Northern District of Texas
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Texas Man Who Threatened Elections Official, County Attorney Sentenced to 3 ½ Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A Texas man who suggested a “mass shooting of poll workers” and threatened two Maricopa County officials and their children was sentenced yesterday to three and a half years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Frederick Francis Goltz, 52, pleaded guilty in April to interstate threatening communications. He was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, who ordered three years of supervised release following the defendant’s prison term.
“Election workers perform a duty sacred to the body politic. Setting aside their personal political leanings, they help voters of all political persuasions cast their ballots – a ritual vital to the functioning of American democracy. County attorneys perform a similarly vital role in responding to legal challenges in court. Threats against either are unconscionable,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “This particular defendant repeatedly advocated violence against not only these men, but against their children as well. The Justice Department will not stand by as bad actors threaten members of law enforcement or election officials.”
"Our Democracy demands equal access and unencumbered participation. I am in awe of the dedicated workers and public servants that fulfill their duties to ensure that all of our voices can be heard above the noise created by repugnant threats intended to incite fear and physical harm,” said Dallas FBI Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough. “This noise has no functional place in our society, and the FBI will continue to protect the American people from threats of violence and find justice for victims."
According to court documents, Mr. Goltz threatened several individuals in Arizona – including a Maricopa County Attorney’s Office lawyer and a Maricopa County elections official – on the far-right-wing social media platforms Patriots.win and Gab.com.
In plea papers, Mr. Goltz admitted that on Nov. 21, 2022, he posted the lawyer’s name, purported home address, and purported telephone number on social media along with the sardonic comment, “It would be a shame if someone got to [sic] this children. There are some crazies out there. This kind of info shouldn’t be readily available on the internet.” On the same date, in response to another post referring to other Maricopa County officials, Mr. Goltz said, “Someone needs to get these people AND their children. The children are the most important message to send.”
Just two days later, according to court records, Mr. Goltz responded to a post about the elections official with the comment, “He’s got a WIFE that is a lawyer, too. We need to find out her name and where she works. I don’t think he has kids, but I’m not 100% on that.” When another user commented that kids should be “off limits,” Mr. Goltz responded by saying, “NOTHING is off limits. It’s people like you that are supposedly with us, who don’t have the stomach to do what it takes to get our country back.”
An FBI investigation into Mr. Goltz’s other social media activity revealed a long history of threatening statements against a variety of targets, including government officials, law enforcement officers, and others:
For example, according to court records, on Nov. 13, 2022, Mr. Goltz advocated for "a mass shooting of poll workers and election officials” in precincts he believed had “suspect” results.
A few weeks later, he said he was “willing to take lives” in order to protect against what he called a “tyrannical government.”
According to court records, Mr. Goltz repeatedly emphasized that “children are not off limits,” and said that going after children is important because “it sends a message… people will pay the price for ‘sins of the father.’ Dead children burn into the memories of people.” He also discussed the potential use of concealed firearms.
At Thursday’s sentencing hearing, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office lawyer testified that he, his wife, and his four children were assigned round-the-clock protection and issued body armor in response to the threat.
The elections official, in a statement read aloud by the prosecutor, said the case went far beyond the two men Mr. Goltz specifically targeted online:
“While I am the person directly threatened in this case, the impact of such threats is felt by a much larger community: the thousands of committed election workers who operate our democratic processes,” the elections official, identified as S.R., said in his victim impact statement. “When threats are made against any election workers, the impact reverberates through the whole community. It creates an atmosphere of fear and apprehension. If those who step forward to serve their community – typically an older demographic – are concerned about intimidation or threats, it could discourage them from participating in future election cycles. This potential chilling effect not only threatens the robust functioning of our electoral processes, but it also strikes at the heart of our democracy itself.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Haag prosecuted the case with the assistance of National Security Division Trial Attorney Michael Dittoe and Criminal Division Attorney Robert Heberle.
10 Defendants Charged in Levelland Methamphetamine Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
Eleven alleged methamphetamine traffickers in Levelland, Texas have been federally charged with drug and gun crimes, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
The majority of the defendants charged in the indictment unsealed today were apprehended on Friday. During the arrest operation, one defendant barricaded himself in the attic for roughly two hours but was successfully extricated by an FBI SWAT team. No one was injured. They made their initial appearances before U.S. District Judge D. Gordon Bryant, Jr.
The indictment unsealed today represents the second round of charges in a wide-ranging meth investigation that has netted 29 defendants to date, including 18 defendants charged in November 2022, all of whom subsequently entered guilty pleas.
Those charged in the most recent indictments include:
- David Vicente Martinez, aka Flaco: charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine
- Sedric Lashawn King: charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine
- Daniel Hernandez Martinez: charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, convicted felon in possession of a firearm (Keltec .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol and Phoenix Arms .22 caliber pistol)
- Omarre Edwards Joyce: charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine
- Daniel Abram Garza: charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine
- Andrea Jane Mora: charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine
- Miguel Silva, Jr.: charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
- Dlanee Jordan Alexander: charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine
- Calvin Lee Gonzales: charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine
- Jesus Perez Puertas: charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine
- Danny Bautista: charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, convicted felon in possession of firearms (Ruger 9mm semi-automatic pistol, Ruger .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol, and Winchester .22 caliber rifle)
A number of these defendants have violent criminal histories, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, assault causing bodily injury, assault of a public servant, burglary, theft, and possession of controlled substances.
Those charged in the first round of indictments include:
- Bobby Joe Gonzales: plead (pled or pleaded throughout) guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 240 months in federal prison
- Rance Devin Jordan: plead guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 84 months in federal prison
- Michael Salazar: plead guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 97 months in federal prison
- Timothy John Perez: plead guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 90 months in federal prison
- Judy Cirilo Qualls: plead guilty to convicted felon in possession of a firearm; sentenced to 37 months in federal prison
- Anthony Raven Ruiz, aka Acid: plead guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 87 months in federal prison
- Jose Angel Marquez: plead guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 57 months in federal prison
- Juan Luis Quezada: plead guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentencing set for Aug. 3
- Ernest Michael Chavez: plead guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 131 months in federal prison
- Jennifer Dianne Clem: plead guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 110 months in federal prison
- Jason Wade Grant: plead guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 240 months in federal prison
- Ruben Soliz Guajardo: plead guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 90 months in federal prison
- Gilberto Guajardo: plead guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 108 months in federal prison
- Santiago Vizcarra, Jr., aka Quick: plead guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 78 months in federal prison
- Gerry Wayne Varner: plead guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 240 months in federal prison
- John Vester Gilliam: pled guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 100 months in federal prison
- Hollye Raychelle Patton: pled guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 168 months in federal prison
- Heather Rochelle Patton: pled guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 180 months in federal prison
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, some of the defendants face up to life in federal prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency conducted the investigation with the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division, the Hockley County Sheriff’s Office, the Levelland Police Department, and the Cochran County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Redd is prosecuting the case.
Fifteen Arrested in FBI Gun, Drug Bust Involving 200+ AgentRead the Press Release
Fifteen people were arrested in a large-scale gun and drug bust Thursday, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton announced today.
During the operation – which involved more than 200 officers and agents from FBI Dallas, the Dallas Police Department, the Dallas Sheriff’s Office, and other local agencies – law enforcement seized more than 540 grams of cocaine, more than 1,100 grams of methamphetamine, more than 150 grams of alprazolam, and more than 7 grams of fentanyl, along with nine firearms and over $10,000 in cash.
The defendants were charged in a 16-count indictment with a variety of gun and drug crimes, including possession with intent to distribute cocaine and felon in possession of firearms. They began making their initial appearances in federal court Friday morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez.
“Prosecuting these worst-of-the-worst offenders not only holds them accountable for past wrongs, but it also prevents them from committing future crimes. It makes our streets safer, and our communities sleep more soundly at night,” U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton said at an FBI press conference Friday morning. “An operation like this takes commitment – commitment of time, commitment of resources, and above all, psychological commitment – knowingly risking one’s own personal safety to ensure the security of the community… This case was almost exactly two years in the making. After yesterday, we’re confident it was worth the effort.”
"It's not our goal to just put individuals in jail for a few days, but to build cases that cut into the capabilities of these gangs and criminal enterprises, putting the most violent offenders and facilitators behind bars for as long as we possibly can," said FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Field Office Chad Yarbrough said at the press conference.”
Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said, “I want to thank the FBI Dallas Field Office, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, and the other state and local agencies for their partnerships in this two year-long investigation. It takes all of us to fight and prevent crime and criminal activity. Violent crime continues to trend downward in the city of Dallas and not by accident. It is because of the hard work of the men and women of our agencies, along with our community and city leaders that we see the needle trending down. We are committed to making our neighborhoods safer.”
Those charged include:
- Alicia Slaughter: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute cocaine
- Courtney Smith: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute cocaine
- Edward Williams, aka “Lil ‘E:” conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, convicted felon in possession of a firearm
- Xavier Barnes: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute cocaine
- Jordan Davis: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute cocaine
- Ladarius Holly: convicted felon in possession of a firearm
- Quentavis Zikeiy Hawkins, aka “Luddy:” conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute cocaine
- Lucis Lugo: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute cocaine
- Sebastian Medlock, aka “Blue:” convicted felon in possession of a firearm
- Dmarcus Quartez Roderick Moton, aka “Little Cheese:” conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of an unregistered firearm (Glock switch)
- Christopher Samuel: convicted felon in possession of a firearm
- Perry Taylor: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute cocaine
- Anthony Joe Womack: convicted felon in possession of a firearm
- Davonia Hart: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance
- Brandon Bedford: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, convicted felon in possession of a firearm
Many of the defendants arrested Friday had extensive criminal histories, including assault, aggravated robbery, arson, deadly conduct with a firearm, and manufacture and delivery of controlled substances. Many were allegedly armed, including one who allegedly carried a Glock switch, a dangerous device that converts a regular semi-automatic weapon into a machinegun capable of continuous fire with a single depression of the trigger.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, some face as many as 40 years in federal prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, the Dallas Police Department, and the Dallas Sheriff’s Office conducted the operation with the assistance of the Irving Police Department, the Carrollton Police Department, and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Office of Inspector General, which contributed officers to the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Kull is prosecuting the case.
Top Source of Supply in Juvenile Fentanyl Case Charged, Thousands of Pills Found Stashed in MicrowaveRead the Press Release
A top source of supply in the Carrollton juvenile fentanyl case – which has resulted in at least 14 juvenile overdoses, four of them fatal – has been federally charged, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Julio Gonzales, Jr., 18, was charged via criminal complaint on July 14 with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. He was arrested at his residence on Thursday and made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee Harris Toliver on Friday morning.
His roommate, 19-year-old Adrian Martinez-Leon, was also arrested Thursday and subsequently charged via criminal complaint with drug conspiracy. He, too, made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Toliver on Friday.
During a search of their residence, DEA agents found thousands of fentanyl-laced M-30 pills stuffed in the microwave, a partial kilogram of cocaine tucked in a plastic food storage container, bulk U.S. currency hidden in the closet, and numerous firearms, including a pistol equipped with an illegal Glock switch, littered throughout the home.
“Another domino has fallen in the Carrollton juvenile fentanyl overdose saga,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “Rest assured, the Justice Department will not stop until their entire fentanyl trafficking infrastructure has been dismantled. Our kids’ futures are too important to allow this to continue. “
“These arrests demonstrate the continued resolve of DEA Dallas to investigate this organization to the fullest extent possible,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez. “Local street dealers, transporters, bulk suppliers, and anyone in between should know DEA Dallas is still committed to holding everyone in this organization, and others like it, accountable for selling fentanyl to our communities.”
According to the complaint, in February 2023, a 16-year-old dealer who delivered the fentanyl pills that killed a 14-year-old girl in December 2022 allegedly identified Mr. Gonzales, whom he called “J-Money,” as his supplier. In text messages, the child discussed “J-Money” with Eduardo Navarrete, one of the first dealers charged in the scheme. They identified “J-Money” as their “plug,” street parlance for a source of supply.
At least four other cooperating defendants also allegedly identified “J-Money” as their source of supply and tied him to an address in Dallas’ Oak Cliff neighborhood. Three of the cooperating defendants immediately identified a photograph of Mr. Gonzales as the man they knew as “J-Money.” One admitted to agents that the thousands of pills sold during a DEA controlled purchase operation were sourced by Mr. Gonzales. Instagram messages between Mr. Gonzales and the defendants negotiating pill prices and quantities corroborated these accounts.
In June 2023, agents surveilling Mr. Gonzales observed him allegedly conduct a hand-to-hand drug transaction with a subject who then ducked into a nearby alleyway, crushed the pills, and smoked them. They also observed his roommate, Mr. Martinez-Leon, allegedly conduct a hand-to-hand transaction with a subject outside their front door.
Mr. Gonzales and Mr. Martinez-Leon are the ninth and tenth defendants charged in the wake of the Carrollton overdoses, which have claimed the lives of four middle and high school students to date. To date, five have pleaded guilty.
A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, Mr. Gonzales and Mr. Martinez-Leon will face up to 40 years in federal prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Office, the Dallas Police Department’s SWAT team, and the Carrollton Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Calvert and Phelesa Guy are prosecuting the case.
Note: Illicitly produced, fentanyl-laced pills often look similar to legitimate prescription pills like Oxycontin or Percocet, but can pose significantly more danger. On the street, these pills are often referred to as “M30s” (a reference to the markings on some of the pills), “blues,” “perks,” “yerks,” “china girls,” or “TNT.” DEA research shows that six out of ten pills laced with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. One pill can kill. For resources, visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill.
20 Apprehended in Lubbock Drug, Gun BustRead the Press Release
Twenty people were apprehended in a large-scale drug enforcement operation Wednesday, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
The defendants were charged in 14 separate indictments with a total of 37 counts, including distribution of fentanyl, distribution of methamphetamine, and felon in possession of a firearm. Seven people charged in the scheme remain fugitives.
Those apprehended include:
- Erik Hans Grosstueck: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl
- Brian Jacob Miller: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl
- Alexander Erik Pierce: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl
- Matthew Ryan Chandler: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl
- Loddy Max Montoya: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl
- Trey Matthew Parrish: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl
- Kevontae Jalil Hawthorne: felon in possession of a firearm (one rifle)
- Daniel Anthony Moreno: felon in possession of a firearm (one semi-automatic handgun)
- Glen Donnell Nall, Jr.: possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (one pistol)
- Ethan Tyler Nieto: felon in possession of a firearm (one pistol)
- Martin Rosalez III, aka Wedo: felon in possession of a firearm (one semi-automatic handgun)
- Roberto Salinas, Jr.: felon in possession of a firearm (one semi-automatic handgun)
- Tevin Terelle Carrington: felon in possession of a firearm (one pistol)
- Steven Paul Echols: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
- Rachel Michelle Melendez: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (one pistol)
- Nicolas Blake Pereida: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (one 9mm pistol), distribution of fentanyl
- Brent Reed Angelle: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (two pistols and one shotgun), possession with intent to distribute fentanyl
- Alexus Michelle Grubelnik: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl
- Beatrice Eunice Gutierrez: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl
- Ronny Paul Spuriel: distribution of methamphetamine
Seven people charged in the scheme remain fugitives.
A number of the defendants charged in the scheme are tied to Lubbock’s Project Safe Neighborhood zone, a high-crime hotspot where federal, state, and local law enforcement leaders collaborate to reduce violence and increase community safety. Many have extensive criminal histories, including child sexual assault, aggravated assault, burglary, fraud, manufacture and delivery of controlled substances, and unlawful carrying of firearms.
An indictment is merely an allegation of wrongdoing, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, some face up to life in federal prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division – Lubbock Resident Agency, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division – Lubbock Resident Agency, the United States Marshal Service, the Caprock HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) Task Force, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Lubbock Police Department, the Lubbock County Sherriff’s Office, and the Texas Anti-Gang Task Force conducted the investigation and arrest operation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Long is prosecuting the drug conspiracy; AUSAs Jeff Haag, Ann Howey, Callie Woolam, and Matt McLeod are prosecuting the gun cases with the assistance of AUSAs Ryan Redd and Stephan Rancourt, the Lubbock Branch Office’s Project Safe Neighborhood Coordinators.
Pain Management Physician's Assistant Charged in Amniotic Fluid ScamRead the Press Release
A physician’s assistant who allegedly injected amniotic fluid into patients’ joints in a dubious attempt at pain management has been charged with healthcare fraud, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Ray Anthony Shoulders, a 36-year-old physician’s assistant at a Fort Worth pain management clinic, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and eleven counts of healthcare fraud. He made his initial appearance Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cureton.
“This defendant allegedly claimed that amniotic fluid – a product that has never been approved to treat pain – would alleviate his patients’ suffering. He allegedly told patients that the treatment was covered by Medicare, kindling false hopes. To add insult to injury, he allegedly scammed Medicare out of more than half a million dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “The Northern District of Texas has always been tenacious in its fight against healthcare fraud, and this case is no exception. Medical professionals cannot be allowed to bill insurers for unreliable, unapproved, unreimbursable treatments.”“The conduct alleged in this indictment put patients at risk,” said Jason E. Meadows, Special Agent in Charge at the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). "Protecting the safety of Medicare patients is crucial, and HHS-OIG is committed to ensuring that taxpayer dollars are not used for unapproved, potentially dangerous medical treatments."
According to the indictment, Mr. Shoulders and others allegedly submitted $788,000 in fraudulent claims and received more than $614,000 in reimbursements from Medicare for injecting amniotic fluid – the liquid that surrounds a growing fetus during gestation – into patients’ connective tissue in an off-label attempt to relieve joint pain.
Certain amniotic products have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for wound care, but not for pain management. (In fact, the FDA has issued repeated consumer alerts warning that biologics like amniotic fluid “have not been approved for the treatment of any orthopedic condition, such as osteoarthritis, tendonitis, disc disease, tennis elbow, back pain, hip pain, knee pain, neck pain, or shoulder pain,” nor for “chronic pain or fatigue.”) Because amniotic products have not been approved to treat pain, Medicare considers amniotic injections administered to treat pain medically unnecessary and does not reimburse for them. They do reimburse for some – but not all – amniotic injections administered to reduce inflammation of damaged tissue, as in a wound.
Mr. Shoulders primarily used “Cell Genuity,” an amniotic product for which Medicare would not reimburse, neither for wound care nor for pain. Initially, because the product was not covered by insurance, Mr. Shoulders allegedly asked patients to pay out of pocket more than $800 per injection. Due to the high cost and questionable efficacy, however, many patients refused.
In August 2020, Mr. Shoulders allegedly found an amniotic product, “Fluid Flow,” for which Medicare would reimburse for wound care. He spoke with a sales rep about Fluid Flow reimbursement rates and billing requirements but did not purchase any Fluid Flow, which was significantly more expensive than Cell Genuity
Instead, he allegedly continued to inject Cell Genuity into patients but billed the shots to Medicare under Fluid Flow’s unique code, Q4206. Because they were told insurance would cover the cost of the injections, more patients consented to the procedure.
Under the scheme, the pain clinic allegedly profited around $1,200 per cc of Cell Genuity they injected. (Had the clinic used Fluid Flow, they would have made only around $400 per cc.) From August to October 2020, the clinic submitted more than 100 bills for Fluid Flow to Medicare and received around $400,000 in reimbursements. Mr. Shoulders then received a cut of those reimbursements totaling over $200,00.
The indictment further charges that, in November 2020, in an attempt to avoid detection, Mr. Shoulders suddenly halted the alleged scheme after he became concerned that a sudden increase in the volume of billings might attract the attention of investigators. With no repercussions over the ensuing 10 months, Mr. Shoulders allegedly re-engaged in the scheme in October 2021 and continued through December 2021.
In mid-October, he allegedly purchased 10ccs of Fluid Flow for $20,000 – the only recorded purchase of Fluid Flow by the clinic. He continued to purchase significant quantities of Cell Genuity. Despite purchasing only 10 ccs of Fluid Flow, Mr. Shoulders billed Medicare for approximately 394 ccs of Fluid Flow in the subsequent months.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Like all defendants, Mr. Shoulders is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 120 years in federal prison – 10 years per count.
The Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (HHS - OIG) conducted the investigation with the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney P.J. Meitl prosecuted the case.
Amarillo Man Sentenced to 11+ Years in Prison for Use of WMDRead the Press Release
An Amarillo man who set off a bomb in his backyard, stashed a suicide vest in his alleyway, and privately plotted to blow up a local high school was sentenced today to more than 11 years in federal prison on a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) charge, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Erfan Salmanzadeh, a 34-year-old naturalized citizen of the U.S. born in Iran, was charged via criminal complaint in July 2021 and indicted the following month. He pleaded guilty in December 2022 to use and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and was sentenced today to 135 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk.
“This defendant stashed a highly volatile substance inside his home, putting his whole neighborhood at risk. Moreover, he apparently contemplated using it to inflict violence on a local school,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “The Justice Department is always alert for this type of threat. We urge the community to partner with us by reporting suspicious behavior to law enforcement so that we can swiftly address any potential danger.”
“The FBI would like to thank the Amarillo Police Department, the North Texas Joint Terrorism Taskforce, Homeland Security Investigations, the Texas Department of Public Safety, Randall County Sheriff’s Office, and the Amarillo Fire Department for partnering with us on this investigation,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough. “Today’s sentence holds the defendant accountable for possessing a device with the potential to cause significant damage and harm innocent people. Intervention from concerned neighbors allowed us to move quickly and prevent a violent attack. We ask that the public continue to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to law enforcement.”
According to plea papers, Mr. Salmanzadeh admitted to law enforcement that he used homemade triacetone triperoxide (TATP) to blow up an Xbox in his back yard on July 26, 2021. At the time, he claimed he wanted to see how much damage such an explosion would cause.
He further admitted that after law enforcement arrived at the home to investigate the explosion – which was reported by neighbors who heard the blast – he flushed a gallon-sized jar of TATP powder down the toilet and concealed a suicide vest and a nail bomb in a dumpster in his alleyway.
According to plea papers, bomb technicians collected residual TATP – an extremely unstable explosive that reacts violently to friction and shock – from the defendant’s porcelain toilet bowl. They also discovered TATP residue on a white PVC pipe hidden in his bedroom closet. Officers recovered the suicide vest, which contained several sewn pockets filled with red cylindrical taped tubes labeled “dynamite,” and nail bomb from the dumpster.
Law enforcement later reviewed his electronic devices, including a video Mr. Salmanzadeh recorded on July 22, 2021, threatening to blow up a local high school.
“We are going to blast the school,” he said in Farsi, before displaying the nail bomb filled with shrapnel, the suicide vest filled with pipes labeled dynamite, a suitcase filled with container labeled explosives, and a backpack filled with bottles labeled explosives to the camera.
Officers uncovered several other videos showing Mr. Salmanzadeh conducting test explosions and several journals that contained notes and formulas related to the production of explosives.
In plea papers, Mr. Salmanzadeh admitted he used the internet to conduct all the research he needed to construct TATP and WMD. He also admitted he used the internet to purchase a plane ticket to California on July 28, 2021, to avoid detection by law enforcement after a bombing.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office and the Amarillo Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the North Texas Joint Terrorism Taskforce, Homeland Security Investigations, the Texas Department of Public Safety, Randall County Sheriff’s Office, and the Amarillo Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey Haag and Josh Frausto prosecuted the case with assistance provided by the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Man Who Sexually Abused 5-Year-Old Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A Snyder, Texas man who recorded himself sexually abusing a 5-year-old child was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Shemar Cameron Green, 20, was indicted in December 2022 and pleaded guilty in March 2023 to transportation of child pornography. He was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, who also ordered the defendant to register as a sex offender and to pay $17,500 in restitution to identifiable child pornography victims.
According to plea papers, Mr. Green admitted he sent sexually explicit images of himself to multiple minors, received nude photographs from minors, and produced a video of himself molesting a 5-year-old.
He further admitted that he regularly viewed pornographic images of children under age 10, and uploaded several sexually explicit images of prepubescent children from his computer to his social media accounts.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children relayed a cyber tip from a social media company that housed Mr. Green’s account to law enforcement, prompting the investigation.
The Snyder Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam prosecuted the case.
Burleson Would-Be Bomber Pleads Guilty to Firearms, Child Porn ChargesRead the Press Release
A Burleson man who apparently idolized the Columbine High School shooters pleaded guilty today to possessing a homemade bomb, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Noah Robert Calderon, 22, was charged via criminal complaint in April and indicted in May. He pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of possession of an unregistered firearm and one count of receipt of child pornography.
“This defendant’s obsession with mass shooters put him squarely on the Justice Department’s radar. When he violated the law, we took immediate action, potentially thwarting an act of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “The discovery of one crime, possession of an unregistered firearm, led to the discovery of another, possession of child pornography. We are proud to hold him accountable for both. ”
“The collaborative work by the FBI and our law enforcement partners led to today’s outcome which holds Mr. Calderon accountable for creating and possessing a homemade bomb and for possessing explicit videos of a child,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough. “The FBI is committed to protecting the communities we serve from violent acts and the exploitation of innocent children. We ask the public to remain alert and to continue reporting suspicious or threatening behavior to law enforcement.”
The investigation began in October 2022, when the FBI received a tip about Mr. Calderon’s social media activity.
Court documents indicate that online, Mr. Calderon professed a fascination with high-profile mass shootings, particularly the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School. He posted numerous images of himself in tactical-style vests posing with AR-15-style rifles and shared Columbine-themed memes along with images of homemade explosives.
In March 2023, the FBI received another tip that Mr. Calderon had detonated a homemade bomb in his residential neighborhood.
In plea papers, he admitted that he had purchased explosive precursors online. He also admitted that he stored 659.2 grams of explosive powder, along with a lighter, cannon fuse, cardboard tubing, a glass jar marked “frag” that contained metal ball bearings, lead, a funnel, and measuring spoons, in his garage.
A subsequent search of his Google account revealed queries related to the Columbine killers, the Charleston church shooter, “pipe bomb how to make,” “how to make propane bombs,” and “wear [sic] were the propane bombs in Columbine,” as well as searches of the names of several local public schools.
In plea papers, Mr. Caldron specifically admitted to searching for bomb-making information.
A search of his phone revealed sexually explicit videos taken from a video chat between Mr. Calderon and a 13-year-old girl.
Also in plea papers, he admitted he was aware of the child’s age when he saved the videos.
Mr. Calderon now faces up to 30 years in federal prison – up to 10 years on the firearm count plus between five and 20 years on the child pornography count. His sentencing is set for Friday, Nov. 3 at 9 a.m.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, the Burleson Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Weimer is prosecuting the case with National Security Division Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and Jacob Warren.
Fmr. Dallas County Sheriff’s Employee Sentenced for Stealing $250k from Jail’s Commissary FundRead the Press Release
A former Dallas County Sheriff’s Office supervisor who embezzled more than $250,000 from the jail’s inmate property fund was sentenced today to almost three years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Umeka Treymane Myers, 50, was charged via criminal information on April 28. She pleaded guilty to theft from a program receiving federal funds in June 2022 and was sentenced Monday to 33 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge David Godbey, who also ordered her to pay $429,640.66 in restitution.
"For three years, Ms. Myers callously took advantage of a program receiving federal funds to support her personal bank account. Further, as a supervisor in a government role, she also selfishly risked damaging the credibility of hard-working civil servants that support our county infrastructure," said Dallas FBI Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough. "I commend our colleagues at Dallas County for their full cooperation in rooting out greed and corruption in programs that are funded by taxpayer monies."
According to plea papers, Ms. Myers worked as a supervisor at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center’s inmate property vault, which refunds inmates’ commissary account balances upon their release.
When an inmate’s account contains more than $30, property vault employees give them the balance on debit cards generated by software from the Keef Group.
If an employee makes an error processing a debit card, the software generates an error message, which only a lead clerk or supervisor (such as Myers), can clear.
After overriding a debit card error, however, Ms. Myers used released inmates’ book-in numbers to create new and duplicate debit cards, then entered the same amount from the card issued to the released inmate on to the newly created card.
Between 2018 and 2021, she fraudulently issued dozens of debit cards, which she used in Texas, Louisiana, Nevada, Maryland, and New York. (Her spending was confirmed by Winstar, Choctaw, and Margaritaville casino records, Southwest Airlines records, Bank of America ATM surveillance footage, and personal bank records.)
Ms. Myers has been ordered to report to prison on Monday, Sept. 11.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation with the full cooperation of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcus Busch prosecuted the case
Houston Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Child Sexual Exploitation, ObstructionRead the Press Release
A convicted child sex offender was sentenced today to 40 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Jonathan Fitzpatrick Koen, 49, was indicted in December 2022 and went to trial in March 2023. A jury found him guilty of four counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of attempted obstruction of an official proceeding. He was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor, who ordered the defendant be subject to a lifetime of supervision following his incarceration.
“Children should never be subjected to such appalling abuse. HSI will do everything in our power to continue to remove these predators from our communities,” said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Lester R. Hayes Jr. “This defendant’s lengthy sentence and lifetime of supervised release reflects the severity of his criminal offenses. HSI along with our law enforcement partners remain vigilant in the protection of our nation’s most vulnerable. ”
According to evidence presented at trial, Mr. Koen recorded himself sexually assaulting a high-school-aged victim.
Once the sexually explicit images and videos were discovered, Mr. Koen picked up the minor victim from her home and drove here through the United States and across the Canadian border before he was apprehended by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Mr. Koen also attempted to change his victim’s trial testimony in order to obtain an acquittal. He attempted to get the victim to testify that it was someone else who produced the videos and images he was charged with recording.
Ultimately, the victim was consistent in her testimony, which was consistent with the evidence showing that Mr. Koen sexually assaulted the victim and recorded the videos and images found on his cellphone.
Homeland Security Investigations’ Dallas Field Office and the Fort Worth Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandie Wade and Levi Thomas prosecuted the case.
Beard’s Ex-Fiancé Charged in Brutal Murder of 24-Year-Old MomRead the Press Release
The former fiancé of a Rowlett man who shot and stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death in 2020 has been charged with helping to orchestrate the brutal slaying, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Holly Ann Elkins, the 32-year-old ex-fiancée of Andrew Charles Beard, was indicted last month on three charges: conspiracy to stalk, stalking using a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury and death, and brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. She was arrested on Thursday in Miami and made her initial appearance in Miami on Friday afternoon.
According to the indictment, Ms. Elkins allegedly helped plot the Oct. 2, 2020 killing of Andrew Beard’s ex-girlfriend, 24-year-old Alyssa Ann Burkett, with whom Mr. Beard shared a child.
(Mr. Beard has already pleaded guilty to cyberstalking using a dangerous weapon resulting in death and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and has begun serving his 43-year sentence.)The indictment alleges that in the summer of 2020, Ms. Elkins and Mr. Beard purchased a GPS tracking device and surreptitiously installed it on Ms. Burkett’s vehicle.
On July 25, 2020, Ms. Elkins allegedly phoned the police using a fake name and falsely reported she observed Ms. Burkett’s car driving dangerously. Less than a month later, she allegedly falsely reported that Ms. Burkett’s mother had assaulted her in Ms. Burkett’s presence.
On Sept. 2, Ms. Elkins and Mr. Beard allegedly planted illegal drugs and a pistol with an obliterated serial number in the trunk of Ms. Burkett’s vehicle in order to have her arrested. Later that day, Ms. Elkins allegedly texted Mr. Beard a photo of Ms. Burkett’s license plate number so that he could provide it to police in a false report that Ms. Burkett was selling drugs out of the car. Mr. Beard then phoned police using a fake name and reported that Ms. Burkett was selling drugs to men at the apartment complex where she worked. He provided the license plate number on the photo Ms. Elkins sent.
On Sept. 13, Ms. Elkins and Mr. Beard allegedly purchased a van to carry out a planned attack on Ms. Burkett.
On Sept. 14, Ms. Elkins purchased makeup for Mr. Beard’s disguise.
On Sept. 19, the pair allegedly purchased .410 shotgun shells and a Camillus knife.
On Oct. 2, 2020, Mr. Beard, disguised as a Black man, shot Ms. Burkett in the head while she sat behind the wheel of her car in her work parking lot. As she staggered out of the car, Mr. Beard grabbed her and stabbed her 13 times. She died in the parking lot as he raced away from the scene.
During the murder, Ms. Elkins allegedly remained at Mr. Beard’s home with Ms. Burkett’s child in an attempt to establish an alibi. A few days later, in an interview with law enforcement, Ms. Elkins falsely claimed Mr. Beard was home at the time of the murder.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Ms. Elkins is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, she faces up to two consecutive life sentences in federal prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, the Carrollton Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gary Tromblay and Andrew Briggs are prosecuting the case.
Violent Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 27+ Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A drug trafficker arrested following a disturbing domestic violence altercation was sentenced Thursday to more than 27 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Carlos Carrasquillo, 21, was charged via criminal complaint in April and indicted the following month. He pleaded guilty in December 2022 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Ada Brown to 327 months behind bars.
According to court documents, in February 2022, law enforcement was tipped off that Mr. Carrasquillo was advertising the sale of narcotics, firearms, and firearm conversion devices, including Glock switches, via Instagram.
Two months later, on April 16, officers were summoned to a Grand Prairie Gas Station to respond to a domestic dispute between Mr. Carrasquillo and his girlfriend.
When an officer attempted to speak to Mr. Carrasquillo, he fled the scene, dropping a black bag containing more than 1,000 grams of fentanyl and 600 grams of cocaine.
Severely injured, his girlfriend was transported to the hospital. She told officers that Mr. Carrasquillo broke into her apartment, physically assaulted her, and stuffed her into the trunk of her own vehicle. He crashed the car near the Trinity River, pulled her from the trunk, and forced her towards a wooded area, punching, kicking, and stabbing her with a knife en route.
He was arrested ten days later at his apartment, where he attempted to break out of the officer’s grip.
At Thursday’s sentencing hearing, prosecutors introduced evidence showing that Mr. Carrasquillo attempted to obstruct the investigation into both his drug and firearms dealing and into the assault of his girlfriend. In his first call from jail, he instructed his sister to delete content from his Instagram account and to reach out to his girlfriend to dissuade her from participating in the prosecution.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division, the Dallas Police Department, and the Grand Prairie Police Department, conducted the investigation with the help of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Briggs prosecuted the case.
Fentanyl Distributer Tied to 13-Year-Old’s Overdose Death Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
A drug distributor who was selling fentanyl-laced counterfeit M30 pills to a Carrollton middle schooler shortly before her fatal overdose pleaded guilty today to a federal drug crime, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Rafael Soliz, Jr., 23, was indicted in March. He pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee Harris Toliver.
“My heart aches for the victim in this case – a promising young girl who’d barely entered her teens. The defendant not only sold her fentanyl but also taught her how to ingest it. In essence, he encouraged a mere child to snort a terrifyingly potent, highly addictive drug – and then urged her to cover for him with law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “The Northern District of Texas is pulling out all the stops to rid the streets of dealers and keep fentanyl out of the hands of our kids. Our community cannot endure much more of this.”
“Anyone selling fentanyl to children will find themselves becoming a top priority for the Drug Enforcement Administration,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez. “The DEA will continue to focus our resources on stopping this deadly threat from reaching and causing more harm to our next generation.”
“We will never stop fighting to protect our community from this dangerous drug. I’m proud of the men and women of the Carrollton Police Department, who are working tirelessly to rid the community of this poison. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family,” said Carrollton Police Chief Roberto Arredondo.
According to plea papers, Mr. Soliz admitted he sold fentanyl to both street-level dealers and directly to users, including children.
Mr. Soliz used an Instagram account to communicate with both adult and minor customers interested in purchasing counterfeit M30 pills containing fentanyl. On Nov. 30, Mr. Soliz responded via Instagram messenger to a 13-year-old girl who asked him if she could buy “percs.” Soliz agreed and delivered the pills to her residence. He then advised her how to snort them.
A few days later, upon discovering that the child, a student at Dewitt Perry Middle School, was just 13, he expressed dismay at her age but agreed to continue selling to her if she would “keep it on the down low” and deny he was her dealer if she ever got caught. On December 9, 2022, he advised her to “delete our chat” and instead use Instagram Vanish Mode.
Two days later, the child was found dead in her Carrollton bedroom. An autopsy revealed she’d died from a toxic combination of fentanyl and cough medicine.
In his plea papers, Mr. Soliz stipulated that he personally distributed approximately 1,500 fentanyl pills to adults and juveniles, including the 13 year-old victim. He stated he dealt hundreds of pills directly to Luis Eduardo Navarrete, one of the first traffickers charged in the wake of the Carrollton juvenile fentanyl overdoses.
Mr. Soliz is the fifth defendant charged in the wake of the Carrollton / Flower Mound juvenile overdose investigation to enter a guilty plea. Jason Xavier Villanueva, Magaly Cano, Donovan Jude Andrews and Stephen Paul Brinson pleaded guilty earlier this year; three other defendants, including Mr. Navarrete, have been charged but not yet convicted. (All are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.)
Mr. Soliz now faces up to 40 years in federal prison. Under the terms of his plea agreement, he may be called upon to testify in court.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division and the Carrollton Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Carrollton - Farmer’s Branch Independent School District. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Calvert and Phelesa Guy are prosecuting the case.
Note: Illicitly produced, fentanyl-laced pills often look similar to legitimate prescription pills like Oxycontin or Percocet, but can pose significantly more danger. On the street, these pills are often referred to as “M30s” (a reference to the markings on some of the pills), “blues,” “perks,” “yerks,” “china girls,” or “TNT.” DEA research shows that six out of ten pills laced with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. One pill can kill. For resources, visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill.
Cartel-Linked Meth Trafficker Sentenced to Life in Prison Following Threats to Inmates, AgentRead the Press Release
A major Dallas drug trafficker was sentenced yesterday to life in prison for trafficking methamphetamine out of his car dealership, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
In December 2021, after four days of trial, a federal jury convicted Marco Antonio Gonzalez, 45, of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr.
According to evidence presented at trial, Mr. Gonzalez, an associate of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) who called himself “Speedy,” dealt methamphetamine out of Hampton Motors, a car dealership he owned. He and several coconspirators stored large quantities of narcotics at the dealership and used proceeds of drug sales to purchase vehicles in order to disguise the source of the funds.
The defendants used homes in Dallas and DeSoto to serve as laboratories for the recrystallization of methamphetamine, and often carried firearms on those premises. Agents testified at trial that members of the cartel trafficked thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine this way.
During trial, prosecutors discovered that Mr. Gonzalez threatened to kill one of his co-conspirators, who was slated to testify against him. The threatened man went on to testify anyway, saying that Mr. Gonzalez used his dealership as a front for large-scale drug deals. In another instance, Mr. Gonzalez attacked another inmate who Mr. Gonzales believed would be testifying during his trial. And during trial, Mr. Gonzalez passed a note to federal agents that was believed to represent a threat against the agents.
During sentencing, these facts were discussed at length and Judge Starr stated that the life sentence for Gonzales was based, in part, on these egregious acts.
Ten of his co-conspirators entered guilty pleas prior to trial.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division and the Dallas Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Garland Police Department and the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys P.J. Meitl and John Kull prosecuted the case.
Child Predator Sentenced to Life Plus 10 Years Following Son’s TipRead the Press Release
A Granbury man whose son reported him to law enforcement was sentenced to a term of life imprisonment plus 10 years for child sexual exploitation, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
In February, after three days of trial and just 45 minutes of deliberation, a federal jury found David Earl Boyd, 64, guilty of two counts of producing child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of penalties for registered sex offenders. Mr. Boyd was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means.
“This sentence ensures Mr. Boyd will never again exploit a little child,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “I want to again thank Mr. Boyd’s son for reporting his father’s behavior to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. It cannot have been easy, but it likely prevented further harm. We hope the families of the children already victimized will rest a little easier knowing Mr. Boyd will remain behind bars for the rest of his life.”
“This defendant’s actions were exceptionally disturbing given the severity of the life-altering abuse these children experienced,” said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Lester R. Hayes Jr. “HSI stands ready with our law enforcement partners to identify and investigate those who prey on the most precious members of our society, our children.”
According to evidence presented at trial, in the spring of 2022, Mr. Boyd, already a registered sex offender, took sexually explicit images of two young children, aged 6 and 3.
Mr. Boyd’s son discovered nude images of the children in his father’s trash folder. He took a screenshot of the trash gallery and submitted a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which forwarded the tip to law enforcement.
Shortly thereafter, officers arrested Mr. Boyd and seized his Samsung smartphone.
During an extraction of the phone, forensic examiners discovered thousands of child pornography images in a directory associated with an application designed to conceal images and videos. (Although Mr. Boyd had previously deleted the app, the directory retained the images and videos.)
Previously, Mr. Boyd was convicted of possession of child pornography in Taylor County. In 2003, the state sentenced him to three years and required to register as a sex offender.
Homeland Security Investigations’ Dallas Field Office, the Hood County District Attorney’s Office, and the Dallas Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aisha Saleem prosecuted the case with the help of Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Lewis. U.S. District Judge Terry Means oversaw the trial.
CFO, Controller, Corporate Officers Charged in $53 Million Fraud Scheme Involving Pandemic ReliefRead the Press Release
Fourteen people who allegedly bilked the Paycheck Protection Program, a COVID-era financial program, and numerous financial institutions out of more than $53 million in loan proceeds have been federally charged, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. This case is the largest investigated by the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force to date.
The defendants were arrested Tuesday and Wednesday in Texas, California, and Oklahoma by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Treasury Department’s Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG).
“Defrauding the government is an affront to American taxpayers. Defrauding the government during a pandemic – at a time when millions of hardworking entrepreneurs struggled to make payroll and rent – is pouring salt in a wound,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “These defendants allegedly conspired to steal tens of millions of dollars from the Paycheck Protection Program – funds which could have helped legitimate businesses pay their bills and keep their employees afloat. We are thankful to the officers and agents who meticulously investigated this case, especially the data scientists at the Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence, whose sophisticated analysis ensures that those who abused the PPP will be brought to justice.”
“These indictments charge another group of individuals with defrauding the taxpayers of millions of dollars as the group abused a federal program critical for struggling small businesses that were hit hard by the pandemic,” said Brian Miller, the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery. “SIGPR is glad to have played a significant role teaming with other law enforcement agencies and the United States Attorney’s Office to hold these individuals accountable.”
“These individuals allegedly conspired to orchestrate multiple fraud schemes which exploited financial institutions and government programs, solely to enrich themselves,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough. “We will continue to work with our partners to ensure that the American people do not fund the lifestyle of criminals with taxpayer dollars that were intended to protect the most susceptible from financial ruin and promote economic stabilization in a critical time of need.”
According to a series of indictments unsealed Wednesday, several of the charged defendants purportedly operated a group of affiliated recycling companies, including Mammoth Metal Recycling, Elephant Recycling, Gulf Coast Scrap, 4G Metals, 4G Plastics, 5G Metals, Level Eight, Sunshine Recycling, L.K. Industries, , NTC Industries, West Texas Equipment, and West Texas Scrap.
They allegedly submitted at least 29 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications that fraudulently inflated payroll expenses, doctoring bank statements and Internal Revenue Service tax forms to falsely reflect business income. They then routed PPP loan funds through a series of bank accounts to create a false paper trail of payroll expenses.
At least two of the defendants also allegedly submitted false applications to financial institutions on behalf of their purported recycling companies to fraudulently obtain, in the aggregate, millions of dollars in business loan proceeds.
And one defendant allegedly lied to the Federal Deposit Insurance Commission (FDIC) by stating that he did not know several of his other alleged coconspirators.
Those charged in the sixteen count-indictment filed last week include:
- Mihir Patel, Chief Financial Officer of Sunshine Recycling, and owner of Mammoth Group, R.A. Industries, and L.K. Industries: conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud and aiding and abetting, and conspiracy to commit money laundering
- Kinjal Patel, Controller at Sunshine Recycling: conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud and aiding and abetting, and conspiracy to commit money laundering
- Prateek Desai, owner of West Texas Scrap: conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud and aiding and abetting
- Wajahat Khan, aka Ray Khan, President and owner of Gulf Coast Scrap: conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud and aiding and abetting, and conspiracy to commit money laundering
- Imran Khan, aka Ron Khan, Operations Director and owner of 4G Metals and West Texas Equipment: conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud and aiding and abetting
- Chirag Gandhi, aka Chris Gandhi, Controller of NTC Industries, and President and owner of 5G Metals and Sunshine Recycling: conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud and aiding and abetting
- Bhavesh Patel, aka Bobby Patel, Chief Business Development Officer for Sunshine Recycling and owner of Level Eight and: conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud and aiding and abetting, and making a false statement to the FDIC
- Dharmesh Patel, aka Danny Patel, Co-President and co-owner of Elephant Recycling: conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud and aiding and abetting
- Mitra Bhattarai, Co-President and co-owner of Elephant Recycling: conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud and aiding and abetting
- Bhargav Bhatt, aka Brad Bhatt, NTC Industries employee: conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering
Those charged in separate indictments include:
- Mrunal Desai: bank fraud and aiding and abetting
- Chintak Desai, President of Nanosoft Technologies: bank fraud and aiding and abetting
- Ambreen Khan: wire fraud
- Usha Chapain, aka Usha Sharma: bank fraud
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 30 years in federal prison for each count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud and aiding and abetting, bank fraud, and making a false statement to the FDIC, 20 years for wire fraud, and 10 years for conspiracy to commit money laundering.
This case was investigated by a SIGPR special agent assigned to the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force, and special agents from the Dallas field offices of the FDIC OIG and FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Fabio Leonardi is prosecuting the case.
The PRAC was established to promote transparency and facilitate coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The PRAC’s 21 member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending, including spending via the Paycheck Protection Program. This case was also supported by the PRAC’s Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence, which applies the latest advances in analytic and forensic technologies to help OIGs and law enforcement pursue data-driven pandemic relief fraud investigations.
The Paycheck Protection Program was authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The PPP provided forgivable loans to small businesses to cover payroll, rent, and other certain business expenses; the program ended in May 2021.
Operation Take Aim: U.S. Attorney’s Office, ATF Dallas, Dallas PD Announce Summer Volent Crime InitiativeRead the Press Release
The United States Attorney’s Office – in partnership with ATF Dallas and the Dallas Police Department – today announced Operation Take Aim, a collaborative initiative designed to curb violent crime by federally prosecuting offenders most likely to harm the community when at large and by proactively engaging with these offenders to discourage them from committing further crimes and entering the federal system.
Building on the office’s already strong collaboration with ATF Dallas, the Dallas Police Department, and other state and local law enforcement partners, Operation Take Aim has two components. First, it complements law enforcement’s earlier efforts – which focused primarily on specific locations – by zeroing in on the most dangerous repeat offenders with violent criminal histories and prosecuting their crimes federally.
Second, it involves holding deterrence programs called “Reentry Nights” for individuals in the state criminal justice system. Reentry Night programming encourages these offenders to pursue an education or other productive life path and deters them from committing more crimes. Take Aim also bolsters federal involvement in initiatives like the Dallas Police Department’s Focused Deterrence sessions, which seek to provide support services to a specific set of offenders identified by data as most likely to reoffend.
The United States Attorney’s Office has already ramped up coordination with Dallas Police and ATF to vet each violent crime case within the jurisdiction’s borders and determine which should be prosecuted federally. (Federal charges carry significantly stiffer sentences on some crimes than state charges do, and there is no possibility of parole.)
Because the coordination involves constant collaboration between federal prosecutors and other state and local agencies, the office is devoting even more prosecutors to handling these cases.
Operation Take Aim builds on Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia’s focused deterrence program, an initiative funded in part by a Justice Department grant that endeavors to change the behavior of high-risk offenders through a combination of deterrence, incapacitation (arrest), and community involvement.
“Given a foothold, violent crime rips through communities. Our neighbors turn into casualties. Talk to any violent crime survivor and they’ll tell you: Their blood pressure never quite returns to normal. Once you’ve been victimized, life always feels precarious, no matter where you go,” U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton said at a press conference at the Earle Cabell Federal Building Monday morning.
“If we believe someone presents a heightened risk of continued violence, we will take their case federally,” Ms. Simonton said. “When you commit a violent crime, all of us are on the case. And together, we have the manpower, the technology, and the expertise to apprehend you, prosecute you, and put you behind bars.”
“It takes all of us to fight and prevent crime and criminal activity,” Chief Garcia said. “It doesn't matter if offenders commit acts of violence themselves, with a gang, a crew, a posse, or who they hang out with. We have made it our business to learn about individuals causing violence in Dallas. Re-offending is not an option, and we will not let violent activity become the status quo in Dallas.”
“Every one of these cases causes trauma. We are committed to putting these people in jail. ATF has doubled down here in Dallas,” said ATF Dallas Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Boshek. “Nowhere in the country is there the support and the cooperation amongst federal prosecutors, state prosecutors, police departments, and the feds like there is here in north Texas. We’re committed to helping make Dallas and north Texas safer.”
Of particular interest to Take Aim officers, agents, and prosecutors are gun crimes, including prohibited person in possession of a firearm, unlicensed dealing, straw purchasing, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
At Monday’s press conference, Ms. Simonton, the district’s chief federal law enforcement officer, announced that the Northern District of Texas is on track to convict substantially more firearm offenders than in previous years. (The district, which has historically convicted around 400 firearm offenders each year, consistently ranks among the top five districts in the nation for gun-crime cases filed. The district’s gun crime conviction rate stands at 97 percent – four percentage points higher than the national average.)
One such case is U.S. v Suttles. Javier Dominque Suttles, 26, had already plead guilty in the state system to two robberies and been placed on deferred adjudication and community supervision. During his time under supervision, he allegedly committed three armed robberies over the course of just five days. Each time, he brandished a handgun with an extended magazine and menaced store employees. During one incident, Mr. Suttles – apparently frustrated that there wasn’t more cash on the premises -- allegedly ordered an employee into the bathroom and forced the employee to strip naked.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas charged Mr. Suttles with two federal crimes: Interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. A federal judge immediately ordered him detained pending trial. Mr. Suttles is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law; if convicted, however, he faces up to 27 years in federal prison.
In addition to prosecuting gun crimes and building up deterrence programs, federal agents and prosecutors will be taking part in community initiatives including those endorsed by Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson’s Summer of Safety program.
Operation Take Aim comports with United State Attorney General Merrick Garland’s directive to U.S. Attorneys to prioritize combatting gun violence and other violent crime.
Fentanyl Distributors Charged Following Fourth Fatal Juvenile OverdoseRead the Press Release
Two distributors who supplied the fentanyl that killed a 15-year-old girl in Carrollton last week have been federally charged, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
The victim, is the fourth child to die of a fentanyl overdose in the area since September 2022.
Lizbeth Prieto, 19, also known as Lizbeth Escamilla, and Christian Lopez, 24, were charged via criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances. Ms. Prieto made her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma Ramirez on Friday; Mr. Lopez, who is currently in state custody, will have his initial appearance in the coming days.
“Four young lives, lost in an instant. Four families, heartbroken,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “Fentanyl continues to creep its insidious way through the teenage population, and no kid is immune. The Justice Department will continue to take traffickers off the streets. But our efforts alone are not enough. As soon as one trafficker is put behind bars, another rises up to take his place. Parents, teachers, and friends: Please, educate your kids on the dangers of counterfeit pills. Unless prescribed by a doctor, no pill is safe. Even tablets that appear to be prescription painkillers or other types of medications may well be laced with a deadly dose of fentanyl.”
“This is well beyond a ‘Carrollton’ problem. This is a you and me problem as it affects us all. This is a problem that we must join all facets of our community to educate, treat, prevent, and enforce the law to help those struggling and hold responsible those who deal drugs to the fullest extent of the law,” said Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Dallas. “Just one pill can change so many lives forever. We will never stop seeking justice.”
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of life. Our hearts and prayers go out to the victim’s family. We continue to work tirelessly to make it difficult for drug dealers to operate in our city by arresting them, and bringing them to justice. We will continue to do all we can to keep this poison out of our city,” said Carrollton Police Chief Roberto Arredondo.
According to the complaint, Mr. Lopez supplied fentanyl pills to Ms. Prieto, who provided them to the victim, a 15-year-old student at Newman Smith High School in Carrollton identified in court documents as “J.G.,”
Family members called 911 when they found the J.G. unresponsive, face down on her bed on Tuesday, June 13. She was transported to the hospital and pronounced deceased shortly thereafter.
Knowing the death was likely fentanyl-related, the family gave law enforcement consent to search J.G.’s bedroom and her cell phone. Inside her room, agents found ten counterfeit Percocet pills inscribed M/30, which later tested positive for fentanyl. On her Instagram, they found communications between the girl and Ms. Prieto from approximately 24 hours before the death.
In messages, Ms. Prieto allegedly offered to sell J.G. 13 fentanyl pills for $100 dollars, confirmed she could pay with cash, and asked for her address. A short while later, Ms. Prieto allegedly advised J.G. that she was pulling up to the home to deliver the pills. An undercover officer immediately reached out to Ms. Prieto and asked to purchase M/30 fentanyl pills.
The next day, Ms. Prieto allegedly arranged to meet the undercover officer. Prior to the transaction, law enforcement observed Ms. Prieto get into Mr. Lopez’s car. She then exited the car, met with the officer, and handed over several pills. In return, the officer gave her marked bills. Shortly after the transaction, she got back into Mr. Lopez’s car.
Law enforcement pulled Mr. Lopez after he departed and found five out of the six marked bills in his possession. He allegedly admitted he had supplied Ms. Prieto with the counterfeit pills she gave the undercover, which tested positive for fentanyl.
Ms. Prieto allegedly admitted that Mr. Lopez was her supplier, and confessed that she sold J.G. a dozen M/30 pills. She said she did know J.G.’s exact age, but knew that she was young.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of wrongdoing, not evidence. Both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, they each face up to 20 years in federal prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division and the Carrollton Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Calvert and Phelesa Guy are prosecuting the case.
Note: Illicitly produced, fentanyl-laced pills often look similar to legitimate prescription pills like Oxycontin or Percocet, but can pose significantly more danger. On the street, these pills are often referred to as “M30s” (a reference to the markings on some of the pills), “blues,” “perks,” “yerks,” “china girls,” or “TNT.” DEA research shows that six out of ten pills laced with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. One pill can kill. For resources, visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill.
Fort Worth Oil & Gas Man Sentenced to 17+ Years for Wire Fraud, Ordered to Pay $16M RestitutionRead the Press Release
An oil and gas fraudster was sentenced to more than 17 years in federal prison for running a multi-million dollar Ponzi-type scheme, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Billy Marcum, Jr., 67, of Fort Worth, Texas, pleaded guilty in December 2022 to wire fraud. On Thursday, he was sentenced to 210 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman, who also ordered him to pay more than $16 million in restitution.
In plea papers, Mr. Marcum – the owner of a number of oil and gas companies, including Navarro Minerals, Caddo I, Bluecreek Operating, Fullspike Energy, Viejo Services, and Viejo Exploration – solicited money from investors, telling them their funds would be used to purchase oil and gas leases and to pay for well oil repairs and returns would be paid out of profits from the ensuing oil and gas sales.
A classic Ponzi scheme, instead of purchasing the leases, Mr. Marcum used new investors’ money to fund earlier investors’ returns, lulling them into believing their investments were sound and that they should continue investing with him. (He also used some of the investment money to pay personal expenses.)
In furtherance of the scheme, Mr. Marcum fabricated reports about oil production and sales and sent them to investors. The false run statements noted purported lease name and number, the gross volume of product taken, sales value, taxes paid, dates, and net amount to be paid to the operator. Marcum also recorded false lease assignments related to his scheme in counties throughout Texas to disguise his crime.
Around September 2018, Mr. Marcum realized he lacked sufficient revenues and could no longer raise sufficient funds to pay existing investors. He conspired with a man named Jay Taylor to solicit investor funds on behalf of several of his companies. Mr. Marcum knowingly supplied false information to Mr. Taylor, who used the information to successfully solicit additional funds.
In April 2022, Mr. Marcum admitted to FBI agents that he concocted false run statements about oil and gas sales and sent them directly to some investors and indirectly, through Mr. Taylor, to others in order to entice investments. He also admitted that he used new investor funds to pay off other investors and represented to them that the returns were from oil sales.
At sentencing, prosecutors said Mr. Marcum defrauded over 150 victims, collecting nearly $30 million in investor funds and inflicting over $16 million in losses.
Mr. Taylor also pleaded guilty to wire fraud and was sentenced in April to eight years in federal prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office – Fort Worth Resident Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nancy Larson, John de la Garza, and Beverly Chapman prosecuted the case.
Man Who Bragged About Sex with 16-Year-Old Sentenced to 14 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A Lamesa man who bragged to his coworkers about having sex with a 16-year-old child was sentenced Thursday to 14 years in prison for his sexually explicit photographs of her, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Osbaldo Moreno, 21, was charged via criminal complaint in November 2022 and indicted the following month. He pleaded guilty in February to receipt of child pornography and was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix.
According to court documents, the investigation began when a co-worker reported to law enforcement that Mr. Moreno bragged about having sex with the minor victim in the workplace bathroom, breakroom, and parking lot.
In plea papers, Mr. Moreno admitted that the child was 15 when he first began having sex with her.
A review of the defendant’s cell phone revealed multiple disturbing text messages, including one in which he threatened, “U need to chill or am going to rape u and u not going to be able to walk again.”
He also demanded sexually explicit photos of the victim, which she sent. On his cell phones (he had several), investigators discovered more than 150 explicit images and videos of the child.
In an interview with law enforcement at the Midland Children’s Advocacy Center, the child reported that Mr. Moreno routinely ordered her to send nude images of herself and asked her to stop going to school so that they could have sex more often. She said that he declined to use protection during sex because he wanted to impregnate her.
Mr. Moreno has also been charged by the state with two counts of sexual assault of a child. Those cases remain pending.
Homeland Security Investigations’ Dallas Field Office and the Lamesa Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam prosecuted the case.
Darknet Fentanyl Dealer Convicted at TrialRead the Press Release
A darknet fentanyl dealer who used the moniker “Fent4U” was found guilty yesterday of multiple drug crimes and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
After four days of trial and five hours of deliberation, a jury convicted Sean Shaughnessy, 55, of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance analogue, distribution of controlled substances, and possession of child pornography.
“Drug traffickers who think operating on the darknet will shield them from prosecution should think again,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “We will scour the darkest recesses of the internet to find those dealing fentanyl, a drug that shatters lives and wrecks futures. We are grateful to the many agents and officers – both in uniform and undercover – that worked together to arrest Mr. Shaughnessy, and to the jurors who thoughtfully weighed the evidence and voted to convict.”
“This drug dealer, who used the cloak of the dark web to peddle fentanyl and other illicit drugs, is no longer in business thanks to the investigative efforts and technological expertise of our agents and law enforcement partners,” said Lester R. Hayes Jr., Special Agent in Charge of HSI Dallas. “Criminals who seek personal gain by trafficking illicit drugs at the expense of victims in our communities cannot hide on the dark web. Our team of special agents and criminal analysts will never relent in our resolve to bring to justice those that seek financial gain by selling this poison in our neighborhoods as we all work tirelessly as a community to address drug addiction and fatal overdoses throughout the country.”
According to evidence presented at trial, Mr. Shaughnessy sold fentanyl, carfentanil (a frequently abused elephant tranquilizer), pentedrone, and fentanyl and pentedrone analogues over the dark web, an unindexed portion of the internet accessible only via specialized software that allows users to conduct transactions with relative anonymity. His buyers purchased the drugs on dark web marketplaces using cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, and Mr. Shaughnessy shipped the drugs to their addresses.
Multiple former customers testified at Mr. Shaughnessy’s trial, noting the drugs Shaughnessy sold them, including fentanyl and its analogues, arrived to their DFW are homes very quickly and were of high potency.
Just days after purchasing fentanyl analogues from Mr. Shaughnessy, one of his customers, a young man in his 20s, died of an overdose involving that substance.
An undercover Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent testified about the undercover operation that identified Mr. Shaughnessy, explaining that Mr. Shaughnessy directed tens of thousands of dollars of his illicit drug proceeds to be sent to Mr. Shaughnessy in the Dallas area.
Another agent testified that during an interview with law enforcement, Mr. Shaughnessy claimed that the agents would have to “check his taxes” to determine what Mr. Shaughnessy did for a living. Agents contacted the Internal Revenue Service, which indicated Mr. Shaughnessy had filed no taxes for the relevant time periods.
In a video of his July 2016 arrest played for the jury, Mr. Shaughnessy, with white powder visible around his nose, removed and dropped a baggie of drugs from his pocket while officers were placing handcuffs on him, and he then attempted to kick it out of officers’ view. When officers noticed the baggie, the defendant insisted, “that ain’t mine,” though it was plainly visible on the officers’ body-camera footage.
The defendant now faces up to 80 years in federal prison.
Homeland Security Investigations’ Dallas and New York Field Offices conducted the investigation in partnership with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs & Border Protection, the Irving Police Department, and the Sacramento District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joe Magliolo, Gary Tromblay, Nicole Dana, and Jordan Ganz are prosecuting the case. U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay presided over the trial.
Fentanyl Dealer Linked to Fatal Teenage Overdose SentencedRead the Press Release
A fentanyl dealer tied to the death of a 16-year-old boy was sentenced this week to 12 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Eric Aden Herrera, 20, pleaded guilty in September 2022 to distribution of controlled substances to a person under 21. He was sentenced Tuesday by Senior U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means.
“Fentanyl, which is often hidden inside more innocuous-looking counterfeit pills, can snuff out a life in an instant,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “This defendant claimed he was too afraid to try these pills himself, yet he was willing to sell them to an unsuspecting teenager. We must ensure our teens understand that drug dealers will resort to unscrupulous behavior in order to make a buck, and that unless prescribed by a doctor, no pill is safe. The Justice Department will not rest until fentanyl is no longer being sold on our streets.”
“Dealing and purchasing pills on the streets, regardless of what they ‘might’ look like, must stop,” said Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Fort Worth. “Illicit fentanyl has made its way into every one of our neighborhoods and you cannot take a chance. The consequences are real. While we cannot heal the damage already done to the victim’s family, we can continue to hold those like Mr. Herrera, and all others, accountable for the devastation selling drugs cause.”
According to plea papers, Mr. Herrera admitted he knowingly distributed counterfeit Percocet pills laced with fentanyl to a victim identified in the complaint as L.W.
He arranged the sale via Snapchat and then met the victim outside his girlfriend’s house to make the exchange.
Shortly after purchasing the pills, L.W. ingested two of them and fatally overdosed. His friend found him unresponsive in bed and called 911. An autopsy revealed L.W. died of acute fentanyl toxicity.
In an interview with law enforcement, Mr. Herrera admitted he sold pills to L.W.
He said that after he got the pills from his dealer, he considered breaking one in half to try it with his girlfriend, but decided not to because he didn’t know about how they were made and was too scared to take them himself.
A review of Mr. Herrera’s Snapchat history confirmed that he offered to sell L.W. Percocet and directed him to Mr. Herrera’s girlfriend’s street.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division and the Fort Worth Police Department conducted the investigation with assistance from the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Montes prosecuted the case.
Note: Illicitly produced, fentanyl-laced pills often look similar to legitimate prescription pills like Oxycontin or Percocet, but can pose significantly more danger. On the street, these pills are often referred to as “M30s” (a reference to the markings on some of the pills), “blues,” “perks,” “yerks,” “china girls,” or “TNT.” DEA research shows that six out of ten pills laced with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. One pill can kill. For resources, visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill.
Child Sex Trafficker Convicted at TrialRead the Press Release
A DeSoto man who drugged young girls and then forced them into commercial sex was convicted Wednesday evening of 15 counts related to sex trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Anjum Zafar Mian, 42, was charged via criminal complaint in December 2022 and indicted in March 2023. After two days of trial and an hour and a half of deliberation, a jury convicted him Wednesday of two counts of sex trafficking through force, fraud and coercion; two counts of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking through force, fraud and coercion; four counts of sex trafficking of a minor; three counts of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor; two counts of sexual exploitation of a child; one count of transporting a minor across state lines for prostitution; and one count of interstate transportation for prostitution.
“This man threatened, beat, drugged, and raped these girls – mere children – so that he could make money. That is the horrific truth of human trafficking, and it’s happening in our backyard,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “These victims are hiding in plain sight. Please, if you suspect trafficking, reach out to law enforcement. The Justice Department will not rest until the invisible chains of trafficking are broken.”
“Successfully removing child predators from our communities is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the North Texas Trafficking Task Force,” said Lester R. Hayes Jr., Special Agent in Charge HSI Dallas. “During the trial, the courageous testimony of the minors abused by this defendant ensured that he will account for his actions. Today’s verdict stands as a strong message that HSI will never relent in the pursuit of those who exploit children.“
According to evidence presented at trial, Mr. Mian forced at least two young girls – ages 16 and 17 – to engage in commercial sex by intimating that he would harm their family if they did not comply.
He brought another 17 year old down from Oklahoma, would not allow her to go back home when she asked, and made her engage in commercial sex.
He also attempted to traffick an adult woman from Oklahoma, who called the police after he assaulted her.
The victims testified that Mr. Mian, who also went by the “AJ” and “Dre,” used explicit photos of them to advertise their sexual service online. He communicated with customers via TextNow and Google, then plied the girls with drugs and alcohol, delivered them to customers, and demanded they turn all proceeds over to him.
On multiple occasions, Mr. Mian raped them while they were unconscious, victims testified.
Mr. Mian now faces up to life in federal prison. He is set to be sentenced on Friday, Oct. 13 in Fort Worth.
The Arlington Police Department conducted the investigation in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations’ Dallas Field Office and with the assistance of the Dallas Police Department, DeSoto Police Department, Fort Worth Police Department, and Texas Department of Public Safety. This was a North Texas Trafficking Task Force case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandie Wade and Matthew Weybrecht are prosecuted. U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor presided over trial.
If you believe you or someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, call local law enforcement or the 24/7 confidential National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
Major Supplier in Juvenile Fentanyl Overdose Case Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
A major drug trafficker linked to a string of juvenile fentanyl overdoses in north Texas pleaded guilty today to multiple drug crimes, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Jason Xavier Villanueva, 22, was charged via criminal complaint in February and indicted later that same month. On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl to a person under 21 years of age.
“Over and over, Mr. Villanueva put poison into the hands of teenagers who could not possibly comprehend the inherent risks. Not even the news of multiple teenage deaths deterred this defendant,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “The Justice Department will not rest until every person who peddled pills to these children, directly or indirectly, is behind bars. We have seen these kids’ faces – vibrant in life, heartrending in death – and we will not forget.”
“The men and women of the DEA Dallas are pleased Mr. Villanueva has pled guilty and will answer for the crimes he has committed,” said Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez. “Unfortunately we cannot undo the damage already done to our community, but we can use this to prove once again that drug trafficking cannot be tolerated and we must all stand together to rid our communities of the dangers of illicit drugs like fentanyl.”
In plea papers, Mr. Villanueva admitted he distributed more than 200,000 fentanyl pills to north Texas customers over the course of five or six months, at a rate of about 40,000 pills per month. He sold the pills – round blue tablets marked M-30 – to a network of juvenile and adult dealers in Carrollton, who went on to sell to friends, classmates, and other customers. He often advertised on Instagram.
Mr. Villanueva, through his lower-level dealers, is tied to as many as ten overdoses of nine teenagers in the Carrollton Farmer’s Branch Independent School District. The victims, all middle and high school students, ranged in age from 13 to 17.
Following the arrest of two of these lower-level dealers – Eduardo Navarrete and Magaly Cano – Mr. Villanueva posted on social media, “Only thing that’s gonna stop us is feds.”
Mr. Villanueva is the third defendant charged in the wake of the Carrollton / Flower Mound juvenile overdoses to enter a guilty plea. Magaly Cano and Stephen Paul Brinson pleaded guilty last month; five other defendants, including Mr. Navarrete, have been charged but not yet convicted. (All are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.)
Mr. Villanueva now faces up to 40 years in federal prison. His sentencing is slated for Wednesday, Oct. 4.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Office and the Carrollton Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of School Resource Officers from the Carrollton – Farmer’s Branch Independent School District and the Lewisville Independent School District. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Calvert and Phelesa Guy are prosecuting the case.
Note: Illicitly produced, fentanyl-laced pills often look similar to legitimate prescription pills like Oxycontin or Percocet, but can pose significantly more danger. On the street, these pills are often referred to as “M30s” (a reference to the markings on some of the pills), “blues,” “perks,” “yerks,” “china girls,” or “TNT.” DEA research shows that six out of ten pills laced with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. One pill can kill. For resources, visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill.Belligerent Passenger Charged with Interfering with Flight CrewRead the Press Release
A Houston man who menaced a flight crew was charged with a federal crime, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Marcus Huff, 45, was indicted on April 25 for interference with a flight crew. He was arrested in Houston on Wednesday and made his initial appearance there on Thursday. He will return to the Northern District of Texas for his eventual arraignment.
According to court documents, Mr. Huff’s actions forced a Southwest Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Houston to divert to Dallas Love Field.
Mr. Huff allegedly threw a drink at one flight attendant, yelled profanities at the entire flight crew, and refused to remain seated during the flight.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Mr. Huff is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas and Houston Field Offices conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dimitri Rocha is prosecuting the case.
Woman Who Pointed Gun at Officer During Boyfriend’s Arrest SentencedRead the Press Release
A woman who pointed a loaded gun at an FBI agent during her boyfriend’s arrest was sentenced today to almost six years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Rebekah Jones, 30, was charged via criminal complaint in December 2021 and indicted later that same month. She elected to proceed to trial. In November 2022, a federal jury found her guilty of assaulting a federal officer using a deadly weapon. She was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk to 71 months in prison.
“The men and women of the FBI routinely risk their lives undertaking high-stakes operations, knowing each one could end in tragedy. This arrest was no exception. Thankfully, this agent’s deft action protected not only himself and his colleagues, but the defendants he would go on to apprehend,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “We are immensely proud of our brothers and sisters in blue, and are dedicated to holding accountable those who would seek to harm them.”
“The defendant knowingly assaulted a federal officer attempting to conduct a lawful arrest. Her actions threatened the safety of not only this officer, but also others who were present. We are grateful to our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Randall County’s Sheriff’s Office for assisting us in holding this individual accountable,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge B. Chad Yarbrough. "The defendant's actions are a stark reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face every day."
At her trial, agents testified that she became combative when they attempted to arrest her boyfriend, Christopher Stephen Brown, who’d been charged with threatening to kill certain members of the Beth-Din, a Jewish rabbinical court.
When Mr. Brown refused to obey agents’ commands to exit his residence, they entered his apartment and grabbed him. Ms. Jones, however, locked arms with Mr. Brown and attempted to pull him inside the bedroom.
She pointed a loaded gun at one of the agents, who immediately grasped it and pointed it in a safe direction. While wrestling with both Mr. Brown and Ms. Jones, the agent was eventually able to free the gun and fling it onto the floor.’’ The pair was subdued without injury.
Shortly before Ms. Jones’ trial, Mr. Brown pleaded guilty to interstate threats, admitting in court documents that he placed threatening calls to Chabad Lubavitch, a Jewish organization that has provided spiritual guidance and assistance to Jewish people since before the Holocaust, and that he threatened to “execute” several prominent rabbis. He was sentenced in January to two years in federal prison.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, Amarillo Resident Agency and the Randall County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation in partnership with the FBI’s New York Field Office and the New York Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeff Haag and Joshua Frausto prosecuted the case.
Drug Trafficker with Stolen Law Enforcement Gun Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A Fort Worth drug trafficker with eight firearms – including one stolen from Tarrant County law enforcement – was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Juan Carlos Perez, 20, was charged in November 2022. He pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor.
In plea papers, Mr. Perez admitted he conspired to deal methamphetamine, including methamphetamine-laced counterfeit pills.
According to court documents, law enforcement recovered eight firearms, including two AM-15s and two 9mm Glock pistols, from Mr. Perez’s apartment. One of the Glock pistols had previously been reported stolen from a Tarrant County Detention Officer.
On his phone, law enforcement discovered multiple photos and videos of firearms, narcotics, and large quantities U.S. currency.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives’ Dallas Field Office and the Fort Worth Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Levi Thomas prosecuted the case.
Undocumented Man Who Shot Seminole Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Firearm CrimeRead the Press Release
A Mexican man who shot a police officer in Seminole, Texas pleaded guilty today to a federal firearm crime, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Jose Ramon Castillo-Lopez, 28, was charged via criminal complaint in October 2022 and indicted later that same month. He pleaded guilty Tuesday to illegal alien in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Mr. Castillo-Lopez, a Mexican national in the United States illegally, admitted he was pulled over by a Seminole Police Department officer for traffic violations on Oct. 1, 2022.
As the officer approached Mr. Castillo-Lopez’s vehicle, he began firing at the officer with a handgun. The officer was struck but moved to a defensive position and returned fire. Mr. Castillo-Lopez exited his vehicle and fled, dropping a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol as he did so.
The officer was able to radio in a description of the defendant, and he was apprehended a few blocks away shortly thereafter.
In an interview with law enforcement, Mr. Castillo-Lopez admitted he had been previously deported and was currently in the county illegally. He also admitted to firing the pistol, which he said he purchased from an unknown individual at a traffic light in Midland, Texas for $200.
Mr. Castillo-Lopez now faces up to 15 years in federal prison.
The victim officer’s body armor prevented serious injury, and he returned to duty shortly thereafter.
Homeland Security Investigation’s Dallas Field Office and the Seminole Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew McLeod is prosecuting the case.
The victim officer’s body armor prevented serious injury, and he returned to duty shortly after the incident.
Fentanyl Trafficker Pleads Guilty to Distributing More Than 1,000 PillsRead the Press Release
A fentanyl trafficker responsible for distributing thousands of counterfeit pills across north Texas pleaded guilty today to federal drug charges, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Stephen Paul Brinson, aka “Steve-O,” 18, was charged in March. He pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a Schedule II controlled substance (fentanyl) before U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez.
In plea papers, Mr. Brinson admitted he dealt fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills out of a home in Flower Mound.
He used an Instagram account to facilitate the sale of the round blue pills, which were imprinted “M/30” to resemble legitimate 30mg oxycodone pills.
According to court documents, Mr. Brinson acted as the source of supply for fentanyl to Donovan Jude Andrews, the Carrollton dealer who allegedly capitalized on the arrest of Luis Navarrete and Magaly Cano to advertise his pill business. (Mr. Andrews is allegedly tied to at least one juvenile fentanyl overdose – that of a 14-year-old girl who paid her dealer through CashApp; Mr. Navarrete and Ms. Cano, along with their supplier, Jason Villanueva, are allegedly tied to more than ten others.)
During a search of Mr. Brinson’s residence, law enforcement recovered approximately 1,800 fentanyl-laced pills along with cocaine, marijuana, and two firearms.
In plea papers, he admitted that at the time of the search, he was armed and en route to deliver an M/30 pill to a customer in Flower Mound.
Mr. Brinson is the second defendant charged in the wake of the Carrollton / Flower Mound juvenile overdoses to enter a guilty plea. Magaly Cano, 29, pleaded guilty earlier this month. Six other defendants – including Mr. Andrews, Mr. Villanueva, and Mr. Navarrete – have been charged but not yet convicted. (All are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.)
Mr. Brinson now faces up to 40 years in federal prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division and the Carrollton Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of School Resource Officers from the Carrollton – Farmer’s Branch Independent School District and the Lewisville Independent School District. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phelesa Guy and Rick Calvert are prosecuting the case.
Note: Illicitly produced, fentanyl-laced pills often look similar to legitimate prescription pills like Oxycontin or Percocet, but can pose significantly more danger. On the street, these pills are often referred to as “M30s” (a reference to the markings on some of the pills), “blues,” “perks,” “yerks,” “china girls,” or “TNT.” DEA research shows that six out of ten pills laced with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. One pill can kill. For resources, visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill.
Rowlett Man Who Stalked, Murdered Ex-Girlfriend Sentenced to 43 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A Rowlett man who cyberstalked his ex-girlfriend and shot and stabbed her to death in the midst of a bitter custody dispute was sentenced today to 43 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Andrew Charles Beard, 36, was charged in October 2020. He pleaded guilty to cyberstalking using a dangerous weapon resulting in death and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence in June 2022 and was sentenced on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle.
“This case is a sobering reminder of the brutal violence some women endure at the hands of their intimate partners. The victim in this case fought valiantly until the end. We hope today’s sentence brings a measure of peace to her family,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton.
In plea papers, Mr. Beard admitted that he cyberstalked and murdered his ex-girlfriend, 24-year-old Alyssa Ann Burkett, in a parking lot in Carrollton on Oct. 2, 2020, in an attempt to gain custody of their young daughter. He admitted that he placed a GPS tracking device on Ms. Burkett’s car, entered a black SUV he had purchased for the occasion, followed her to the apartment complex where she worked, and donned a disguise. He then exited his vehicle with a shotgun and shot Ms. Burkett in the head as she sat behind the wheel of her car. Believing that he had fatally shot her, Mr. Beard ran back to the SUV to drive away.
However, Ms. Burkett—severely injured and bloodied from the shotgun blast—staggered out of her car and attempted to enter a nearby building for help. Realizing that his ex-girlfriend was still alive, Mr. Beard exited the SUV, ran up to her, grabbed her from behind, and stabbed her 13 times through the upper body with a sharp object. She died in the parking lot as he raced away from the scene.
Ms. Burkett’s mother and coworkers told responding officers that Ms. Burkett feared Mr. Beard, believed he was tracking her, and worried he would kill her. Her boyfriend told police that Mr. Beard had seemed “overly obsessed” with Ms. Burkett and their child.
Three hours later, officers stopped Mr. Beard as he drove away from his residence in a white pickup truck. They seized three phones from Mr. Beard, including a prepaid burner phone. On one phone, they found an internet search for “what is the best way to remove gunpowder residue from hands.”
Officers also searched his vehicle, where they found a pair of men’s hiking boots cut into pieces and soaking in bleach, and they searched his residence, where they found a battery that matched the GPS trackers affixed to Ms. Burkett’s vehicle. They also found a written script Mr. Beard had used to phone in a false drug tip against Ms. Burkett a month earlier.
In plea papers, Mr. Beard admitted that he called in the fake tip on September 2, 2020, after planting drugs and a gun in her car. Identifying himself as “Frank Marrow,” he claimed Ms. Burkett was selling drugs out of the trunk of her car and advised police to check the spare tire well. Officers searched the tire well and found illegal drugs and a pistol with an obliterated serial number. Ms. Burkett vehemently denied selling drugs and stated that she believed Mr. Beard had planted the evidence in her vehicle.
The day after the murder, officers found the black SUV Mr. Beard had driven to and from the murder scene abandoned in a residential neighborhood near Mr. Beard’s home. Dried blood recovered from the vehicle contained DNA that matched Ms. Burkett. A fake beard recovered from the vehicle contained DNA that matched Mr. Beard.
The Carrollton Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gary Tromblay, Camille Sparks, and Andrew Briggs are prosecuting the case.
Fentanyl Trafficker Tied to Juvenile Overdoses Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
A fentanyl trafficker tied to the rash of juvenile overdoses in Carrollton and Flower Mound pleaded guilty today to a drug crime, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Magaly Mejia Cano, 29, was charged via criminal complaint in February. On Tuesday she pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging her with one count of distribution of a controlled substance (fentanyl) to a person under 21 years of age.
“Just 2mg of fentanyl can cut a young life tragically short. Peddling fentanyl pills to teenagers is one of the most callous crimes a trafficker can commit,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “With Ms. Cano’s plea today, we are one step closer to getting justice for parents who lost their teens to fentanyl.”
“Those who choose a path of darkness to distribute and pollute our communities with fentanyl, should always be looking over their shoulder because of the relentless efforts of DEA Dallas and our law enforcement partners,” said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez. “Ms. Cano’s guilty plea is a clear result and warning to those that decide this same path.“
Ms. Cano is the first defendant to enter a guilty plea in the drug distribution scheme, which has been linked to at least 12 juvenile overdoses – three of them fatal – in Carrollton and Flower Mound since September 2022.
Others charged in the conspiracy include: Jason Xavier Villanueva, Luis Eduardo Navarrete, Donovan Jude Andrews, Stephan Paul Brinson, Robert Alexander Gaitan, and Rafael Soliz, Jr.
In plea papers, Ms. Cano admitted that co-defendant Luis Navarrete routinely dealt fentanyl-laced pills to juveniles from his Highland Drive residence. The round blue pills, imprinted with M/30, resembled prescription narcotics, but were in actuality clandestinely produced fakes.
In plea papers, Ms. Cano said Mr. Navarrete stored the counterfeit pills near their front door of their Carrollton residence and distributed them to customers who came by the house – including a network of juvenile dealers who dealt to other minors.
On at least three occasions, Ms. Cano admitted, she distributed pills directly to customers, including a 16-year-old, at Mr. Navarrete’s direction.
Ms. Cano now faces up to 40 years in federal prison and a $2 million fine. Her co-defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Office and the Carrollton Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of School Resource Officers from the Carrollton – Farmer’s Branch Independent School District and the Lewisville Independent School District. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phelesa Guy and Rick Calvert are prosecuting the case.
Note: Illicitly produced, fentanyl-laced pills often look similar to legitimate prescription pills like Oxycontin or Percocet, but can pose significantly more danger. On the street, these pills are often referred to as “M30s” (a reference to the markings on some of the pills), “blues,” “perks,” “yerks,” “china girls,” or “TNT.” DEA research shows that six out of ten pills laced with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. One pill can kill. For resources, visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill.
Burleson Man Charged with Possessing Destructive DeviceRead the Press Release
A Burleson man who allegedly idolized the Columbine High School shooters has been charged with possessing a homemade bomb, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Noah Robert Calderon, 22, was charged via criminal complaint on April 18 and indicted on May 10 on one count of possession of a destructive device. He made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton on May 15, 2023.
“This defendant exhibited several indicators of potential violence: a fascination with mass shooters, an obsession with weapons, and hatred towards a protected class. What’s worse, he had allegedly progressed from ideation to planning and preparation,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “In apprehending Mr. Calderon, we may have averted mass tragedy. We are especially grateful to the tipster who alerted law enforcement to Mr. Calderon’s concerning social media posts. We encourage anyone who witnesses worrisome behavior to report it to law enforcement. Texas iWatch is anonymous and available 24/7.”
“The FBI’s top priority is to protect the communities we serve from acts of violence. Mr. Calderon’s actions presented a potential threat to the public’s safety, and the FBI moved quickly to ensure no one was harmed, “ said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough. “We encourage the public to remain vigilant and contact law enforcement if they see anything suspicious. Awareness allows us to take actions such as we did in this investigation to protect the American public.”
According to court documents, the FBI was alerted to SnapChat images allegedly posted by Mr. Calderon in October 2022. In the posts, Mr. Calderon allegedly shared images of homemade explosives, including one marked “SS” – an apparent reference to the infamous Nazi paramilitary organization.
On his social media accounts, Mr. Calderon allegedly embraced white supremacist ideology and professed a fascination with high-profile mass shootings, particularly the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School. He posted numerous images of himself in tactical-style vests posing with AR-15-style rifles and handguns and shared Columbine-themed memes.
In March 2023, FBI received a tip that Calderon had detonated a homemade bomb in a residential neighborhood. (911 calls about a loud concussive sound and smoke corroborated the account.)
Shortly thereafter, agents reviewed Mr. Calderon’s Google account and found searches for the Columbine killers, the Charleston church shooter, “pipe bomb how to make,” “how to make propane bombs,” and “wear [sic] were the propane bombs in Columbine,” as well as searches of the names of several local public schools. They also searched e-commerce activity, which showed that Mr. Calderon allegedly bought two pounds of potassium percholorate, one pound of aluminum powder, and a striped fuse online.
On April 17, 2023, agents executed a federal search warrant at Mr. Calderon’s home in Burleson, Texas. In the garage, they located a brown shoe box that contained items that could be used to make and detonate a bomb, including a glass jar marked “frag,” which contained metal bb’s and lead. Near the carboard box was a white plastic container with 659.2 grams of explosive powder. In Mr. Calderon’s room, they recovered a handwritten document labeled “Manifesto” that glorified the Columbine shooters and espoused white supremacy.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations of criminal conduct, not evidence. Mr. Calderone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison.The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, the Burleson Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Weimer is prosecuting the case.
Two Additional Defendants Charged in Juvenile Overdose CaseRead the Press Release
Two more defendants have been charged in the drug conspiracy that claimed the lives of three teenagers, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Roberta Alexander Gaitan, 20, and Rafael Soliz, Jr., 22, were charged in a superseding indictment filed in March with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance; Mr. Gaitan was also charged with distribution of a controlled substance to a person under 21 years of age. The charges were unsealed on Tuesday, immediately following the defendants’ arrests. They made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee Toliver on Friday and were both ordered detained pending trial.
According to the indictment, Mr. Gaitan and Mr. Soliz allegedly conspired with Jason Xavier Villanueva, Donovan Jude Andrews, Stephan Paul Brinson, Magaly Mejia Cano, and Luis Eduardo Navarrete to traffic counterfeit opioid pills laced with fentanyl to young teens, often via juvenile dealers.
To date, members of the conspiracy are tied to at least 12 juvenile overdoses – three of them fatal – in Carrollton and Flower Mound. The victims span the ages of 13 to 17. The deadly drugs were often advertised via social media.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All conspirators are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years each in federal prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Office and the Carrollton Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of School Resource Officers from the Carrollton – Farmer’s Branch Independent School District and the Lewisville Independent School District. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phelesa Guy and Rick Calvert are prosecuting the case.
Note: Illicitly produced, fentanyl-laced pills often look similar to legitimate prescription pills like Oxycontin or Percocet, but can pose significantly more danger. On the street, these pills are often referred to as “M30s” (a reference to the markings on some of the pills), “blues,” “perks,” “yerks,” “china girls,” or “TNT.” DEA research shows that six out of ten pills laced with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. One pill can kill. For resources, visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill.
Texas Man Who Lied About Origin of Chinese-Made Products Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison, Ordered to Pay $1.15 MillionRead the Press Release
A Grand Prairie man was sentenced today to four years in federal prison and ordered to pay $1.15 million in restitution for lying to the federal government about where his company’s products were manufactured, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Suhaib Allababidi, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States in November 2022. His company, 2M Solutions Inc., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of filing false or misleading export information. Mr. Allababidi was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor, who sentenced 2M to five years of probation plus a $1 million fine and ordered the company jointly and severally liable for the $1,154,634.11 in restitution.
According to court documents, Mr. Allababidi, the owner and president of 2M, admitted that the company – which provided security cameras, solar-powered light towers, digital video recorders, and other electronics to various U.S. government agencies – claimed that its products were manufactured in the United States, when in actuality they were manufactured in the People’s Republic of China by Chinese companies.
In order to secure contracts with U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Defense, Department of Justice, and Department of Homeland Security, Mr. Allababidi represented that 2M was “a USA Manufacturing Company.” In actuality, 2M did little to no manufacturing but instead often purchased products from Chinese companies, removed labels indicating the true country of origin, and replaced them with labels indicating they were manufactured in 2M’s Grand Prairie facility.
By falsely representing that its products were manufactured in the United States, 2M was able to secure contracts subject to the Buy America Act (BAA), a law which generally prohibits United States Government agencies from purchasing products made outside the United States with some limited exceptions.
2M repeatedly certified to the government that its products were BAA-compliant and took various steps to conceal their Chinese origin. On one occasion, when products were to be shipped directly from a Chinese company to the government agency, a 2M employee sent the Chinese company an email reminding them, “we do not want any Chinese characters or stickers on the shipment” and adding that such stickers “will cause many problems for us.”
2M also pled guilty to submitting false information in relation to products exported to foreign customers. In contravention of export laws, the company submitted false information to the Automated Export System, a government-run platform that collects export information and distributes it to multiple federal agencies to assure compliance. The company falsified the description of items exported, misrepresented the ultimate recipient of the items, and falsely stated that no export license was needed for shipments that required a license.
The Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, the U.S. Department of Commerce - Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, the General Services Administration’s Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Weimer prosecuted the case with the assistance of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
Trafficker Arrested with $1 - $2 Million in Meth Inside Duffel Bag Sentenced to 30 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A drug trafficker who retrieved methamphetamine from a stash house in Dallas was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Omar Jorge Valle Estrada, a 37-year old citizen of Mexico, was convicted at trial of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in December 2022. He was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr, who presided over the trial.
According to evidence presented at trial, law enforcement conducting surveillance at a stash house on Holcomb Road in Dallas observed Mr. Estrada drive up to the residence in a white Chevy Malibu. He used a code word to gain access to the property, which was being used by a transnational criminal organization as storage for nearly $10 million worth of Mexican methamphetamine.
Two men emerged from inside the home carrying duffel bags, which they placed in Mr. Estrada’s passenger seat.
After he departed the home, law enforcement pulled him over for operating with an expired registration and discovered 120 pounds of crystal methamphetamine inside the duffel bags. Experts put the street value of the methamphetamine, which was 99% pure, between $1.1 and $2.2 million.
Codefendants Angel Cabrera and Joaquin Salinas – who admitted they were concealing millions of dollars of methamphetamine inside boxes of cauliflower – pleaded guilty prior to trial. Mr. Salinas received a life sentence; Mr. Cabrera received a sentence of more than 21 years.
At Mr. Salinas’ sentencing hearing, testimony showed that the Salinas had ties to Sureños XIII criminal street gang and the Puro Tango Blast street and prison gang.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Dallas Police Department, the Hickory Creek Police Department, the Fort Worth Police Department, and the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Leal and John Kull prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Slync Founder Chris Kirchner IndictedRead the Press Release
The founder of Slync, a supply-chain management software startup, has been indicted for defrauding investors out of at least $25 million, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Christopher Kirchner, 35, was charged via criminal complaint in February. On Tuesday, a federal grand jury indicted him on five counts of wire fraud and eight counts of money laundering.
“Rather than focus on growing his fledgling business, Christopher Kirchner allegedly swindled investors out of millions of dollars he used to fund a splashy lifestyle – then allegedly attempted to cover his tracks by conning even more investors and by firing employees who dared question him,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “Investors deserved honesty; instead they got chicanery. We will not allow businesspeople to treat their stockholders this way. We look forward to proving our case against Mr. Kirchner in court.”
“As the indictment alleges, Mr. Kirchner chose to enrich himself by diverting corporate assets away from Slync in order to fund his lavish lifestyle. Deceptive acts of corporate greed not only erode investor confidence and employee trust, but also financial market integrity,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough. “If you deceive and defraud your investors and employees, the FBI will persist in our efforts to bring you to justice.”
According to the indictment, Mr. Kirchner – who served as Slync’s CEO from 2017 until 2022, when he was terminated by the Board of Directors due to allegations of misconduct – allegedly converted at least $25 million in investor money to his own personal use.
Records indicate that Slync raised roughly $7 million in its Series A investment round and roughly $50 million in its Series B investment round. All investor funds, which were supposed to be used for “product development and other general corporate purposes,” were wired into the company’s account at Silicon Valley Bank.
Mr. Kirchner allegedly misappropriated the investor funds in various ways: Between April 2020 and March 2022, Mr. Kirchner allegedly initiated nearly 100 wire transfers moving money from Slync’s Silicon Valley Bank account into the company’s account at JPMorgan Chase Bank – an account only he had access to. He then allegedly wired much of the money from the Chase account to his personal bank accounts. In addition, Mr. Kirchner allegedly wired $20 million directly from Slync’s Silicon Valley Bank account into his personal checking account. He used some of those funds to buy a $16 million private jet and to secure a luxury suite at the stadium of a Dallas-area professional sports team.
When Slync, drained of funds, struggled to make payroll in the spring of 2022, Mr. Kirchner allegedly attempted to replace some of the money he had allegedly misappropriated by convincing at least four investors to wire approximately $850,000 to Slync as part of a purported Series C investment round. Slync’s Board of Directors never authorized this Series C investment round.
In the meantime, Mr. Kirchner offered various explanations for Slync’s payroll issues. He first claimed that the company’s cash was invested in illiquid assets that were difficult to divest. Later, he said that the U.S. government had frozen the company’s accounts because he had transacted in his personal capacity with sanctioned entities in Russia. Neither explanation was true.
In June 2022, Mr. Kirchner allegedly fired two Slync employees who expressed concern about his management of the company. One of the employees had reported that Mr. Kirchner may have falsely exaggerated Slync’s financial performance to investors.
Immediately following his suspension by the Board in late July 2022, Mr. Kirchner removed certain IT administrator privileges from key Slync employees, preventing the employees from accessing Slync’s computer systems. He then allegedly attempted to delete approximately 18 gigabytes of Slync data, including emails.
An indictment is merely an allegation of wrongdoing, not evidence. Mr. Kirchner is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison per count of wire fraud and up to 10 years in prison per count of money laundering.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua D. Detzky, Blake J. Ellison, and John de la Garza are prosecuting the case.
Fort Worth Fentanyl Traffickers SentencedRead the Press Release
Two fentanyl traffickers were sentenced to a combined 23 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Steven Keys, 28, and Rico Marion, 26, were indicted in August 2022. The following month, Mr. Keys pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance; Mr. Marion pleaded guilty to the same charge shortly thereafter. Mr. Keys was sentenced in February to 151 months in federal prison, and Mr. Marion was sentenced Tuesday to 135 months in federal prison.
“HSI is deeply committed to prosecuting those who bring illicit drugs into our communities,” said Todd Johnson, Assistant Special Agent in Charge HSI Dallas. “We hope these combined sentences send a direct message to the drug traffickers who peddle this poison that HSI will never relent in putting those away who have no regard for our nation’s laws.”
According to court documents, Mr. Keys and Mr. Marion dealt fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills out of a motel in Fort Worth.
On July 12, 2022, after a surveillance team posted at the motel observed an apparent drug sale, law enforcement pulled Mr. Keys and Mr. Marion over on traffic violations. Inside the vehicle, investigators discovered a Louis Vuitton bag containing $7,129 cash, likely derived from the sale of illegal drugs.
The following day, law enforcement reviewed surveillance footage from convenience stores where open-air narcotics sales are known to occur and observed Mr. Keys and others dealing drugs from the vehicle.
They tracked the vehicle back to the motel and sent a confidential source into the room to purchase fentanyl pills. The confidential source stated he purchased five small blue pills – which he turned over to agents – from Mr. Keys.
Agents arrested Mr. Keys without incident that evening. They arrested Mr. Marion in the motel room after breaching the door and deploying gas inside the motel.
A search of the room uncovered a black backpack containing approximately 1,000 fentanyl-laced blue pills, a .40 caliber handgun on the bed, and a plastic baggy of marijuana inside the toilet.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Fort Worth Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Smith prosecuted the case.
Dallas Woman Pleads Guilty in $7 Million COVID-19 Testing FraudRead the Press Release
A Dallas woman pleaded guilty today to scamming insurers out of more than $7 million for COVID-19 testing that was never actually performed, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Connie Jo Clampitt, 52, was indicted in December. She pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud before U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez.
“As the country struggled to cope with a devastating pandemic, this defendant conspired to swindle insurance providers out of millions of dollars. She exploited the healthcare system when it was at its most vulnerable, indirectly raising healthcare costs for everyday Americans. We are proud to hold her accountable for her role in this conspiracy, and look forward to proving our case against her co-conspirators in court,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton.
According to plea papers, Ms. Clampitt admitted that she and her co-conspirators accessed private patient information – including names, dates of birth, and insurance subscriber numbers – through various clinics where one defendant worked as a contract lab technician.
They then used the patient information to submit claims to insurance providers – including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, United Healthcare, Aetna, Humana, and Molina Health Care – for COVID-19 testing that was never performed. (The patients had not requested COVID-19 testing, nor were they aware their information was being used to submit claims.)
Ms. Clampitt admitted that the “labs” at which the co-conspirators claimed the testing occurred, including TC Diagnostics, ME Diagnostics, and PHR Diagnostics, were, in fact, shell entities that never operated as labs. Collectively, these three entities submitted approximately $30 million in claims and were paid more than $7 million in reimbursements for fake testing.
Ms. Clampitt now faces up to five years in federal prison. According to the terms of her plea agreement, she has agreed to a $7.29 million forfeiture money judgment and will forfeit a number of items seized during the investigation, including $2.5 million in funds from numerous bank accounts, two residences, six vehicles, and six luxury watches.
Also charged in the scheme are Terrance Barnard, 39, William Paul Gray, 49, and Donn Hogg, 37. Mr. Barnard, Mr. Gray, and Mr. Hogg are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The Dallas Regional Office of the United States Department of Labor – Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Dallas Office of the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, the Texas Department of Insurance Fraud Unit's Fort Worth Field Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Renee Hunter is prosecuting the case; Assistant U.S. Attorney Dimitri Rocha is handling the forfeiture.
For more information about the Justice Department’s response to wrongdoing connected to the COVID-19 pandemic, visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Violent Felon Sentenced to 5 Years for Illegal Re-entry into U.S.Read the Press Release
A violent felon was sentenced today to five years in federal prison for immigration violations, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Gustavo Adolfo Ramirez-Leos, a 30-year-old citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty in January to illegal re-entry after removal from the United States. He was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Ada Brown, who handed down a sentence longer than the guidelines due to his history of violence.
In plea papers, Mr. Ramirez-Leos – who had been deported or instructed to depart the U.S. on six prior occasions – admitted to being in north Texas without authorization.
According to records introduced into evidence at sentencing, during his time in the U.S., Mr. Ramirez-Leos committed at least eight crimes, including burglary, theft, and family violence.
Prior to his second deportation in 2013, Mr. Ramirez-Leos attacked his pregnant girlfriend, choking her and then throwing her to the ground and stomping on her back while yelling, “I will kill you and the baby.” He also attacked the victim’s roommate, who attempted to intervene.
Seven years later, in 2020, after returning to the U.S., he attacked his own sister, punching her in the face and neck, pointing a BB gun at her head, and dragging her by the hair.
(Following both altercations, Mr. Ramirez-Leos pleaded guilty to state charges of assault causing bodily injury to a family member and was sentenced, respectively, to 180 days and 120 days in jail.)
Upon completion of his sentence in the immigration case, Mr. Ramirez-Leos will once again face deportation.
Immigration & Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dimitri Rocha prosecuted the case.
Seven Men Arrested for Dealing Drugs Out of Las Colinas MotelRead the Press Release
Seven alleged drug dealers were arrested in a Texas Anti-Gang Center takedown in Dallas on Wednesday, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Brandon Jones, Jaleel Peterson, Victor Contreras, Glenn Blair, Corey Allen, Derrick Richardson, and Antonie Thompson-Stevens were charged via criminal complaint with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. They made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee Harris Toliver on Friday.
According to the complaint, a source told law enforcement that members of the conspiracy were operating a so-called “trap room,” or narcotics distribution room, out of a motel in Las Colinas. At the direction of law enforcement, the source made three controlled drug buys inside the room.
Law enforcement then identified a second motel room being operated as a trap room. They used another source to make four controlled purchase inside the room.
On April 19, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the motel rooms in question. As officers made their entry, a firearm was thrown out the window. Two defendants, Brandon Jones and Jaleel Peterson, attempted to flee through a back window but were apprehended by police. Mr. Jones was carrying a handgun and a small baggie of crack cocaine when he was arrested. Three more defendants, Victor Contreras, Derrick Richardson, and Antonie Thompson-Stevens, were apprehended inside the rooms, and one, Glenn Blair, was taken into custody nearby.
From the first room, room 111, officers seized 85.3 grams of heroin, 1949.5 grams methamphetamine, 114.7 grams cocaine, 2.6 grams suspected PCP, 60 grams fentanyl,15.8 grams Alprazolam, 142 grams suspected methamphetamine tablets, 44 grams marijuana, 643.8 grams THC products, 2.3 grams white powder, 2.3 grams THC pills, 23.4 grams hydrocodone, 21.5 grams Omeprazole, 28 grams Sertraline, and four firearms. From the second room, they seized 1139.1 grams of marijuana, 44.8 grams psilocybin mushrooms, 113.1 grams heroin, 31.3 grams crack cocaine, 335.5 grams methamphetamine, 23.5 grams powder cocaine, 48.3 grams fentanyl, 6 grams morphine, two handguns, one rifle and a tactical ballistic vest. They also seized scales, packing, and equipment used to “cap” fentanyl powder into individual capsules sold to customers.
A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, each faces between five and 40 years in federal prison.
The Texas Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigations Division, Texas Highway Patrol, and Special Response Team (SRT) and the Dallas Police Department’s Intelligence, Narcotics, Northwest Crime Response, and SWAT units conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Calvert is prosecuting the case.
This operation was coordinated through the Texas Anti-Gang Center. The TAG serves as the unified headquarters for an estimated 75 - 100 of the region’s most knowledgeable and experienced federal, state and local anti-gang investigators, analysts and prosecutors. The TAG is comprised of various law enforcement agencies and has implemented innovative approaches to fighting violent criminal gangs and transnational criminal organizations.
Dallas Man Charged with Firing at ATF AgentRead the Press Release
A Dallas man who allegedly shot at an ATF agent in an apparent fit of road rage has been federally charged, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Michael Fagan, 30, was charged on April 19 with assaulting or impeding a federal officer. He made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renée Toliver on Friday.
“Mr. Fagan’s behavior two weeks ago was allegedly violent and hostile; two adjectives that don’t go well with firearm possession. While acting in this manner, he encountered a highly trained and dedicated ATF Special Agent. Luckily for the citizens of Dallas, that ATF Special Agent was able to put a stop to Mr. Fagan’s alleged acts of violence,” stated ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. “I would like to thank our partners at the Dallas Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Attorney’s Office for aggressively investigating this vicious act upon one of my agents and friend.”
According to the complaint, around 8 p.m. on April 6, an ATF agent stopped at a red light near the entrance to the Dallas Arboretum noticed an SUV use the far-right turn lane to bypass all the other stopped cars and proceed through the intersection, running the red light.
A few blocks later, the agent observed the SUV’s driver, later identified as Mr. Fagan, inside the vehicle yelling and flailing his arms. Thinking the driver might be experiencing an emergency, the agent rolled down his front passenger window and asked if the driver was okay.
Mr. Fagan allegedly opened his driver-side door and began yelling incoherently at the agent, who instructed Mr. Fagan to get back in his vehicle. Mr. Fagan re-entered his vehicle, leaned over the passenger seat, and turned around to face the agent allegedly holding a black semiautomatic pistol in his hand.
The agent yelled “no,” or “don’t,” ducked down below the dashboard, and heard a gun discharge twice. The agent drew his weapon and fired three shots. Mr. Fagan fell back into the SUV.
He fled the scene to meet up with his girlfriend, who called 911 to report Mr. Fagan had been shot and took him to Baylor hospital.
In law enforcement interviews, Mr. Fagan acknowledged he had been drinking at a local club prior to the shooting. He claimed the driver of a mid-sized Chevrolet that had been tailgating him fired at him, and denied firing more than one round in the air in response.
No cars resembling the Chevy Mr. Fagan described were located in surveillance footage from the area and day in question. At the scene, law enforcement recovered five casings: three consistent with the duty ammunition carried by the ATF agent, and two consistent with another firearm.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Mr. Fagan is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division, the Dallas Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Withers is prosecuting the case.
Man Who Lured Children into Sex via Snapchat Sentenced to 33 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A San Angelo man who used Snapchat to lure teenage girls into sexual encounters was sentenced to 33 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Esiah Cruz Castillo, 23, was indicted in October 2022. He pleaded guilty in December to enticement of minors and was sentenced on Thursday by U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, who ordered the defendant be subject to 30 years of supervised release following his 30 year sentence.
“HSI will spare no resource in protecting children from sexual predators,” said Lester R. Hayes Jr., Special Agent in Charge HSI Dallas. “A deviant can no longer lurk behind social media applications seeking new victims once he is behind bars.”
In plea papers, Mr. Castillo admitted that he used Snapchat to connect with a 14-year-old child and convince her to sneak out of the house. He admitted that on Sept. 15, 2021, he took her to a remote storage facility, plied her with alcohol, and sexually assaulted her.
After the sexual assault, Homeland Security Investigations agents assumed the child’s identity on Snapchat and continued the correspondence with Mr. Castillo, who used the handle “Mik_Chap.” A few weeks later, Mr. Castillo once again urged the child to leave school and meet him at a gas station for sex, warning her that it might hurt. Agents, posing as the child, agreed. The arrested Mr. Castillo at the agreed-upon gas station.
En route to the processing facility, Mr. Castillo spontaneously stated that he was “really sorry.” He asked if “anyone was going to find out about this” and whether he could “delete” his social media. In an interview with law enforcement, he admitted to sexually assaulting at least four other children under the age of 15, including a 13-year-old. He stated he had sex with minor females because it was “easy.” Agents interviewed the children, who corroborated Mr. Castillo’s account.
At his sentencing hearing, prosecutors revealed that law enforcement had identified a total of seven minor victims.
Homeland Security Investigations’ Dallas Field Office and the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office in San Angelo conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Tusing prosecuted the case.
Podiatrist and Patient Recruiter Convicted for $8.5M Compounding Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted two Texas men today for their role in a scheme to fraudulently bill TRICARE – the health care program for U.S. service members and their families – for compounded creams that were medically unnecessary and procured through kickbacks and bribes.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Brian Carpenter, 56, of Bridgeport, was a podiatrist who signed prescriptions for compounded pain and scar creams for TRICARE beneficiaries to whom he never spoke and whom he never examined or treated. Jerry Lee Hawrylak, 69, of Lake Worth, recruited Carpenter to sign the prescriptions and recruited TRICARE beneficiaries to accept the medically unnecessary creams. From November 2014 to January 2017, Carpenter and Hawrylak caused the Fort Worth-based pharmacy involved in the conspiracy to fraudulently bill TRICARE approximately $8.5 million for these creams.
Carpenter and Hawrylak were convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and six counts of health care fraud. They are scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 23 and face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton for the Northern District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge Michael Mentavlos of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Special Agent in Charge Jason Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Dallas Regional Office, Special Agent in Charge Chad B. Yarbrough of the FBI Dallas Regional Office, Special Agent in Charge Steven Grell of the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG) Central Regional Office, and Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper of the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) South Central Field Office made the announcement.
The DCIS, HHS-OIG, FBI, DOL-OIG, and VA-OIG investigated the case.
Acting Assistant Chief Brynn A. Schiess and Trial Attorneys Lee Hirsch and Andrea Savdie of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 25 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $24 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to 12+ Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
A drug trafficker who left Dallas’ Galleria Mall laden with more than 2,000 fentanyl-laced pills was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Jesus Alexander Perez Fuentes, 27, pleaded guilty to in October 2022 to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He was sentenced Wednesday to 145 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade, who also ordered him to forfeit more than $13,000.
According to the criminal complaint, the investigation began when a confidential informant tipped off law enforcement that Mr. Fuentes was distributing fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone tablets marked M/30.
On March 30, 2022, agents received information that Mr. Fuentes would be at the Galleria Dallas Mall with well over a thousand counterfeit pills. A surveillance team observed Mr. Fuentes and an unknown female exit the mall and enter Mr. Fuentes’ pickup.
Troopers followed the pair towards Interstate 635, then pulled over the pickup for traffic infractions. A Dallas Police Department canine alerted to narcotics in the vehicle.
In the center console, law enforcement found a loaded Glock 30, which Mr. Fuentes later admitted he used in furtherance of drug trafficking. Under the driver’s seat, they found a black backpack containing two clear plastic baggies stuffed with 2,072 fentanyl-laced pills. Also inside the backpack was $13,821, which Mr. Fuentes later admitted was proceeds from drug trafficking.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Group 3 (Dallas Field Division), the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Dallas Police Department, the Frisco Police Department, and the Colony Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division.
Father Sentenced to 40 Years in Methamphetamine Case Involving SonRead the Press Release
A Fort Worth father who conspired with his son to deal methamphetamine was sentenced Thursday to 40 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
David Devaney, Sr., 59, and David Devaney, Jr., 36, opted for a bench trial and were found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance by U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman in November 2022. The elder Mr. Devaney was sentenced on Thursday; the younger Mr. Devaney is slated to be sentenced on May 4. Co-conspirator Cory Litts, 36, pleaded guilty to the same charged in October 2022 and was sentenced in April to more than 22 years in prison.
“The dangerous culture created by drug trafficking impacts all of us, creating a terminal plague that ruins the livelihood of our communities,” said Lester R. Hayes Jr., Special Agent in Charge HSI Dallas. “As long as this illicit activity exists, we are all susceptible to the violence and societal ills of the drug trade.”
According to court documents, the investigation into the elder Mr. Devaney began in June 2022, when a cooperating defendant identified the elder Mr. Devaney as a methamphetamine distributor.
Later that month, law enforcement received a 911 call about a 64-year-old woman who was shot and killed in Burleson, Texas. Surveillance video showed that Mr. Devaney, Sr.’s vehicle was involved in the incident, which was thought to be a drug deal gone bad. (The deceased woman was an innocent bystander.)
Officers tracked the vehicle to a hotel parking lot, where they frisked the driver, Mr. Litts, and found a plastic baggy containing 115 grams of methamphetamine and a digital scale concealed inside his clothing.
Officers then approached Mr. Devaney, Sr., who was sitting on the passenger’s side of the vehicle, and observed him throw a shaving kit bag into a nearby bush. Inside the bag, officers found more than a kilogram of methamphetamine and a substantial amount of U.S. currency. They frisked Mr. Devaney, a ten-time convicted felon, and found a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol tucked into his waistband.
Both men were arrested and transported to the Burleson police department.
That same evening, Mr. Devaney, Jr., was also arrested in connection with the shooting in Burleson.
In an interview with law enforcement, Mr. Devaney, Jr. denied involvement with the shooting, but admitted, “obviously, there’s been drugs.” He said his dad “just went off the deep end… and he started selling drugs,” and claimed his father “just kept sucking me in.”
Homeland Security Investigations’ Dallas Field Office, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Stop The Offender Program (STOP), the Burleson Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn Smith and Laura Montes prosecuted the federal case.
The state has filed capital murder charges against both Devaneys and several other individuals for their alleged roles in the Burleson shooting. Although they have been convicted of the federal drug charges, they are presumed innocent of the state capital murder charges until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.Alleged Firearm Traffickers Arrested in ATF BustRead the Press Release
Three men accused of selling guns illegally were arrested in an ATF takedown on Wednesday, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Michael Smith, 36, Khalid Amill, 27, and Rondell Jones, 27, were arrested in Fort Worth on Tuesday, charged via criminal complaint with conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license and felon in possession of a firearm.
Smith and Amil were also charged with drug offenses, as were three other men arrested during the bust: William Davis, 42, and Dwayne Purnell, 54, both charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and Jaquan Thomas, 23, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
All six defendants made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton in Fort Worth on Thursday.
According to court documents, Smith, Amill, Jones, and their co-conspirators sold more than two dozen firearms to undercover agents over the course of a month and a half. On multiple occasions, co-conspirators were informed that the guns they sold would be trafficked across the border into Mexico, where they would be resold illegally.
Court documents allege they repeatedly bragged that they could obtain fully automatic AK- and AR-style rifles, referred to as “choppers.” On one occasion, Smith and a coconspirator allegedly attempted to sell a Smith & Wesson pistol that they claimed was equipped with a custom firing pin that made it automatic. When an undercover agent expressed skepticism, they claimed the firing pin was “internal.” On another occasion, Smith allegedly acted as middleman for the sale of a short-barreled Seekins Precision rifle equipped with a selector switch that moved from safe, to single shot, to automatic.
Smith also allegedly brokered the sale of a privately manufactured firearm (PMF), commonly referred to as a “ghost gun,” that contained an extended magazine.
A complaint is merely an allegation of wrongdoing, not evidence. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, Smith and Amil face up to 35 years in federal prison, while Jones faces up to 15 years in prison. Davis faces up to 40 years in prison, and Thomas faces up to 20 years in prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation in partnership with the Fort Worth Police Department’s Gang Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Levi Thomas is prosecuting the case.
Fraudster Sentenced to 13+ Years in $1.9 Million SchemeRead the Press Release
The mastermind behind a $1.9 million bank fraud was sentenced today to more than 13 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Nohmaan Malik, 30, pleaded guilty in November 2022 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, passport fraud, and aggravated identity theft. He was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman. The Court ordered restitution in the amount of $1.9 million, the amount of loss the victims suffered.
According to plea papers, Mr. Malik admitted he and coconspirators defrauded Chase Bank customers.
They selected customers with sizeable balances at Chase and created counterfeit passport cards using the customers’ names and identifying information but with conspirators’ photographs. Using those counterfeit passport cards, conspirators imitating the bank customers opened fraudulent joint bank accounts with other conspirators acting as money mules.
The impersonator or the mule then transferred money from the customers’ actual account to the joint bank account, and then transferred the money from the joint account into a third bank account controlled solely by the conspirators.
His coconspirators include:
- Juan Cruz – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, passport fraud, and aggravated identity theft / sentenced to 10 years and nine months in federal prison
- Ronald Godbold – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft / sentenced to five years and five months in federal prison
- Jeremy Pena – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, passport fraud, and aggravated identity theft / sentenced to five years and five months in federal prison
- Louie Walencik – charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, use of a false passport, and aggravated identity theft / fugitive
- Gregory Jesus Acevedo – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and passport fraud and aggravated identity theft / sentenced to three years and four months in federal prison
- Christian Martinez – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud / slated to be sentenced on May 9 before Judge Reed O’Connor
The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), Dallas Resident Office, conducted the investigation with the assistance from the DFW Airport Police Department, Dallas Police Department, Benbrook Police Department, and Flower Mound Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Weybrecht prosecuted the case.
Healthcare Fraudster Charged with Fleeing U.S. Before Serving SentenceRead the Press Release
A Flower Mound woman who allegedly absconded from the United States in order to avoid serving a 46-month prison sentence has been federally charged, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Florence Enerwim Onyegbu, 64, also known as Florence Oshiegbe, was charged via criminal complaint with failure to surrender for service of sentence. She made her initial appearance in federal court Friday afternoon.
According to court documents, on February 14, 2011, a federal judge sentenced Ms. Onyegbu to 46 months in federal prison for her role in a healthcare fraud scheme.
Ms. Onyegbu had pleaded guilty to one count of offer and payment of illegal remuneration. In plea papers, she had admitted that her home health company, De-Promise, paid kickbacks to induce Medicare beneficiaries to arrange for home health services, then billed Medicare for home health services that were not provided – knowing full well that the beneficiaries were not home-bound or confined to a hospital and did not need those services. She had admitted she submitted more than $1.8 million in fraudulent claims and received more than $1.3 million in fraudulently-obtained payments.
At her 2011 sentencing, the judge ordered Ms. Onyegbu to self-surrender to a Bureau of Prisons facility on Monday, April 14, 2011 before 11 a.m. Ms. Onyegbu allegedly failed to do so.
She was arrested in Lagos, Nigeria on February 22, 2022 by the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the request of the United States. Following court proceedings in Nigeria, she was extradited to the United States and arrived in Texas on Thursday.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Ms. Onyegbu is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, she faces five years in prison on the failure to surrender charge.
The U.S. Marshals Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation into the alleged failure to surrender. The US. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General and the FBI’s Dallas Field Office investigated the healthcare fraud. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marty Basu is prosecuting the case with the help of Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Miller, who prosecuted the original fraud case alongside Assistant U.S. Attorneys John de la Garza and Megan Fahey (fmr).
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office at the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s extradition from Nigeria, as did FBI’s Dallas Field Office. The United States Attorney’s Office also thanked Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Justice, Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (“EFCC”), the Central Authority Unit of Nigeria’s Ministry of Justice, and the Attorney General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for their assistance with her arrest and extradition.
Hale County Man Pleads Guilty to $4 Million PPP FraudRead the Press Release
A Plainview man admitted to defrauding pandemic-era financial programs out nearly $4 million, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Andrew Travis Johnson, 58, was charged earlier this month and pleaded guilty Friday to three counts of bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity.
According to plea papers, Mr. Johnson admitted the he fraudulently applied for an obtained 27 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling almost $4 million.
He admitted he applied for loans on behalf of three entities: an actual business that provided contract speech and occupational therapy services, an actual nonprofit that organized community fundraisers for individuals with intellectual limitations, and a fictitious entity that never provided goods or services of any kind and had no employees.
In the business’s application, Mr. Johnson falsely claimed the company paid 49 employees an average of $441,667 per month and provided a fabricated IRS Form 940 that indicated it paid its employees more than $5.1 million in calendar year 2019. In actuality, the company employed about 10 individuals on an ad hoc basis and paid less than $100,000 in wages in 2019. Nevertheless, based on his application, the business qualified for a $1.1 million PPP loan, which it re-drew the following year, for a total of $2.2 million.
In the nonprofit’s application, he falsely claimed the organization employed 33 individuals (in actuality, it employed fewer than five), and in the application submitted on behalf of the fictitious entity, he falsely claimed the company employed 24 individuals (in actuality, the company did not exist). For each entity, he provided fabricated list of employees, some of which did not exist and others of which were clients, along with fabricated IRS forms. Nevertheless, he qualified for a $326,770 loan for the entity and a $523,00 loan for the nonprofit. He redrew a loan for the non-existent entity the following year for a total of $653,540.
Each entity sought – and received – forgiveness on the principal and interest on each of the small business PPP loans. Yet very little, if any, of the money was used for payroll or business expenses. Instead, Mr. Johnson spent nearly $3.5 million on home renovations, vacations, clothing, cosmetic surgery, college tuition, cars, wedding expenses, and equipment for an unrelated business venture.
In addition to the small business loans, Mr. Johnson also fraudulently obtained $436,524.80 in first and second draw loans for 11 purported independent contractors, several of whom were related to him.
At least four of the recipients were unaware that Mr. Johnson had used their identifying information to obtain the loans, nor did they ever receive any proceeds of the loans. Mr. Johnson opened bank accounts under the victim’s names, transferred to loan proceeds into the accounts, and obtained debit cards for each account; he used the cards to spend the loan monies.
Mr. Johnsons and others sought – and received – forgiveness on the principal and interest on each of the independent contractor loans, which ranged from roughly $15,000 to nearly $24,000 each.
Mr. Johnson now faces up to 102 years in federal prison. His sentencing date has not yet been set.
In plea papers, he agreed to pay more than $4 million in restitution.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office and IRS – Criminal Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ann Howey and Jeff Haag are prosecuting the case with help from Assistant U.S. Attorneys Beverly Chapman and John de la Garza .
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The PPP provided forgivable loans to small businesses to cover payroll, rent, and other certain business expenses; the program ended in May 2021.