas.
Robert Aaron Green, Christopher Henry Cosby, Mallori Lee Moss, Wendi Lee Wren and Katherine Jones Reynolds made initial appearances today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Amos Mazzant on charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. The defendants were named, along with 12 others, in a 76-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Aug. 13, 2014, charging them with federal violations that are alleged to have caused over $1.3 million in losses to banks. Those charged are:
- Robert Aaron Green, 27, of Lauderdale Lakes, FL
- Christopher Henry Cosby, 25, of Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Dianna Leigh Painton, 23, of Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Shelton Jerrod Green, 23, of Casselberry, FL
- Demetris Jerome Cunnigham, 28, of Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Mallori Lee Moss, 25, of Port Orange, FL, and Dallas, Texas
- Benny Lee Doe, Jr., 30, of Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Steven Taurus Green, 23, of Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Christina Lynn Gallo, 34, of Coral Springs, FL
- David Lee Brown, 26, of Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Johnthavias Keon Brown, 26, of Lauderhill, FL
- Kamesha Nycole Brown, 24, of Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Moses George Freelove, 23, of Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Wendi Lee Wrenn, 47, of Port Orange, FL
- Christian Dominique Scott, 28, of Dallas, Texas, and
- Katherine Jones Reynolds, 51, of Mesquite, Texas
According to the indictment, members of the conspiracy are alleged to have broken into vehicles at various locations such as public parks, daycare facilities, gyms and neighborhood pools, stealing purses, wallets, bank checks, bank cards, drivers’ licenses, and other personal identifying information. The defendants then transferred the stolen items to other members of the conspiracy for use at the banks. Certain members of the conspiracy disguised themselves as theft victims often through the use of wigs, and drove into the drive-thru teller lanes of the banks using rented vehicles. Other members of the conspiracy were usually hidden in the back seat of the rented vehicles so as to remain out of sight of bank personnel; they provided the disguised drivers with the stolen checks made payable from one victim to another, and the corresponding stolen drivers’ licenses and bank cards. When the banks cashed the checks, the payee victims’ banks suffered the loss when the checks were returned from the maker victims’ banks as stolen. While the banks were processing the checks, other members of the conspiracy provided surveillance for the rental vehicles used to present the stolen checks, typically in other rented vehicles. The conspirators often used stolen Texas license plates to conceal the true license plates of the rental vehicles used in the scheme. While the alleged criminal conduct was concentrated in the Dallas Metroplex, the conspiracy also extended to other states such as South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Florida.
If convicted of the conspiracy to commit bank fraud, the defendants each face up to 30 years in federal prison. If convicted of the aggravated identity theft charges, each defendant faces up to a mandatory 2 additional years in federal prison for each count charged to run consecutive to the bank fraud punishment.
In a related case, another 11 individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 15, 2013, and charged with using the same scheme in the Dallas area. Several defendants have already pleaded guilty and been sentenced to federal prison, including:
- Melvin Donnell Ferrell, 29, of Fort Lauderdale, sentenced to 70 months in federal prison on Sep. 8, 2014 and ordered to pay $28,281 in restitution;
- Craig Dwayne Tobias, 34, of Fort Lauderdale, sentenced to 46 months in federal prison on Sep. 3, 2014 and ordered to pay $6,673.37 in restitution;
- Atamian Rajuan Johnson, 32, of Riviera Beach, Florida, sentenced to 37 months in federal prison on Sep. 8, 2014, and ordered to pay $6,673.37 in restitution;
- Makeisha Ann Williams, 37, of Dallas, sentenced to 27 months in federal prison on Sep. 8, 2014, and ordered to pay $4,010 in restitution;
- Misty Dawn Hendrix, 38, of Dallas, sentenced to 37 months in federal prison on Sep. 3, 2014, and ordered to pay $2,313.37 in restitution; and
- Marc Anthony Booker, 25, of Austin, Texas, sentenced to 54 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $63,951.73 in restitution.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Plano Police Department, the Richardson Police Department, the Dallas Police Department, the Cedar Hills Police Department, the McKinney Police Department, the Arlington Police Department, and the Grapevine Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher A. Eason.
An indictment or arrest is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Attorney General Recognizes Tyler Federal ProsecutorRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsWASHINGTON – Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Traci L. Kenner of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Texas was one of 243 members of the Department of Justice recognized by Attorney General Eric Holder and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) Director Monty Wilkinson at the 30th annual Director’s Awards Ceremony on Sep. 10, 2014 in Washington D.C.
