Southern District of Texas
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Former federal prosecutor named U.S. Attorney for Southern DistrictRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Acting Attorney General James McHenry has named Nicholas J. Ganjei as U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of Texas (SDTX).
“I am humbled by the honor and am excited to lead the SDTX,” said Ganjei. “This opportunity to once again serve the American people is both a tremendous responsibility and a great privilege. This office will play a critical role in ensuring our border is secure and the American people are kept safe. I look forward to working alongside some great prosecutors, staff and law enforcement partners.”
U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton swore in Ganjei just after 12 p.m. before SDTX staff, several federal judges and court personnel.
Ganjei is a former longtime federal prosecutor who previously served as acting U.S. Attorney and First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas.
He joined the Department of Justice in 2008 as an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) on the U.S. – Mexico border. As an AUSA, Ganjei prosecuted organized crime, immigration, narcotics and human trafficking cases, as well as fraud, public corruption and white collar matters.
As U.S. Attorney, Ganjei will be the chief law enforcement officer for one of the largest districts in the United States. The SDTX typically prosecutes more cases against more defendants than most other USAOs nationwide, representing 43 counties and nine million people and covering 44,000 square miles. This district currently comprises seven U.S. District Court divisions with federal district courts in Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo. The U.S. Attorney's office, headquartered in Houston, has branch offices in all seven divisions.
Before joining the Department, Ganjei clerked for the Honorable Richard Allen Griffin and Ralph R. Erickson of the Sixth and Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, respectively. Ganjei has also taught on the subjects of civil, criminal and constitutional law at both the collegiate and law school level.
Most recently, Ganjei was chief counsel to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution, where he oversaw all legal matters related to criminal justice, border security, judicial nominations, antitrust, intellectual property and religious liberty.
Foreign operator of bulk carrier convicted for concealment of pollution and falsification of recordsRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI – A Greek shipping company has pleaded guilty and was sentenced for violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and falsification of records, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Eurobulk Ltd. admitted to violating APPS in April 2023 during a port call by the Good Heart in the port of Corpus Christi as well as falsification of records during that same port call.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered the company to pay a criminal fine of $1.125 million. The company must also serve a four-year-term of probation during which it will be subject to an environmental compliance plan with a monitorship to ensure future compliance.
“It is crucial that we strive to eliminate threats to our waters through holding overseas corporations accountable,” said Ganjei. “Our office will continue to seek justice when foreign vessels fail to comply with the APPS and then seek to cover it up. The environmental harm inflicted and falsification of records merit the sentence imposed today.”
“This outcome directly reflects our dedication to holding those who violate laws designed to prevent pollution of the marine environment accountable," said Rear Admiral David Barata, commander of the USGC’s Eighth District. “The Coast Guard and our partners remain resolute in our mission to protect our waters, and we encourage the public to continue reporting any suspicious activities as every report is essential in our ongoing effort to preserve the health of our marine ecosystems.”
The charges arose out of a United States port call in which a crew member of the Liberia-flagged Motor Vessel Good Heart presented false records to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to conceal illegal transfers and discharges of oily bilge water from the vessel.
The Good Heart’s former chief engineer, Greek national Christos Charitos, 72, previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced for an APPS charge for failing to record discharges in the vessel’s Oil Record Book (ORB). Christos was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the Good Heart is an ocean-going bulk carrier registered in Liberia that Eurobulk operated. On at least two occasions in April 2023, Charitos ordered lower ranking engine personnel to discharge the contents of the duct keel (a pipe tunnel that begins in the engine room and runs forward under the cargo holds) directly into the sea without using the Oily Water Separator (OWS). The discharges contained oil.
Also in April 2023, Charitos ordered the second engineer to make a fresh water connection to the OWS. By making such a connection, the oil content meter on the OWS was “tricked” so that the OCM could not verify the actual oil content of the discharge from the OWS. All of these discharges should have been recorded in the ORB. However, no entries were made.
The USCG’s Investigative Service (CGIS) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Marck and Liesel Roscher and Senior Trial Attorney Kenneth E. Nelson of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section of the Department of Justice prosecuted the case.
Former deputy sheriff heads to prison for drug traffickingRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A former deputy with the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office has been ordered to prison following his conviction of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, announced acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Baldemar Cardenas, 39, McAllen, pleaded guilty April 1, 2022.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Cardenas to serve 46 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the his position as a deputy at the time of the offense and the serious issues with law enforcement authorities assisting drug traffickers.
At the time of his plea, Cardenas admitted that in January 2020, he conspired with a drug trafficking organization.
Members of the group would receive kilogram quantities of highly pure cocaine. They would then utilize small portions of the drugs to create sham cocaine with very low purity.
Cardenas ensured authorities seized the fake bundles by providing information to local law enforcement agencies. The information would enable authorities to conduct the seizure of the low purity cocaine, allow co-conspirators to avoid responsibility for stealing the cocaine from their source of supply and the distribution of the stolen cocaine for profit.
In order to further the scheme and in exchange for compensation, Cardenas provided information to local law enforcement in January 2020 in order to effectuate the seizure of approximately 33 kilograms of sham cocaine bundles. Cardenas falsely claimed a confidential source provided the information. Based on the information he gave, law enforcement seized the multi-kilogram sham bundles of cocaine in Mission.
Laboratory testing on the bundles revealed a cocaine purity level of only 1.5%.
Cardenas was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office and Mission Police Department. 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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Roberto Lopez Jr. prosecuted the case.
Crime spree sends young carjacker to prisonRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 19-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for stealing a car that was later used in an alien smuggling scheme, announced acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Jesus Jonathan Rodriguez pleaded guilty to carjacking Sept. 23, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Rodriguez to serve 42 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard that Rodriguez stole the car in order to use it in an alien smuggling attempt. In handing down the sentence, Judge Ramos noted the seriousness of the offense.
On May 19, 2024, Rodriguez and Christian Hardy arranged to steal a Ford Fiesta in order to carry out an alien smuggling scheme. Outside a convenience store in Edinburg, they approached the driver of the car, and while Rodriguez spoke to the driver, Hardy climbed into the car. Rodriguez brandished a gun and threatened the owner of the car and both men drove away in the Ford.
The following day, Rodriguez and Hardy approached the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint driving the Ford. Authorities had discovered the vehicle had been reported stolen and referred them to secondary inspection. There, they found two illegal aliens in the trunk. Law enforcement also found a firearm on Rodriguez upon his arrest.
Hardy, 18, Richmond, also pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
Rodriguez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol and the Edinburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.
Louisiana man to spend nearly two decades in prison for sex trafficking runaway childRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 39-year-old resident of Shreveport, Louisiana, has been sentenced for transportation of a child to engage in criminal sexual activity and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Isiah Lee Campbell Jr. pleaded guilty July 26, 2024.
Senior U.S. District Judge Sim Lake has now ordered Campbell to serve 235 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by 10 years of supervised release.
During a three-week span in 2019 over the course of several different trips, Campbell drove the then 16-year-old victim from Louisiana to Houston to engage in commercial sex with adult men. Campbell also posted the victim on a website advertising prostitution.
Law enforcement stopped Campbell in Harris County driving a reported stolen vehicle during the early morning hours of June 6, 2019. They found a handgun under Campbell’s seat. The victim was a passenger in the car whom authorities identified as a runaway child from Lousiana.
She described how Campbell threatened to kill her so that she would continue to engage in commercial sex at his direction. Campbell took all the money that the victim earned and also sexually assaulted her several times.
Campbell will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
FBI and Precinct 4 Harris County Constable’s Office conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Bauman prosecuted the case.
22 locals arrested in multi-count money laundering and narcotics indictmentsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A total of 29 people are now in custody for money laundering and drug trafficking criminal violations following a major law enforcement operation in Houston and other areas in the United States, announced acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
The coordinated law enforcement effort spanned multiple jurisdictions and states to include Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina and other parts of Texas.
Those arrested in the Houston area have begun to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray.
The charges contained in four different indictments allege crimes occurred between April 2022 and October 2024.
Houston grand juries returned the indictments in October and November 2024. They allege the individuals engaged in a multi-national trade-based money laundering network operating in the United States and in international markets. Criminal organizations including the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) allegedly used the network to launder illicit funds through the purchase and sale of cellular telephones.
Francisco Jaramillo-Valdovinos aka Chico Jaramillo, allegedly a top CJNG commander, is one of those charged. He is considered a fugitive and a warrant remains outstanding for his arrest. Anyone with information about his whereabouts or any of the other fugitives in the case is asked to contact the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) at 713-693-3000.
The arrests are the culmination of a 21-month Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation dubbed Operation Noch. During the investigation, law enforcement allegedly seized multi-hundred kilograms of cocaine, heroin, meth, marijuana and alprazolam as well as millions of dollars in drug proceeds.
As part of the arrests, authorities also seized 85 kilograms of meth, 10 kilograms of cocaine, 17 firearms, $481,000 from a bank account and approximately $566,000 of bulk cash.
If convicted, many charged with drug trafficking offenses face up to life in federal prison and could pay millions in fines. Those charged with money laundering offenses face up to 20 years in federal prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation along with police departments in Houston and Galveston with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service and local police departments and sheriffs’ offices throughout the country.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Bauman, Sherin Daniel and Leo J. Leo III are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Possessing images and videos of child sexual abuse material sends Mexican man to prisonRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 22-year-old Mexican citizen has been sentenced for possession of child pornography, announced acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Kevin Alejandro Santos-Moya pleaded guilty May 30, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. has now sentenced Santos-Moya to 60 months in federal prison. The court further ordered him to pay $3,000 in restitution to a known victim and will serve 10 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Santos-Moya will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
On June 30, 2023, Santos-Moya attempted to enter the United States through the Los Indios Port of Entry. Law enforcement referred him to secondary inspection where they conducted a search of his iPhone and located child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Forensic analysis of the phone resulted in the discovery of a total of 31 images and 37 videos of CSAM.
Santos-Moya will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana C. Cano prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Anesthesiology service provider pays almost $1M to settle False Claims Act liabilityRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Northwest Anesthesiology and Pain Services (NWAP) has agreed to pay $999,999 to resolve potential violations related to the submission of claims for reimbursement to Medicare for services rendered by its independently contracted pain management practices, announced acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
NWAP is an anesthesiology service provider in Houston and surrounding areas.
The allegations include violations of the False Claims Act (FCA) and the physician self-referral law (aka Stark Law).
In 2019, NWAP’s former president Donald Carmichael hired Stacey Green and her company Remedy Physician Solutions as an independent contractor to manage NWAP’s pain management practices. NWAP gave Green authority over the practices’ compensation and discretionary productivity bonus payments.
Following an internal investigation, NWAP claims Green instructed NWAP’s billing company to calculate bonus payments based on lab referrals minus costs, fees and expenses rather than calculating bonuses properly based on the practices’ productivity as provided for in their agreements. NWAP suspected this was done to increase total collections, which formed the basis of Green’s management fee.
From Jan. 1, 2019, through Dec. 31, 2021, NWAP reported it paid approximately $1.8 million in bonus payments as a result of the contractor’s misconduct.
The government alleges such actions created improper financial relationships between NWAP and its independently contracted pain management practices as NWAP was paying bonuses to these practices from its lab revenue as allegedly thinly veiled kickbacks for referrals.
“The Stark Law safeguards the integrity of the Medicare program by ensuring patients receive care based on their physician’s independent medical judgment and not any personal financial interests,” said Lowery. “Our office remains committed to protecting the program and reinforcing the public trust in our federal healthcare system, and we will continue to hold those accountable for violating these safeguards.”
“Prohibited referrals and financial incentives in health care jeopardize patient safety and drive unnecessary medical services. Additionally, submitting false claims to Medicare for services resulting from unlawful referrals undermines the integrity of federal health care programs and diminishes public trust,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General (DHHS-OIG). “DHHS-OIG remains resolute in holding accountable those who engage in fraud and disregard the patient-first values central to the medical profession.”
This settlement stems from NWAP’s self-disclosure to the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) and DHHS-OIG. NWAP received credit for its self-disclosure and cooperation with the investigation.
The USAO conducted the investigation with assistance from DHHS-OIG. Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Michelle Luong handled the matter along with former AUSA Andrew Bobb.
Pharmacist guilty in $110 million dollar kickback conspiracyRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 55-year-old McAllen man has pleaded guilty to conspiring to pay kickbacks in exchange for prescription referrals, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
John Ageudo Rodriguez, a licensed pharmacist, owned and operated a pharmacy in Pharr called Pharr Family Pharmacy.
Rodriguez admitted he paid kickbacks in excess of $24 million to various marketers. The marketers had relationships with physicians and clinics and could cause prescriptions for expensive compound drugs to be referred to Rodriguez’s pharmacy.
During the time of the conspiracy, from 2014 to 2016, Rodriguez’s pharmacy billed more than $110 million to various federal health care benefit programs for compound drugs.
Rodriguez’s guilty plea follows guilty pleas of numerous other marketers involved in the prescription drug kickback scheme.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane accepted the plea and set sentencing for March 25. At that time, Rodriguez faces up to five in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Rodriguez was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
The U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General (OIG), Department of Labor – OIG, FBI, Department of Defense – Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Department of Veteran Affairs – OIG, Department of Health and Human Services - OIG and Texas Health and Human Services - OIG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Swartz is prosecuting the case.
Lead Defendants of Prolific Human Smuggling and Money Laundering Network Sentenced in Joint Task Force Alpha InvestigationRead the Press Release
A Texas woman and man were sentenced to 121 months and 135 months in prison and ordered to pay money judgments of $942,537.00 and $438,119.00, respectively, this week for their roles as the leaders of a human smuggling organization (HSO) that conspired to illegally transport, harbor, and conceal from law enforcement hundreds of undocumented individuals in the United States and launder the proceeds of their illicit human smuggling.
“The two defendants sentenced in this case were leaders of a human smuggling operation that endangered vulnerable migrants for profit,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Since I directed the formation of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) in 2021, the Justice Department has combatted the threats posed by dangerous human smuggling networks where they originate and operate. Since then, the Justice Department has made over 345 domestic and international arrests and secured 290 convictions.”
“As these sentencings make clear, human smugglers will ruthlessly and dangerously exploit vulnerable people for profit — intending migrants should not believe their false promises of safety and opportunity,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will continue to work with our federal, state, and international partners to help track down these criminals, disrupt their illegal operations, and bring them to justice — the integrity of our lawful, orderly immigration system demands it.”
“The defendants exploited vulnerable migrants by leading a scheme to unlawfully transport them across the U.S. border, using dangerous methods that risked the migrants’ lives in order to evade detection,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Because of illegal operations like this one, more than three years ago we launched JTFA to combat the most prolific and harmful human smuggling organizations. The sentences and forfeitures announced today underscore the Criminal Division’s commitment to working with its JTFA partners to disrupt and dismantle smuggling networks that callously endanger human life for profit.”
“Confining individuals, including minors, in coffin-like spaces with no room to move or breathe, reveals this organization’s complete disregard for human life,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas. “Those who profit from such human suffering will face justice, and their ill-gotten gains will be stripped away to ensure that crime does not pay.”
According to court documents, Erminia Serrano Piedra, also known as Irma and Boss Lady, 33, and Oscar Angel Monroy Alcibar, also known as Pelon, 41, were leaders of an illegal HSO that unlawfully transported, harbored, and concealed from law enforcement the detection of hundreds of undocumented individuals in the United States. These individuals were citizens of Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, and elsewhere and they or their families paid members of the HSO to help them travel illegally to and within the United States. Serrano Piedra’s role included directing the operations of the HSO, recruiting members, ordering payments to be made related to the organization’s operation, and instructing members of the HSO to be lookouts for law enforcement. Monroy Alcibar coordinated the smuggling of undocumented individuals and movement of financial proceeds for the HSO.
The HSO used drivers to pick up undocumented individuals near the U.S.-Mexico border and transport them further into the interior of the United States, often harboring them at “stash houses” along the way in locations such as Laredo and Austin, Texas. Drivers for the HSO used various dangerous methods to transport undocumented individuals, including hiding them in suitcases placed in pickup trucks, cramming them in the back of tractor-trailers, covered beds of pickup trucks, repurposed water tankers, and wooden crates strapped to flatbed trailers. The methods used by the HSO to transport undocumented individuals placed their lives in danger, as they were frequently held in contained spaces with little ventilation, which became overheated and made it difficult to breathe, and they were driven at high speeds with no vehicle restraints in the back of trucks and tankers. Members of this HSO commonly referred to the undocumented individuals as “boxes,” “packages,” or “pieces.” Typically, the fee paid to the organization was approximately $8,000, with $3,000 paid up front to smugglers in Mexico and the remainder paid once the undocumented individuals entered the United States.
Further, Serrano Piedra and Monroy Alcibar have admitted in court documents that they conspired to engage in financial transactions designed to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of ill-gotten proceeds of illicit human smuggling and the unlawful harboring and transportation of undocumented individuals. The leaders of the organization recruited and utilized straw persons to accept human smuggling proceeds in the straw persons’ bank accounts and then transferred these proceeds to the leaders under the pretense of work payments. The defendants also established businesses and opened business accounts in order to transfer the human smuggling proceeds. In addition, the defendants recruited individuals in the construction industry who accepted human smuggling proceeds in the form of cash in exchange for checks from the recruited individuals’ business bank accounts. Serrano Piedra and Monroy Alcibar, both leaders of the HSO, have admitted in court documents that they made significant money from their involvement in human smuggling. Moreover, Serrano Piedra admitted she was going to continue doing this for her lifetime and was not planning to retire.
In addition to the terms in prison, the court entered orders of criminal forfeiture of two properties belonging to one or both of these defendants, which were purchased with the illicit proceeds of human smuggling, recently estimated to have the value of approximately $2,275,000 and $515,000.
Serrano Piedra and Monroy Alcibar were originally charged by indictment in August 2022 and then by superseding indictment in August 2023. Serrano Piedra pleaded guilty on Jan. 4, 2024, to conspiracy to transport and move illegal aliens, transporting aliens for commercial and private financial gain and placing the lives of aliens in jeopardy while doing so, and conspiracy to launder money. Monroy Alcibar pleaded guilty on Jan. 9, 2024, to the same charges.
Including Serrano Piedra and Monroy Alcibar, 14 co-conspirators have been sentenced for their various roles in the HSO, including some for laundering illicit proceeds. The sentences ranged up to 135 months in prison, with money judgments totaling over $2.3 million and forfeiture of interests in real property, including residences located in Bastrop and Elgin, Texas. One other co-conspirator still awaits sentencing.
DHS Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Laredo, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP)’s U.S. Border Patrol Laredo Sector led U.S. investigative efforts on the case. HSI offices in Austin, San Antonio, Waco, and Corpus Christi, Texas; New Orleans, Louisiana; Gulfport, Mississippi; Mobile, Alabama; West Palm Beach, Florida; and HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C.; along with CBP’s National Targeting Center; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Enforcement and Removal Operations — Austin; the Treasury Executive Office for Asset Forfeiture; Police Departments in Laredo, Killeen, Elgin, and Round Rock, Texas, as well as Wiggins, Missouri and Bogalusa, Louisiana; the Webb County Constable’s Office; Webb County District Attorney’s Office; Sheriff’s Offices in Webb, Bastrop, and Caldwell County, Texas, Harrison County, George County, and Stone County, Mississippi, and Mobile County, Alabama; Jefferson Parish and Washington Parish, Louisiana; Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and Louisiana State Police provided substantial assistance with the investigation.
Trial Attorneys Christian Levesque and Angela Buckner of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP), Trial Attorney and JTFA Deputy Director Daria Andryushchenko of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), MLARS Financial Investigator Kelly O’Mara, and JTFA member Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Day for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from the Electronic Surveillance Unit of the Criminal Division’s Office of Enforcement Operations.
This and related convictions of co-conspirators are the result of the coordinated efforts of JTFA. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland established JTFA in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to combat the rise in prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The initiative was expanded to Colombia and Panama to combat human smuggling in the Darién in June 2024. JTFA comprises detailees from U.S. attorneys’ offices along the southwest border, including the Southern District of California, District of Arizona, District of New Mexico, and Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by HRSP, and supported by MLARS, the Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training; Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section; Office of Enforcement Operations; Office of International Affairs; and Violent Crime and Racketeering Section. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 345 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of human smuggling; more than 290 U.S. convictions; more than 240 defendants sentenced, including significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
Pointing weapon at law enforcement sends violent felon to prisonRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 33-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Tomas Rodriguez pleaded guilty April 25, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett has now ordered Rodriguez to serve 90 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by a three-year-term of supervised release. At the hearing, the court saw body worn camera video of Rodriguez pointing a firearm at an officer and surveillance video of Rodriguez repeatedly assaulting a female. Judge Bennett also heard testimony from the police officer involved in the incident. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the seriousness of Rodriguez’s conduct, particularly his vicious assault of a female victim and assault on a law enforcement officer.
On Sept. 5, 2021, a local police department officer responded to a report of an assault in a parking lot near a Houston bar. Witnesses directed him to Rodriguez who had fled towards an injured female lying face down on the ground. Rodriguez fell as he ran and the officer commanded him to remain on the ground.
However, Rodriguez got up and pointed a loaded .22-caliber pistol at the officer who responded by discharging his duty weapon in self-defense. Not struck, Rodriguez proceeded to flee and discarded the weapon. Authorities apprehended Rodriguez following a foot pursuit and subsequently recovered his firearm.
Rodriguez has multiple prior felony convictions. As such, he is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition per federal law.
Rodriguez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Houston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron H. Black prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Local woman sentenced for embezzling funds from dental officeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 45-year-old Hockley resident has been sentenced for her role in a scheme to steal more than $200,000 from her employer, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jennifer Lynn Thornton pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud July 20, 2023.
Senior U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt has now ordered Thornton to serve 41 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. She was also assessed 10 $100 special assessments. Restitution will be determined at a later date. In imposing the sentence, the court noted “I don’t believe you have proper respect for authority. The harm you caused to the victims was very personal.”
Thornton had been a financial coordinator in a dental office in Houston. The dentist had been in business for 38 years. In July 2021, he began a detailed review of his company accounts to prepare for retirement. At that time, he discovered Thornton had been stealing from him.
She had created a shell company called SGS Healthcare and had payments intended for the dental practice diverted there. Insurance companies made checks payable to the dental practice which she then deposited into her own accounts.
She also manipulated the company books to allow her to take cash she had received from patients. The victim hired a private auditor who identified $243,597 in losses.
Thornton was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
U.S. Secret Service conducted the investigation along with the Harris County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman prosecuted the case.
South Texas dealer handed prison sentence for selling fentanyl to teenager resulting in deathRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 23-year-old resident of Laredo has been sentenced for providing fentanyl to a 15-year-old, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jose Antonio Carlos III aka Jose Carlos pleaded guilty Jan. 4, 2024, to distributing fentanyl resulting in death.
U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal has now ordered Carlos to serve 240 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. Carlos was also ordered to pay $5,400 in restitution. In handing down the sentence, the court noted how sad the facts of the case were and that the individual who died was only 15 years old.
“This case represents the tragic consequences of fentanyl’s infiltration into communities nationwide, a crisis that continues to devastate families, overwhelm healthcare systems and claim lives at an alarming rate,” said Hamdani. “By addressing the sources and networks that distribute this lethal substance, we aim to disrupt the cycle of devastation and send a clear message: those who endanger public safety for personal gain will face justice.”
"Greed doesn't care about age. Regardless of how young the victim was, it still didn't stop Jose Carlos from selling deadly fentanyl to the victim," said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Houston Division. "Our DEA Laredo Overdose Taskforce will continue to aggressively pursue those who taint our communities for their selfish gains."
On May 17, 2023, authorities responded to an overdose call at a home in Laredo. Once on scene, they found the victim laying in his bed unresponsive and holding a rolled-up dollar bill with a white powder on it. The white powder later tested positive for fentanyl. A toxicology report and autopsy confirmed the cause of death to be fentanyl toxicity.
The investigation revealed text messages which showed the victim wanting to buy “pase” from Carlos. “Pase” was code for cocaine. Carlos indicated the price and provided an address off Longoria Loop.
On the evening of May 16, 2023, an individual drove the victim to that address. There, a person later identified as Carlos handed the victim a small baggie with a white powder inside it. The driver then dropped off the victim at his home, a home he shared with his aunt.
The next morning, the victim’s aunt heard her nephew’s phone ringing. She thought the victim overslept, so she knocked on his door but heard no response. She then tried to open the door to the victim’s bedroom but was unable to, so she climbed in through one of the bedroom windows.
Once inside the room, she noticed her nephew lying face down on the bed. When she touched him, his body was stiff and cold. Law enforcement responded to the residence and pronounced the victim dead on-scene.
As part of his guilty plea, Carlos admitted to selling “pase” to the victim. He also acknowledged sending a text to the victim May 17, 2023, asking “What’s up was it good or no[?].”
Carlos will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future
DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol, Laredo Police Department and Webb County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation with assistance from the Webb County Medical Examiner. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Bajew and Leslie Cortez prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF is the largest anti-crime task force in the country. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
More information on the dangers of fentanyl can be found on the DEA’s website. #OnePillCanKill
Local meth dealer sent to prisonRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 45-year-old Corpus Christi man has been sentenced to federal prison for possession with intent to distribute meth in Corpus Christi, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jose Humberto Morales pleaded guilty Oct. 24, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Morales to serve 130 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court considered additional evidence of Morales’ lengthy criminal history dating back to 1996 and including more than 10 state convictions for burglary. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the serious and recidivist nature of his criminal behavior.
On May 5, 2023, law enforcement observed Morales, an identified gang member they knew to have active arrest warrants, on the street outside a residence in Corpus Christi. They arrested him on those warrants and was found to have three separate baggies containing meth.
He possessed a total of over 50 grams of meth.
Morales was later recorded on a jail call admitted the meth was intended for distribution.
Morales will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations and Corpus Christi Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.
Lead defendants in prolific human smuggling and money laundering network sentenced in Joint Task Force Alpha investigationRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas - A Texas woman and her fiancé have been sentenced for their roles as leaders of a human smuggling organization that conspired to illegally transport, harbor and conceal from law enforcement hundreds of undocumented individuals in the United States and laundering the proceeds.
Erminia Serrano Piedra aka Irma or Boss Lady, 33, and Oscar Angel Monroy Alcibar aka Pelon, 41, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport and move illegal aliens, including placing the aliens’ lives in jeopardy, and conspiracy to launder money Jan. 4 and 9, 2024, respectively.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal ordered Monroy Alcibar to serve 135 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release Jan. 15. The court sentenced Serrano Piedra Jan. 13 to 121 months in federal prison also immediately followed by three years of supervised release. Both will also be ordered to pay large money judgments as part of their pleas - $438,119 for Monroy Alcibar and $942,537 for Serrano Piedra.
The also entered orders of criminal forfeiture of two properties belonging to one or both that were purchased with the illicit proceeds of human smuggling, recently estimated to have the value of approximately $2.275 million and $515,000.
“The two defendants sentenced in this case were leaders of a human smuggling operation that endangered vulnerable migrants for profit,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Since I directed the formation of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) in 2021, the Justice Department has combatted the threats posed by dangerous human smuggling networks where they originate and operate. Since then, the Justice Department has made over 345 domestic and international arrests and secured 290 convictions.”
“Confining individuals, including minors, in coffin-like spaces with no room to move or breathe, reveals this organization’s complete disregard for human life,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. “Those who profit from such human suffering will face justice, and their ill-gotten gains will be stripped away to ensure that crime does not pay.”
“The defendants exploited vulnerable migrants by leading a scheme to unlawfully transport them across the U.S. border, using dangerous methods that risked the migrants’ lives in order to evade detection,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Because of illegal operations like this one, more than three years ago we launched JTFA to combat the most prolific and harmful human smuggling organizations. The sentences and forfeitures announced today underscore the Criminal Division’s commitment to working with its JTFA partners to disrupt and dismantle smuggling networks that callously endanger human life for profit.”
“This sentencing sends a clear message that those involved in human smuggling will be identified and held accountable for their actions,” said Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari Ph.D. of Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG). “DHS-OIG is grateful for our continued partnership with our law enforcement partners as we continue to fight corruption along the Southern Border.”
According to court documents, Serrano Piedra and Monroy Alcibar were the leaders of the human smuggling organization. Those smuggled were citizens of Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia and elsewhere and they or their families paid members of the organization to help them travel illegally to and within the United States.
Serrano Piedra’s role included directing the organization’s operations, recruiting members, ordering payments to be made related to the organization’s operation and instructing members to be lookouts for law enforcement.
Monroy Alcibar coordinated the smuggling of undocumented individuals and movement of financial proceeds for the organization. Serrano Piedra, Monroy Alcibar and their co-conspirators derived substantial profits from the proceeds of this illicit activity.
The organization used drivers to pick up undocumented individuals near the U.S.-Mexico border and transport them further into the interior of the United States, often harboring them at stash houses along the way in locations such as Laredo and Austin. The organization’s drivers used various dangerous methods to transport undocumented individuals, including hiding them in suitcases placed in pickup trucks, cramming them in the back of tractor-trailers, covered beds of pickup trucks, repurposed water tankers and wooden crates strapped to flatbed trailers. The methods the organization used to transport undocumented individuals placed their lives in danger as they were frequently held in contained spaces with little ventilation, which became overheated and made it difficult to breathe, and they were driven at high speeds with no vehicle restraints in the back of trucks and tankers.
Members of this organization commonly referred to the undocumented individuals as “boxes,” “packages,” or “pieces.” Typically, the fee paid to the organization was approximately $8,000 with $3,000 paid up front to smugglers in Mexico and the remainder paid once the undocumented individuals entered the United States.
Further, these defendants haves admitted in court documents that they conspired to engage in financial transactions designed to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership and control of ill-gotten proceeds of illicit human smuggling and the unlawful harboring and transportation of undocumented individuals. The leaders recruited and utilized straw persons to accept human smuggling proceeds in the straw persons’ bank accounts and then transferred these proceeds to the leaders under the pretense of work payments. They also established incorporated businesses and opened business accounts in order to transfer the human smuggling proceeds.
In addition, the two leaders recruited individuals in the construction industry who accepted human smuggling proceeds in the form of cash in exchange for checks from the recruited individuals’ business bank accounts. Serrano Piedra and Monroy Alcibar have admitted in court documents they made significant money from their involvement in human smuggling. Moreover, Serrano Piedra admitted she was and she was going to continue doing this for a lifetime and was not planning to retire.
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is at the forefront of combating human smuggling on a global scale,” said HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “This week, these two defendants were sentenced for their involvement in this heinous crime. Fighting transnational human smuggling remains one of our top priorities. Our special agents work tirelessly alongside international law enforcement partners and task forces to dismantle criminal networks that commoditize human lives. HSI will continue to utilize every available resource to bring those responsible to justice.”
Including Serrano Piedra and Monroy Alcibar, 14 co-conspirators have been sentenced for their various roles in the human smuggling organization, including some for laundering illicit proceeds. The sentences ranged up to 135 months with money judgments totaling over $2.3 million, forfeiture of interests in real property, including residences located in Bastrop and Elgin. One other co-conspirator still awaits sentencing.
HSI Laredo, along with Border Patrol and DHS-OIG led U.S. investigative efforts on the case. HSI offices in Austin, San Antonio, Waco and Corpus Christi; New Orleans, Louisiana; Gulfport, Mississippi; Mobile, Alabama; West Palm Beach, Florida; and HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C.; along with Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center; U.S. Marshals Service; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations ; Treasury Executive Office for Asset Forfeiture; Police Departments in Laredo, Killeen, Elgin and Round Rock as well as Wiggins, Missouri, and Bogalusa, Louisiana; Webb County Constable’s Office; Webb County District Attorney’s Office; Sheriff’s Offices in Webb, Bastrop and Caldwell County; Harrison, George and Stone County, Mississippi, and Mobile County, Alabama; Jefferson Parish and Washington Parish, Louisiana; Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and Louisiana State Police provided substantial assistance in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney and JTFA detailee Jennifer Day is prosecuting the case along with Human Rights and Special Prosecutions (HRSP) Section Trial Attorneys Christian Levesque and Angela Buckner, Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) Trial Attorney and Deputy Director of JTFA Daria Andryushchenko and MLARS Financial Investigator Kelly O’Mara with substantial assistance from the Department of Justice’s Electronic Surveillance Unit of the Office of Enforcement Operations.
This and related convictions of co-conspirators are the result of the coordinated efforts of JTFA. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland established JTFA in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with DHS, to combat the rise in prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. The initiative was expanded to Colombia and Panama to combat human smuggling in the Darién in June 2024. JTFA comprises detailees from U.S. attorneys’ offices along the southwest border including the Southern District of California, districts of Arizona and New Mexico and the Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions HRSP Section, and supported by the Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training; Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section; MLARS; Office of Enforcement Operations; Office of International Affairs; and the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in 34513 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers and significant facilitators of human smuggling; more than 29051 U.S. convictions; more than 240 defendants sentenced, including 186 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
Laredo man given max sentence for possessing over 47,000 child pornography images, including some of minor relativesRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 31-year-old man has been sentenced for sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child sexual assault material (CSAM), announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Kristopher Santos pleaded guilty March 28, 2023.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now sentenced Santos to 360 months and 240 months for the sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography convictions, respectively. They will run concurrently for a total 360- month-term of imprisonment. At the hearing, the court also heard additional information including the history of the case and vast collection of child pornography Santos possessed. In handing down the prison terms, the court noted the severity of his actions in producing CSAM as well as the sheer volume of images he possessed. Santos was further ordered to pay $126,000 in restitution to the victims and will serve 10 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Santos will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
“This defendant is a textbook child predator,” said Hamdani. “He is the reason parents lose sleep at night, wondering if their kids are safe when not with them. He was a trusted family member, who violated that trust when he both abused and utilized the minors to create child pornography images of his own. Parents can sleep better tonight knowing there is one less child predator on the streets.”
"Today's sentencing marks a significant victory in our relentless pursuit of justice for the innocent victims of child exploitation. This 30-year sentence sends a clear message that those who prey on the most vulnerable members of our society will be held accountable for their heinous crimes,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “HSI remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting children and dismantling the networks that perpetuate these atrocities. We will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to ensure that justice is served and that no child suffers in silence."
Authorities identified Santos in 2019 when conducting a peer-to-peer network undercover investigation. It revealed Santos was sharing CSAM online.
On April 12, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his home and discovered and seized several electronic devices. Authorities also discovered a trunk full of sex toys and children’s underwear.
Santos acknowledged he was sexually attracted to children, viewing the child pornography and that the trunk belonged to him. He also admitted to touching two minor relatives inappropriately and taking naked pictures of the children exposing themselves.
Law enforcement ultimately identified a total of 47,729 images and 7,667 videos containing child pornography on the seized electronic devices.
Santos will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
HSI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Webb County Sheriff’s office conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Makens prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Duval County resident imprisoned for sexual exploitation of a childRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 32-year-old Duval County resident has been ordered to serve 30 years in prison after admitting to abusing a child, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Oscar Luis Saenz Jr. pleaded guilty Sept. 26, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Saenz to serve 360 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court also heard additional information including testimony from the mother of the victim detailing the profound impact Saenz’ conduct has had on the family. In handing down the prison terms, the court noted the egregiousness of the offense and the age of the victim. Saenz was further ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution to a known victim and will serve the rest of his life on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Saenz will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
The investigation into Saenz began when authorities discovered he was participating in chat rooms involving discussions of child sexual assault material (CSAM). During an online conversation, Saenz claimed he had recently sexually abused a child. On Aug. 28, 2023, Saenz sent a video of himself sexually abusing a young child. Law enforcement quickly acted and arrested him the same day.
After his arrest, Saenz admitted he had produced the video of himself sexually abusing the young child. Saenz was also in possession of a phone. Law enforcement discovered approximately 100 files depicting CSAM on the device.
Saenz will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance of the Duval County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Overman prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Registered sex offender gets 30 years for using social media to distribute child pornographyRead the Press Release
GALVESTON – A 46-year-old Alvin resident has been ordered to federal prison after his convictions of transportation and possession of child sexual assault material (CSAM), announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
David Lopez Jr. pleaded guilty June 27, 2024.
Today, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown sentenced him to 360 months on each of the two transportation counts and 120 months for each of the two possession counts. They will run concurrently for a total 360-month-term of imprisonment. The court heard additional evidence regarding his lengthy criminal history and his sexual interest in children which dated back to 2014.
Judge Brown considered how Lopez committed this offense while he was registering as a sex offender for his 2006 convictions for sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child. The court also took into consideration the victims through their impact statements read in court. He considered how his conduct affected those minors of whom he had collected images and videos that were found in his collection.
Lopez was furthered ordered to pay restitution to the victims and will be on supervised release following the completion of his prison term for the rest of his life. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to the internet.
“This is an individual who has a deep-seated sexual interest in children that cannot be deterred,” said Hamdani. “After two decades of sexually exploiting children by his hands-on offenses and trading child pornography, he must be stopped. The only way to do that is by giving him to a lengthy prison sentence which is what the court did today.”
“With today’s sentencing we have removed a dangerous predator from the community who has shown absolutely no remorse for his heinous actions two decades ago when he sexually assaulted a young child and destroyed an innocent life,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “Instead, while registered as a sex offender, he has actively engaged in trafficking the sexual abuse materials that force child victims to relive their worst nightmare in perpetuity. HSI Houston is committed to continuing to aggressively pursue anyone who preys on the vulnerability of our children and will not rest until we have eradicated southeast Texas of this pure form of evil.”
In 2016, Lopez came to the attention of law enforcement after learning he was using social media to distribute files depicting CSAM. From 2016 until 2020, Lopez used multiple sites to upload CSAM to his accounts between Feb. 19, 2016, and Jan. 14, 2020.
Authorities arrested Lopez in February 2020 for failure to comply with his sex offender registration. At that time, he admitted to viewing child pornography. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Lopez’s phone and found 100 images and 60 videos of young children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The images and videos depicted babies/toddlers and acts of violence such as the penetration of the victims, bestiality, bondage and sadistic and masochistic conduct.
After serving his sentence for the failure to comply with his sex offender registration and possession of a controlled substance, Lopez began transporting, distributing, receiving and possessing child pornography again. Lopez was arrested in October 2022 and once again admitted to trading and viewing child pornography.
He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations - Galveston conducted the investigation with the assistance of Pearland Police Department, Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Ann Leo prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Kidnapping for ransom in Mexico sends Pharr man to prisonRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 27-year-old Pharr man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of hostage taking, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Sixto Gonzalez Jr. pleaded guilty May 15, 2023.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Gonzalez to serve 240 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence regarding Gonzalez’s prior violent criminal history and attempts to bribe a correctional guard while he was in custody for the instant offense. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the seriousness of the crime, injuries the victim sustained and Gonzalez’s continued engagement in criminal conduct.
“The victim in this case was lured into Mexico because Gonzalez assumed that authorities wouldn't bother to invest resources into a kidnapping that occurred there,” said Hamdani. “The United States will continue to work with law enforcement authorities around the world to protect American citizens abroad and bring to justice those that think foreign ground is a safe haven from prosecution.”
“U.S. citizens deserve to be safe from violence, no matter where they are,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “The FBI relentlessly works to protect the American people whether they are here or abroad - and we do so with vigor, commitment and determination. We hope this sentence provides the victim some measure of comfort. As always, the public is urged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or go online at tips.fbi.gov if they have information about violent crimes or other crimes against Americans overseas.”
Gonzalez admitted he unlawfully detained a 19-year-old Alamo man to force a ransom to be paid for his safe return.
On June 23, 2021, Gonzalez lured the victim into Mexico by purporting to have a potential job opportunity to give him. Gonzalez picked the victim up after the victim crossed into Mexico on foot. When they arrived at a house located in Reynosa, Mexico, Gonzalez and several co-conspirators beat and restrained the victim. Between June 23 and June 25, 2021, Gonzalez and his co-conspirators demanded $5,000 and a firearm in exchange for his return.
When the family could not immediately obtain the funds, conspirators sent a video to the victim’s family with footage of him being beaten with a wooden board until the board fractured.
Law enforcement eventually determined the location of the house where he was being held. They conducted a search of the home and found the victim bound with zip ties, covered with a blanket and with bruises throughout his body. They also discovered Gonzalez located inside the house.
Gonzalez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Reynosa State police in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colton Turner and Roberto Lopez prosecuted the case.
Mexican national imprisoned for attempting to smuggle drugs with her daughter in towRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 49-year-old woman has been sentenced for her role in conspiring to import nearly six kilograms of cocaine from Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Carmen Julia Carreon Segovia pleaded guilty June 12, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered Carreon Segovia to serve 120 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, she is expected to face removal proceedings following her imprisonment.
"Even more insidious than smuggling a dangerous and highly addictive drug into the United States is bringing along your own minor child, exposing her needlessly to a dangerous underworld,” said Hamdani. “Segovia will now have 10 years in a prison cell to contemplate the consequences of her actions, actions that affect and endangered her teenage daughter.”
On Jan. 19, 2024, Carreon Segovia drove an SUV to the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge in Laredo to apply for admission into the United States. Her 16-year-old daughter was riding as passenger.
Authorities inspected the vehicle and found eight bundles containing 6.30 kilograms of cocaine with an approximate street value of $90,000. Law enforcement discovered the bundles hidden in the front fender areas of the SUV.
Carreon Segovia denied any knowledge of the drugs. After her arrest, authorities revoked her non-immigrant visa.
She subsequently admitted to knowing the other co-conspirators concealed drugs somewhere within the vehicle for her to attempt to smuggle them into the United States.
Carreon Segovia will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Homero Ramirez prosecuted the case.
Edinburg doctor and son guilty in kickback conspiracyRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 75-year-old Edinburg physician and his 43-year-old son both pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive kickbacks in exchange for referring prescriptions to local pharmacies, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Dr. Tajul Shams Chowdhury, a licensed physician, owned and operated a medical practice in Edinburg called Center for Pain Management. His son, Mohammad Imtiaz Chowdhury, worked as a purported marketer for a local pharmacy.
According to court documents, prescriptions for costly compound drugs were referred from Dr. Chowdhury’s clinic in exchange for kickback payments made from the pharmacy to Mohammad Chowdhury.
In total, Mohammad Chowdhury was paid $6.6 million in kickbacks as part of the scheme.
Both men were permitted to remain on bond pending their sentencing, which is currently scheduled for March 25 before Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane.
At that time, both men face up to five years in prison and a maximum $250,000 possible fine.
The U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General (OIG), Department of Labor – OIG, FBI, Department of Defense – Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Department of Veteran Affairs – OIG, Department of Health and Human Services - OIG and Texas Health and Human Services - OIG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Swartz is prosecuting the case.
Corpus Christi man convicted of weapons chargeRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A federal jury in Corpus Christi has returned a guilty verdict against a 30-year-old local man for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
The jury deliberated for 17 minutes following a one-day trial before finding Michael Pulido guilty.
On Feb. 7, 2024, authorities arrived at a local apartment complex following a criminal mischief complaint. The investigation led them to Pulido who had fired four gunshots inside his apartment.
They checked his criminal history and discovered Pulido had been previously convicted of a felony. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition per federal law.
At trial, the defense attempted to convince the jury that the gun belonged to someone else. They were not convinced and found him guilty as charged.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos presided over the trial and set sentencing for April 15, at which time Pulido faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Corpus Christi Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Yasmine Tucker and Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney Hamdani announces resignationRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani has announced he will resign as chief law enforcement officer for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX) effective midnight Jan. 19.
“Serving as the 24th Presidentially Appointed U.S. Attorney for this incredible district has been the honor of a lifetime,” said Hamdani. “Over the past two years, we have made significant strides across multiple fronts, strengthening our community, upholding justice and ensuring safety for all citizens."
Hamdani was responsible for prosecuting and defending the interests of the United States in one of the largest districts in the country - covering 44,000 square miles and representing over nine million people. He oversaw over 400 employees, including approximately 200 Assistant U.S. Attorneys who cover the seven offices across the district.
In just over two years as U.S. Attorney, Hamdani led the office in approximately more than 10 thousand criminal cases against over 12 thousand defendants while maintaining an average 95% conviction rate. From fentanyl to the cartels, crimes involving children to human smuggling and white collar crime to cybercrime, Hamdani worked to ensure justice was served every day and the SDTX was a safe place to live.
The Civil Division filed more than 2,500 cases in fiscal years 2023-2024, which included a historic $85 million settlement against a cardiac imaging company. “Patients deserve care based on their medical need and not on a doctor or company’s financial interest or gain,” Hamdani said. The Texas Medical Center also agreed to pay a record $15 million for allegations of concurrent billing claims for critical surgeries.
The office was at the forefront of numerous new and ongoing issues to include violent crime, which was at record levels when he took office. He made several announcements on numerous cases against felons illegally in possession of firearms to those involving known gang members. As part of those efforts, the office partnered with the Department of Justice’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section as part of the Department’s Violent Crime Initiative which contributed to a reduction in violent crime over the past two years.
He also worked with the three other Texas U.S. Attorneys in a coordinated announcement on a statewide effort targeting machine gun conversion devices.
Hamdani placed particular emphasis on cases linked to Mexican cartels, often noting how their violence spreads into the district. This included a matter out of the Galveston Division which saw the arrest of 23 in a poly-drug indictment. Noting that “Fentanyl-laced pills disguised as something else are killing our kids,” Hamdani and his office targeted those dealing the drug that destroys lives and families and anyone who provided it to others. As part of the effort, Hamdani also announced charges against a Chinese national for his alleged part in a conspiracy involving the importation of what is believed to be the largest amount of fentanyl precursors - chemicals used to make fentanyl - in the SDTX.
He also targeted cybercrime, often speaking and participating in numerous conferences on the topic. In one matter of note, the office helped disrupt a botnet that used hundreds of U.S.-based small office/home office routers so that People’s Republic of China state-sponsored hackers could monitor key parts of American infrastructure.
USA Alamdar Hamdani speaking at a cybersecurity summit in 2023Spending much of his career prosecuting cases involving national security matters, Hamdani continued that focus as U.S. Attorney, from those attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization to another who allegedly exported U.S. technology to Iran.
Hamdani’s office also targeted deadly human smuggling organizations, including a Brownsville matter that saw the conviction of six men who were charged in an alien smuggling ring which resulted in the death of eight people. To further combat the issue, the office also participated in Joint Task Force Alpha, which the Attorney General created to marshal and combat the rise in prolific and dangerous smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. And just a few weeks ago, as part of that mission, the office unsealed charges against several defendants for the death of over 50 migrants in an overturned trailer in Chiapas, Mexico.
A similar issue due to the proximity to the border is human trafficking, and the office continued its efforts to combat this troubling crime throughout the district and provide for victims, such as a woman who received 30 years for forcing young girls to engage in commercial sex.
A father himself, Hamdani also sought to make sure those committing crimes against children were held accountable. One such criminal was recently sentenced to 100 years in prison for raping two children. On the other end of the spectrum, he emphasized protecting the elderly from those who take advantage of them, such as those who tricked a WWII veteran out of $300,000 to many that are involved in Indian call centers who often target the elderly.
The office increased efforts to hold those committing white collar crime and health care fraud accountable, such as a Houston man who was convicted in a $160M Medicare fraud scheme. Another significant matter and a focus of the office was a company charged with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act who agreed to pay $160 million. “Prosecuting and investigating this type of crime is an important role our office takes seriously in order to ensure fair and equal playing fields for U.S. companies and consumers,” Hamdani noted.
In October 2023, Attorney General Merrick Garland picked Hamdani to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee. Hamdani, along with 13 other U.S. Attorneys, advised the Attorney General on behalf of the U.S. Attorney community. While in this role, he also led the Border and Immigration Law Enforcement Subcommittee which included U.S. Attorneys along the Northern and Southern borders working together to secure both those borders from transnational criminal organizations, cartels, gun, drugs and human smuggling.
During his tenure, Hamdani made it a priority to get the news of the office’s important work to the people, so as to inform some and deter others from committing crime. He used multiple platforms, including the use of social media clips, to ensure these messages were heard.
He is proud to have run his office under the “mama rule.” Citing his own mother’s history as a poor migrant and her age, his mantra was that you treat and protect others as you would your own “mama.”
Hamdani was the first Asian in Texas that was presidentially appointed and senate confirmed as U.S. Attorney. He was born in England to Indian parents who had moved there from India. The family immigrated to Texas when he was 10. He received his J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center in 1999 and his B.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993.
Hamdani joined the SDTX in 2014, but has been with the Department of Justice since 2008. As an AUSA with the SDTX, he was primarily responsible for the investigation and prosecution of national security and official corruption crimes. From 2010 to 2014, Hamdani served in the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, holding the position of deputy chief from 2012 to 2014. Before that, he was an AUSA in the Eastern District of Kentucky.
Prior to his government service, Hamdani was in private practice.
He is married and is a proud father of two teenagers, a University of Texas Longhorn and Bellaire High School Cardinal.
As he departs the office, he is reminded of the privilege he enjoyed to lead a group of dedicated public servants who work every day to make Texas safer, noting that “we love mercy, walk humbly and always, always, seek justice.”
Third Ward narcotics dealer heads to prisonRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 46-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for trafficking narcotics, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Demitrios Ramon Jerry pleaded guilty June 20.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered Jerry to serve 108 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court considered the fact that Jerry admitted to dealing fentanyl and meth out of a drug house in Houston’s Third Ward neighborhood. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the seriousness of the quantity of fentanyl.
A joint law enforcement operation revealed Jerry was selling narcotics from a drug house in Third Ward. Jerry sold counterfeit Percocet pills containing fentanyl and ecstasy pills containing meth.
During the operation, authorities searched the drug house and observed crack cocaine, powder cocaine, promethazine syrup and scales within the house.
Jerry was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Tallichet prosecuted the case.
Former deputy arrested for sexual assault while on dutyRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 27-year-old former Webb County Sheriff’s deputy has been charged for allegedly depriving a victim of their right to bodily integrity and bodily privacy and falsification of records, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Ignacio Rodriguez IV is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos at 9:41 am Jan. 9.
A federal grand jury returned the sealed two-count indictment Jan. 7, which was unsealed upon his arrest.
The indictment alleges that on Sept. 1, 2024, Rodriguez pulled over a car during the course of his duties. At that time, he sexually assaulted the victim driver and threatened use of a firearm, kidnapping, bodily injury, aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact, according to the charges. During the encounter, he also allegedly turned off his body-worn camera and dash camera, thereby obstructing justice.
If convicted, he faces up to life in prison as to the civil rights violation and up to 20 years in prison for falsification of records. The charges also carry fines of up to $250,000.
The FBI and Laredo Police Department are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie Ann Cortez and Brandon Scott Bowling are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Local trafficker sentenced for having firearm while dealing cocaine and marijuanaRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 28-year-old Donna resident has been sentenced for utilizing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activity, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Roberto Segura Jr. pleaded guilty Oct. 1, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered Segura to serve 60 months in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release,
On July 24, 2024, authorities conducted a search warrant at Segura’s residence. At that time, they discovered marijuana, over 400 grams of cocaine and body armor within the home. Authorities also found a firearm in Segura’s bedroom next to the body armor. Segura admitted he was in possession of the firearm to protect himself during his drug trafficking activity.
Segura will remain in custody pending transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Alamo Police Department conducted the joint investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan prosecuted the case as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old, evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
Jury convicts South Texan for transporting people in the tractor’s cabRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 26-year-old Edinburg man has been convicted of unlawfully transporting an undocumented alien, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
The jury deliberated for an hour and a half following a less than two-day trial before finding Lisandro Vasquez-Gomez guilty.
On Aug. 29, 2024, Vasquez-Gomez drove to the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint where he told authorities he was hauling an empty trailer and was heading to Houston. He denied having any passengers in his vehicle. However, a K-9 alerted to the cab of the tractor where law enforcement located five people illegally present in the United States hidden behind the driver.
At trial, the jury heard from some of those being transported who explained that smugglers had driven them to a remote area where a tractor-trailer was waiting. They did not see the driver, but the vehicle began moving shortly after they were concealed in the sleeper berth.
The defense attempted to convince the jury that authorities failed to fully investigate the smuggling attempt and that Vasquez-Gomez was simply hauling a decoy smuggling load. They did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged on all three counts.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos presided over the trial and set sentencing for April 8, at which time Vasquez-Gomez faces up to five years in federal prison.
He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Overman, Ashley A. Pruitt and Liesel Roscher prosecuted the case.
Texas Syndicate gang member “Diablo” sentenced for third federal drug chargeRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 58-year-old Corpus Christi resident has been sentenced to a total of 200 months in prison for meth trafficking and two supervised release violations, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Tony Maldonado aka Diablo pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth Feb. 1, 2024.
U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Maldonado to serve 188 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release for this offense. At the hearing, the court heard Maldonado was on supervised release for two other federal drug cases, one from 2000 involving meth and one from 2013 for possession with intent to distribute heroin, when he was once again arrested for distributing narcotics. The court also heard that Maldonado was a long-time member of the Texas Syndicate prison gang.
Following this sentencing, Judge Morales considered the two supervised release violations. He was ultimately sentenced to 50 and 24 months for the 2000 and 2013 cases, respectively. The court ordered the 50-month-term to be served concurrently and 12 of the 24 months to run consecutively to the current sentence for a total of 200 months in federal prison.
In handing down the sentences, Judge Morales noted Maldonado’s extensive criminal history and that there must be consequences for violating his supervised release.
In mid-2023, law enforcement discovered Maldonado was distributing narcotics from his elderly parent’s home. After several months of investigation, authorities obtained a federal search warrant which they executed Aug. 29, 2023, at which time they seized 83.86 grams of heroin, 39.34 grams of meth and jail letters confirming his active status in the Texas Syndicate prison gang.
Maldonado will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of the FBI, Corpus Christi Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barbara J. De Pena and Brittany Jensen prosecuted the case.
Former jailer admits to sexually assaulting womenRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 28-year-old Laredo man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting and violating the civil rights of two women, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Hector Humberto Rodriguez Jr. was a correctional officer with the Webb County Sheriff’s Department during the commission of the offenses.
On two separate occasions, while working in his law enforcement capacity, he forcibly sexually assaulted two women while they were housed as inmates at the Webb County Jail.
In each instance in January 2022, Rodriguez removed the victims from their cell and isolated them in a secluded area where he then used force, threats of force and coercion to forcibly sexually assault them both. Both victims later came forward and identified Rodriguez as the guard that sexually assaulted them.
“A separate room devoid of witnesses became the setting where trust turned into terror, as Rodriguez, wielding the power bestowed upon him as a jailer, used force and coercion to commit heinous acts. Rodriguez is the worst kind of predator, one who abused his authority, praying upon some of the most vulnerable women in our community,” said Hamdani. “These were women that were in his care, women that he was supposed to look after and protect. Instead, he took advantage of their vulnerability and violated their civil rights for his own sick pleasures.”
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña will impose sentencing at a later date. Rodriguez faces up to life in prison as well as potential fines of $250,000 for each of the two counts of conviction.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The FBI and Department of Justice - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Scott Bowling and Leslie Ann Cortez are prosecuting the case.
Laredo man indicted for smuggling over 100 people in locked trailerRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment for transporting and/or smuggling of a large group of undocumented aliens via tractor trailer, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Juan Manuel Aguirre, 49, is charged in a three-count indictment with conspiracy to transport an undocumented alien within the United States and the transportation of an undocumented alien within the United States for financial gain. He is expected to appear for his arraignment before a U.S. magistrate judge in the near future.
According to the criminal complaint originally filed in the case, On Dec. 2, law enforcement observed individuals being loading into a white trailer in a warehouse parking lot.
After the white truck that was hauling it departed the location, authorities conducted a traffic stop, according to the charges. A search allegedly resulted in the discovery of 101 non-U.S. citizens locked inside the trailer, including 12 unaccompanied children. The charges further allege two reported they had difficulty breathing and feared for their life due to the conditions in the trailer.
If convicted, Aguirre faces up to 10 years in prison for each of the three counts and fines of up to $250,000.
Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety and Border Patrol conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection, Drug Enforcement Administration and the Webb County Sheriff’s Office. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Texas title company employee admits to orchestrating $350,000 real estate wire fraud schemeRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 55-year-old McAllen resident has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Mayela Saby Cantu admitted she knowingly participated in a scheme that used falsified lien payoff statements, fraudulent warranty deeds and deceptive emails to mislead lenders, title companies and property buyers.
From November 2020 until her arrest, Cantu defrauded buyers and lenders in multiple property transactions while working at Sierra Title in McAllen. Using her position of trust, she facilitated closings backed by falsified documents. In one notable case, she directed others to create a fraudulent email address resembling that of a legitimate lienholder. Cantu then used the fake account to send false payoff amounts via interstate wires, leading a title company to improperly disburse more than $350,000.
Cantu facilitated additional fraudulent property transactions, including arranging closing on properties that had already been sold and accepting undisclosed cash payments. By concealing the true nature of these deals, she caused significant financial harm to the affected parties.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane will impose sentencing March 3, 2025. At that time, Cantu faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
The FBI, McAllen Police Department and Texas Department of Insurance conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric D. Flores is prosecuting the case.
Convicted felon admits to illegal firearms possessionRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 49-year-old Houston man has been convicted illegally possessing six firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Christopher Curry admitted he was a convicted felon and planned to exchange the guns for marijuana.
At the time of his arrest Oct. 17, authorities found him in possession of six firearms. In his vehicle were a shotgun, a pistol and several semiautomatic rifles.
Curry has three felony convictions to include two drug possessions and being a felon in possession of a firearm. As such, he is prohibited of possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law.
Senior U.S. District Judge Sim Lake accepted the plea and set sentencing for March 14, 2025. At that time he faces up to 15 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The Houston Police Department Northeast Crime Suppression Team and the Department of Public Safety conducted the joint investigation with the assistance of the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Crime Gun Strike Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ganz is prosecuting the case.
Three imprisoned for jewelry store and bank armed robberiesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Three Houston residents were sentenced to prison following their convictions of robbing commercial businesses with guns, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Thaddeaues Malik Williams, 26, Tydreic Deon Sublet, 24, and Andre Palmer-Gilliams, 33, pleaded guilty Oct. 19, 2023, Sept. 9 and Aug. 12, respectively.
U.S. District Judge George Hanks has now ordered Williams, Sublet and Gilliams to serve 199, 233 and 210 months in federal prison, respectively. All three must also serve three years of supervised release.
On July 1, 2019, Williams, Sublet and Gilliams entered Rice Village Diamonds, where customers and employees were present, dressed in construction attire. They used firearms to steal jewelry from four glass cabinets. Authorities later identified the suspects after recovering a Gatorade bottle they left inside the store.
On Aug. 14, 2019, the trio entered Woodforest National Bank inside Gallery Furniture. Subtle pointed a firearm at customers and disarmed a security officer, while Williams jumped over the counter, ordered tellers to open their drawers and stole cash.
Authorities responded and pursued the suspects as they fled in a vehicle. The chase ended when the vehicle crashed into a ditch near a residential area, at which time they fled on foot. Authorities eventually apprehended them and recovered the security guard’s gun, other firearms and the stolen money.
They will remain in custody pending transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Houston Police Department and the FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill Jenkins Stotts prosecuted the case.
Meth trafficker imprisoned for importing 50 kilograms of meth into the United StatesRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 42-year-old Illinois resident has been sentenced for importing meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Cruz Vargas, Jr. pleaded guilty on March 4, 2023.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Vargas to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.
On July 24, 2022, Vargas tried to enter the United States from Mexico through the Rio Grande Port of Entry with large containers loaded in his vehicle. Law enforcement referred him for a secondary inspection after he claimed the containers held vitamins. A narcotics detection K-9 alerted to the vehicle, leading authorities to test the containers, which confirmed the presence of meth.
At the time of his plea, Vargas admitted to transporting drugs.
The meth weighed over 50 kilograms.
Vargas will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan prosecuted the case.
Local man indicted for defrauding immigrants with false promises of legal statusRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 57-year-old Houston man has appeared in federal court for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud and engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jesus Carlos Silva made his initial appearance before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Ho at 2 p.m.
According to the indictment filed Dec. 17, Silva ran a scheme to defraud immigrants from March 2022 until December 2024. He allegedly falsely promised to help them obtain U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status.
The charges allege Silva made false statements and misrepresentations to persuade victims to pay him thousands of dollars. He allegedly posed as an immigration attorney affiliated with Houston-based law firm, despite not being an attorney.
It is alleged that Silva targeted victims, most of whom lacked legal immigration status, and claimed he could secure their citizenship or legal status. He allegedly told some victims he had a close contact at U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services (USCIS) who would expedite their applications. Silva charged victims between $7000 and $15,000 each, according to the charges.
The indictment further alleges Silva did not provide any assistance to victims regarding their immigration status and failed to secure legal status for them. Instead, he allegedly offered excuses for the lack of progress on their applications and eventually cut off communications.
The charges allege Silva repeatedly instructed victims to travel to Houston for fake appointments with USCIS. When they arrived, Silva allegedly gave excuses for his absence, and they discovered no such appointments had been scheduled.
If convicted, Silva faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service and Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Feinstein and Rodolfo Ramirez are prosecuting the case.
An information is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Gulf Cartel drug trafficker sent to prison following major cocaine and cash seizuresRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 42-year-old resident of San Benito has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Salvador Cortez-Nava aka Chava pleaded guilty Aug. 24, 2023.
U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered Cortez-Nava to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described Nava ordering the kidnapping of a co-conspirator and threatened harm over the loss of several drug loads. In handing down the sentence, the court approved the government’s request to forfeit assets obtained through drug proceeds.
“The Mexican Gulf Cartel is one of Mexico's oldest criminal syndicates, engaging in drug trafficking, violence, human smuggling, and more, reflecting the complex challenges posed by the cartels along Texas’s border with Mexico,” said Hamdani. “Salvador Cortez-Nava, aka Chava, demonstrated his allegiance to this cartel by coordinating the distribution of cocaine and employing ruthless tactics, including ordering kidnappings and threats of violence. His actions underscored the perilous influence of the cartel as he transported drug proceeds back into Mexico. By sending Cortez-Nava to prison, justice delivers another blow against the Gulf Cartel’s violent hold on the narcotics trade.”
“The hard work of our agents leading up to this victory demonstrates Homeland Security Investigation’s (HSI) unique authorities and expertise in financial investigations to combat organized crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of HSI - San Antonio. “Through a multi-agency task force, we uncovered over $1.5 million in drug proceeds and seized more than 150 kilograms of cocaine; this amount of poison has no place in our country.”
“The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) aggressive enforcement continues to hurt the drug trafficking business by shutting down Cortez Nava's significant cocaine trafficking network,” said Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Division Daniel C. Comeaux. “Regardless of the rank or the level of sophistication used to traffic drugs and money, the DEA has always been able to disassemble the structure these drug cartels have in place to move poison into American communities and successfully eradicate the threat.
Cortez-Nava was a key player in a large-scale cocaine trafficking network, importing significant quantities of cocaine from Mexico. He oversaw the transportation and distribution across multiple U.S. cities, including in the Rio Grande Valley as well as North Carolina, Ohio, Georgia, Florida and Indiana.”
Cortez-Nava’s criminal organization employed sophisticated methods, such as using vehicles with hidden compartments at ports of entry to smuggle cocaine from Matamoros, Mexico, into the United States. He also supervised the recruitment of individuals to carry out these smuggling operations.
A multi-agency task force investigating several narcotics and cash seizures from 2016 to 2020 determined Cortez-Nava led the organization.
A series of drug and money seizures resulting from Cortez-Nava’s orders included $501,145.00 in drug proceeds concealed inside a vehicle in February 2016 and 1.10 kilograms of cocaine in April 2017 that was intended to be distributed. After that drug seizure, authorities discovered an additional 48.35 kilograms of cocaine belonging to the Gulf Cartel. These seizures were followed by seizures of 29.45 kilograms of cocaine and $269,996.00 in 2018, and 68.3 kilograms of cocaine and over $812,000 in 2019.
During the investigation, authorities seized over $1.5 million in proceeds and approximately 150 kilograms of cocaine.
As part of his guilty plea, Cortez-Nava agreed to forfeit several properties, a vehicle, two firearms and various jewelry, watches and other items.
Cortez-Nava will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
HSI and DEA conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of the Brownsville Police Department and Customs and Border Protection. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal state and local enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Oscar Ponce and Zachary Blackmon prosecuted the case.
Houston gun dealer heads to prison for assisting in illegal firearms traffickingRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 45-year-old Cypress resident has been sentenced for aiding and abetting engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Nicah Anderson pleaded guilty Aug. 9.
U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison ordered Anderson to serve 24 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by one year of supervised release.
“Anderson selfishly prioritized his profits over public safety,” said Hamdani. “Anderson claimed his gun store was not as profitable as he hoped, but that’s no excuse for turning a blind eye so many suspect gun sales. Today, the court held him accountable for his wrongdoing. Just as important, he is now forced to disgorge his ill-gotten gains.”
“Violent crime threatens the safety and wellbeing of every community, and illegal firearms trafficking fuels that violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael Weddel of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “It is our duty to ensure that those who exploit the system, especially licensed gun dealers who break the trust placed in them, are caught and held accountable. We are taking critical steps toward reducing violent crime and protecting innocent lives by targeting those who enable the flow of illegal firearms.”
Anderson was a federal firearms licensee and former majority owner and operator of NE Guns.
Between December 2022 and March 2023, Anderson allowed people to straw purchase numerous firearms. Some included Barret .50 caliber, military-grade sniper rifles; FN SCAR 17S, .308 caliber rifles and 9 millimeter pistols. These guns are known weapons of choice for Mexican drug cartels.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at NE Guns July 19, 2023. Among other things, they seized 266 firearms, 138,940 rounds of ammunition, seven silencers and NE Guns’ business records.
The investigation found that between October 2022 and August 2023, NE Guns received $115,000 from purchases suspected straw purchasers made.
As part of the investigation, Imran Ali, 28, Spring, Averyl Pereyra, 27, Houston, and Ammar Ali, 26, Spring, admitted to conspiracy to straw purchase firearms.
According to their plea agreements, Imran Ali was prohibited from purchasing firearms and enlisted Pereyra - his girlfriend – and his brother - Ammar Ali - to purchase firearms for him. Imran Ali would select the firearms, arrange the purchases and have Pereyra and Ammar Ali make the purchases. Imran Ali would then quickly resell the guns, which resulted in at least $97,700 in profits.
In total, the group purchased 60 firearms, six of which were later recovered at crime scenes in Mexico.
U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison will impose sentencing Feb. 11, 2025. At that time, they each face up to five years in federal prison. All remain on bond pending that hearing.
Anderson was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kate Suh and John Ganz prosecuted the case.
Houstonian ordered to prison for sending threatening emails to Harris County officials and othersRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 42-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for his role in the transmission in interstate commerce containing a threat to injure the person of another, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jeremy James Joseph represented himself at the re-arraignment and sentencing and entered a guilty plea Dec. 13.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered Joseph to serve 16 years in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence detailing the sadistic way Joseph repeatedly threatened his victims. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Joseph did not show remorse for his actions or the harm he caused his victims.
Joseph admitted during his plea hearing to sending threatening emails to multiple victims, including judges, lawyers and court personnel in the Harris County judicial system over a two-year period. These messages included explicit threats, including a threat to “rage gunfire and bombs on Harris County,” as well as graphic descriptions of the violence he intended to commit.
Joseph also admitted to sending similar emails to news media outlets, universities and hospitals both within and outside the Houston area. The emails contained not only threats but also numerous racial, homophobic and ethnic slurs, amplifying the severity of his actions.
Joseph declined the opportunity to address the court during his sentencing, opting not to speak on his own behalf.
“Jeremy James Joseph's despicable actions involved sending heinous threats through emails to judges, lawyers and public officials over two years, expressing intentions to commit unparalleled violence and chaos,” said Hamdani. “His conduct breached the safety and peace of mind essential for public servants to carry out their duties effectively. My office’s commitment to protecting public officials from such unparalleled threats ensures the integrity and continuous functioning of our justice system, prevents fear and chaos from taking root in its operations and keeps Mr. Joseph off the streets for the next 16 years.”
Joseph will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard D. Hanes is prosecuting the case.
Final men convicted in brutal human smuggling schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 38-year-old Mexican citizen illegally residing in Houston has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport and harbor aliens resulting in death, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Efrain Rodriguez-Mendoza is last of six to be convicted as part of the scheme that resulted in the death of two people. Wilmar Rene Duran-Gomez, 52, a citizen of El Salvador illegally residing in Houston, entered his plea Dec. 9.
“These defendants violated the trust of victims when they agreed to transport them to a safe place in the United States,” said Hamdani. “Instead, they brutalized them and beat them to death, all because they could not pay to be released. These violent criminals will no longer be able to prey on victims and their families.”
“In my 29 years working in law enforcement, I’ve unfortunately had to witness some unspeakable horrors, but what these men did to these migrants is pure evil and among the most reprehensible and vile criminal actions I’ve ever encountered,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) - Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “Thanks to the dedicated special agents and law enforcement officers who tirelessly worked to uncover their identities and connect them to these crimes, they will be held accountable for their actions, but I plead with anyone thinking of relying on human smugglers to illegally enter the United States to stop and think about the potential consequences. Not only are you jeopardizing your ability to ever obtain legal status in the country, you’re putting your life in the hands of merciless transnational criminal organizations that routinely assault, kidnap and even murder the people they are paid to supposedly help.”
Between Nov. 6-17, 2006, Rodriguez-Mendoza and Wilmar Rene Duran-Gomez engaged in a scheme together and with others to harbor illegal aliens in Houston. They would then transport them to locations within Texas and throughout the United States for the purpose of financial gain.
Duran-Gomez operated a warehouse business in Houston where conspirators held illegal aliens until they paid their smuggling fees or had transportation arranged. While held there, they were placed in two groups - paid and unpaid. Those in the unpaid group were beaten and accused of trying to escape the warehouse. They were also not given food or water or even allowed to use the restroom. Some were naked and had their hands bound.
Conspirators would call their families to demand payment of smuggling fees. They said the aliens were being beaten and would be killed if their fees were not paid.
Two of those in the unpaid group were subjected to the most brutal of the beatings and died as a result of days of assaults. Following the deaths, Rodriguez-Mendoza, Duran-Gomez and Jose Bolanos wrapped the two victims with blankets, loaded them onto a truck and dosed the bodies with gasoline. They drove to a field in Fort Bend County and attempted to set the truck on fire, but failed. They left the truck in the field with the victims’ bodies inside the vehicle.
Authorities located the victims approximately Nov. 16, 2006.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt accepted the pleas and set sentencing for March 2025. At that time, they face up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Both men have been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
HSI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department and Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jill Jenkins Stotts and Lisa M. Collins prosecuted the case.
Final men convicted in brutal human smuggling schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 38-year-old Mexican citizen illegally residing in Houston has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport and harbor aliens resulting in death, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Efrain Rodriguez-Mendoza is last of six to be convicted as part of the scheme that resulted in the death of two people. Wilmar Rene Duran-Gomez, 52, a citizen of El Salvador illegally residing in Houston entered his plea Dec. 9.
“These defendants violated the trust of victims when they agreed to transport them to a safe place in the United States,” said Hamdani. “Instead, they brutalized them and beat them to death, all because they could not pay to be released. These violent criminals will no longer be able to prey on victims and their families.”
“In my 29 years working in law enforcement, I’ve unfortunately had to witness some unspeakable horrors, but what these men did to these migrants is pure evil and among the most reprehensible and vile criminal actions I’ve ever encountered,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) - Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “Thanks to the dedicated special agents and law enforcement officers who tirelessly worked to uncover their identities and connect them to these crimes, they will be held accountable for their actions, but I plead with anyone thinking of relying on human smugglers to illegally enter the U.S. to stop and think about the potential consequences. Not only are you jeopardizing your ability to ever obtain legal status in the country, you’re putting your life in the hands of merciless transnational criminal organizations that routinely assault, kidnap and even murder the people they are paid to supposedly help.”
Between Nov. 6-17, 2006, Rodriguez-Mendoza and Wilmar Rene Duran-Gomez engaged in a scheme together and with others to harbor illegal aliens in Houston. They would then transport them to locations within Texas and throughout the United States for the purpose of financial gain.
Duran-Gomez operated a warehouse business in Houston where conspirators held illegal aliens until they paid their smuggling fees or had transportation arranged. While held there, they were placed in two groups - paid and unpaid. Those in the unpaid group were beaten and accused of trying to escape the warehouse. They were also not given food or water or even allowed to use the restroom. Some were naked and had their hands bound.
Conspirators would call their families to demand payment of smuggling fees. They said the aliens were being beaten and would be killed if their fees were not paid.
Two of those in the unpaid group were subjected to the most brutal of the beatings and died as a result of days of assaults. Following the deaths, Rodriguez Mendoza, Duran Gomez and Jose Bolanos wrapped the two victims with blankets, loaded them onto a truck and dosed the bodies with gasoline. They drove to a field in Fort Bend County and attempted to set the truck on fire, but failed. They left the truck in the field with the victims’ bodies inside the vehicle.
Authorities located the victims approximately Nov. 16, 2006.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt accepted the pleas and set sentencing for March 2025. At that time, they face up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Both men have been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department and Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jill Jenkins Stotts and Lisa M. Collins prosecuted the case.
Dark web administrator gets 30 years for sexually abusing minors and possessing thousands of child sexual abuse imagesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 37-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for production and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Robert Alexander Shouse pleaded guilty June 6 to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, one count of attempted sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possession of child pornography.
U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has sentenced Shouse to a total of 360 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence regarding the seven victims including a minor victim who Shouse sexually abused, recorded and distributed the images and videos. The court heard that Shouse secretly recorded minors, preyed upon them online and obtained child pornography from two other minors without their knowledge.
One of the victims, who was a minor at the time of the offense, was present at the hearing and addressed the court. The victim told the court that Shouse had filled a void for him and his grandmother after his parents were incarcerated. The victim stated that Shouse portrayed himself as a superhero, but was in fact, the villain.
The court ordered Shouse to pay $153,500 in restitution to the victims and will serve 10years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Shouse will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
“Robert Shouse is the embodiment of evil,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. “He used money and gifts to sexually abuse a nine-year-old child for six years. He used his computer skills to target hundreds of children, stealing their innocence and shattering their lives. In essence, there was nothing he wouldn’t do to satisfy his sick fantasies. Today’s sentence helps ensure that Shouse’s fantasies won’t become another child’s nightmare for decades to come.”
“Robert Shouse engaged in horrific sexual abuse of minors, created child sexual abuse material involving those minors, and facilitated the trafficking of thousands of sexually explicit images and videos of minors through a dark web site that he controlled,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendant’s sexual exploitation of vulnerable children is despicable. The Criminal Division is fully committed to using all available tools to investigate and prosecute sexual crimes against children.”
“The deviant, criminal actions of monsters like Robert Shouse are unforgivable and leave permanent trauma for their child victims,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI Houston field office. “When these images and videos are posted and exchanged online, the victimization continues in
perpetuity. Children are re-victimized as long as documentation of their sexual abuse is on the internet, available for others to access forever. This case is an example of the FBI’s commitment, and that of our national and international partners, to go after those who abuse one of our most vulnerable populations- our children.”
Law enforcement identified Shouse in 2018 as an administrator for a CSAM website on the dark web which allowed facilitation of the sexual exploitation of minors while keeping secret the identities of the perpetrators. In his role, Shouse maintained the website which allowed users to post links to images and videos of CSAM. These links allowed a user to navigate to other websites, such as file-hosting websites where images and/or videos are stored, to download images and videos of child sexual abuse and child erotica. Additionally, forum users could discuss the sexual abuse of children.
Authorities seized and terminated the website’s operation in 2019.
In January 2019, authorities executed a search warrant at Shouse’s residence and seized multiple electronic devices. Forensic examination of the devices revealed more than 117,000 images and over 1,100 videos depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct including anal and vaginal penetration, masturbation, sadistic/masochistic conduct and lewd exhibition of genitalia.
Over 4,000 images depicted the sexual exploitation of babies and toddlers.
Additionally, law enforcement found images and videos of seven minor victims whom Shouse knew. Through the investigation, authorities learned he sexually abused one minor victim for a period of six years beginning when the victim was nine years old. Shouse befriended the child and provided money and gifts to the victim’s family. Shouse created over 925 images of child sexual abuse and 33 videos of this minor.
In some of these images, Shouse made the victim wear a dog collar.
Law enforcement found that Shouse had also secretly recorded two other minors, one in the bathroom and other in bedroom, and solicited two others online, asking them to send naked pictures of themselves. He also managed to download naked pictures of a couple who had shared them privately between them.
Shouse will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
FBI-Texas City conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office, Montgomery County Precinct Three Constable’s Office and Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office. The Justice Department thanks the Dutch National Police and United Kingdom National Crime Agency for their valuable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Ann Leo and Trial Attorney James E. Burke IV from the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Dark Web Administrator Sentenced for Sexually Abusing Minors and Possessing Thousands of Child Sexual Abuse ImagesRead the Press Release
A man was sentenced today in the Southern District of Texas to 30 years in prison for production and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Robert Alexander Shouse, 37, of Houston, was identified by law enforcement in 2018 as an administrator for a CSAM website on the dark web that facilitated the sexual exploitation of minors while keeping secret the identities of the perpetrators. In his role, Shouse maintained the website, which allowed users to post links to images and videos of CSAM. These links allowed a user to navigate to other websites, such as file-hosting websites where images or videos were stored and to download images and videos of child sexual abuse and child erotica. Additionally, forum users could discuss the sexual abuse of children. Authorities seized the website and terminated its operation in 2019.
“Robert Shouse engaged in horrific sexual abuse of minors, created child sexual abuse material involving those minors, and facilitated the trafficking of thousands of sexually explicit images and videos of minors through a dark web site that he controlled,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendant’s sexual exploitation of vulnerable children is despicable. The Criminal Division is fully committed to using all available tools to investigate and prosecute sexual crimes against children.”
“Robert Shouse is the embodiment of evil,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas. “He used money and gifts to sexually abuse a nine-year-old child for six years. He used his computer skills to target hundreds of children, stealing their innocence and shattering their lives. In essence, there was nothing he wouldn’t do satisfy his sick fantasies. Today’s sentence helps ensure that Shouse’s fantasies won’t become another child’s nightmare for decades to come.”
“For more than 10 years, Shouse relentlessly exploited and victimized the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “In a world where technology allows child exploitation material to be spread across borders with ease, those who exploit children for their own depraved purposes must face the consequences of the harm they inflicted on their victims. Today’s sentencing is more than just a punishment. It’s a message to the community that the FBI will always work with our partners to ensure there is one less predator out there victimizing the most innocent among us — our children.”
In January 2019, authorities executed a search warrant at Shouse’s residence and seized multiple electronic devices. Forensic examination of the devices revealed more than 117,000 images and more than 1,100 videos depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct including anal and vaginal penetration, masturbation, sadistic and masochistic conduct and lewd exhibition of genitalia. Over 4,000 images depicted the sexual exploitation of babies and toddlers.
Additionally, law enforcement found images and videos of seven minor victims whom Shouse knew personally. Through the investigation, authorities learned that he sexually abused one minor victim for a period of six years beginning when the victim was nine years old. Shouse had befriended the child and provided money and gifts to the victim’s family. Shouse created over 925 images and 33 videos of child sexual abuse of this minor. In some of these images, Shouse made the victim wear a dog collar.
Law enforcement found that Shouse had also secretly recorded two other minors — one in the bathroom and the other in the bedroom — and solicited two other minors online, asking them to send naked pictures of themselves to him. He also managed to download naked pictures of a couple who had shared the images privately between themselves.
Shouse pleaded guilty on June 6 to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, one count of attempted sexual exploitation of a child, and one count of possession of child pornography. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Shouse was ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release, pay $153,500 in restitution to the victims, and register as a sex offender. Shouse will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI Houston Field Office, Texas City Resident Agency investigated the case, with the assistance of the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office, Montgomery County Precinct Three Constable’s Office, and Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office. The Justice Department thanks the Dutch National Police and United Kingdom National Crime Agency for their valuable assistance.
Trial Attorney James E. Burke IV of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Ann Leo for the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Couple sentenced for laundering millions in drug proceeds using virtual currencyRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A Houston resident and his naturalized wife from Vietnam have received prison sentences for unlicensed money transmitting and money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Vinh Quang Phan and Diana Le Phan entered guilty pleas June 18.
U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison has now sentenced Vinh Phan and Diana Phan to 120 months in federal prison. Each will also serve three years of supervised release following their prison terms. The judge ordered the Phans to pay $80,000 in fines and forfeit their Houston home, $16,198 in cash seized at the time of their arrests and more than $470,000 in seized accounts.
During the hearing, the court learned the Phans had already achieved the American dream and were wealthy before choosing to embark on a life of crime. In handing down the sentence, Judge Ellison remarked “This is one of the least sympathetic cases of need I have encountered.” He added: “All of this was foreseeable. I wish people would think about their families before they commit crimes, rather than invoking their families now.”
“Crime flourishes only when it pays, and Vinh and Diana Phan helped it pay, for years, to the tune of more than $33 million. Now their bill is due,” said Hamdani. “These sentences acknowledge the harm that professional money launderers cause when they knowingly circulate dirty money and subvert the integrity of our banking system.”
“Our special agents reviewed records from more than 20 financial institutions and virtual currency companies, and worked with the task force to execute approximately 40 search warrants and interview dozens of witnesses to unravel the defendants complex scheme to transmit and launder millions in illicit proceeds,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Lucy Tan, of IRS Criminal Investigation’s (CI) Houston Field Office. “When people hear about IRS CI, they often don’t realize the work we do to take down organized crime and criminal financial operations. We are law enforcement officers that specialize in following the money.”
The Phans operated an unlicensed money transmitting business that transmitted funds received in the form of U.S. currency aka bulk cash. They earned at least some of this money, which included more than $9 million bulk cash received from others, from the trafficking, distribution and sale of controlled substances.
During the course of the approximately 21-month conspiracy, the unlicensed money transmitting business received and transmitted more than $33 million. The Phans introduced this bulk cash into the banking system through more than nine “money mules.” The Phans then used the funds to buy virtual currency which was sold for cash in California - the state where the controlled substances originated.
The Phans used virtual currency to eliminate the risk of driving cash across the country, which was one way they transmitted cash prior to January 2020. The Phans were robbed at gunpoint while on the road in October 2019 and had $440,000 stolen from their vehicle.
The Phans did not register their money transmitting business with the Department of the Treasury nor did the state of Texas license them to engage in money transmission.
The Phans were permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to U.S. Bureau of Prisons facilities to be determined in the near future.
The IRS Criminal Investigation-led South Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Financial Crimes Task Force conducted the investigation with assistance from Drug Enforcement Administration, Houston Police Department and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). 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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Bauman and Eun Kate Suh prosecuted the case with assistance from Deputy Chief Brandon Fyffe of the Asset Recovery Section.
Straw purchaser sent to prison after purchasing 58 firearms for anotherRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 29-year-old Mexican resident has been sentenced for her role in straw purchasing firearms to export to Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Martha Padron pleaded guilty Sept. 11 to making false statements during a purchase of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered Padron to serve 21 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Padron communicated with another to purchase firearms so that the firearms could be exported to Mexico. The court also learned Padron purchased 58 firearms from 2021 to 2023. On many occasions, she crossed from Mexico into the United States, purchased the firearm and returned to Mexico the same day.
On or about May 2, 2022, Padron falsely claimed on required forms to reside in the United States. However, the investigation revealed Padron lived in Mexico and often crossed into the United States to purchase firearms. Further investigation revealed the ongoing nature of Padron’s criminal activity
She will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Theodore Parran III and Cahal P. McColgan prosecuted the case.
Laredo professor charged with distribution and production of child pornographyRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 36-year-old Laredo resident has been charged with producing videos involving the sexual exploitation of minors, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Carlos Jobany Castaneda Lechuga is expected to appear for a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos at 10 a.m.
The complaint, filed Dec. 2, alleges authorities learned of videos that appeared to be produced in the United States and distributed on the dark web. The videos allegedly include an adult male seen with what appears to be different minor children in at least three different videos.
The charges allege law enforcement identified the male as Lechuga. He had been a private teacher in Phoenix, Arizona, and a professor in Laredo. The investigation also revealed Lechuga offers private music lessons targeted toward minors, according to the charges.
On Dec. 1, the FBI executed a search warrant on Lechuga’s residence in Laredo. The charges allege a person familiar with the house had identified Lechuga’s residence as the location where at least one of the videos was produced.
If convicted, Lechuga faces up to 30 years in federal prison for production of child pornography as well as a maximum of 20 years for each count of distributing it. All charges also carry as possible penalty a $250,000 maximum fine.
The FBI conducted the investigation. If you have any information about possible victims or believe you have been victimized, please contact the FBI at 210-225-6741.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tory Sailer and Michael Makens are prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Former Houston park ranger charged with sexual assault and extortion of multiple victimsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - A 34-year-old Houston resident has been federally indicted for repeatedly abusing his authority as a City of Houston urban park ranger by stopping, detaining and assaulting victims who visited city parks late at night, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment Dec. 3 charging Joey Lamar Ellis with 20 counts representing accusations of civil rights violations perpetrated against eight victims.
He is expected to make his initial appearance at 2 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Edison.
According to the charges, Ellis positioned his city-issued vehicle behind the victims’ vehicles to prevent them from leaving. In many instances, he allegedly confiscated their driver’s licenses and/or cell phones. Ellis falsely accused his victims of committing various crimes and threatened their cars would be towed or they would be arrested, according to the charges.
As the encounter progressed, Ellis allegedly offered the victims a way out of being towed, charged and arrested. On some occasions, Ellis allegedly demanded money. On others, he assaulted his victims and at times demanded sexual acts, such as groping one victim, forcing another to strip naked and sexually assaulting another, according to the charges. During multiple instances, Ellis allegedly utilized his firearm in such a way to threaten his victims. He also instructed at least one victim to not tell anyone, according to the charges.
“The indictment accuses Ellis of leveraging his authority to intimidate victims, demanding money or, in more disturbing instances, forcing them into unwanted sexual acts,” said Hamdani. “This alleged breach of public trust underscores the horror of those using their power for alleged unlawful gains, leaving communities questioning the integrity of their protectors.”
If you believe you have been a victim or know someone who has, please fill out a quick this quick Seeking Victims online FBI form or contact the FBI Houston Field Office at 713-693-5000.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharad Khandelwal and Rebekah Saunders are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Firearms dealer pleads guilty; surrenders federal licenseRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 32-year-old Laredo man has pleaded guilty to selling a firearm to a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Ricardo Estevis Jr. was the operating officer of Rick’s Armory LLC in Laredo and admitted to illegally manufacturing firearms without a license.
On Feb. 15, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at his home and business. It resulted in the discovery of at least 13 firearms that Estevis made in violation of several federal laws and was incompatible with his dealer-only federal firearms license.
Estevis admitted making the firearms - some of which were illegal to make or possess without a special license - and had them for sale at his home business.
After his arrest, Estevis surrendered his federal firearms license on behalf of the business and personally agreed to stop acquiring firearms inventory and transferring firearms to the public as of April 24.
“Estevis abused the privilege of a federal firearm license by intentionally selling a pistol to a five-time convicted felon and by making illegal firearms and lying about it,” said Hamdani. “He pursued financial profits over the safety of our citizens. The protection of our communities from criminals with guns is one of my primary responsibilities, something I take very seriously.”
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, Estevis faces up to 15 years for selling the pistol. The conviction also carrys up to $250,000 maximum possible fine.
Estevis was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with assistance from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility, Laredo Police Department and the Webb County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Homero Ramirez is prosecuting the case which is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Neurologist pays nearly $1M to settle false billing allegations for electro-acupuncture devicesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 52-year-old Pearland man has agreed to pay $948,359.85 to resolve allegations he submitted false claims for the surgical implantation of neurostimulator electrodes, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Dr. Basem Hamid is a neurologist and pain medicine doctor who practices in Houston. Basem Hamid MD PA is an entity Hamid used to conduct his medical practice.
From Aug. 27, 2019, to Oct. 3, 2022, Hamid billed Medicare for the surgical implantation of neurostimulator electrodes. These are invasive procedures usually requiring use of an operating room. As a result, Medicare pays thousands of dollars per procedure.
However, neither Hamid nor his staff performed these surgical procedures, according to the allegations.
Instead, patients allegedly received devices used for electro-acupuncture, which only involved inserting monofilament wire a few millimeters into patients’ ears and taping the neurostimulator behind the ear with an adhesive. All device placements took place in Hamid’s clinic, not a hospital or surgical center, and no incision was made on a patient, according to the allegations. Many patients claimed the adhesive came loose and the device fell off on its own accord within a few days.
“Individuals suffering from chronic pain put their faith in skilled medical professionals to help them find relief and improve their quality of life,” said Hamdani. “Our federal health care system entrusts providers with the medical care of our country’s most vulnerable, and it is important for healthcare providers to give accurate information about the services they provide for reimbursement – not misrepresent those services in an attempt to increase their bottom line.”
“When health care professionals submit false claims to federal health care programs like Medicare, they erode public trust and divert taxpayer-funded resources away from those who truly need them,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General (DHHS-OIG). “Dr. Hamid not only exploited Medicare for personal financial gain but also misled some of our most vulnerable citizens, according to the allegations. DHHS-OIG and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the integrity of federal health care programs.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation with DHHS-OIG. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura E. Collins handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Five Guatemalan human smugglers charged in U.S. for 2021 mass casualty event in Chiapas, MexicoRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – An international enforcement operation has resulted in the arrest of five Guatemalan human smugglers linked to the Dec. 9, 2021, mass casualty event in Chiapas, Mexico, where a semi-trailer truck containing at least 160 migrants — many of whom were Guatemalan nationals — crashed, resulting in the deaths of more than 50 people and injuring over 100 more.
The operation was the result of coordination between the Justice Department and Guatemalan authorities and marks the third anniversary of the tragic event.
Authorities have now taken Guatemalan national Jorge Agapito Ventura, 32, Cleveland, into custody. He is expected to make his initial appearance Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Edison.
At the request of the United States, Guatemalan law enforcement also acted on provisional arrest warrants for Tomas Quino Canil, 36; Alberto Marcario Chitic, aka Alberto De Jesus, 31,; Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino, aka Osvaldo ZQ, 24: and Josefa Quino Canil De Zavala, 42. All have been indicted in the Southern District of Texas in connection with the investigation.
According to the indictment unsealed upon the arrests, from October 2021 to February 2023, all conspired with other smugglers to facilitate the travel of migrants from Guatemala though Mexico with the intended destination of the United States. They allegedly recruited Guatemalan migrants, collected payment and arranged for travel to the United States. In some instances involving the smuggling of unaccompanied minors, they allegedly provided scripts and instructions on what to say if apprehended.
Some of the migrants they had recruited died or suffered serious bodily injury as result of the Dec. 9, 2021, crash, according to the charges.
“The Justice Department is holding accountable the individuals who we allege preyed on vulnerable migrants and are responsible for this heinous crime that resulted in the deaths over 50 people and injured over 100 more. Human smugglers should heed these charges and arrests as a warning: you will be held accountable for your deadly crimes,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Since we launched Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) more than three years ago, we have secured more than 330 domestic and international arrests and more than 275 convictions on smuggling offenses, as well as significant jail sentences and substantial forfeitures. We will continue to work across agencies and across borders to stop the scourge of human smuggling.”
“Today, the alleged perpetrators of an abhorrent crime — one that resulted in the senseless deaths of more than 50 migrants and the injury of more than 100 others — are being held accountable, thanks to the investigative work of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents and our federal and international partners,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “The tragedy that occurred three years ago today in Chiapas is further proof that human smugglers are ruthless, callous and dangerous — intending migrants should not believe their lies. DHS will continue to disrupt and dismantle illegal human smuggling operations and help bring those who perpetrate such horror to justice.”
“Three years ago today, in Chiapas, Mexico, a place known for natural wonder and cultural richness, a scene of unimaginable tragedy unfurled,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX). “Our investigation into this catastrophic event that killed over 50 people, including children, signifies the unwavering commitment of the SDTX to hold those who engage in human smuggling accountable, irrespective of where their actions or the resultant harm occur. While this crash transpired beyond our borders, it is imperative that the pursuit of justice transcends those boundaries. Today, we reiterate our commitment to ensuring that those allegedly responsible for exploiting the vulnerabilities of families seeking refuge and opportunity face the full force of the law.”
“The indictment unsealed today alleges that the defendants conspired to smuggle Guatemalan migrants, including minors, to the United States, and that some of these migrants died when the tractor trailer they were riding in overturned in Chiapas, Mexico,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s announcement — on the three-year anniversary of the victims’ deaths — demonstrates the Criminal Division’s commitment to holding smugglers accountable, no matter where they may be, for their indifference to human life in their callous pursuit of profit. I am proud of the outstanding work by the prosecutors and investigators of JTFA, and I am grateful for our partnership with the Guatemalan authorities, whose assistance was essential in this investigation and prosecution.”
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, along with our law enforcement partners from JTFA, worked tirelessly to investigate, locate, and apprehend those responsible for this heinous act,” said HSI Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger. “Now, three years later, I proudly stand with our colleagues from the Justice Department to announce that we have made these apprehensions. HSI remains committed to dismantling human smuggling networks that exploit and mislead migrants, often subjecting them to dangerous and abusive conditions. These illicit organizations profit by preying on vulnerable populations, and HSI works assiduously to disrupt their operations. I want to express my sincere appreciation to all of our law enforcement partners in the United States, Guatemala, and Mexico for their invaluable work to bring this investigation to fruition.”
HSI’s Global Investigation Group in Washington D.C. conducted the investigation in partnership with HSI Guatemala and HSI Mexico. HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit provided valuable assistance as did Customs and Border Protection National Targeting Center; DHS Operation Sentinel; Border Patrol; Liberty County Constable, Precinct 6; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, Houston; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division; and Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) and Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT). The Justice Department thanks Guatemalan and Mexican law enforcement officials, who were instrumental in furthering this investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Day for the Southern District of Texas is prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) with substantial assistance from HRSP Latin American Specialist/Historian Joanna Crandall.
The indictment is the result of the coordinated efforts of JTFA. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland created JTFA in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Justice Department, in partnership with the DHS, to combat the rise in prolific and dangerous smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. The initiative was expanded to Colombia and Panama to combat human smuggling in the Darién in June 2024. JTFA comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern and Western Districts of Texas, District of New Mexico, District of Arizona and Southern District of California. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by HRSP and supported by OPDAT, the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations, OIA and Violent Crime and Racketeering Section.
JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from the DHS, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in over 330 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of human smuggling; over 275 U.S. convictions; over 225 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
An indictment is merely an allegation.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Five Guatemalan Human Smugglers Charged in U.S. for 2021 Mass Casualty Event in Chiapas, MexicoRead the Press Release
Remote video URLView the indictment here.
View U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani's video recorded remarks here.
An international enforcement operation today resulted in the arrest of five Guatemalan human smugglers linked to the Dec. 9, 2021, mass casualty event in Chiapas, Mexico, where a semi-trailer truck containing at least 160 migrants — many of whom were Guatemalan nationals — crashed, resulting in the deaths of more than 50 people and injuring over 100 more. The operation was the result of coordination between the Justice Department and Guatemalan authorities and marks the third anniversary of the tragic event.
At the request of the United States, Guatemalan law enforcement acted on provisional arrest warrants for Tomas Quino Canil, 36; Alberto Marcario Chitic, also known as Alberto De Jesus, 31; Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino, also known as Osvaldo ZQ, 24; and Josefa Quino Canil De Zavala, 42. A fifth Guatemalan national, Jorge Agapito Ventura, was arrested at his residence in Cleveland, Texas. All five Guatemalan nationals have been indicted in the Southern District of Texas in connection with the investigation.
According to the indictment unsealed today, from October 2021 to February 2023, the defendants conspired with other smugglers to facilitate the travel of migrants from Guatemala though Mexico with the intended destination of the United States. The defendants allegedly recruited Guatemalan migrants, collected payment, and arranged for travel to the United States. In some instances involving the smuggling of unaccompanied minors, the defendants provided scripts and instructions on what to say if apprehended. Some of the migrants recruited by the defendants died or suffered serious bodily injury as result of the Dec. 9, 2021, crash.
“The Justice Department is holding accountable the individuals who we allege preyed on vulnerable migrants and are responsible for this heinous crime that resulted in the deaths over 50 people and injured over 100 more. Human smugglers should heed these charges and arrests as a warning: you will be held accountable for your deadly crimes,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Since we launched Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) more than three years ago, we have secured more than 330 domestic and international arrests and more than 275 convictions on smuggling offenses, as well as significant jail sentences and substantial forfeitures. We will continue to work across agencies and across borders to stop the scourge of human smuggling.”
“Today, the alleged perpetrators of an abhorrent crime — one that resulted in the senseless deaths of more than 50 migrants and the injury of more than 100 others — are being held accountable, thanks to the investigative work of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents and our federal and international partners,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “The tragedy that occurred three years ago today in Chiapas is further proof that human smugglers are ruthless, callous, and dangerous — intending migrants should not believe their lies. DHS will continue to disrupt and dismantle illegal human smuggling operations and help bring those who perpetrate such horror to justice.”
“The indictment unsealed today alleges that the defendants conspired to smuggle Guatemalan migrants, including minors, to the United States, and that some of these migrants died when the tractor trailer they were riding in overturned in Chiapas, Mexico,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s announcement — on the three-year anniversary of the victims’ deaths — demonstrates the Criminal Division’s commitment to holding smugglers accountable, no matter where they may be, for their indifference to human life in their callous pursuit of profit. I am proud of the outstanding work by the prosecutors and investigators of JTFA, and I am grateful for our partnership with the Guatemalan authorities, whose assistance was essential in this investigation and prosecution.”
“Three years ago today, in Chiapas, Mexico, a place known for natural wonder and cultural richness, a scene of unimaginable tragedy unfurled,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas. “Our investigation into this catastrophic event that killed over 50 people, including children, signifies the unwavering commitment of the Southern District of Texas to hold those who engage in human smuggling accountable, irrespective of where their actions or the resultant harm occur. While this crash transpired beyond our borders, it is imperative that the pursuit of justice transcends those boundaries. Today, we reiterate our commitment to ensuring that those allegedly responsible for exploiting the vulnerabilities of families seeking refuge and opportunity face the full force of the law.”
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, along with our law enforcement partners from JTFA, worked tirelessly to investigate, locate, and apprehend those responsible for this heinous act,” said HSI Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger. “Now, three years later, I proudly stand with our colleagues from the Justice Department to announce that we have made these apprehensions. HSI remains committed to dismantling human smuggling networks that exploit and mislead migrants, often subjecting them to dangerous and abusive conditions. These illicit organizations profit by preying on vulnerable populations, and HSI works assiduously to disrupt their operations. I want to express my sincere appreciation to all of our law enforcement partners in the United States, Guatemala, and Mexico for their invaluable work to bring this investigation to fruition.”
HSI’s Global Investigation Group in Washington D.C. investigated the case in partnership with HSI Guatemala and HSI Mexico. Valuable assistance was provided by HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit; the Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center; Operation Sentinel; U.S. Border Patrol; Liberty County Constable, Precinct 6; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, Houston; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division; and Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) and Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT). The Justice Department thanks Guatemalan and Mexican law enforcement officials, who were instrumental in furthering this investigation.
Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Day for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from HRSP Latin American Specialist/Historian Joanna Crandall.
The indictment of these defendants is the result of the coordinated efforts of JTFA. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland created JTFA in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Justice Department, in partnership with DHS, to combat the rise in prolific and dangerous smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The initiative was expanded to Colombia and Panama to combat human smuggling in the Darién in June. JTFA comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern and Western Districts of Texas, District of New Mexico, District of Arizona, and Southern District of California. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by HRSP and supported by OPDAT, the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations, OIA, and Violent Crime and Racketeering Section.
JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in over 330 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of human smuggling; over 275 U.S. convictions; over 225 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.