Southern District of Texas
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Honduran national with felony criminal history sentenced for latest illegal entryRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 38-year-old Honduran national with a felony criminal history has been sentenced for illegally entering the country without authorization, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Jose Castro Orellana pleaded guilty Sept. 4, 2025.
U.S. District Judge Sim Lake has now ordered Orellana to serve 54 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, and with a current removal order, he is expected to be immediately removed from the United States after serving his sentence. At his sentencing hearing, the court heard that Orellana had been illegally entering and re-entering the country for the past 20 years.
Orellana’s criminal history includes felony convictions for domestic violence, evading arrest and illegal reentry. He was first removed in 2012 and returned unlawfully two times. He was removed again in 2022 but was arrested in July following his release from state custody for his fourth domestic violence conviction.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration Customs Enforcement – Enforcement Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Law prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Houston man sentenced for role in immigration schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 58-year-old local resident has been ordered to federal prison for conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud and stealing nearly $1.5 million, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Jesus Carlos Silva pleaded guilty July 9, 2025, to defrauding individuals with false promises of legal status.
U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks has now ordered Silva to serve 60 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how Silva made false promises that he could help people obtain U.S. citizenship and/or other legal immigration status in under a year. The court also heard how Silva recruited individuals at churches and obtained payments between $10,000-15,000 yet offered nothing in return.
From March 2022 through December 2024, Silva pretended to be an immigration attorney affiliated with a Houston-based law firm. He charged thousands of dollars per person for his “assistance,” collecting payments through checks and money orders. He never provided legitimate immigration help and made excuses for delays before ultimately cutting off communication.
As part of the scheme, Silva also instructed several individuals to travel to Houston for what they thought were appointments with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. However, once they arrived, there were no such appointments.
He admitted to stealing more than $1,450,555 from over 100 people living in Texas, Illinois, Louisiana and Florida.
He was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service and Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brad Gray and Rodolfo Ramirez are prosecuting the case.
Two Rio Grande Valley men sentenced for roles in fentanyl trafficking operationRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – Two Rio Grande Valley men have been ordered to federal prison for their roles in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
James Queen, 41, McAllen, and Angel Valdez, 36, Alton, pleaded guilty Sept. 4 and Oct. 28, 2025, respectively.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now imposed a 60-month term of imprisonment for Queen, and Valdez received 27 months. Both must also serve three years of supervised release following their sentences. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Tipton noted the dangers of fentanyl and its use in the community.
The investigation began in May 2025 when law enforcement discovered Valdez was selling fentanyl in the McAllen area. Over the next two months, authorities determined Queen supplied Valdez with fentanyl.
As part of an undercover operation, law enforcement purchased more than 50 grams of fentanyl directly from Valdez. During the investigation, authorities learned Valdez routinely met Queen at his residence to obtain the drugs.
On June 23, 2025, authorities executed a search warrant at Queen’s residence and seized an additional 15 baggies of fentanyl weighing more than 50 grams. They also discovered multiple firearms, a bulletproof vest, a large amount of currency and a money counter.
Queen later confessed that he distributed user-level amounts of fentanyl to approximately 30 repeat customers.
Valdez and Queen have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia prosecuted the case.
Tomball man sentenced for possession of sexually explicit videos and images of childrenRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 53-year-old Houston-area resident has been ordered to federal prison for possession of child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Sean M. Doran pleaded guilty April 24, 2025.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt sentenced Doran to 60 months in federal prison Jan. 6. At the hearing, the court heard additional information detailing how Doran possessed over 500 images on seven devices. Some of the images portrayed sadomasochistic conduct and bestiality with minors younger than the age of three.
In handing down the sentence, the court noted Doran’s conduct contributed to trauma the victims suffered. Doran was further ordered to pay $55,000 in restitution to the victims and will serve 10 years on supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous conditions designed to restrict his access to both children and the internet. Doran will also be ordered to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.
On July 29, 2020, law enforcement discovered an online user, later identified as Doran, sharing multiple files containing CSAM in a public Kik chat room. The videos and images depicted children under the age of 12 in various sexual acts with adults, animals and other victims.
Authorities obtained a search warrant for Doran’s residence and seized his electronic devices. Forensic analysis resulted in the discovery of 62 images and seven videos of CSAM.
Doran will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ekua Assabill prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice 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.
McCreery Aviation finance director sentenced in $1.2 million mail fraud schemeRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 57-year-old Mission resident has been ordered to federal prison after diverting company funds to pay for her personal expenses, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei.
Elizabeth Batten pleaded guilty July 9, 2025.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered Batten to serve 25 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $1.2 million in restitution. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Batten used company funds to pay her personal debt. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Batten abused a position of trust for her own benefit.
Batten was the director of financing at McCreery Aviation in the Rio Grande Valley from 2019 to 2023. Batten worked for the company for 16 years. As part of the plea, she admitted that during her tenure, she diverted company funds to pay for her personal expenses. Batten used signed blank company checks intended for legitimate business purposes to settle her personal credit card accounts.
She also used the U.S. Postal Service to conceal her behavior and actions by mailing her fraudulent payments to multiple credit card companies in different states.
The investigation began after a McCreery Aviation employee noticed irregularities in the handling of company checks in late 2023.
Ultimately, it revealed Batten had fraudulently diverted a total of $1.2 million as part of her scheme.
She was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Garcia prosecuted the case.
Laredo felon gets maximum sentence for cartel-linked conspiracy to smuggle over 1900 aliensRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 35-year-old Laredo man has been ordered to prison for a multi-year conspiracy to smuggle illegal aliens for financial gain, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Danny Nunez pleaded guilty Feb. 6, 2025.
U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has now imposed a 120-month-term of imprisonment to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. The court also ordered Nunez to serve 12 months for a supervised release violation following a prior federal felony conviction to be served consecutively for a total sentence of 132 months.
At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence as to the prolific scope of Nunez’s leadership of a large-scale human smuggling organization that served as a “one-stop shop” for all the necessary actions to harbor and smuggle illegal aliens on the United States side of the border. Nunez worked directly with Cartel del Noreste to smuggle over 1,900 aliens which resulted in a substantial amount of illicit profits for both the CDN and Nunez.
In handing down the sentence, the court noted the sophistication of the operation, commenting that this was the largest number of aliens smuggled and the most prolific smuggler she had seen.
The investigation tied Nunez to multiple smuggling events since March 2023, including one the following December when authorities observed several people being loaded into a white trailer at a warehouse.
A subsequent search uncovered 101 aliens, including 12 unaccompanied minors locked inside the trailer. Several of them reported having difficulty breathing and feared for their lives due to the trailer’s conditions.
At the time of Nunez’s arrest, authorities searched his home and found cellphones, ledgers documenting smuggling activity, more than $36,000 in proceeds and two illegal aliens on the premises.
He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety and Border Patrol conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection, Laredo Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration and Webb County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling prosecuted the case.
Final weeks of 2025 bring another 401 individuals facing charges in border security-related mattersRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A total of 399 cases have been filed related to border enforcement efforts in the Southern District of Texas from Dec. 19 - Jan 2, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The cases include 19 people allegedly engaged in human smuggling. Charges were also filed against 146 individuals accused of illegal entry and 230 others who allegedly reentered the country after prior removal. Many already have felony convictions for narcotics, violent crime, immigration crimes and more. Other cases include allegations regarding firearms and other immigration crimes.
Several of those charged with felony reentry include men from the countries of Mexico, Honduras and Cuba - two that authorities had just allegedly removed from the United States less than one month before their apprehension. Charges allege Cuban national Armando David Naranjo-Alemany and Melvin Antonio Ramos-Avila, a Honduran national, had been removed Nov. 28, and Nov. 25, 2025, respectively. However, according to their criminal complaints, authorities discovered both men unlawfully in the South Texas area in the final weeks of December. Other individuals allegedly found in the country illegally were Ruben Jimenez-Garcia, Jose Raul Sotelo and German Garza-Velez, all of Mexico. Even though all had allegedly been previously removed from the United States, criminal complaints indicate they were back in the country illegally. Each man has a criminal history that includes convictions either related to controlled substances, such as methamphetamine or cocaine, burglary or illegal reentry, according to the charges.
Similarly, authorities also allegedly discovered a Mexican female in the Donna area with no permission to be there. Charges allege Eva Aidee Rodriguez-Rivera had been removed previously and was sentenced to 75 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
If convicted of the illegal reentry charges, all face up to 20 years in federal prison.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Texas resident imprisoned for attempting to smuggle weapons into MexicoRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 21-year-old San Antonio man has been sentenced for smuggling a stolen weapon and other firearms out of the country, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Ivan Alexys Oseguera Vara pleaded guilty Aug. 19.
U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen has now ordered Vara to serve 30 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. He must also pay a $2,100 fine. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described how Vara had previously purchased seven firearms in his name, and their whereabouts are now unknown. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that smuggling firearms into Mexico is not a victimless crime.
On June 3, Vara drove a gray Honda Civic to the Colombia Solidarity International Bridge. He claimed to not have any firearms, ammunition or large amounts cash and was just traveling from his San Antonio home to Mexico.
During a secondary inspection, law enforcement uncovered multiple bundles wrapped in plastic and hidden within the rear bumper, undercarriage and center console. A K-9 also alerted to the vehicle.
Authorities ultimately discovered 59 rounds of ammunition, eight magazines and six firearms – three rifles and three pistols. The investigation further revealed none of the weapons were registered to Vara, and one of the handguns had been reported stolen.
Vara has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch prosecuted the case.
Former veterans shelter executive sentenced to 42 months for grant fraudRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 59-year-old Brenham resident has been ordered to federal prison for misappropriating thousands in federal grant funding, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Clifford Wayne Robertson pleaded guilty Sept. 5.
Senior U.S. District Judge David Hittner has now ordered Robertson to serve 42 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court cited Robertson’s criminal history, including prior convictions for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Robertson served as the former executive director and CEO of a nonprofit organization that operated a homeless shelter for veterans. In that role, he misappropriated federal grant funds awarded to Castle Cares Community Ministry Inc., doing business as The Warrior’s Refuge.
Between February and April 2020, Robertson submitted multiple applications for federal assistance to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Labor on behalf of The Warrior’s Refuge. As a result, the organization received approximately $1.3 million from the VA and $500,000 from the DOL.
As part of his plea, Robertson admitted he knowingly embezzled grant funds for unallowable personal expenses. He also acknowledged using funds for counseling services he never provided to veterans, resulting in a loss of $180,216.96.
Robertson was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The VA-Office of the Inspector General, DOL-OIG and Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shirin Hakimzadeh prosecuted the case.
A Safer Christmas Season: Southern District of Texas charges 278 individuals in border enforcement efforts ahead of ChristmasRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A total of 275 cases have been filed related to immigration and border security from Dec. 12-18, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
In total, 79 people face charges of illegal entry and another 171 face felony reentry charges after removal. Many of those charged have prior felony convictions involving narcotics, violent crime and immigration offenses. The charges also include 23 individuals accused of engaging in human smuggling, while the remaining five face charges related to other immigration crimes.
Among those charged this week are Diego Alan Martnez-Barajas, Pedro Gregorio-Alonzo and Nelson Antonio Segovia-Segovia. According to court documents, authorities discovered all three men in the McAllen area following prior removals from the United States within the last four months. Each allegedly has prior convictions, including abandonment/endangerment of a child, forgery, domestic abuse and illegal reentry.
Two Mexican national discovered near Rio Grande City also face new criminal charges. The complaints allege Jose Alvarez-Ontiveros and Simon Brambila-Galvan entered the United States unlawfully. According to court documents, the men were part of a group of illegal aliens and human traffickers. During the encounter, one member from the group assaulted a Border Patrol agent, prompting a shooting that resulted in that person’s death.
If convicted, all five men face up to 20 years in prison.
In addition to these new cases, a father and son in Laredo pleaded guilty to trafficking at least 534 firearms, along with magazines and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Authorities stopped Emilio Ramirez Cortes and his son, Edgar Emilio Ramirez Diaz, at the Juarez-Lincoln Port of Entry Oct. 23. Following a K-9 alert, law enforcement discovered false walls within their trailers. A search uncovered approximately 534 firearms and more than 31,000 rounds of ammunition.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Tren de Aragua senior leadership charged with terrorism and international drug distributionRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - A six-count second superseding indictment has been unsealed, charging four Venezuelan nationals, including multiple alleged high-ranking members of Tren de Aragua - a designated foreign terrorist organization, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The indictment adds charges against Yohan Jose Romero aka Johan Petrica, 48, and Juan Gabriel Rivas Nunez aka Juancho, 44, for conspiring to provide and providing material support to TdA. Also charged in those counts are Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano aka El Viejo, 37, and Jose Enrique Martinez Flores aka Chuqui, 24. Mosquera Serrano and Martinez Flores are also under indictment for conspiracy and distribution of cocaine in Colombia intended for distribution in the United States.
“Tren de Aragua poses a direct threat to our national security, to our communities, and to our American way of life,” said Ganjei. “These defendants allegedly conspired to support a highly-structured foreign terrorist organization by smuggling bulk quantities of cocaine across our southern border and funneling the proceeds back to their fellow terrorists in Venezuela. The Southern District of Texas will scour the Earth to find and prosecute narco-terrorists, wherever they may hide. The American people have demanded nothing less than the total elimination of foreign terror groups like TdA, and Operation Take Back America will deliver.”
“TdA grew from a prison gang to a transnational criminal organization to a foreign terrorist organization,” said Co-Director Christopher Eason of Joint Task Force Vulcan. “Gold and drug trafficking, and violence and extortion to support TdA’s terrorist activities will not be tolerated. The charges unsealed today against TdA members and, specifically, some of the highest leaders of TdA, is directly in line with JTFV’s mission: a collaborative, whole of government effort to destroy TdA. We are grateful for our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas and our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to investigate and bring these important charges.”
A federal grand jury in Houston returned a second superseding indictment Dec. 16, which has now been unsealed in its entirety.
According to court records, Jose Romero and Mosquera Serrano are two of the three topmost leaders of TdA. Jose Romero is allegedly one of the organization’s founders and exercises command and control over all of TdA’s criminal operations, including the illegal importation and smuggling of gold and narcotics as well as extortion and murder. Mosquera Serrano is an alleged senior leader who oversees TdA criminal operations across Colombia, Central America and the United States. The indictment alleges Rivas Nunez and Martinez Flores are also high-ranking TdA leaders who operate out of multiple South American countries and direct operations to include gold smuggling, narcotics export and violent crime.
For years and up to the present, Jose Romero has allegedly exercised leadership over TdA, as one with authority over TdA’s expansion across the Western Hemisphere. The charges allege that under his authority, TdA members and associates engaged in a wide range of crimes, including extortions, kidnappings, murders, drug and gun trafficking, prostitution and sex trafficking, robberies, bank burglaries and money laundering.
He and other leaders have charged and collected a “causa” or fee from lower-level TdA members and others to work in their area of control, according to the allegations. These payments allegedly enrich TdA leadership and provide financial support to TdA, and members would threaten, beat or murder those who did not pay it.
As a TdA leader operating and managing from Venezuela, Jose Romero has allegedly ordered, directed, facilitated and supported such acts of violence and terrorism, including murders, kidnappings, extortions, and maiming against victims located inside and outside the United States.
The charges also allege Mosquera Serrano and Martinez Flores caused the delivery of more than five kilograms of cocaine for international distribution, proceeds of which were used to further TdA’s criminal goals.
“Federal charges keep coming for alleged TdA leaders, regardless of where they are,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI Houston Field Office. “Just as the Venezuelan foreign terrorist organization is relentless in sowing violence and terrorizing communities throughout America, so are the efforts of the FBI and our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners in our commitment to make our neighborhoods peaceful and safer.”
“The Drug Enforcement Administration is unwavering in its mission to dismantle the command and control of Tren de Aragua, a designated foreign terrorist organization that thrives on drug trafficking and violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Eugene L. Crouch of the DEA Andean Division. “For years, TdA has exploited corruption to expand its reach and evade justice, but those days are over. DEA is relentlessly targeting TdA’s leadership, financial networks, and infrastructure, and we will not rest until these individuals are brought to justice. We are grateful to the Colombian National Police and the Colombian Attorney General’s Office for their invaluable partnership in this investigation.”
On Feb. 20, the Department of State designated TdA as a foreign terrorist organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
Colombian authorities arrested Martinez Flores March 31 in Colombia pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant the United States had requested. He remains in custody there pending further proceedings.
Mosquera Serrano is on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List. Jose Romero and Rivas Nunez are also fugitives. If you have any information concerning either individual, please contact the FBI via WhatsApp or Telegram at 281-787-9939. Those with information may also contact their local FBI office, nearest American Embassy or Consulate or can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
The Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program is also offering a reward of up to $4 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Jose Romero and up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Mosquera Serrano.
All four are charged with one count of conspiring to provide material support to TdA in the form of personnel (including themselves) and services and one count of providing material support to TdA. The indictment also charges Martinez Flores and Mosquera Serrano with one count of international drug distribution conspiracy based on their involvement in the distribution of five kilograms of cocaine or more and two substantive counts of international drug distribution.
If convicted, all face up to life in prison and a possible $10 million fine.
The FBI and DEA conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Houston Police Department, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Colombian National Police and the Colombian Attorney General’s Office (Fiscalía General de la Nación). The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Office of Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia, provided significant assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey N. MacDonald and Anibal J. Alaniz are prosecuting the case along with Deputy Director David C. Smith and Trial Attorneys James Keller and Kelly McGann from JTFV.
JTFV was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded to target TdA. It is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country to include the Southern District of Texas; Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; and the District of Nevada; as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. Additionally, the FBI, DEA, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; USMS, and Federal Bureau of Prisons are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.
This case is also a part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
International ocean bottom seismic operations company pays over $4 million to settle False Claims Act allegationsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A Houston-based company that provides ocean bottom node seismic acquisition services to energy companies has paid to resolve allegations of fraudulently securing Paycheck Protection Program loans, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
In 2020 and 2021, Magseis FF LLC was a subsidiary of Magseis FF AS, which Norway-based Magseis Fairfield ASA owned. The company and its affiliates offer 3D and 4D data services to oil and gas exploration and production companies.
From March 23, 2021, to Jan. 11, 2022, Magseis applied for a “Second Draw” PPP loan and requested forgiveness. The CARES Act created the PPP to provide forgivable loans to small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. To qualify for these loans, companies had to have fewer than 300 employees or meet industry-specific size limits. Those with shared ownership had to count all affiliated employees.
The settlement resolves allegations that Magseis misrepresented its total employee count to obtain PPP funds and loan forgiveness.
The company has now paid $4,155,333 to resolve the claims and has cooperated throughout the investigation.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation in coordination with the Small Business Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul B. Moore is handling the matter along with Attorney Amber Perez, Office of General Counsel for the SBA.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Mexican national convicted of federal witness tamperingRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 53-year-old man illegally residing in McAllen has been convicted of attempting to threaten or intimidate a government witness from testifying in a pending trial, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The jury deliberated for more than six hours before convicting Carlos Gerardo Perez-Munoz following a two-day trial.
The investigation began in July when law enforcement learned that Perez-Munoz approached an individual and threatened them not to “snitch.” He told the individual he knew where they lived in Mexico and knew they had been speaking with authorities about an ongoing investigation.
At trial, the jury heard Perez-Munoz illegally worked at a used clothing warehouse while in the United States on a tourist visa. They also viewed photographs of the warehouse and heard a recording of Perez-Munoz’s interview with authorities.
The defense argued the government witness fabricated the threat and claimed the statements were intended to deter the witness from testifying against other workers who were in the country illegally, not the owner of the used clothing store. The jury rejected those claims and found Perez-Munoz guilty as charged.
U.S. District Judge Randy Crane presided over the trial and set sentencing for Feb. 24, 2026. At that time, Perez-Munoz faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Perez-Munoz remains in custody pending sentencing.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin S. Lyles and Patricia Cook Profit are prosecuting the case.
Houston woman sentenced for misappropriated mail schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 34-year-old local resident has been ordered to federal prison for a stolen mail fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Britni Marie Johnson pleaded guilty July 29.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered Johnson to serve 65 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court described Johnson as intelligent and capable but cited her involvement in fraud and drug offenses. In imposing the sentence, the court considered the impact of the crimes, noting that mail and identity theft often leave those affected feeling violated. The court also stated her conduct made the lives of innocent victims more difficult. Johnson is also required to pay approximately $1,448.65 in restitution.
At the time of her plea, Johnson admitted she stole checks from the mail to commit fraud and used counterfeit identification documents to cash those stolen checks.
Johnson will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation with assistance from the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman prosecuted the case.
Former jailer sentenced for sexually assaulting female inmatesRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 29-year-old Laredo man has been ordered to federal prison for sexually assaulting two women while working as a corrections officer, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Hector Humberto Rodriguez Jr. pleaded guilty Dec. 30, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña has now ordered Rodriguez to serve 240 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court described Rodriguez’s predatory conduct, the danger he posed to the community and how he abused a system meant to protect victims by exploiting his position of authority to commit the offenses. Rodriguez will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Rodriguez was a correctional officer with the Webb County Sheriff’s Office during the commission of the offenses.
On two separate occasions in Jan. 2022, while working in his law enforcement capacity, he used force to sexually assault the two women while they were housed as inmates at the Webb County jail.
During each instance, Rodriguez removed the victims from their cell and isolated them in a secluded area where he then used force, threats and coercion to sexually assault them.
Rodriguez will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI and Department of Justice - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Scott Bowling and Leslie Ann Cortez prosecuted the case.
Father and son admit to smuggling attempt of massive firearms cache to MexicoRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – Two men have entered guilty pleas to trafficking at least 534 weapons along with numerous magazines and large amounts of ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Emilio Ramirez Cortes, 48, a Mexican citizen who legally resides in Albertville, Alabama, and his son, Edgar Emilio Ramirez Diaz, 23, also of Albertville, have now admitted to smuggling of goods from the United States and trafficking firearms.
On Oct. 23, two vehicles, which appeared to be driving in tandem, approached the Juarez-Lincoln Port of Entry in Laredo. Ramirez Diaz drove a Chevrolet Tahoe, while his father was following in a Chevrolet Silverado. Both vehicles were hauling enclosed white box utility trailers. The Tahoe had an Alabama license plate while the other truck and two trailers had Mexican plates.
At initial inspection, Ramirez Diaz admitted he was traveling with his father. Both men claimed they were not hauling any firearms, weapon parts, ammunition or currency over $10,000.
Following a positive K-9 alert, law enforcement conducted a search and found false walls in both trailers which resulted in the discovery of approximately 534 firearms, 31,482 rounds of ammunition, 525 magazines, 40 scopes, four lasers, 10 rifle slings and other related items.
As part of their pleas, the men admitted they were smuggling the weapons and accessories. They also acknowledged they had done so on multiple occasions.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, both men face up to 15 years for trafficking firearms as well as another 10 years for smuggling of goods from the United States. Both convictions carry as possible punishment a $250,000 maximum fine.
The father and son have been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Customs and Border Protection; and Department of Commerce - Bureau of Industry and Security (Office of Export Enforcement) conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Second week of December sees another 293 people charged in border security-related matters in the Southern District of TexasRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A total of 294 cases have been filed related to immigration and border security from Dec. 5-11, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
A total of 87 people face charges of illegal entry, while another 182 face charges of felony reentry after removal. Most have felony convictions for narcotics, violent crime, immigration crimes and more. The filed cases also include 22 individuals accused of engaging in human smuggling and the remaining two charges involve assaults on federal officers.
As part of the new filed complaints, two Mexican nationals have been charged with illegal reentry into the country. Authorities had just removed Josadad De La Cruz-Perez in April but found him near Rio Grande City this week, according to the charges. A separate case alleges law enforcement discovered Jose Yuriel Tovias-Alvarez near McAllen. According to their complaints, both men have prior felonies - De La Cruz-Perez for illegal reentry, while Tovias-Alvarez had served a substantial prison sentence for possession with intent to distribute kilogram quantities of cocaine. If convicted for the new illegal reentry charges, they each face up to 20 years in federal prison.
In addition to the new cases, the leader and organizer of an alien smuggling ring in Laredo was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard how Laredo resident Juan De Dios Aguero recruited drivers and set abandoned vehicles on fire to distract law enforcement. On Aug. 6, 2024, authorities at a Border Patrol checkpoint near Freer discovered 35 illegal aliens, including three unaccompanied minors, sealed inside a tractor-trailer with a temperature of nearly 100 degrees. Many suffered from heat exhaustion. The investigation revealed Aguero organized the failed smuggling event by driving co-defendant Mateo Guerra to a truck lot and helping Guerra steal the tractor trailer utilized in the operation. Aguero also rented the U-Haul used to move the aliens from a stash house. Authorities further connected Aguero to two additional failed alien-smuggling attempts in October 2023 and February 2024 that involved 28 and 11 illegal aliens, respectively.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
High-speed ditching of bulk methamphetamine leads to 135-month sentence for convicted felonRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 45-year-old Houston man has been ordered to federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute bulk crystal methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Devon Shermaine Rhodes pleaded guilty Sept. 15.
U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Rhodes to serve 135 months in federal prison, followed immediately by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, Rhodes argued for a 46-month sentence, claiming he did not discard drugs or drive dangerously at the time of his arrest. The court rejected his request after reviewing video evidence and citing his extensive criminal record, the inherent danger of crystal methamphetamine and the risk he posed to the Houston community.
On Nov. 8, 2022, authorities conducted surveillance at a local fast-food establishment where they observed a drug transaction involving Rhodes. He had paid more than $10,000 in cash for approximately five kilograms of crystal methamphetamine earlier in the day.
When law enforcement attempted a traffic stop, Rhodes fled, reaching speeds of 100 mph. During the pursuit, he threw multiple kilograms of methamphetamine out the drivers-side window, which burst as they hit the road.
A search of the vehicle later uncovered a significant amount of crystal methamphetamine.
Rhodes has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Harris County Sheriff’s Office and Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shelley J. Sullivan prosecuted the case.
Operation All Gas No Brakes is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes these organizations commit, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Houston comprises agents and officers from DEA, FBI, HSI and ATF with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas leading the prosecution.
Houston resident gets 10 years for exploiting minorRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 25-year-old man has been sentenced for coercion and enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Brice Andrew Flickinger pleaded guilty March 20.
U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now sentenced Flickinger to 120 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard additional information, including a victim letter detailing how the minor victim was taken advantage of at a young age and how it affected the victim negatively for several years. In imposing the sentence, the court noted that Flickinger engaged in a sexual relationship with a very young minor.
Flickinger was also ordered to pay $5,000 to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 and forfeit his phone. Restitution will be determined later. Following his prison term, Flickinger will serve the rest of his life on supervised release and must comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
On July 9, 2021, the victim’s mother reported her daughter missing. Shortly thereafter, authorities conducted a traffic stop after observing a vehicle with two men, including Flickinger as passenger, drop the minor victim off near her home. A search resulted in the discovery of a phone in Flickinger’s possession. Forensic examination revealed at least nine videos of child sexual abuse material depicted Flickinger and the minor victim engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Law enforcement later executed a search warrant at his home where they seized numerous items, including a pair of purple handcuffs located near his bed.
The investigation revealed Flickinger had initially met the minor victim through social media. They later met in person, approximately 15 times, during which he would drive them both to his home after midnight.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Sherrif’s offices in Harris and Fort Bend County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Celia Moyer prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice 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.
Ho-Ho-Hold up: Christmas convenience store robbers head to federal prisonRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Two Corpus Christi residents have been sentenced for a string of aggravated robberies, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Jonathan Stein, 20, and Alvaro Martinez, 21, pleaded guilty Aug. 4.
U.S. District Judge Davis S. Morales has now imposed a 96-month term of imprisonment for Stein, while Martinez received 68 months. Both must also serve three years of supervised release following their sentences. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence detailing the robberies committed on Christmas Day and in the days that followed. In handing down the sentences, Judge Morales noted the seriousness of the offenses and the fear and danger their actions caused the victims.
Between Dec. 25 and 27, 2024, Stein and Martinez worked together to rob three Stripes convenience stores in Corpus Christi.
Surveillance footage showed Stein entering a Stripes convenience store on Airline Road Dec. 25. He was wearing a red and grey ski mask and brandished a firearm with an attached drum magazine while demanding money from the cashier.
Approximately two days later, he robbed another Stripes in a similar manner. Martinez provided the firearm and acted as the getaway driver.
Authorities uncovered a photograph of Martinez posing with a firearm and a large amount of cash. That firearm matched the one used in the robberies. Inside his vehicle, they located the firearm, along with a red-and-black mask matching the one used in the robberies.
Both men were permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.
Twice-convicted smuggler sentenced in new conspiracy involving over 100 illegal aliensRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 30-year-old Brownsville resident has been sentenced for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Christian Ivan Hernandez pleaded guilty May 19.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Hernandez to serve 60 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how Hernandez conspired with others to transport over 100 illegal aliens in dangerous conditions. The court also reviewed Hernandez’s lengthy criminal history which includes two prior convictions: transporting illegal aliens in 2018 and conspiracy to transport illegal aliens in 2019. In handing down the sentence, Judge Ramos noted that his past smuggling offenses carry consequences but believes he can move past them.
From May 1 – July 21, 2024, Hernandez facilitated the smuggling of approximately 107 illegal aliens concealed in the cargo areas of three separate tractor trailers, as well as another 10 found in the vehicles’ cab areas.
At the time of his plea, Hernandez admitted that in early May 2024, he called Carlos Josue Cruz-Rivas and asked him to pick up several illegal aliens at a warehouse in McAllen. Authorities later arrested Cruz-Rivas for attempting to smuggle the 36 illegal aliens found in his empty utility trailer along with six other aliens in the sleeper portion of the cab.
That same month, authorities arrested David Vargas-Muniz for attempting to smuggle 46 illegal aliens in a tractor trailer in Brooks County. Hernandez had met him at the location and told him the illegal aliens were in his trailer and not to make any stops.
On July 21, 2024, law enforcement also identified and arrested Mendez-Hernandez after attempting to smuggle 25 aliens in a utility trailer and another four in the tractor’s cab.
The court found that Hernandez was the organizer of the overall conspiracy. He also operated three stash houses in the McAllen area.
Hernandez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Honduran national Cruz-Rivas, 35, who illegally resided in Brawley, California, Vargas-Muniz, 53, Waxahachie, and Mendez-Hernandez, 31, Santa Maria, California, have all pleaded guilty for their roles and been sentenced.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Young Min Burkett prosecuted the case.
U.S. authorities shut down major China-linked AI tech smuggling networkRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Two businessmen are now in custody for allegedly violating U.S. export control laws, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
As part of the overall investigation, a Houston company and its owner have also pleaded guilty to smuggling cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence technology out of the United States.
“Operation Gatekeeper has exposed a sophisticated smuggling network that threatens our Nation’s security by funneling cutting-edge AI technology to those who would use it against American interests,” said Ganjei. “These chips are the building blocks of AI superiority and are integral to modern military applications. The country that controls these chips will control AI technology; the country that controls AI technology will control the future. The Southern District of Texas will aggressively prosecute anyone who attempts to compromise America’s technological edge.”
“The United States has long emphasized the importance of innovation and is responsible for an incredible amount of cutting-edge technology, such as the advanced computer chips that make modern AI possible,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “This advantage isn’t free but rather the result of our engineers’ and scientists’ hard work and sacrifice. The National Security Division, along with our partners, will vigorously enforce our export-control laws and protect this edge.”
Alan Hao Hsu aka Haochun Hsu, 43, Missouri City, and his company, Hao Global LLC, both pleaded guilty to smuggling and unlawful export activities Oct. 10.
According to now unsealed court documents, between October 2024 and May 2025, Hsu and others knowingly exported and attempted to export at least $160 million worth of export-controlled Nvidia H100 and H200 Tensor Core graphic processing units (GPUs).
The H100 and H200 are high-speed GPUs used for AI applications and high-performance computing. They are designed to process massive amounts of data, advancing generative AI and large language models, and accelerating scientific computing. The GPUs are used for both civilian and military applications. These chips are among the most advanced GPUs ever developed, and their export to the People’s Republic of China is strictly prohibited.
Hsu and others allegedly falsified shipping paperwork, misclassifying the true nature of the goods and their recipients to conceal the ultimate destination of the GPUs. The charges allege Hsu and Hao Global received more than $50 million in wire transfers that originated from the People’s Republic of China to help fund the scheme. The GPUs were ultimately shipped to the PRC, Hong Kong and other destinations in violation of U.S. export laws, according to the indictment.
Also charged in relation to the scheme are two PRC natives - Fanyue Gong aka Tom Gong, 43, a PRC citizen who resides in Brooklyn, New York, and Benlin Yuan, 58, a Canadian citizen who resides in Mississauga, Ontario. Law enforcement arrested Gong in New York Dec. 3, and Yuan in Sterling, Virgina, Nov. 28.
Yuan is the CEO of a Sterling, Virginia, IT services company which is the U.S. subsidiary of a large PRC IT company based in Beijing, while Gong is the owner of a New York technology company.
According to their charges, Gong and Yuan also independently conspired with employees of a Hong Kong-based logistics company and a China-based AI technology company to circumvent U.S. export controls.
The criminal complaint against Gong alleges co-conspirators obtained Nvidia GPUs through straw purchasers and intermediaries, falsely indicating that the goods were for U.S. customers or customers in third countries that do not require a license to export. The GPUs were shipped to multiple U.S. warehouses where individuals who worked for Gong removed Nvidia labels and re-labelled the GPUs with the name “SANDKYAN” – a fake company – and then prepared the goods for export at his direction, according to the charges. The shipping and export paperwork for the GPUs allegedly misclassified the goods as generic computer parts. The charges allege co-conspirators then shipped the goods or attempted to do so to the PRC and Hong Kong in violation of U.S. laws.
According to Yuan’s charges, he helped recruit and organize individuals to inspect the mislabeled GPUs on behalf of the Hong Kong logistics company. Yuan allegedly agreed to direct inspectors not to say the goods were destined for the PRC. The charges also allege Yuan directed discussions regarding crafting a story his company could use to get GPUs and other equipment released after federal law authorities detained it. Yuan allegedly engaged in several conversations about providing false information to U.S. authorities regarding the ultimate customer of the goods.
Yuan is also alleged to have participated in and agreed to direct actions involving the handling and storage of another export of Nvidia GPUs on behalf of the Hong Kong logistics company.
Hsu faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing Feb. 18, while Hao Global LLC could be fined up to twice the gross gain from the offense and given a term of probation.
If convicted, Yuan faces up to 20 years for conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act. Gong is charged with conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States and faces a maximum of 10 years.
Hsu was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing. Yuan and Gong are currently in custody pending further criminal proceedings.
The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security - Office of Export Enforcement (Dallas Field Office), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations – Dallas and FBI Field Offices in New York City and Washington D.C. conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Marck and Mark McIntyre are prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorneys Fatema Merchant and Yifei Zheng of DOJ’s National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
U.S. Authorities Shut Down Major China-Linked AI Tech Smuggling NetworkRead the Press Release
Two businessmen are now in custody for allegedly violating U.S. export control and smuggling laws. As part of the overall investigation, a Houston company and its owner also pleaded guilty to smuggling cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology out of the United States, and the United States has seized over $50 million in Nvidia technologies and cash.
“The United States has long emphasized the importance of innovation and is responsible for an incredible amount of cutting-edge technology, such as the advanced computer chips that make modern AI possible,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “This advantage isn’t free but rather the result of our engineers’ and scientists’ hard work and sacrifice. The National Security Division, along with our partners, will vigorously enforce our export-control laws and protect this edge.”
“Operation Gatekeeper has exposed a sophisticated smuggling network that threatens our Nation’s security by funneling cutting-edge AI technology to those who would use it against American interests,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas. “These chips are the building blocks of AI superiority and are integral to modern military applications. The country that controls these chips will control AI technology; the country that controls AI technology will control the future. The Southern District of Texas will aggressively prosecute anyone who attempts to compromise America’s technological edge.”
“Gong and his accomplices allegedly led a complex scheme to smuggle high-performance graphic processing units to China in violation of U.S. export laws,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “This case highlights the importance of interagency cooperation to protect U.S. technology; the FBI, alongside our partners, will continue to aggressively investigate these violations and bring those responsible to justice. We ask our private sector partners to remain vigilant to this increasing threat as our adversaries try to match U.S. artificial intelligence breakthroughs.”
According to court documents, Alan Hao Hsu, also known as Haochun Hsu, 43, of Missouri City, Texas, and his company, Hao Global LLC, both pleaded guilty to smuggling and unlawful export activities on Oct. 10, 2025. According to now unsealed court documents, between October 2024 and May 2025, Hsu and others knowingly exported and attempted to export at least $160 million worth of export-controlled Nvidia H100 and H200 Tensor Core graphic processing units (GPUs).
The H100 and H200 are high-speed GPUs used for AI applications and high-performance computing. They are designed to process massive amounts of data, advancing generative AI and large language models and accelerating scientific computing. These GPUs are used for both civilian and military applications.
Hsu and others falsified shipping paperwork, misclassifying the true nature of the goods and their recipients to conceal the ultimate destination of the GPUs. Hsu and Hao Global received more than $50 million in wire transfers that originated from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to help fund the scheme. The GPUs were ultimately shipped to the PRC, Hong Kong and other destinations in violation of U.S. export laws.
At sentencing, Hsu faces up to 10 years in prison on Feb. 18, and Hao Global LLC faces a maximum penalty of twice the gross gain from the offense and a term of probation.
Also charged in relation to the scheme are two PRC natives. Benlin Yuan, 58, the chief executive officer of a Sterling, Virginia, IT services company, which is the U.S. subsidiary of a large PRC IT company based in Beijing, was arrested in Sterling, Virginia, on Nov. 28 and charged with conspiring to violation the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA) of 2018. Yuan is a Canadian citizen who resides in Mississauga, Ontario.
Fanyue Gong, also known as Tom Gong, 43, a PRC citizen who resides in Brooklyn, New York, is the owner of a New York technology company and was arrested in New York on Dec. 3. Gong was charged with conspiring to smuggle goods out of the United States.
According to charging documents, Gong and Yuan also independently conspired with employees of a Hong Kong-based logistics company and a China-based AI technology company to circumvent U.S. export controls.
The criminal complaint against Gong alleges that co-conspirators obtained Nvidia GPUs through straw purchasers and intermediaries, falsely indicating that the goods were for U.S. customers or customers in third countries that do not require a license to export. The GPUs were shipped to multiple U.S. warehouses where individuals who worked for Gong removed Nvidia labels and re-labeled the GPUs with the name “SANDKYAN” – a fake company – and then prepared the goods for export at his direction. The shipping and export paperwork for the GPUs allegedly misclassified the goods as generic computer parts. The charges allege co-conspirators then shipped the goods or attempted to do so to the PRC and Hong Kong in violation of U.S. laws.
According to the complaint, Yuan helped recruit and organize individuals to inspect the mislabeled GPUs on behalf of the Hong Kong logistics company. Yuan allegedly agreed to direct inspectors not to say the goods were destined for the PRC. The government also alleges Yuan directed discussions regarding crafting a story his company could use to get GPUs and other equipment released after federal law authorities detained it. Yuan allegedly engaged in several conversations about providing false information to U.S. authorities regarding the ultimate customer of the goods.
As alleged, Yuan also participated in and agreed to direct actions involving the handling and storage of another export of Nvidia GPUs on behalf of the Hong Kong logistics company.
If convicted, Yuan faces up to 20 years in prison for conspiring to violate ECRA and up to a $1 million fine. If convicted, Gong faces up to 10 years in prison for conspiring to smuggle goods out of the United States.
Hsu was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing. Yuan and Gong are currently in custody pending further criminal proceedings.
The Commerce Department’s BIS Office of Export Enforcement Dallas Field Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Dallas, and FBI New York and Washington Field Offices are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Marck and Mark McIntyre for the Southern District of Texas and Trial Attorney Fatema Merchant of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance provided by Trial Attorney Yifei Zheng, also from the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Texas Businessman Convicted for Scheme to Bribe Mexican Government OfficialsRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Houston convicted a local businessman today for his role in a scheme to bribe Mexican government officials at Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), the state-owned oil company of Mexico, and PEMEX Exploración y Producción (PEP), PEMEX’s wholly owned exploration and production subsidiary.
“Alexandro Rovirosa orchestrated a scheme to bribe Mexican officials to benefit himself and his companies,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Bribery of government officials to win business undermines fair competition and unjustly enriches bad actors. In prosecuting this case, the Department has sent a clear message that we will not tolerate bribery and corruption schemes run out of the United States, whether the bribes are paid here or abroad.”
“Most individuals applying for American citizenship treat our laws and customs with respect,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI Houston Field Office. “Alexandro Rovirosa instead violated U.S. laws through a network of corruption and deceit. Rovirosa believed his residence in Houston protected him from the consequences of bribing foreign officials. However, as today’s verdict demonstrates, his scheme not only cost him a luxurious Texas lifestyle, but also his freedom.”
“The conviction in this case holds the defendant accountable for participating in a scheme to bribe Mexican government officials for the benefit of the defendant and the companies associated with him,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey D. Pittano of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG), Mid-Atlantic Region. “The FDIC OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate financial crimes, including those involving bribery and corruption.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Ramon Alexandro Rovirosa Martinez (Rovirosa), a Mexican citizen and U.S. lawful permanent resident, 46, of The Woodlands, Texas, paid more than $150,000 in bribes to officials at PEP to retain contracts and payments from PEMEX and PEP and obtain other improper advantages in business with PEMEX and PEP, for the benefit of companies associated with Rovirosa. The trial evidence showed that between approximately 2019 and 2021, Rovirosa and his co-conspirators, including Mario Alberto Avila Lizarraga, 61, of Spring, Texas, a Mexican citizen and U.S. lawful permanent resident, offered to pay and paid bribes in the form of cash payments, luxury goods and other valuable items to at least three PEMEX and PEP officials in exchange for those officials taking certain actions to help companies associated with Rovirosa obtain and retain business with PEMEX and PEP. Those improper advantages assisted companies associated with Rovirosa in obtaining contracts with PEMEX and PEP worth at least $2.5 million.
The jury convicted Rovirosa of one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and two counts of violating the FCPA. It found him not guilty of a fourth count of violating the FCPA. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Rovirosa’s co-conspirator, Mario Avila, is a fugitive.
HSI Houston, FBI Houston and FDIC-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Lindsey Carson, Samad Pardesi and Paul Ream of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Gray for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.
Southern District of Texas charges more than 318 people for immigration and border security offenses this weekRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A total of 316 cases have been filed in matters related to further securing the southern border from Nov. 28 – Dec. 4, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
A total of 84 people face charges of illegal entry, while another 204 face charges of felony reentry after removal. Most have convictions for narcotics, violent crime, immigration crimes and more. The filed cases also include 28 individuals accused of engaging in human smuggling and the remaining two charges involve firearms offenses and other immigration-related crimes.
As part of the new cases, criminal complaints allege three individuals attempted to unlawfully reenter the country within five months of their most recent removals. Mexican nationals Jesus Hernandez-Gomez and Jose Martinez-Arrevalo were previously removed Aug. 28 and Oct. 24, respectively, according to court documents. Law enforcement removed Mexican national Ascencion Avellaneda-Rodriguez Sept. 10. Each allegedly has prior felony convictions for illegal reentry. Charges allege law enforcement found all three in the United States without legal authorization.
Additional complaints allege several previous felons had also illegally reentered the country. Mexican nationals Diana Aurora Bueno-Zuniga and Julio Guerra-Silva had both been previously removed on various dates between 2007-2019, according to their respective charges. However, both were allegedly found in the McAllen area this week. Bueno-Zuniga has a previous conviction for harboring an alien for financial gain, while Guerra-Silva was sentenced for possession with intent to distribute nearly 20 kilograms of marijuana.
If convicted, all face up to 20 years in federal prison.
Also announced this week was the conviction of Carlos Alberto Garcia-Guajardo on all 12 counts as charged. A Laredo federal jury found he had sold cocaine and multiple firearms, including machine guns, during a month-long undercover investigation. He and Fernando Patino used the sale of cocaine and firearms to negotiate future deals. They not only sold firearms but fired them indiscriminately in their neighborhood. A search warrant revealed scales, cash in various denominations, multiple firearms and crack cocaine stored near items belonging to young children. Garcia-Guajardo had been removed from the country on two occasions. He now faces up to life in prison.
In Brownsville, Mexican national Alejandro Ramirez-Carranza was ordered to federal prison for five years for transporting and bringing an alien into the United States, illegal reentry and being an alien in possession of a firearm. While conducting surveillance near the Rio Grande, authorities heard a boat approaching and observed a vehicle arrive as several individuals ran from the brush and climbed into the truck bed. Ramirez-Carranza acted as the river guide and worked with others to transport and smuggle the aliens. One said Ramirez-Carranza brought him across by boat and that relatives were paying for his smuggling.
In McAllen, Mario Alberto Almanzan-Mata received a 72-month sentence for illegally reentering the country for a third time. He was removed most recently May 27, and authorities discovered him again July 7 in Mission. At the hearing, the court heard about a pattern of behavior that places members of the community in significant danger.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Final man pleads guilty in $4 million wire fraud conspiracyRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 40-year-old Nigerian citizen who illegally resided in Houston has pleaded guilty for his role in a business email compromise conspiracy and for running a romance scam that targeted victims nationwide, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Leslie Chinedu Mba, 40, admitted to his role in conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit false statements in immigration documents.
“These online scams that Mba and others perpetrated jeopardized the livelihood of family-run businesses, the ability of elderly individuals to retire, and exploited the trust on which our economy is based,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas remains committed to holding such fraudsters accountable, and protecting our people and companies from financial harm, especially when these scammers remain in our country under false pretenses and deceive immigration authorities.”
From April 2018 to December 2023, Mba and others inside and outside of the United States carried out business email compromise and romance scams targeting unsuspecting victims. The schemes began overseas, where co-conspirators gained unauthorized access to business email accounts and redirected payments to fraudulent bank accounts.
Victims believed they were sending money to legitimate businesses, but Mba and others instead funneled the funds to accounts they controlled. Mba and others acted as money mules, opening or using existing bank accounts to collect and move proceeds from the fraud.
Additionally, Mba tried to obtain U.S. permanent residency through multiple fraudulent marriages after his initial application was denied and he was ordered to be removed from the country.
The scheme resulted in a total loss of $4 million.
Four others had also previously pleaded guilty to the same charges – Grace Morisho, 30, Rodgers Kadikilo, 29, Kristin Smith, 37, and Alexandra Golovko, 35, all of Houston.
U.S. District Judge David Hittner accepted the plea and set sentencing for Feb. 26, 2026. At that time, Mba faces up to 20 years for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five years for committing false statements on immigration documents as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
He will remain in custody pending that hearing.
FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen M. Lansden and Alexander Alum are prosecuting the case.
South Texas man receives 10 years for cocaine traffickingRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 40-year-old Rio Grande City man has been sentenced for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Adolfo Alvarez III pleaded guilty Aug. 28.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzalez Ramos has now sentenced Alvarez to 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.
On June 28, law enforcement learned of a green tractor-trailer possibly involved in narcotics trafficking. Later that day, Alvarez approached the Border Patrol checkpoint near Falfurrias driving a vehicle matching that description. Upon questioning, Alvarez stated he was “hauling produce.”
At secondary inspection, an x-ray revealed irregularities. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and discovered approximately 40 bundles of cocaine weighing 49.5 kilograms. The packages, wrapped in black tape, were hidden beneath the bottom mattress in the sleeper area.
Alvarez will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation along with Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bird prosecuted the case.
Jury convicts illegal alien who distributed cocaine and machine guns from homeRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 32-year-old Mexican national who unlawfully resided in Laredo has been convicted of unlawful possession of a machine gun and drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The jury deliberated for approximately two hours and 30 minutes before returning the guilty verdicts on all 12 counts as charged against Carlos Alberto Garcia-Guajardo following a less than three-day trial.
The jury heard that Garcia-Guajardo and Fernando Patino Jr., also an illegal alien, sold firearms and cocaine out of a residential home in Laredo. The firearms included several machine guns.
Testimony revealed details of the undercover operation which began with the sale of a pistol. At that time, Garcia-Guajardo had indicated he and Patino could also offer drugs for sale.
On Jan. 2, Patino and Garcia-Guajardo sold the first of two machine guns - a model 22 Glock equipped with a conversion device. In the following weeks, they arranged additional sales involving cocaine and other firearms. In total, Patino and Garcia-Guajardo sold 10 firearms.
The jury heard the pair used the sale of cocaine and firearms to negotiate future deals. Testimony revealed that during one transaction, they told a buyer that “because you are paying full price on the snow, we will cut you a deal on the Glock.”
Evidence also showed Garcia-Guajardo and Patino not only sold firearms but fired them indiscriminately in their neighborhood and conducted extensive drug trafficking.
On Jan. 31, law enforcement executed a search warrant on the 3000 block of Monterrey Street in Laredo. At that time, they found Garcia-Guajardo along with Jose Guadalupe Hernandez-Garza, a 26-year-old illegal alien from Mexico, as well as scales, cash in various denominations, multiple firearms and crack cocaine stored near items belonging to young children.
Garcia-Guajardo had been ordered removed from the United States on two occasions, most recently in July 2024. As an illegal alien, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law.
Visting U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle presided over trial and has set sentencing for March 5.
Garcia-Guajardo faces a mandatory minimum of 30 years and up to life in federal prison. He could also be ordered to pay a $250,000 maximum fine.
Patino, 33, pleaded guilty prior to trial and is pending sentencing.
Both Patino and Garcia-Guajardo have been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
Hernandez-Garza admitted to being an alien illegally in possession of a firearm and ammunition and has been ordered to prison.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Laredo Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Anti-Gang Unit – Laredo Center and Border Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Tory R. Sailer and Brandon Scott Bowling are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Armed repeat illegal alien handed five-year prison sentence for human smuggling and firearms chargesRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 38-year-old Mexican national has been sentenced for his part in a human smuggling event that occurred earlier this year, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Alejandro Ramirez-Carranza, Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, pleaded guilty May 8, to transporting and bringing an alien into the United States as well as illegal reentry and being an alien in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now imposed a 60-month term of imprisonment. Not a U.S. citizen, Ramirez-Carranza is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court enhanced his sentence for organizing the smuggling event, brandishing a firearm and creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury.
Mexican citizen Issac Azuara-Vasquez, 40, entered a plea April 10 to the same smuggling-related charges and to selling a firearm to Ramirez-Carranza. He was previously sentenced to 54 months. He could also lose his status as a lawful permanent resident and face removal proceedings. He also received sentencing enhancements for brandishing a firearm and for recklessly creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to another person.
On Feb. 12, authorities were conducting surveillance in an area of the border known for its high volume of alien, drug and weapon smuggling. There, agents heard a boat crossing Rio Grande from Mexico. After hearing an individual in Spanish telling people to run, law enforcement saw a truck Azuara-Vasquez was driving heading toward the river. The truck stopped by the river’s edge, and several individuals ran from the brush and climbed into the truck bed.
Ramirez-Carranza, who was standing near the pickup, retrieved an AR-15-type rifle from the vehicle and began to run towards the rear of the truck bed, ignoring multiple commands to stop and drop the weapon.
The investigation ultimately revealed Ramirez-Carranza was a river guide and had conspired with Azuara-Vasquez to transport and smuggle the aliens apprehended in the truck bed. One smuggled person indicated Ramirez-Carranza brought him across the Rio Grande River by boat and that his relatives were paying for him to be brought into the United States.
Ramirez-Carranza has felony convictions for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and illegal reentry after deportation. He was last removed from the United States in September 2009.
Both have been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation with the assistance of the FBI and the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel Castro prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Repeat offender felon receives 72-month sentence for illegal reentry into United StatesRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 23-year-old Mexican national has been ordered to federal prison for illegally reentering the country again, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Mario Alberto Almanzan-Mata pleaded guilty Aug. 28.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered him to serve 72 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court considered Almanzan-Mata’s criminal and immigration history to include convictions for evading law enforcement and domestic violence. The court also heard about a pattern of violent behavior that places members of the community in significant danger. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the seriousness of his criminal history.
Almanzan-Mata was removed on two prior occasions, most recently May 27. Authorities discovered him again July 7 in Mission. He had admitted he illegally reentered the country earlier that day near Hidalgo.
He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Garcia prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
51 illegal aliens locked in trailer among 235 new cases filed in relation to the Southern District’s continuing efforts to secure borderRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A total of 235 more individuals have been charged in immigration and border security-related matters from Nov. 21-27, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The filed cases include 17 people allegedly involved in human smuggling. Another 70 are charged with illegally entering the country, while 146 more face charges of felony reentry after prior removal. Most of those individuals have prior felonies such as narcotics, violent crime, immigration crimes and more. Other relevant cases charged this week relate to firearms and other immigration crime.
One notable case involves Greibein Alexis Pinot-Duarte, a Honduran national who allegedly smuggled more than four dozen illegal aliens in a refrigerated tractor-trailer near Freer. According to the complaint, he appeared nervous, and a K-9 alerted to the rear doors. The charges allege a further inspection of the 55-degree trailer led to the discovery of 51 illegal aliens concealed in a cramped compartment beneath boxes of produce with limited means of escape. If convicted, Pinot-Duarte could receive up to 10 years in federal prison.
Criminal complaints also allege several illegal aliens unlawfully reentered the country without authorization. One is Christian Omar Amezquita-Munoz, a Mexican male found near Donna, according to charges. He allegedly has a prior conviction for possession with intent to distribute 14 kilograms of cocaine and was sentenced to 100 months in prison before his removal in 2022.
Authorities also allegedly found another Mexican male near Hidalgo this week. Oscar Enrique Govea-Acuna has a conviction for evading arrest with a vehicle and was subsequently removed in 2018, according to the charges.
Both of these men could receive up to 20 years in federal prison, upon conviction.
These and other cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Illegal alien arrested for smuggling 51 illegal aliens in refrigerated produce trailerRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 50-year-old Honduran national has been charged with smuggling more than four dozen people in a refrigerated tractor-trailer, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Greibein Alexis Pinot-Duarte is set to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga Nov. 25 at 9:30 a.m.
On Nov. 22, Pinot-Duarte allegedly drove a refrigerated tractor-trailer to the Border Patrol checkpoint near Freer where authorities noticed his nervous behavior. The charges allege a K-9 alerted to the presence of humans or narcotics at the rear doors.
At secondary inspection, law enforcement discovered the temperature inside the trailer was 55 degrees and held numerous boxes of produce, according to the complaint. They also allegedly observed the silhouette of a person through a plywood compartment under the boxes.
The charges allege a subsequent search revealed 51 illegal aliens, including two juveniles, concealed in the cramped, hidden compartment. Many of the individuals did not have jackets or means to stay warm and complained of numbed or cramped limbs due to the tight space, according to the complaint.
The compartment was small and allegedly allowed only one person to exit at a time. Each produce box weighed approximately 30-40 pounds, preventing anyone from escaping, according to the complaint.
If convicted, Pinot-Duarte faces up to 10 years in federal prison as well as a $250,000 maximum fine.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Southern District charges 321 individuals in border security-related cases this weekRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A total of 318 cases have been filed in relation to immigration and border security from Nov. 14-20, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Among those are 182 people who face charges of illegally reentering the country. The majority have prior felony convictions for narcotics, violent crime, sexual offenses, prior immigration or other crimes. A total of 120 individuals are charged with illegally entering the country, while 18 others are alleged to have engaged in human smuggling.
One additional case charges Mexican national Jairo Amaya Martinez with assaulting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. The criminal complaint, filed Nov. 20, indicates Martinez was driving a white Chevrolet van and fled on foot as authorities approached to conduct a traffic stop. Court documents allege Martinez bit the agent on his left hand and forearm, while another officer attempted to subdue him. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
Other criminal complaints charge Mexican nationals Evencio Arellano-Felix and Ivan Garcia-Mendoza for illegal reentry after having been previously removed Oct. 18 and 21, respectively. Law enforcement allegedly encountered both in Roma. Garcia-Mendoza has a prior conviction for illegal reentry while Arellano-Felix was convicted of failure to identify with fugitive intent, according to the complaints against them.
Also charged with illegal reentry after removal is another Mexican national, Juan Humberto Martinez-Martinez. According to the charges, he was removed from the United States Aug. 10, 2022. However, authorities allegedly encountered him again near Rio Grande City this week.
If convicted, all three face up to 20 years in federal prison.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including ICE - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Illegal alien arrested for impersonating U.S. citizen for over 14 yearsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 56-year-old Columbian national illegally residing in Houston has been charged for theft of government funds, false representation of a U.S. citizen and aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The individual’s true identity is unknown, but he was most recently known under alias Johnny Mina Rodriguez. He is set to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo at 2 p.m.
The now unsealed indictment, returned Nov. 5, alleges this individual fraudulently applied for and obtained Social Security Administration disability benefits in June 2011 by impersonating a U.S. citizen.
According to the charges, they continued receiving SSA disability until his arrest, resulting in a total theft of government funds exceeding $150,000.
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years imprisonment as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine for each of the charges. He also faces an additional two years in prison for aggravated identity theft which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed.
SSA-Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen M. Lansden is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Former police captain charged for offenses against childrenRead the Press Release
GALVESTON, Texas - A 59-year-old resident of League City has been indicted on multiple counts to include coercion and enticement of a minor, and possession and production of child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Authorities have now arrested Daryn Edwards. He is now making his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo.
A federal grand jury in Galveston returned the five-count indictment Nov. 18.
Edwards is charged with two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor and faces up to life in prison, if convicted. He is also facing two counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography which carries terms of 20 and 10 years, respectively. He could also be ordered to pay a $250,000 fine.
FBI Texas City conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren M. Valenti is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice 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.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Pseudo-job seeker caught with over 40 kilograms of methamphetamineRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A U.S. citizen residing in Reynosa, Mexico, has pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
On April 25, Marco Antonio Rodriguez, 20, approached the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint driving a Ford Escape. He claimed he was heading to Corpus Christi to look for work. However, law enforcement noticed he did not have any personal items or tools in the vehicle.
An x-ray scan then revealed anomalies in the rear quarter panels. Authorities discovered aftermarket compartments on both sides of the vehicle that held 90 black bundles of methamphetamine wrapped in clear cellophane.
The drugs weighed 47.5 kilograms with a 99% purity level.
As part of his plea, Rodriguez admitted he had picked up the vehicle from a residence in Reynosa the day before traveling to the port of entry. Rodriguez knew he was transporting the drugs and planned to drop the vehicle off for unloading in Corpus Christi.
U.S. District Judge Ramos will impose sentencing Feb. 11, 2026. At that time, Rodriguez faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Border Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Griffith prosecuted the case.
Corpus Christi man sentenced to over 13 years after distributing crack cocaine from apartmentRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 38-year-old local resident has been ordered to prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and distribution of crack cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Evaristo Coleman pleaded guilty Aug. 20.
U.S. District Judge David Morales has now handed Coleman a 100-month term of imprisonment for the drug trafficking. He also received 60 months for the firearms charge which must be served consecutively to the other sentence imposed. The total 160-month prison term will be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court made special mention that drugs had been found in multiple residences associated with Coleman.
The investigation began in January following multiple reports of alleged drug sales from the apartment. Authorities conducted surveillance and observed regular customers who came to buy cocaine and crack cocaine.
In February, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the residence where they discovered more than 100 grams of crack cocaine, nearly 300 grams of powder cocaine. They also found two 9mm pistols that Coleman possessed while selling the drugs.
Coleman has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Corpus Christi Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Griffith prosecuted the case.
Career criminal sentenced to 15 years for illegal possession of firearmRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 48-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison for possessing a firearm after being previously convicted of three serious drug felonies, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Jaime Pena pleaded guilty Aug. 26.
U.S. District Judge David Hittner has now ordered Pena to serve 180 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by a four-year term of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Pena had a lengthy criminal history and committed this crime while out on parole for a previous drug conviction in Harris County.
On March 15, 2024, authorities responded to a shooting in progress at a local residence. They learned Pena had fired a gun outside his home during an altercation with Nickie Mendell, who also lived at the location.
Law enforcement conducted a protective sweep and executed a search warrant, discovering approximately 33 pounds of marijuana, scales, narcotics bags and approximately $67,000.
The investigation determined that one of the firearms recovered inside the home was the same one Pena had discharged outside of the residence. A National Integrated Ballistic Information Network lead matched a shell cartridge located in the driveway to the same firearm inside the residence.
As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms per federal law.
Pena will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Mendell, 52, Houston, has also pleaded guilty and is set for sentencing Dec. 4.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Smith prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Texas man sentenced for employment tax fraudRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A Harris County resident has been sentenced for failing to report and pay employment taxes, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Joseth “Joe” Limon pleaded guilty May 27.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered Limon to serve 36 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. During the hearing, Judge Rosenthal took issue with Limon’s claim he was a hardworking businessman who had never asked for a handout from anyone, noting that he just took from the United States. Limon is also required to pay approximately $8.7 million in restitution.
Limon owned and operated Platinum Employment Group Inc. which supplied laborers to businesses in the Houston area. From 2013 through 2018, Platinum failed to file employment tax returns and, according to its payroll records, more than $8.7 million in taxes.
After closing Platinum, he set up another labor-staffing company - Rockwell Staffing LLC - in the name of a relative. When he discovered the IRS was attempting to collect the company’s employment taxes, he caused that relative to submit an affidavit that falsely claimed Rockwell had been a victim of identity theft and had no employment tax liability.
Limon was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shirin Hakimzadeh and Trial Attorney Curtis Weidler of the Tax Division prosecuted the case.
Alamo woman admits to international drug traffickingRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 48-year-old U.S. citizen has pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
On June 11, authorities stopped Marina Saenz for speeding as she drove a white BMW SUV in Live Oak County. A K-9 alerted to the vehicle, and law enforcement discovered a hidden aftermarket compartment in the rear hatch containing 29 bricks of cocaine weighing 35.5 kilograms.
Saenz admitted she picked up the cocaine in Mexico and brought it across the border through the Progreso Port of Entry. She also said she planned to deliver the drugs to North Carolina for $10,000.
Saenz also admitted making previous trips that involved similar large amounts of cocaine.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos will impose sentencing Feb. 24, 2026. At that time, Saenz faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
She has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and Live Oak County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Griffith prosecuted the case.
Houston area man admits to enticing teenage girl to commit sex actsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 52-year-old Spring resident has pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
From Aug. 26 - Oct. 5, 2023, John Alberth exchanged messages with a 16-year-old minor victim, offering money in exchange for sex acts and explicit photos.
As part of his plea, Alberth admitted paying the minor victim through CashApp and asking her to send him photos of herself that constituted child sexual abuse material.
Law enforcement discovered text messages confirming Alberth knew the victim was a minor.
U.S. District Judge George P. Hanks will impose sentencing Jan. 30, 2026. At that time, Alberth faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Houston Police Department and Sherrif’s Offices in Harris and Galveston County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice 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.
Former contractor admits to hacking employer in retaliation for terminationRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 35-year-old Ohio man has pleaded guilty to computer fraud for hacking his former employer’s network after he was fired, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
On May 14, 2021, Maxwell Schultz, Columbus, Ohio, was terminated from his position as a contract employee in his company’s IT department. Shortly after, he accessed the company’s network by impersonating another contractor to obtain login credentials.
He ran a PowerShell script that reset approximately 2,500 passwords, locking thousands of employees and contractors out of their computers nationwide. Schultz also searched for ways to delete logs, PowerShell window events and cleared multiple system logs.
The attack to the company’s system caused more than $862,000 in losses, including employee downtime, customer-service disruptions and labor needed to restore the network.
As part of his plea, Schultz admitted to conducting the attack because he was upset about being fired.
U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal will impose sentencing Jan. 30, 2026. At that time, Schultz faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
The FBI conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rodolfo Ramirez and Michael Chu are prosecuting the case.
Over 2400 border security-related cases filed in the Southern District during majority of government shutdownRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - Between Sept. 26-Nov. 13, a total of 2409 individuals have been charged in 2387 immigration and related cases as part of ongoing enforcement efforts along the South Texas border, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
A total of 966 people face charges of illegal entry, while another 1245 individuals face charges of felony reentry after removal. Most have felony convictions for narcotics, violent crime, immigration crimes and more. The filed cases also include 140 people alleged to have engaged in human smuggling, with the remaining 58 cases involving drugs, firearms offenses, assaults on federal officers and other immigration-related crimes.
One such person charged is a 33-year-old El Salvadorian national who allegedly attacked and injured an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. According to the criminal complaint, Walter Leonel Perez Rodriguez threw a 32-ounce stainless steel mug filled with hot coffee on the officer, striking him in the face. The officer allegedly fell to the ground and lost consciousness. He was treated for second-degree burns to his neck and arms and a laceration to his upper lip that required 18 stiches, according to the allegations. The criminal complaint alleges authorities first removed Rodriguez from the United States in 2013, and he returned at least two more times.
Also charged was 36-year-old Mexican national Javier Cornelio Cruz-Nava, who allegedly assaulted a federal officer in Houston. According to the complaint, authorities were conducting immigration enforcement operations Oct. 1, when Cruz-Nava fled a traffic stop on foot. A Texas Department of Public Safety agent caught up to him, but Cruz-Nava allegedly lunged and threw the officer into a wrought-iron fence, causing two deep head wounds to the officer, according to the charges.
“These officers place their lives on the line every day to protect our communities and country, and they deserve to be protected in return,” said Ganjei. “Anyone who attacks law enforcement is attacking the American system of justice, and those who choose violence over lawfulness will be met with swift charges. The Southern District of Texas has a zero-tolerance policy towards anyone who does so. The message is clear - comply with officer directives and keep your hands to yourself.”
If convicted of assaulting, resisting or impeding a person assisting a federal officer, both men face up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Another notable case involves 41-year-old Cambodian national named Savin Seng aka “Two-Face.” Following a shooting incident that left a woman deceased, the charges allege law enforcement located a cell phone with an image showing a man holding a Glock pistol with an extended magazine. The criminal complaint alleges the man was Seng, whom a witness had identified as the murder suspect. Seng had illegally entered the United States as a child and never held lawful immigration status in the country, according to the allegations. The criminal complaint further alleges Seng has had possession of several guns while remaining in the United States illegally. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Some of those charged in new illegal reentry cases include Mexican nationals Ciro Mora-Santiago and Miguel Tinajero-Velasquez. Their criminal complaints allege previous convictions of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon with both being subsequently removed from the United States. However, authorities allegedly found them in the Rio Grande Valley this past week. Other charges allege law enforcement found four others also illegally in the country – all of whom had allegedly already been removed this year and have prior convictions such as drug trafficking or conspiracy to produce false identification documents. Those men include Honduran national Orlando Espinoza-Morales and Aurelio Galvan-Jimenez, Javier Ortiz-Rivera and Maria Remedios Granados-Guerra, all of Mexico. If convicted, they face up to 10 years in federal prison.
Also of note was the sentencing of three members of the Pasia gang. Oscar Ambrocio Hernandez, Ruben Gonzalez-Balderas and Roger Emmanuel Lemus received 137 months, 126 months and 57 months, respectively, for assaulting two federal corrections officers at the East Hidalgo Detention Center. The inmates, who were already in custody pending federal immigration charges, outnumbered the officers and repeatedly punched and kicked them. They were housed in a gang-designated unit within the facility. One inmate wielded a sock with a bar of soap as a weapon during the assault. One correctional officer sustained injuries that resulted in multiple staples in his forehead. Seven others have also been sentenced to terms ranging from 48-114 months.
In Houston, Mailon Almendares-Martinez, received 51 months after serving as a leader in a smuggling conspiracy that moved aliens from the South Texas border to Houston. Between October and November 2022, he organized drivers through WhatsApp and phone calls, paying up to $2,000 per person. During one trip, rival smugglers shot at them en route to Houston, wounding two aliens in the arm and leg. After the shooting, Almendares-Martinez told the drivers to return to Houston and not seek medical attention. Seven co-conspirators from New Orleans previously have also pleaded guilty.
A federal jury in Corpus Christi deliberated for approximately one hour before returning a guilty verdict against Jose Eduardo Rocha, 47, Seagoville, for alien smuggling. He had driven a tractor trailer to the Border Patrol checkpoint near Falfurrias where authorities noticed suspicious behavior. They soon found four illegal aliens hiding on the top bunk, the main bed behind the driver, inside the closet and under the bed. Testimony revealed Rocha told the illegal aliens to be quiet and to hide. He faces up to five years in federal prison and a $250,00 fine.
A 41-year-old Mexican national who illegally resided in Houston was sentenced to the maximum of 120 months for leading an alien smuggling conspiracy and illegal reentry into the country. Edgar Ruiz-Briones led a network that arranged transportation for illegal aliens crossing from Mexico into the United States. He recruited drivers from multiple states to bring aliens to Houston, where they were moved further north. Over an 18-month period, he coordinated trips for more than 100 individuals and managed payments between them and his drivers. ICE – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol. AUSA Joseph Griffith is prosecuting the case as part of Operation Take Back America.
Also of note was the sentencing of Mexican national who had illegally reentered the country. Luis Adrian Torres-Tamayo, 39, is a convicted felon illegal alien who had previously assaulted police. He was first removed in 2012 after sustaining a conviction for possession of a controlled substance. He illegally returned and in 2022, he assaulted two local law enforcement officers during a domestic violence dispute. He repeatedly attacked them, seizing their taser guns and striking them with a closed fist. He was sentenced to 105 months.
In Laredo, a homicide convict was sentenced after illegal aliens were found crammed in a trunk an on floorboard of compact car. Antonio Pena, 57, Rio Bravo, received 63 months in federal prison. On Feb. 14, authorities stopped him at a gas station while driving a heavily weighted Chevrolet Cruze and appeared nervous when law enforcement questioned him. Authorities discovered one alien lying on the floorboard and two others crammed in the trunk. One illegal alien admitted he had waded across the Rio Grande and Pena told him to hide in the car.
Three more cases were sentenced in Houston involving foreign nationals who had illegally returned to the United States. Mexican national Eduardo Ramiro Gonzalez-Leal had been removed in November 2015 and October 2021 and has prior felony convictions for drug conspiracy, firearm possession and driving under the influence. He received 76 months. Wilfredo Sanchez, also of Mexico, had illegally reentered four times and received 66 months and has prior felony convictions for illegal reentry, burglary of habitation and evading arrest. Salvadorian national Carlos Membreno-Lainez has prior convictions for evading arrest and theft as well as a significant sentence for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. He was removed in November 2018, but authorities encountered him again Nov. 30, 2024, following an arrest in Harris County on charges of felony assault of a family member impeding breath. He received 72 months for illegal reentry.
In Brownsville, an illegal alien sex offender was also ordered to prison. David Antonio Varcenas-Aguilar, a 45-year-old man from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has a felony conviction for aggravated sexual assault of a child. Authorities first removed him from the United States in 2015, but he unlawfully returned shortly thereafter. He has now been ordered to federal prison for 27 months for illegally reentering the United States after removal. The court noted he was sentencing Varcenas-Aguilar at the highest sentence pursuant to the federal sentencing guidelines because of his serious criminal history which involve violence against another.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Far Out: woman guilty of false reports of illegal bank account access from International Space StationRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 50-year-old resident of Sedgwick County, Kansas, has pleaded guilty to lying to law enforcement, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
In July 2019, Summer Heather Worden alleged her estranged spouse had guessed the password and illegally accessed her bank account while the spouse was deployed to the International Space Station.
However, Worden had actually opened the account in April 2018. Both parties had accessed it until January 2019 when Worden changed the credentials.
The investigation revealed Worden had granted her spouse access to her bank records from at least 2015, including her login credentials.
U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett accepted the plea Nov. 13. He will impose sentencing Feb. 12, 2026. At that time, Worden faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Worden was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
NASA-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard D. Hanes and Brandon Fyffe prosecuted the case.
Convicted felon gets 15-year maximum sentence after pointing gun at law enforcement officerRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 45-year-old Robstown resident has been sentenced to federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Guadalupe Calderon III pleaded guilty July 31.
U.S. District Judge Davis S. Morales has now ordered Calderon to serve 180 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the sentencing hearing, the court saw footage of Calderon pointing and attempting to fire a handgun at a local sheriff’s deputy during a traffic stop. In handing down the sentence, the court noted he would have sentenced Calderon to a higher sentence, but the statutory maximum penalty was 180 months.
On July 26, 2024, law enforcement had conducted a traffic stop on Calderon’s truck. When asked for his license and insurance, he pointed a Ruger pistol at the officer’s face and pulled the trigger. When the gun did not fire, Calderon fled the scene in his truck.
Authorities located him approximately six hours later riding in another vehicle. A search resulted in the discovery of the firearm in the back seat where he had been sitting along with over 30 rounds of ammunition and a high-capacity drum magazine.
Calderon admitted the gun was his and that he had pointed it at the officer earlier that day.
He has multiple prior felony convictions. As such, he is prohibited from possessing firearms per federal law.
Calderon has been and will remain in custody.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Nueces County Sheriff’s Department and Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.
Illegal alien sex offender sentenced for second unlawful reentryRead the Press Release
Editor's Note:
This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 45-year-old man from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been ordered to federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after removal, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
David Antonio Varcenas-Aguilar pleaded guilty Sept. 2.
U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered Varcenas-Aguilar to serve 27 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court noted he was sentencing Varcenas-Aguilar at the highest sentence pursuant to the federal sentencing guidelines because of his serious criminal history which involve violence against another.
Varcenas-Aguilar has a felony conviction for aggravated sexual assault of a child. Authorities first removed him from the United States in 2015, but he unlawfully returned shortly thereafter.
On July 12, law enforcement discovered Varcenas-Aguilar hiding in the brush near the Rio Grande during a linewatch operation.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel Castro prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Illegal alien charged with assaulting immigration officer with stainless steel mug, resulting in serious injuriesRead the Press Release
Editor's Note:
This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.HOUSTON – A 33-year-old El Salvadorian national has appeared in federal court on charges of attacking and injuring an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Walter Leonel Perez Rodriguez will now remain in custody pending further criminal proceedings.
“ICE officers place their lives on the line every day to protect our country, and they deserve to be protected in return. Anyone who chooses violence over lawfulness will be met with swift charges in the Southern District of Texas,” said Ganjei. “The Department of Justice, and this office, stand firmly with law enforcement.”
According to the criminal complaint, authorities conducted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Tahoe Nov. 4. Rodriguez allegedly got out of the vehicle and ran as law enforcement identified themselves.
The charges allege Rodriguez threw a 32-ounce stainless steel mug filled with hot coffee on an ICE officer, striking him in the face. The officer fell to the ground and lost consciousness, according to the charges.
The officer was taken to a hospital and treated for second-degree burns to his neck and arms and a laceration to his upper lip that required 18 stiches, according to the allegations.
The criminal complaint alleges authorities first removed Rodriguez from the United States in 2013, and he returned at least two more times.
If convicted of assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal officer causing bodily injury, Rodriguez faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
FBI and ICE – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Keri Fuller and Byron Black are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s OCDETF and Project Safe Neighborhood.
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 martial arts and gymnastics instructor sentenced to 168 months for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
Editor's Note:
This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.GALVESTON, Texas – A 42-year-old Alvin man has been sentenced for receiving and possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Franklin Joseph Perkins pleaded guilty Feb. 3.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown has now sentenced Perkins to 168 and 120 months for the receipt and possession convictions, respectively. They will run concurrently for a total 168-month-term of imprisonment. Perkins will serve 10 years on supervised release following the 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. Perkins will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
At the hearing, the court heard additional information related to Perkins work as a gymnastics and martial arts instructor who gave female teens massages claiming to be a massage therapist. The investigation revealed Perkins never had a license to provide such services. The court also heard how Perkins commented to a 13-year-old that she had a sexy body and that after she had turned 14, he gave her alcohol and touched her breasts and tried to force himself on her. Her victim impact statement detailed how she trusted Perkins as her gymnastics coach and how she felt manipulated and betrayed by him. In handing down the prison terms, the court noted that child pornography cases are ugly cases with real victims.
Perkins previously worked at the Kuk Sool Won martial arts studio and Gulf Coast Gymnastics, both located in Alvin.
The investigation revealed a user with a Google account had uploaded files possibly depicting child sexual abuse material onto their servers. Law enforcement linked Perkins to that account and determined he had been using various Google accounts and his cell phone to receive and possess child pornography.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation along with Pearland Police Department, Galveston County Sheriff’s Office and the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Leo and Colton Turner prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood - a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Deer Park resident sentenced for running unlicensed financial scheme involving $2.3 million checkRead the Press Release
Editor's Note:
This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.HOUSTON – A 66-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison for operating an illegal money transmitting business, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Bobby Charles Lee Sr. pleaded guilty June 30.
U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth Hoyt has now ordered Lee to serve 33 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Hoyt imposed strict supervised release conditions, including limits on company and bank account ownership and restrictions on Lee’s access to technology. Lee must also pay restitution to two victims in specific amounts to be determined.
At the hearing, the court heard that Lee continued to move illicit funds while on bond. Prior to imposing the sentence, Judge Hoyt noted Lee’s conduct was among the “most outrageous” he had seen in 37 years on the bench. He told Lee “at your age, you still have not come home to right” and questioned why Lee had not bothered to tell his family about his criminal case.
From 2020 through 2024, Lee operated an unlicensed money-transmitting business that moved funds through multiple personal and business accounts without the required state license or federal registration.
Lee allowed others to deposit and transfer funds into accounts he controlled and accepted negotiable instruments others had mailed to him. Authorities flagged several transactions as suspicious or fraudulent, prompting banks to close multiple accounts linked to the scheme.
In March 2024, Lee deposited a counterfeit $2.3 million U.S. Treasury check and used the proceeds to enrich himself and his spouse, including purchasing a Cadillac vehicle. Authorities later seized the vehicle and recovered approximately $2.1 million that remained from the fraudulent funds.
Lee was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
IRS Criminal Investigation and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration conducted the investigation with assistance from the FBI and Deer Park Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Bauman and Kimberly Ann Leo prosecuted the case with assistance from Kristine Rollinson of the Asset Recovery Section.
Mexican national sentenced to 10 years for transporting woman to engage in commercial sexRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 42-year-old citizen of Mexico has been ordered to prison after recruiting an 18-year-old victim, abusing her, and forcing her to engage in commercial sex acts.
Clemente Melendez Gutierrez pleaded guilty Aug. 1.
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett has now ordered Melendez Gutierrez to serve a total of 120 months in federal prison, the statutory maximum.
“The damage inflicted by this defendant is immeasurable. Melendez Gutierrez subjected his victims to years of physical, mental, and sexual abuse in pursuit of his own personal profit,” said Ganjei. “Today’s sentence underscores our office’s steadfast pursuit of those who prey upon and exploit women for financial gain. Let it be known – human trafficking has no home in the Southern District of Texas.”
“The defendant preyed upon this vulnerable victim and used physical abuse to coerce her to travel to the United States and to engage in commercial sex for his own financial gain,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This sentence reflects the severity of the defendant’s conduct, and the DOJ will relentlessly prosecute and hold accountable those who abuse and exploit others for financial gain.”
“Today’s sentence brings long-awaited, and overdue, justice for the victim who was subjected to years of abuse and exploitation at the hands of Melendez Gutierrez,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “Unfortunately, the physical, mental, and emotional manipulation and trauma the victim suffered at the hands of this ‘suitor-turned-monster’ will remain with her forever. His long-awaited prison sentence reflects the tireless work and unwavering dedication of the investigators, victim specialists, and prosecutors who through the years stood alongside the victim to ensure her voice was heard and her suffering acknowledged. While no prison sentence can erase the pain and trauma his victims endured, our hope is that today’s outcome represents accountability, justice, and a step toward healing and hope.”
“With today’s sentence, we have removed a dangerous predator from the community who used physical and sexual abuse, threats of violence and psychological manipulation to groom and control his victims and force them to engage in commercial sex for his own profit,” said Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz of Homeland Security Investigations Houston. “Working alongside our partners, we exposed his criminal scheme and helped ensure he was held fully accountable for his actions and the harm caused to the victims.”
Melendez Gutierrez recruited the 18-year-old victim in 2007 using the false pretense of a romantic relationship. After meeting her in person in Mexico, he transported her away from her home, isolated her at his parents’ house and told her she was going to have to start working in commercial sex. When she refused, Melendez Gutierrez physically abused her—dragging her by the hair and punching and kicking her—then made her engage in commercial sex acts at a hotel in Mexico.
Several days later, Melendez Gutierrez had the victim smuggled across the U.S. border and traveled with her to Houston. Following their arrival, he told the victim she owed him thousands of dollars for her transportation and told her that she would have to work at a cantina and engage in commercial sex in the hidden back rooms of the cantina to repay her debt.
Melendez Gutierrez set a quota for how much money the victim had to make each night, and he was violent with her when she did not work enough or make enough money. Melendez Gutierrez had the victim work at multiple cantinas and other locations until she was finally able to get away from him in 2013.
Between 2005 and 2021, Melendez Gutierrez repeated this pattern of conduct multiple times with different women and girls.
The FBI Houston Field Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Valenti of the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case along with Trial Attorneys Lindsey Roberson and Matthew Thiman of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.