The Eastern District of Texas was one of 44 districts represented at the ceremony which was held in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building.
In his prepared remarks to awardees, Attorney General Holder said, “Locally, nationally, and internationally, you represent the very best that this Department has to offer. Your work embodies our ongoing commitment – not merely to win cases, but to do justice; to protect our fellow citizens from crime, violence, and terrorism; to empower the most vulnerable among us; and to uphold the rule of law.”
EOUSA Director Monty Wilkinson echoed those sentiments, saying to the recipients, “You have persevered, and remained focused and motivated – achieving remarkable results in work that makes a difference in the lives of citizens across our great country. The vast scope of your collective accomplishments is nothing short of exceptional.”
Traci Kenner, of the Tyler office, was recognized for her outstanding performance as an Appellate AUSA and the Eastern District of Texas’s Appellate Chief. During her tenure, AUSA Kenner has made significant improvements to the district appellate program. In particular, AUSA Kenner’s exemplary handling of the appeal of United States v. Ebron, a capital murder trial originating in a Bureau of Prisons facility in the Eastern District of Texas, preserved a conviction and death sentence in a case with unusual appellate issues that could have -- but for AUSA Kenner -- resulted in a reversal and retrial. Instead, the final outcome was an affirmance in the Court of Appeals and denial of certiorari by the United States Supreme Court.
“For many years, Traci has honed her professional skills to become one of the most skilled appellate lawyers in the entire Department of Justice,” said U.S. Attorney John M. Bales. “In the Eastern District of Texas, she handles our most complicated appeals, including the death penalty cases for which she has been so deservedly recognized. We are a much better office because of Traci’s work and I am pleased that she has been afforded this honor – it is certainly deserved.”
EOUSA provides oversight, general executive assistance, and direction to the 94 United States Attorneys’ offices around the country. For more information on EOUSA and its mission, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao.
Attorney General Recognizes Eastern District of Texas EmployeesRead the Press Release
Department of Justice
Office of Public AffairsWASHINGTON – The Litigation Support Team for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Texas was recognized by Attorney General Eric Holder and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) Director Monty Wilkinson at the 30th annual Director’s Awards ceremony on Sep. 10, 2014 in Washington D.C.
The Eastern District of Texas was one of 44 districts represented at the ceremony which recognized 243 members of the Department of Justice at a ceremony held in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building.
In his prepared remarks to awardees, Attorney General Holder said, “Locally, nationally, and internationally, you represent the very best that this Department has to offer. Your work embodies our ongoing commitment – not merely to win cases, but to do justice; to protect our fellow citizens from crime, violence, and terrorism; to empower the most vulnerable among us; and to uphold the rule of law.”
EOUSA Director Monty Wilkinson echoed those sentiments, saying to the recipients, “You have persevered, and remained focused and motivated – achieving remarkable results in work that makes a difference in the lives of citizens across our great country. The vast scope of your collective accomplishments is nothing short of exceptional.”
The Litigation Support Team of Janet Holley and Garin Reetz in the Plano office; Keary Conrad in the Sherman office; Glenda Martin in the Beaumont office; and Donna Krise in the Lufkin office, were recognized for their outstanding vision and teamwork in support of the prosecutorial mission. While the unit officially formed under Ms. Holley’s supervision in 2010, the evolution of this team started before 2010, as they independently developed innovative practices to provide litigation support in their offices. Once formed, the members combined their individual knowledge and talents to elevate service across all offices. They inherently understand how to enhance a case by court presentations, bringing the district out of the dark ages of overhead projectors and flipcharts to state-of-the-art multi-media evidence presentations.
“Today’s jurors are very sophisticated and they expect to be presented with evidence that is not only organized and persuasive but is presented in a fashion that helps them understand increasingly complex cases," said U.S. Attorney John M. Bales. “The litigation support provided by our award winning team accomplishes that mission in spades. Each of them has invested many hours in training and each of them spend many more hours in helping our prosecutors prepare what I believe are the best presented cases in east Texas. These individuals are the consummate team players. I am pleased that they have been recognized by our Executive Office but I not surprised – they are also great people.”
EOUSA provides oversight, general executive assistance, and direction to the 94 United States Attorneys’ offices around the country. For more information on EOUSA and its mission, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao.