Southern District of Texas

HOUSTON – A Houston man will be serving nearly 43 years in prison for the attempted robbery and robbery of the Shared Resources Credit Union and for using and carrying a firearm during commission of the crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. A federal jury deliberated for less than five hours before convicting Raynard Gray, 34 and Sonny Pervis, 28, March 23, 2017, on all counts as charged following a three-day-trial.

Today, U.S. District Judge Sim Lake handed Gray a total sentence of 510 months in federal prison – 150 months for the robberies in addition to five years for the first firearms charge and another 25 years for the second which must be served consecutively to each other and to the bank robbery sentences. Following completion of his more than 42-year prison term, he will serve five years of supervised release. In imposing the sentence, the court found that Gray planned, organized and recruited participants for the bank robbery and that he was the leader of this robbery crew which warranted the most prison time.  

Pervis was previously sentence to a total of 485 months in federal prison. His sentence was also enhanced due to the reckless endangerment during flight. The judge found that following the robbery, Pervis aided and abetted the high speed chase and fired his weapon at a civilian in a nearby neighborhood. 

A total of seven men met and planned the robbery of the credit union. At trial, the jury heard Gray was the leader of this robbery crew and acted as a lookout during the robberies, while Pervis was one of the men who entered the credit union and brandished and discharged a firearm.

They arrived at the bank first on Saturday, July 26, 2014, with the intention of committing the robbery. The jury heard that employees inside the bank observed the men with the firearms as they approached. However, the doors to the lobby were locked so the crew left, but returned two days later to complete the crime.

The men fled the scene after stealing the money on July 28. A civilian followed them in order to give police the vehicle information of the robbers, during which time Howard Glaze, 24, of Houston, and Pervis discharged their firearms in a neighborhood in his direction. The group then led officers on a high-speed chase from Pasadena to north Houston, where they abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot. Glaze was soon apprehended. The investigation later led to the discovery and arrest of the others.

During trial, the jury saw surveillance videos, photos and police dash camera footage of the high speed chase and heard testimony from 12 witnesses. They also heard from a sergeant with the Pasadena Police Department who collected cash, bank straps and clothing of the robbers from the abandoned vehicle. The officer was also able to lift a fingerprint off a trash bag found in that vehicle, which belonged to Pervis. 

The defense did not dispute that the robberies occurred, but contended that Pervis and Gray were not involved. The jury was not convinced and convicted them on all charges.

Gray will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The remaining five co-defendants - Keith McGee, 27, Glaze, Kwhun Johnson, 25, Leroy Richardson, 37, and Christopher Braziel, 30, all of Houston, had pleaded prior to trial. McGee was ordered to serve a sentence of 140 months, while Richardson, Johnson and Glaze received respective sentences of 130, 60 and 130 months imprisonment. Braziel is set for sentencing June 14, 2018.

The FBI and police departments in Pasadena and Houston conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Hanes and Heather Winter are prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A convicted tax offender has been charged again, this time for failing to serve his prison sentence, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Kermit Woods is set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frances Stacy at 10:00 a.m. today.

Woods had owned and operated an income tax preparation business in Houston known as L&L Finance. He pleaded guilty in March 2012 to willfully preparing a false U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. He was sentenced in January 2013 to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay the IRS restitution of $362,340.

At the time of his sentence, the court had permitted him to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons on Feb. 26, 2013. He never reported as ordered, according to the charges. He remained a fugitive until his recent arrest in Arizona.

If convicted of failing to appear, Woods faces another maximum of 24 months in prison in addition to the already-imposed 24 months for the tax offense.

IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles J. Escher is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 38-year-old Corpus Christi man has been convicted of possessing stolen mail, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick along with Postal Inspector in Charge Adrian Gonzalez of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

Christopher Escobedo admitted to stealing packages that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) had left on the front porches of Corpus Christi residents between Dec. 31, 2017, and Jan. 8, 2018. Authorities identified Escobedo or his vehicle in video surveillance at a number of locations where packages were stolen. On one occasion, an observant neighbor confronted Escobedo as he attempted to take a package. The neighbor was able to supply the authorities with Escobedo’s description and a license plate number of the vehicle he was using. Postal inspectors used this information to track down Escobedo and link him to a number of other package thefts in the area. 

“The USPIS is committed to ensuring customers’ mail is protected from theft and criminal activity,” said Gonzalez. “Our efforts to protect the nation’s mail system is a strategic part of our mission and one of our highest priorities. Postal inspectors will vigorously pursue anyone attempting to commit theft against the USPS and its customers.”

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos accepted the plea today and set sentencing for July 19, 2018. At that time, Escobedo faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

The USPIS conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. Thorpe Jr. is prosecuting the case.

McALLEN, Texas – Two men have been ordered to federal prison following their convictions in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Jesus A. Villarreal, 58, of Sullivan City, and Juan Cristobal Hernandez, 39, of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico, pleaded guilty Feb. 6, 2017.

Today, U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa ordered Villarreal and Hernandez to each serve 92 months, respectively. Villarreal will serve three years of supervised release following completion of his prison term. Not a U.S. citizen, Hernandez is expected to face deportation proceedings following his sentence.

Both admitted they conspired to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine. As part of their guilty pleas, each admitted to assisting with coordinating the trafficking of 108 kilograms of cocaine from McAllen to Houston from April 2 to April 9, 2015. Both were also held responsible for a total of 134 kilograms of cocaine as the court considered another narcotics seizure in which both men were involved.

Both men have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Rolando Martinez Jr., 33, of Rio Grande City, is also charged in the case. He is considered a fugitive and a warrant remains outstanding for his arrest. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) at 1-956-992-8400 or Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) at 1-866-347-2423.

The DEA and HSI conducted the investigation dubbed Operation Killing Time with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety and task force officers from police departments in San Juan, McAllen, Palmview, Weslaco and Mission. Assistant U.S. Attorney Juan F. Alanis is prosecuting the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 26-year-old former Navy sailor has been convicted of distributing a video depicting the drowning of puppies, announced U.S. Ryan K. Patrick.

In June 2016, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) agents were notified that Petty Officer Third Class Daniel James O’Sullivan would be in possession of disturbing videos depicting the torture and killing of animals. Authorities interviewed him at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi where he was stationed at the time. O’Sullivan admitted he distributed a video to an individual in Montana that depicted the drowning of puppies in a river. That individual admitted to receiving the video. 

Law enforcement conducted a forensic search on his digital devices which resulted in the discovery of the video depicting the drowning of puppies and other animal crush videos. In one video, a dog’s mouth is closed with duct tape as it is set on fire. In another, a dog is thrown off a high-rise building. Other videos depict mice and baby chicks being ground-up in a blender. 

Under federal law, it is illegal to depict - via photograph, motion-picture film, video, digital recording or electronic image - actual conduct in which one or more living non-human mammals, birds, reptiles or amphibians is intentionally crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled or otherwise subjected to serious bodily injury, and is obscene.

This is the second such case prosecuted in this district. The first resulted in a 57-month federal prison sentence and was believed to be the first indicted nationwide since the statute was amended in 2010.  

In September 2017, O’Sullivan received an other than honorable discharge from the Navy.

Sentencing has been set before U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzalez Ramos on Aug. 2, 2018. At that time, O’Sullivan faces up to seven years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. O’Sullivan was allowed to remain on bond pending that hearing.  

NCIS conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A 45-year-old former Richmond man has been given the statutory maximum sentence for systematically torturing a former girlfriend by sending horrific images and threatening email messages, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. The jury returned its verdict Oct. 27, 2017, against Heriberto Latigo following five days of trial and less than two hours of deliberations.

This is the first case tried in the Southern District of Texas in which a defendant used the internet to cause substantial emotional distress. In the last 10 years, less than 100 defendants have been convicted using this federal stalking statute.

Today, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt sentenced Latigo to 60 months in prison. Additional information was also presented today, including a letter the victim had written which detailed the torment she endured and how Latigo’s actions have changed her life forever, stating that no matter how hard she has tried, she has not been able to overcome what he did to her. “There was not a day that I didn’t feel scared,” she said.

Latigo was further ordered to serve three years on supervised release following completion of his prison term during which time the court ordered him to get mental health treatment. Judge Hoyt also noted that the maximum sentence imposed may not be sufficient for the crime and stated the possibility that Latigo might just be “mean and evil.”

Latigo began a romantic relationship with the victim in 2013. As it progressed, Latigo’s conduct became controlling and demanding to include forcing her to send him naked images of her. The relationship eventually devolved into physical altercations to include an alleged rape. The victim testified that she was and is afraid of Latigo.

In June 2014, she discovered she was pregnant. She testified that Latigo was so controlling and crazy during this time that she decided to end the pregnancy. Latigo found out and created a Facebook page titled “Magdelana Aborted” where he pretended to be the aborted fetus, sent the link to her and said “Your abortion video will now be posted you whore.” She was so upset that she overdosed on tranquilizers in an attempt to take her own life. 

From March 2014 to April 2015, Latigo used threats and blackmail tactics to force the victim to do things against her will. Latigo had used the naked images she had previously sent during their relationship to compel her to do a variety of things, including complying with his sexual demands. If she refused, he would post the images online until she acquiesced. On many occasions, she had to contact Google to have naked pictures of her removed. Latigo also sent the images to her sister, her sister’s boss and male co-workers in an effort to control and harass her.

Latigo used his own email address to send messages to the woman in which he berated her and demanded she do things. He even created a Gmail account and Google+ page with the victim’s name and used a naked photograph of her as the profile picture.

Latigo’s actions caused the victim to move. She even changed jobs. She closed her Facebook account and got offline. However, he ultimately found her again, went to her new job and continued to harass her.

The jury also heard from another witness that placed Latigo at the victim’s daughter’s school indicating he was physically stalking her. A computer forensic expert also testified that Latigo accessed multiple Facebook accounts and the victim’s email from his own computer and attempted to cover his trail in the process.

Latigo represented himself during the trial and attempted to convince the jury that this entire case was about the victim wanting to hurt him. He claimed she created the accounts used to harass her. However, she actually broke down in tears on the stand when she learned her naked images had been sent in response to a Craigslist ad she supposedly created. No evidence was presented to the jury that demonstrated the victim ever had control of either of these accounts. In fact, Latigo’s owne xpert witness testified that the email address at issue was created on one of Latigo’s computers seized by the FBI during a search of his home.

The jury ultimately did not believe Latigo’s claims and found he intentionally harassed the victim and caused her substantial emotional distress. He was convicted as charged.

He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherri Zack and Steve Schammel are prosecuting the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 45-year-old Mexican national residing in San Juan has been sentenced for his leadership role in a drug trafficking case involving nearly 40 kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Carlos Guerrero pleaded guilty Aug. 28, 2015.

Today, U.S. District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa confirmed that Carlos Guerrero was previously convicted of a federal drug trafficking crime and re-imposed a 240-month sentence that he originally ordered on March 15. The court found Guerrero to be a leader/organizer within the drug trafficking organization. The sentence was enhanced due to his 2005 convictions for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute approximately 45.5 kilograms of cocaine. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face deportation proceedings following completion of the sentence.

On May 28, 2015, authorities followed a vehicle from the Hidalgo Port of Entry to a parking lot in McAllen. Yadira Martinez-Gomez, a 24-year-old Mexican national, was driving. She then handed the vehicle off to 43-year-old Mexican national Rodolfo Hernandez-Flores who drove it to Guerrero’s residence in San Juan. A search of the vehicle and the residence led to the seizure of 39 kilograms of cocaine. Raul Sanchez-Solano, a 40-year-old Mexican national, and Guerrero were arrested at that time and charged for storing the narcotics at the residence.

Martinez-Gomez was previously sentenced to 37 months imprisonment, while Sanchez-Solano and Hernandez-Flores received 60 and 48 months in prison, respectively.

Guerrero has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Pharr Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen J. Rees prosecuted the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 28-year-old Corpus Christi man has admitted he distributed child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

In November 2017, an electronic chat room company notified the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that a known image of child pornography had been uploaded to an internet chat room. Authorities were able to link the specific IP address associated with a user known as “jack” to Parker J. Pendergraph.

Law enforcement determined Pendergraph was employed as an assistant band director for a local high school and middle school and obtained a search warrant for his residence. At that time, authorities seized several digital devices that led to the discovery of the known image of child pornography uploaded to the chat room. In addition, law enforcement also located more than 500 images and 390 images of child erotica.   

The image uploaded to the chat room was located on one of Pendergraph’s digital devices. The image depicted a minor female approximately 14 years of age that is nude and sitting on a chair with her knees bent exposing her vagina to the camera. Pendergraph was shown the image, after which he admitted to uploading it.

Pendergraph also acknowledged going to chat sites and wanting to trade pictures of nude girls. He further stated he had seen images of child pornography on his computer for almost a year.  

Today, Pendergraph admitted he knew the image he distributed was child pornography.

Sentencing is set before U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzalez Ramos on July 19, 2018. At that time, Pendergraph faces a minimum of five and up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Upon completion of any prison term imposed, Pendergraph also faces a maximum of life on supervised release during which time the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect children and prohibit the use of the internet.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Corpus Christi Police Department’s – Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted the investigation with the assistance of NCMEC.  

Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez is prosecuting 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."

HOUSTON – Two Nigerian citizens, both of whom reside in Houston, have been ordered to federal prison for perpetuating a wire fraud scheme involving various internet scams, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Idowu Olugbenga Temetan aka David Cole, 30, and Adeltilewa Olamigoke Afolabi Ikuejuyone aka Kuffour Duval, 36, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and three counts of wire fraud. Temetan also admitted to one count of passport forgery. 

Today, U.S. District Judge Sim Lake handed Temetan a 51-month sentence, while Ikuejuyone received a 45-month sentence yesterday. Both defendants were also held jointly and severally liable to pay $187,422.60 in restitution. As both are not U.S. citizens, each are expected to face deportation proceedings following their sentences. 

At Ikuejuyone’s sentencing, the court heard testimony from a relative of one of the victims who testified about the emotional and financial toll the defendant’s criminal actions had taken on their family. During Temetan’s sentencing hearing today, he acknowledged his mistakes and apologized to the victims for his actions. In handing down the sentences, the court noted the defendants engaged in a series of actions over an extended length of time to defraud multiple victims.

From October 2013 until March 2014, Temetan and Ikuejuyone used counterfeit passports to open bank accounts in the greater Houston area. The passports contained photographs of Temetan and Ikuejuyone but utilized the aliases of David Cole and Kuffour Duval, respectively. Both Temetan and Ikuejuyone then worked with others to lure victims into sending money into various bank accounts under their sole ownership and control. These funds were obtained through a variety of internet scams, including lottery scams and business investment scams. Checks or wire transfers were then sent from the victims’ bank accounts to accounts Temetan and Ikuejuyone controlled. Temetan, Ikuejuyone and their co-conspirators would then use the counterfeit passports to retrieve the fraudulently obtained funds.  

Law enforcement has been able to trace at least $4 million to victims, some of whom who reside in Houston, that have been affected by this scheme. The conspiracy resulted in the defrauding of one elderly victim of $3 million alone. After authorities identified this victim, they were able to trace the accounts into which the monies were being deposited. 

Temetan and Ikuejuyone will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie N. Searle and Rick Bennett prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 46-year-old inmate who formerly resided in Houston has received another federal sentence for threatening a U.S. District Judge, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. George Yarbrough pleaded guilty Sept. 8, 2017.

Today, U.S. District Judge Harmon handed Yarbrough a 120- month sentence. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that this was the second time Yarbrough has been convicted of sending a threatening letter to the same federal judge. He was sentenced in that case to 21 months which will be served consecutively to the previous prison term imposed today.

Yarbrough is currently in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). While in custody, Yarbrough wrote a letter threatening to kill a Houston federal judge. The U.S. District Court Clerk’s Office in Houston received the letter on April 19, 2017. In the letter, Yarbrough said “So the State of Texas and the Fed. Govt. (illegible), are to Blame: for me killing you, and your family.” It also included that “Everyday I look at your photo, that I got of the internet, and think of many ways to kill you, and your family.” 

Yarbrough previously wrote a similar letter in 2014. In that case, Yarbrough indicated the basis for the threat was because the judge had had dismissed a civil rights lawsuit Yarbrough filed against TDCJ personnel several years earlier. He had stated then that he was going to murder the judge upon his release from TDJC and blamed the judge for all his problems. He added that he had people on the outside that would murder the judge if something happened to him before he got out. Yarbrough also said he was going to murder a judge in San Antonio who took his daughter away. 

In the current case, Yarbrough admitted writing the letter, expressing his concern that he is not being taken seriously as the sentence he received the fist time was so short, referring to it as a “slap on the wrist.” During the interview with authorities, he again threatened the judge, a state senator and two prison guards which who were the basis of the original civil lawsuit.

He will be returned to state custody. Upon his release there, he will be transferred to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future to serve his total 120 month federal prison term. Yarbrough was also ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from federal prison, during which he will participate in mental health counseling.

The U.S. Marshals Service and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennie Basile is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A 34-year-old Nigerian man who was residing in Houston has been ordered to prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Azeez Abiodun Balogun pleaded guilty Oct. 27, 2017.

Today, U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. handed Balogun a 75-month sentence. Not a U.S. citizen, Balogun is expected to face deportation proceedings following the sentence. At the hearing, the court noted that this was a sophisticated scheme that began in 2015 and that he only stopped when he caught.

From on or about Jan. 1, 2015, through April 13, 2017, Balogun was involved in a conspiracy that involved many schemes to defraud via the U.S. mail and using personal identifying information (PII) of individuals without their permission.

He would open bank accounts with counterfeit passports in order to facilitate fraud payments into these accounts. Balogun would then use the stolen PII to apply for credit cards. He opened approximately 30 credit card accounts at Bank of America, Chase Bank and others by using the stolen information.

Additionally, he also engaged in Stolen Identity Refund Fraud (SIRF) in which he would use the stolen PII to apply for tax refunds. The stolen funds were then loaded onto prepaid debit cards and mailed to addresses Balogun or others controlled in the Houston area.  

The investigation unraveled approximately 10 different identities and passports Balogun used to open bank accounts and receive fraudulent funds from the various his schemes. The total loss attributed to his conduct is $2,976,265.

He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.  

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation along with Department of State – Diplomatic Security Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Elmilady is prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 57-year-old man has been ordered to prison following his conviction of trafficking heroin, cocaine and nearly 12 kilograms of fentanyl, announced U.S. States Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Jeffrey Layne Parker, of Belleville, Illinois, pleaded guilty Aug. 31, 2017.

Today, visiting U.S. Appellate Judge Kimberly Moore ordered Parker to serve a total of 168 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, additional evidence was presented including evidence that fentanyl is 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin and that one gram of fentanyl can result in the deaths of between 300 and 500 people. The fentanyl found in Parker’s car could have caused the deaths of up to 5.8 million people - more than the populations of Dallas, San Antonio and Houston combined. In handing down the sentence, Judge Moore denied Parker’s requests for leniency, noting the quantities of narcotics found in Parker’s possession, his extensive criminal record and the fact that Parker had transported narcotics loads at least four times.

Parker was first arrested March 7, 2017, after authorities found 16 packages of narcotics concealed in the trunk of Parker’s car at the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint just north of Laredo. The narcotics included 11.77 kilograms of fentanyl, 1.85 kilograms of heroin, 76 grams of cocaine and 1.41 kilograms of marijuana. He was arrested but later released following a medical issue.

Parker was arrested three months later on June 7, 2017. At that time, he approached the same checkpoint and agents found nine bundles containing 11.15 kilograms of heroin hidden behind the speakers in a Ford pickup truck he was driving. 

Parker has been in federal custody without bond since his second arrest where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of BP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Eaton is prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – Two men and a woman have been sent to federal prison for their participation in a smuggling attempt in the back of a tractor-trailer, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Minkah Ra Rashaad and Sherine Ovanna Watson, both 28, and 30-year-old Jesus Roberto Contreras pleaded guilty Nov. 2, 2017, to conspiracy to transport undocumented aliens.

Today, visiting U.S. Appellate Judge Kimberly Moore sentenced Contreras, of Laredo, to 97 months in prison, while Rashaad, of Washington D.C., and Watson, of Suitland, Maryland, to 30 and 18 months in prison, respectively. Contreras will also serve three years of supervised release, while the other two will be on supervised release for two years following completion of their sentences. Contreras’s lengthy sentence is due to his prior criminal history and his involvement in multiple other alien smuggling events.

On March 14, 2017, Contreras recruited Rashaad and Watson to smuggle several undocumented aliens in the back of a tractor-trailer from Laredo past the Border Patrol checkpoint on IH-35 north. Contreras loaded the aliens into the trailer and also scouted for law enforcement. Rashaad and Watson never made it to the checkpoint as law enforcement stopped the tractor-trailer in downtown Laredo and discovered the hidden aliens.

Contreras and Watson are in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future, while Rashaad was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender at a later date.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa M. Ezra prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 30-year-old Laredo man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Raul Garcia Jr. pleaded guilty Nov. 1, 2017.

Today, visiting U.S. Appellate Judge Kimberly Moore handed Garcia a 120-month sentence to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.

On Oct. 26, 2015,  authorities learned that Garcia was trying to hire someone to find transportation for a load of cocaine. Garcia had been moving up to 30 kilograms of cocaine per month and would pay $600 for each kilogram transported. Undercover agents posed as truck drivers to transport the cocaine. On Oct. 27, 2015, co-defendant Franklin E. Alberto-Hernandez, 29, a Honduran national illegally residing in Laredp, delivered approximately six kilograms of cocaine to the undercover agents.

On Dec. 21, 2015, in anticipation of a delivery of several kilograms of cocaine, law enforcement established surveillance of a Wal-Mart store in Laredo. Alberto-Hernandez handed an undercover agent a cardboard box found to contain four bundles wrapped in black tape and clear cellophane. The contents field tested positive for the properties of cocaine and weighed 4.5 kilograms. Garcia later admitted his involvement with coordinating this delivery of narcotics.

Garcia also admitted he was tasked with overseeing the delivery of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine to Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. He was also responsible for picking up and transporting large amounts of U.S. currency in these cities and smuggling it into Mexico.

He also stated that before the agents had approached in October 2015, he was in the process of coordinating the delivery of five kilograms of cocaine and had stored an additional 10 kilograms at the home of Alberto-Hernandez until it could be picked up and transferred to another trafficker. On Jan. 19, 2016, law enforcement conducted a search at that residence and seized approximately 16.5 kilograms of cocaine.

Garcia has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Alberto-Hernandez also pleaded guilty for his role in the conspiracy and was previously sentenced to 77 months in prison.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Bukiewicz is prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 52-year-old resident of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Jose Antonio Camacho-Partida pleaded guilty Nov. 1, 2017.

Today, visiting U.S. Appellate Judge Kimberly Moore handed Camacho-Partida a 92-month sentence. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face deportation proceedings following the sentence.

On the late evening of July 31, 2017, Border Patrol (BP) received information that a pickup truck with several subjects onboard was observed inside a ranch in Webb County. Upon their arrival, agents discovered the lock to the main gate had been cut. A pilot with a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) aerial unit located the vehicle and relayed that the pickup’s driver had exited the truck and cut the lock to another gate inside the property. The driver was later identified as Camacho-Partida.

Authorities then converged on the truck as it approached their position. Camacho-Partida attempted to get away, driving through a barbed wire fence at a high rate of speed and crashing into a tree. He ran from the truck as did additional suspects. Camacho and 12 others subjects were apprehended. All were determined to be undocumented aliens.

Camacho admitted he was hired to smuggle aliens through the ranch to avoid a Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint. He expected to be paid between $3,000 and $4,000 to smuggle the aliens to San Antonio.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigations with the assistance of CBP and BP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Bukiewicz is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A 28-year-old man from Channelview  has entered a guilty plea to the receipt and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick.

Lucio Banda first came to the attention of law enforcement after they found multiple images of child pornography associated with his online account.

Authorities conducted a search at his residence, at which time they seized Samsung Galaxy Note 3 cellular phone and a San Disk Micro SD Ultra flash drive and a San Disk Ultra Plush flash memory card. Forensic analysis ultimately uncovered 2,191 images and 251 videos contained child pornography which included a substantial number of files with minor females under the age of five. Some of the images are known victims identified through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.  

At the time of the search, he admitted the child pornography was his as well as the online account he used to obtain child pornography. Today, Banda acknowledged using peer-to-peer software to search for, download and obtain child pornography. He also admitted to viewing child pornography for at least five years and that he had been doing so for at least two to three years.   

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt accepted the plea to day and set sentencing for June 11, 2018. At that time, Banda faces a minimum of five and up to 20 years for the receipt and a maximum of 10 years for possession of child pornography. Each convicted also carries a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

The FBI conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie N. Searle is prosecuting 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."

HOUSTON – A 26-year-old convicted felon has been ordered to federal prison for possessing a firearm stolen during the robbery of a Cash America Pawn Shop in May 2017, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Kentrell Ezenwere, of Houston, pleaded guilty Nov. 1, 2017.

Today, U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison ordered Ezenwere to prison for 80 months. In handing down the sentence, the court held him accountable for the one stolen firearm he possessed at the time of his arrest as well as an additional 28 firearms stolen from the Cash America Pawn Shop the day before. Judge Ellison called Ezenwere’s introduction of guns into the community “anti-social” behavior and noted his criminal behavior to be of particular concern given the national dialogue surrounding firearms.

The mother of Ezenwere’s infant child asked the court to allow him to return home. However, Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Carrie Wirsing reminded the court that law enforcement officers also desire to return home to their families at the end of their shifts – a task less likely with Ezenwere’s “running and gunning” lifestyle. Ezenwere has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The investigation arose from a burglary of a Cash America Pawn Shop in Houston on May 17, 2017, during which 29 firearms were stolen. Security footage showed a suspect who made entry into the pawn shop from the roof of the building, where he had cut a hole and lowered himself down into the building using rope. The man placed the handguns in a red backpack and a red drawstring bag, ran out of the side door to an adjacent parking lot to a white Cadillac four-door sedan and fled.

Agents located a photo of a similar-looking white Cadillac posted on Ezenwere’s Instagram account six days prior to the burglary. Also found were Snapchat videos of Ezenwere holding handguns matching those that had been stolen, which had been posted within 12 hours following  the Cash America burglary. 

The following day, authorities stopped Ezenwere while driving a white Cadillac four-door sedan. Following his arrest for outstanding warrants, law enforcement found one of the stolen firearms on the floorboard in front of the driver’s seat. Also discovered in the car was a strap with a head lamp, hand tools, pry bar, hammer, pack of gloves, metal grinder, tin snips and a red rope that was the same style of rope recovered on the scene of the burglary as well as a pair of binoculars, a red drawstring bag and red backpack that matched the description of those used during the burglary the previous day.

Ezenwere had previously been convicted of aggravated assault against a public servant during which he shot at an officer and for which he was sentenced to five years imprisonment. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition per federal law.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. AUSA Carrie Wirsing prosecuted the case which was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide program to reduce gun and gang crime in America and the Houston Law Enforcement Violent Crime Initiative which seeks to proactively fight violent crime across the Greater Houston area.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 26-year-old Corpus Christi resident has been taken into custody on allegations he distributed child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Authorities arrested Clinton Ray Stephens this morning. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jason B. Libby at 2:00 p.m. today.

According to the charges, an electronic chat room company notified the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that a known image of child pornography had been uploaded to an internet chat room identified as “UNderAg3.” The complaint alleges authorities were able to link the specific IP address associated with a user known as “Jake” to Stephens. Agents obtained a search warrant for Stephens’s residence, after which agents seized several digital devices that led to the discovery of more than 570 images and two videos of child pornography, according to the charges.  

If convicted, Stephens faces a minimum of five and up to 20 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Corpus Christi Police Department’s – Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted the investigation with the assistance of NCMEC.  

Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez is prosecuting 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."

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 30-year-old Corpus Christi man has admitted he possessed child pornography, announced U.S. Ryan K. Patrick.

In January 2015, law enforcement identified Victor Staples after using peer-to-peer software to successfully download various files containing child pornography from an IP address associated with him. In June 2015, agents executed a search warrant at his residence, at which time they seized various electronic devices. Forensic analysis on those devices revealed more than 420 images and approximately 247 videos child pornography.

Today, the court heard that Staples has stated that he was familiar with peer-to-peer software. He admitted to viewing child pornography as early as November 2014 and estimated he saw approximately 100 files of child pornography on his computer. Staples described to law enforcement that he recalled viewing one image of a nude female child he believed was approximately 11-12 years old.

Sentencing is set before U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzalez Ramos July 20, 2108. At that time, Staples faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Upon completion of any prison term imposed, Staples also faces a maximum of life on supervised release during which time the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect children and prohibit the use of the internet.

Staples was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.   

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.  

Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez is prosecuting 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."

HOUSTON – Two men have been convicted after being identified by DNA found in seminal fluid left after the armed robbery of a Houston area massage parlor, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

20-year old Houston resident Javian Chapman pleaded guilty today to two counts of aiding and abetting interference with commerce by robbery and one count of aiding and abetting the discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Co-defendant Joseph Berzat, 21, also of Houston, entered his plea to the same charges March 9, 2018.  

From approximately 11:00 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5, 2016, until approximately 1:30 a.m. Aug. 6, 2016, Chapman and Berzat entered Hana Spa located at 14015 Bammel North in Houston, demanding money and property at gunpoint. They ultimate left with cash, a Samsung Galaxy S5 cell phone and a 2014 Acura SUV. The suspects also broke open the ATM and removed cash from inside using a drill and other tools they had brought with them.

During the robbery, the suspects had physically assaulted some of the employees. Authorities later processed the scene for forensic evidence and uncovered DNA from seminal fluid found at the scene which positively identified Berzat and Chapman. Investigators also recovered a palm print from the ATM, which was determined to match Berzat. In addition, Spa employees also identified both men as the suspects that held pistols and demanded money during the robbery.

U.S. District Judge Melinda Harmon accepted the pleas and set sentencing for July 6, 2018. At that time, both men face up to 20 years for the robbery as well as another mandatory 10 years for the firearms charge which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. The charges also carry a potential maximum fine of $250,000.

Chapman and Berzat have been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.  

The FBI and Harris County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carrie Wirsing and Jill J. Stotts prosecuted the case which was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide program to reduce gun and gang crime in America and the Houston Law Enforcement Violent Crime Initiative which seeks to proactively fight violent crime across the Greater Houston area.

HOUSTON ‐ A man using a false identification in a scheme to obtain a fraudulent government loan for damage sustained from Hurricane Irma is set to appear in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

A grand jury in Houston returned the three-count indictment against Oluseyi Jeremiah Olagoke Adebayo aka Jeremiah Adebayo Oluyesi, 43, a Nigerian man who illegally resided in Houston, on March 8, 2018. He is set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan today at 10:00 a.m.

According to the indictment, from October 2017 to February 2018, Adebayo used the identification of an Orlando, Florida, resident in an attempt to obtain a fraudulent disaster home loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA) in connection to Hurricane Irma.

The SBA provides long-term low-interest loans to businesses and non-profit organizations in the aftermath of a declared disaster. Loan proceeds are to be used solely for the repair or replacement of real estate, inventory, supplies, machinery and equipment damaged during a declared disaster. Hurricane Irma impacted the Gulf Coast region, including the state of Florida, and was declared a disaster in September 2017. 

An application was allegedly submitted to the SBA in October 2017 for a $118,900 home disaster loan which contained several potential fraud indicators. Further, an individual in Houston had attempted to collect on the loan for the Florida property, according to the indictment.  

Adebayo appeared at a U.S. Post Office in Houston on Feb. 7, 2018, to obtain the fraudulent loan disbursement check, according to the charges. Adebayo allegedly used a counterfeit passport with the identification of the Florida resident to obtain the check. At that time, the indictment alleges he was also found in possession of a counterfeit U.S. visa.   

Adebayo is charged with one count of fraud in connection with a major disaster and forgery or false use of a passport for which he faces up to 20 and 10 years in federal prison, respectively. He also faces a mandatory two years upon conviction of aggravated identity theft which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. All counts also carry a potential $250,000 maximum fine.

SBA-Office of Inspector General and U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Day is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is an accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

HOUSTON – A 31-year-old former law enforcement official has entered a guilty plea to production and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Andrew Craig Sustaita, of Spring, was previously a Harris County deputy sheriff at the time of the offense, but is no longer employed there.

A federal grand jury indicted Sustaita Feb. 1, 2017, on charges of possession and production of child pornography. He appeared in court shortly thereafter, at which time the court found him to be a danger to the community and a risk of flight and ordered him into custody.

Today, Sustaita pleaded guilty to both counts as charged.

As part of his plea, Sustaita admitted he posted child erotica images to a known child pornography website and had commented on other similar images on that same site. The investigation led to Sustaita whose online presence included a pay-to-play bestiality website. Further information presented to the court included discussions of the amount and types of images authorities have discovered on two devices attributable to Sustaita. The court heard that one video includes a known young girl showering. Other images contain Sustaita’s genitalia placed on or near the identified young female victim’s head while she appears to be sleeping and others that include Sustaita attempting to expose that child’s genitalia.

Further investigation led to the discovery of the identified victim’s images on a computer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sustaita admitted he had distributed the images via the internet.

U.S. District Judge Sim Lake accepted the pleas and set sentencing for June 6, 2018. At that time, Sustaita faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 and up to 30 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child (production of child pornography) as well as another 10-year-maximum sentence for possessing child pornography. The charges are also punishable by a possible $250,000 maximum possible fine. Upon completion of any prison term imposed, Sustaita could also face up to life on supervised release during which the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect the children and prohibit the use of the Internet. Sustaita would also be required to register as a sex offender.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.  

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri Zack is prosecuting 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."

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 34-year-old Harlingen man has been ordered to federal prison for his role in the robbery of a Bank of America in Harlingen on May 26, 2017, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Adrian Paul Ross pleaded guilty Nov. 29, 2017. 

Today, U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen handed Ross a 42-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court considered Ross’s mental health history and other characteristics. Ross was further ordered to undergo mental health treatment while incarcerated. At the hearing, Ross acknowledged his criminal conduct and apologized for what he had done.

On Nov. 29, 2017, Ross entered the Bank of America located on Van Buren Street wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses. He waited in line, then approached a bank employee and claimed to want to make a deposit. He approached the teller and displayed what was written on his smart phone screen. In all caps Ross had written “EMPTY OUT YOUR DRAWER.” The teller then gave Ross the money she had in her possession but also triggered the silent alarm. Ross fled the scene, but was apprehended shortly thereafter.

Ross has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The FBI and Harlingen Police Department conducted the investigation.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Two people have been ordered to federal prison following their convictions related to a conspiracy to purchase and smuggle an M203 Grenade Launcher as well as three semi-automatic rifles, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

ulce Maria Rippstine, 38, of San Juan, and Juan Martin Segura-Olvera, 57, of Reynosa, Mexico, pleaded guilty Dec. 7, 2017, and June 29, 2017, respectively.

Today, U.S. District Rolando Olvera ordered Rippstine to serve 37 months in prison, while Segura-Olvera received a 50-month term of imprisonment. Rippstine was further ordered to serve two years of supervised release. Not a U.S. citizen, Segura-Olvera is expected to face deportation proceedings following his prison term. The court acknowledged Rippstine’s and Segura-Olvera’s similar roles in the offense, but gave individual consideration to their actions as well as the actions of the other co-defendants.

Beginning in the fall of 2016, purchasers located in Mexico had negotiated the sale of a grenade launcher and three assault rifles with undercover federal agents who were posing as black market arms dealers. Acting on behalf of the purchasers in Reynosa, Rippstine and Segura met with the agents on Feb. 7, 2017, in Los Fresnos. Following the purchase, Rippstine and Segura were to act as the munitions transporter to facilitate the exportation and smuggling into Mexico.

Oscar Fredy Garcia, 31, of Reynosa, and Jorge Cortez-Trujillo, 42, of Veracruz, Mexico, were also members of the conspiracy. Garcia had been living illegally in the United States when he arrived in Los Fresnos on Feb. 7, 2017. In his possession was $5,000 to pay for the previously negotiated exchange. Cortez-Trujillo also illegally entered the United States prior to Feb. 7, 2017. His role was to inspect the grenade launcher and other munitions to insure the quality for the buyer in Mexico.

Rippstine had travelled to Reynosa to pick up Segura-Olvera before returning to the United States to meet at the predetermined location on Feb. 7. After an initial meet-and-greet, money was exchanged and Cortez-Trujillo inspected the grenade launcher, commenting that he was familiar with the weapon and was ex-Mexican military. He also stated that ammunition for the weapon was available in Mexico and that he had crossed these weapons previously. After he completed the inspection, Cortez-Trujillo directed the agents to load the munitions into the backseat of Rippstine’s vehicle. At that time, all four men were taken into custody.

Garcia and Cortez-Trujillo were each sentenced to five years in prison for their role in the conspiracy late last year.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Corley is prosecuting the case.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 28-year-old Brownsville man has been sentenced following his conviction of possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Cristhian Osornio pleaded guilty Nov. 17, 2016.

Today, U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen sentenced Osornio to 78 months in federal prison. Osornio was further ordered to pay restitution to the victims and will serve the rest of his life on supervised release following completion of his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

In October 2015, authorities conducted an undercover internet operation and found child pornography being distributed online. The investigation led them to an address in Brownsville linked to Osornio. Law enforcement later executed a search and seizure warrant at the address and seized a computer belonging to Osornio. Forensic analysis on the device revealed 845 images and 1,300 videos of child pornography.

He was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Marshals Service at a later date.  

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) - Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Task Force conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ana Cano and Jason Corley prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 54-year-old resident of Kingwood has received a second federal sentence for failing to appear in court, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Oscar Cantalicio Ortiz pleaded guilty Dec. 4, 2017.

Today, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt handed Ortiz another 12 months and one day to be served consecutively to the already-imposed 262 months for his conviction of bank fraud.

Ortiz was originally convicted for a mortgage fraud scheme in which he admitted he conspired to commit bank, mail and wire fraud. He was permitted to remain on bond pending his sentencing in that case, but was ordered to wear a GPS monitoring device secured around his leg as a condition of his release.

On April 21, 2017, he cut off the device and left it on the side of the road in southwest Houston. His vehicle was later found abandoned in a parking lot in the same area of town. 

On April 24, 2017, Ortiz was set to appear before U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt for sentencing in the mortgage fraud scheme. He failed show for that hearing.

He was residing in Mexico and turned himself in to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, Mexico on Aug. 23, 2017. Ortiz told the FBI at the Embassy that he was a fugitive from the United States and had decided to flee because he wanted more time to work on a project. He was flown back to Houston the following day.

Upon his arrival, agents noted that Ortiz had changed his appearance by growing facial hair and dying it and his hair red. Ortiz admitted he had purchased a second car to replace the one he abandoned and drove across the border into Mexico where he stayed until his arrest.

While a fugitive, Judge Hoyt imposed the nearly 22-year sentence in absentia which will be served consecutively to the term imposed today.

The FBI conducted the investigation of both cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Annis is prosecuting the cases.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A federal jury sitting in Brownsville has convicted a 35-year-old man for conspiracy and methamphetamine smuggling, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. The jury deliberated for less than three hours following a six-day trial before convicting Jesus Yzaguirre Jr., of Brownsville, on all four counts as charged. 

The jury heard that on Feb. 25, 2017, Yzaguirre Jr. drove into the United States through the Gateway Port of Entry in Brownsville. At primary inspection, Yzaguirre said he had gone into Mexico to “borrow the van” he was driving from his uncle. He was referred for secondary inspection, at which time he then said he had gone into Mexico to pick up the van which belonged to him. Agents searched the van and discovered 29.4 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden within the floorboard and frame compartments. 

Yzaguirre then gave a statement saying he thought he was bringing the van in for another person to use for alien smuggling. The person, a female friend whom he “bumped into in Matamoros” asked him to pick up the van at a parking lot, according to his statement. She was to pay him $50 for taking it into the U.S. and parking it at a certain location. Yzaguirre said he had previously done the same thing with a different van which he parked somewhere in Brownsville.

Further investigation revealed Yzaguirre had in fact crossed a commercial van on three other occasions, each time going through the Sarita checkpoint. Agents interviewed an acquaintance of Yzaguirre who said Yzaguirre had admitted to knowing there were drugs in the van when he was arrested and that he had been working for “La Guera” who was in charge of the drug loads.

Yzaguirre was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 29.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute the methamphetamine, conspiracy to import methamphetamine and importation of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera presided over the trial, and set sentencing for June 20, 2018. At that time, Yzaguirre faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison as well as a $10 million fine. He will remain in custody pending that hearing.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protections. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Oscar Ponce and Angel Castro are prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – An accountant from Georgia has been ordered to federal prison after admitting he committed wire fraud and stole more than $3 million from his former employer and client, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Daniel Nathan West, 52, of Duluth, Georgia, pleaded guilty Sept. 15, 2016.

Today, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt, who accepted the guilty plea, handed West a 108-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, additional evidence was presented including a statement by the president and CEO of Airis Internatioanl Holdings, West’s former employer and client. In handing down the sentence, Judge Hoyt ordered West to pay restitution in the amount of $3,561,166.11.

West was previously employed as the treasurer and chief financial officer for Airis. In this role, he was to manage Airis finances during construction projects, control the company’s monetary assets, administer payments and payroll, among other things.

In 2005, West resigned from Airis to start his accounting firm - Westtree Financial. Shortly thereafter, Airis contracted with Westtree Financial to provide accounting services to Airis. Although West no longer worked directly for Airis, through his company he continued to have signature authority on Airis’ bank accounts and authority to transfer funds on behalf of Airis. 

From 2005 to 2012, West embezzled more than $3 million from Airis, admitting he used the monies to purchase a million-dollar home in Georgia, a beach house in Florida, an office building in Georgia and luxury vehicles.

West was first arrested Oct. 13, 2015, and released on bond. However, he was later taken into custody after Judge Hoyt determined West had violated his conditions of release. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Vernon Lewis is prosecuting the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A Mexican National on a visitor visa is set to appear in court on charges he attempted to smuggle illegal aliens behind a load of produce, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

A federal grand jury returned the indictment against Luis Valero-Carrizales, 39, Feb. 28. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jason Libby at 9:30 a.m. today, at which time the government expects to request his continued detention pending further criminal proceedings.

The charges allege Valero-Carrizales conspired to transport illegal aliens hidden behind a load of produce in the trailer portion of the 18-wheeler he was driving. On Dec. 16, 2017, Valero-Carrizales allegedly drove a freightliner and approached the primary inspection lane at the U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoint near Falfurrias. During a routine immigration inspection, a service canine alerted to the trailer, according to the charges.

The indictment alleges that during a subsequent search of the vehicle, authorities discovered 53 illegal aliens hidden inside. The temperature inside the refrigerated trailer was allegedly 54 degrees.

He was taken into custody at that time, upon the filing of a criminal complaint.

If convicted, Valero-Carrizales faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the U.S. Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Miller is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

HOUSTON – The victim in what has become known as the Katy Nanny case has been presented with a check for the full amount of restitution owed to her, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

“This woman now has a better chance at a fresh start,” said Patrick. “We cannot undo the mental and physical harm she has experienced as a result of what her tormenters did to her. However, what we can do is give her what she is owed and the ability to regain some financial stability.”

Sandra and Chudy Nsobundu brought the Nigerian woman here to serve as their nanny for their five children under the guise of a better life. However, during her more than two years with the couple, the victim was forced to work practically 24 hours a day, seven days a week and was subjected to verbal and physical abuse. She could not eat with the family and was forced to sleep on the floor between the beds of two minor children.

Sandra Nsobundu, 50, pleaded guilty to unlawful conduct with respect to documents in furtherance of forced labor, while her husband - Chudy Nsobundu, 58, pleaded to visa fraud. As part of their pleas, they had previously agreed to pay restitution to the victim but argued that amount should not exceed $30,000 for the entire time the woman worked for them. However, an expert with the Department of Labor – Wage and Hour Division compiled an extensive report detailing the amount of wages due to the victim. Ultimately, at a hearing that concluded Jan. 5, 2018, U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas ordered the couple to pay $121,035.04 in restitution to the victim. They were also ordered to serve sentences of 14 months – seven in prison and another seven on home confinement. In addition to the restitution, Sandra Nsobundu was further ordered to pay an additional $5,000 fine per the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015. Both will also be required to serve a term of three years of supervised release following completion of the prison term.

In typical restitution matters, defendants are ordered to pay a set amount monthly, which is usually not set to begin until the complete the service of their sentences. In this case, the Nsobundus payments were set at a total of $500 per month. At that rate, it would have taken more than 20 years for the victim to receive full compensation. However, the FLU at the U.S. Attorney’s Office uncovered the Nsobunsu’s significant financial means and immediately worked to obtained their banking information and secure the full restitution payment with interest totaling $121,046.91.

The woman had begun working for the couple from on or about Sept. 29, 2013, through Oct. 10, 2015.

After obtaining the woman’s visa, the Nsobundus paid to transport the victim from Nigeria to the U.S. Once here, Sandra Nsobundu took the victim’s passport and copies of her bank statement. The defendants then concealed, removed and possessed the woman’s passport and visa with the intent to violate the forced labor statute. As part of their pleas, they admitted they intended to prevent and restrict, without lawful authority, the victim’s liberty and ability to move and travel in order to maintain her labor and services. 

The couple knowingly unlawfully obtained the labor and services of this woman from on or about Sept. 29, 2013, to Oct. 10, 2015. Throughout the period she worked for defendants, the victim was not permitted to have her passport or visa. The Nsobundus knowingly enacted a scheme intended to cause the woman to believe that failure to perform the labor and services would result in serious harm to her. They also threatened abuse of law and the legal process. The scheme included not paying the victim and restricting her movement to the defendants’ residence or two short walks per day around the block with the children. They also frequently yelled at, scolded and berated the victim for moving too slowly or failing to care for the children in the manner they wanted. In addition, the Nsobundus threatened to send the woman back to Nigeria if she did not comply with their labor demands.   

The Nsobundus had previously agreed to pay the victim 20,000 Nigerian nairas-$100 U.S. per month. The Nsobundus never paid the victim for any of her work here in the United States.

The victim was rescued Oct. 10, 2015, after more than two years with Nsobundus in the U.S. following a tip to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center.

“Labor trafficking often hides in plain sight,” said Patrick. “Suburban neighbors saw something was out of place and listened to their instincts when stories did not add up. They brought this case to light. We need the public’s help to notify law enforcement. If you see something, say something. A simple phone call ended this victim’s bondage.”

The Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA) conducted the investigation. HTRA law enforcement includes members of the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Houston Police Department, sheriff’s offices in Harris and Montgomery counties, Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission, Texas Attorney General’s Office, Department of State-Diplomatic Security Service, Department of Labor, IRS and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Established in 2004, the United States Attorney’s office in Houston formed the HTRA to combine resources with federal, state and local enforcement agencies and prosecutors, as well as non-governmental service organizations to target human traffickers while providing necessary services to those that the traffickers victimized. Since its inception, HTRA has been recognized as a national model in identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking and prosecuting those engaged in trafficking offenses. In 2016, the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance received $1.5 million in federal funds from the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Office for Victims of Crime through the Enhanced Collaborative Model Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force Program, which provides funding to investigate and prosecute cases of human trafficking and provide services to victims.

Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Julie N. Searle and former AUSA Ruben R. Perez prosecuted the case. AUSA Martha Minnis and legal assistants Christina Hill, Kimmie Logan and Corey Richardson were responsible for the recovery of the restitution.

McALLEN, Texas – A 30-year old resident of McAllen has been sentenced to federal prison following his conviction of receipt of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Rodrigo Garcia-Fuentes pleaded guilty June 2, 2017.

Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane took into consideration the age of the victims depicted in the videos and photographs, as well as the number of images possessed by the defendant and handed Garcia-Fuentes a sentence of 70 months in prison. Garcia-Fuentes was further ordered to be on supervised release for the remainder of his life following completion of his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender and pay restitution to the victims in the amount of $62,500. 

Garcia-Fuentes came to the attention of law enforcement following an investigation which began April 4, 2016, into persons using the Internet to traffic in child pornography. A special agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) was able to locate and identify a computer as offering to participate in the receipt of child pornography videos through a peer-to-peer network on the Internet. Through the investigation, it was determined that the computer was located at a residence in McAllen.   

On July 29, 2016, HSI agents executed a federal search warrant at the McAllen residence, during which time they seized a computer. A forensic examination on the computer revealed 650 videos and 658 images of child pornography involving minor children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. These videos included children under the age of 12 involved in sadistic conduct and other depictions of violence. Some of the videos are of known victims as identified through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Garcia-Fuentes admitted he downloaded and viewed child pornography from the Internet, thereby receiving the child pornography found on his computer. He admitted he had been downloading child pornography for approximately four years.

Garcia-Fuentes will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

HSI conducted the investigation.

This case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Paxton, 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."

HOUSTON – A 57-year-old an illegal alien from Mexico has pleaded guilty to harboring illegal aliens, using a firearm during a crime of violence, illegal re-entry and being an alien in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

J. Matias Picazo-Lucas was convicted today.

On Aug. 3, 2017, an individual contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to report that a person had been smuggled into the United States and was being held against his will in Houston. That person advised that the unknown smugglers were demanding money in return for the release of the alien.

An undercover agent called the smuggler and arranged to meet him at a grocery store on Bellaire Boulevard to conduct a buyout of the relative. Law enforcement was on the scene when Picazo-Lucas arrived with two aliens who were being held. The agent and Picazo-Lucas discussed the payment, after which time authorities took Picazo-Lucas into custody. At the time of his arrest, he was found to be carrying a loaded .38 caliber pistol.

The two aliens were here illegally from Guatemala and indicated Picazo-Lucas and another individual, subsequently identified as Omar Picazo-Torres, had transported them to Houston in a tractor-trailer. Picazo-Lucas and Picazo-Torres held the hostages at gunpoint in order to intimidate them and prevent their escape.

The conspirators made phone calls to the person who had reported the kidnapping and other friends and family members of the hostages demanding payment for the release of the hostages.

U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison accepted the plea today and has set sentencing for May 24, 2018. At that time, Picazo-Lucas faces a total of a minimum five years and up to life for the two firearms convictions, another 10 years for harboring aliens and a maximum of 20 years on the illegal re-entry conviction. Each count carries a potential fine of up to $250,000.

Mexican National Omar Picazo-Lucas, 19, remains a fugitive and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact HSI at 866-DHS-2-ICE.

HSI, Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office and the Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Douglas Davis and Kevin Lear are prosecuting the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 31-year-old Corpus Christi man has been ordered to prison for his admission of possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Adam Thomas Simington pleaded guilty Nov 9., 2017.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos sentenced Simington to 120 months in prison. handing down the sentence, the court noted that “the children’s souls are destroyed because of you Mr. Simington. Simington was further ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and will serve the rest of his life on supervised release following completion of his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the Internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

At the time of his plea, the court heard Simington was previously convicted in the state of Oklahoma for possessing child pornography and was required to register as a sex offender. Law enforcement learned he was in possession of child pornography and seized several digital devices from Simington’s residence which resulted in the discovery of more than 900 images of child pornography.

Previously released on bond, Simington was taken into custody following the sentencing today where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department - Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugo R. Martinez is prosecuting 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."

HOUSTON – A 38-year-old Houston woman has been ordered to prison for submitting falsified fund requests to an investment adviser for the Basilian Father’s Missions of the Catholic Church (BFM), announced U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick. Rosina K. Blanco pleaded guilty Oct. 24, 2017, to one count of wire fraud.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas ordered her to prison for a total of 41 months. The sentence will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release, during which time she can hold no job that has financial responsibilities or access to sensitive or confidential information. She was further ordered to pay $1,107,425.91 in restitution.

At the hearing, the court found Blanco caused more than $1 million in unauthorized transfers from BFM accounts to accounts in her name. The court also heard about the effect Blanco’s criminal behavior has had on the BFM, who offered a victim impact statement describing the deleterious effect to the relationship of trust between the BFM and its donors and noting they had likely lost donations as a result of Blanco’s scheme.

Blanco accomplished the theft by using a computer to transmit fraudulent and falsified funds transfer requests from the Southern District of Texas to the BFM investment manager in St. Louis who then unwittingly transferred more than $1 million in BFM funds. 

“From a position of great trust, this woman placed greater importance on her dog than on the children many parishioners and donors worked hard to support,” said Patrick. “She decided to treat herself to designer handbags and thousands of dollars on doggy spa treatments. Brazen theft of this magnitude is disgraceful.”

The BFM is headquartered in Sugar Land and raises money in North America to support schools in Mexico and Colombia. It reports to the Congregation of St. Basil, an order of Catholic priests headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The BFM receives funding from several sources to include the Congregation of St. Basil in Canada, individual mail solicitations and mission offerings.

On Aug. 31, 2015, Blanco was hired to be the bookkeeper for the BFM. From September 2015 to October 2016, Blanco facilitated the transfer of approximately $1,107,425 from BFM accounts to her personal accounts without authorization. Instead of the funds going for mission and ministry work among disadvantaged people in Colombia and Mexico, Blanco instead used the majority of the money for personal expenses such as jewelry, furniture, luxury cars, real estate, Louis Vuitton handbags, goods and services for her dog and other luxury items.

She will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Beek prosecuted the case.

Weldon Marshall, 43, of the Dallas, Texas area, entered a plea today of guilty to one count of unlawfully retaining national defense information.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick of the Southern District of Texas made the announcement.

From the early 2000s, Weldon Marshall unlawfully retained classified items while he served in the U.S. Navy and while working for a military contractor.

Marshall served in the U.S. Navy from approximately January 1999 to January 2004, during which time he had access to highly sensitive classified material, including documents describing U.S. nuclear command, control and communications.  Those classified documents, including other highly sensitive documents classified at the secret level, were downloaded onto a compact disc labeled “My Secret TACAMO Stuff.”  He later unlawfully stored the compact disc in a house he owned in Liverpool.

After he left the Navy, Marshall worked for various companies that had contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense.  He worked for such a contractor until his arrest in January 2017.  While employed with these companies, Marshall provided information technology services on military bases in Afghanistan, where he also had access to classified material.  During his employment overseas, and particularly while he was located in Afghanistan, Marshall shipped hard drives to his Liverpool, Texas, home.  The hard drives contained documents and writings classified at the secret level about ground operations in Afghanistan. 

Marshall has held a top secret security clearance since approximately 2003 and a secret security clearance since approximately 2002. 

U.S. District Judge George Hanks accepted Marshall’s plea today and set sentencing for May 21.  Marshall faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.  The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes.  The actual sentence will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  Marshall was permitted to remain on bond pending the sentencing hearing.

The Army’s 902d Military Intelligence Group and the FBI conducted the investigation.  Trial Attorney Matthew Walczewski of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Leuchtmann and Alamdar Hamdani of the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A 43-year-old man residing in Sherman area has entered a plea of guilty to one count of unlawfully retaining national defense information, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick and Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers.

From the early 2000s, Weldon Marshall unlawfully retained classified items while he served in the U.S. Navy and while working for a military contractor.

Marshall served in the U.S. Navy from approximately January 1999 to January 2004, during which time he had access to highly sensitive classified material, including documents describing U.S. nuclear command, control and communications. Those classified documents, including other highly sensitive documents classified at the secret level, were downloaded onto a compact disc labeled “My Secret TACAMO Stuff.” He later unlawfully stored the compact disc in a house he owned in Liverpool.

After he left the Navy, Marshall worked for various companies that had contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense. He worked for such a contractor until his arrest in January 2017. While employed with these companies, Marshall provided information technology services on military bases in Afghanistan, where he also had access to classified material. During his employment overseas, and particularly while he was located in Afghanistan, Marshall shipped hard drives to his Liverpool home. The hard drives contained documents and writings classified at the secret level about ground operations in Afghanistan. 

Marshall has held a top secret security clearance since approximately 2003 and a secret security clearance since approximately 2002. 

U.S. District Judge George Hanks accepted Marshall’s plea today and set sentencing for May 21, 2018. At that time, he faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a maximum $250,000 fine. He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

The Army’s 902d Military Intelligence Group and the FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Leuchtmann and Alamdar Hamdani are prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney Matthew Walczewski of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

HOUSTON – A grand jury in Houston has returned three separate indictments charging a total of eight Houston men with robbery and using firearms during these crimes of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. The indictments represent a joint initiative aimed at reducing violent takeover robberies of local businesses by organized crews of armed robbers. 

The eight men had been in state custody on related charges. All but one - Joe Gutierrez, 19 - are set to appear today at 10:00 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Palermo. The separate, but similar indictments were all returned Feb. 21, 2018.

Those charged in the first case include Gutierrez, Derrick Isaiah Stewart, 19, and Patrick Earl Cooper Jr., 20. A father and son are charged in a separate indictment - Marcus Hargove, 45, and Christopher Michael Carmon, 26, while the remaining three - Deamonta Frederick Taylor, 22, Joshua Marquise Turner, 22, and Kevin Eugene Harrison, 22 – are charged together in the third case.

The first indictment alleges four specific robberies of local pawn shops, during which the defendants stole firearms, cash and jewelry. Stewart, Gutierrez and Cooper are charged with aiding and abetting interference with commerce by robbery and aiding and abetting use, brandishing and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Specifically, on Sep. 28, 2017, Cooper and others allegedly robbed the Cash America Pawn at gunpoint on 6015 Lyons Street, during which time a firearm was discharged. Six days later, Stewart and others allegedly robbed the Cash America Pawn at gunpoint on 5219 Airline Drive. The indictment alleges that later in October, Stewart and Cooper joined forces to rob the Cash America Pawn at 8223 North Freeway at gunpoint. Cooper, Stewart and Gutierrez were finally captured and arrested Oct. 31, 2017, after allegedly robbing the Cash America Pawn at 1816 North Durham Street at knifepoint.

Hargove and his son - Carmon - are charged in the second case with aiding and abetting interference with commerce by robbery and aiding and abetting use and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Specifically, they are suspected in multiple armed robberies of MetroPCS stores which occurred between October and November 2017. The son is charged in three robberies, two of which were allegedly committed with his father. The indictment alleges that during each of the robberies, they took turns going into the store and ordered employees to give them cash from the cash register.

In the final case, Taylor, Turner and Harrison are charged in connection with a spree of commercial robberies occurring in November 2017. Taylor is charged with five counts of interference with commerce by robbery and five counts of aiding and abetting use and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, while Turner and Harrison are charged with one count each of these crimes. Between Nov. 2-8, 2017, Taylor is alleged to have robbed three different MetroPCS stores and one Subway restaurant in the Northwest Houston area, while Taylor, Turner and Harrison allegedly robbed a Cricket Wireless store in Northwest Houston on Nov. 9, 2017. Taylor, Turner and Harrison were apprehended Nov. 9, 2017, immediately after the commission of their last robbery, according to the indictment. 

If convicted, the men face a sentence of up to 20 years on the robbery charges. The firearms offenses carry a minimum of seven years for the first conviction, while an additional conviction carries a 25-year minimum sentence. Those charges must also be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed. They also face up to $250,000 in fines for any of the offenses.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Houston Police Department were involved in all three of the investigations. The Harris County Precinct One Constable’s Office assisted with the Cash America robbery investigations, while the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Department of Public Safety were the co-investigators on the other two matters.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather Winter, Jennie Basile and Richard Hanes are prosecuting the three cases, respectively.

The indictments are an example of coordination between law enforcement who are part of the Houston Law Enforcement Violent Crime Initiative. The goal is to proactively fight and reduce violent crime across the Greater Houston area by targeting the region’s most violent offenders, augmenting investigative and prosecutorial efforts, and enhancing training, public awareness and education.

The cases are brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In late 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

LAREDO, Texas – Two men have been ordered to prison in separate, but similar schemes involving drugs given to them in Mexico and destined for the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Ernesto Siller-Valdez, a 40-year-old truck driver from Saltillo-Coahuila, Mexico, and Ricardo Isguerra Chavez, 43, of Michoacan, Mexico, both pleaded guilty Dec. 4, 2017, to conspiring to import methamphetamine in separate cases.

Today, Visiting U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison ordered them both to serve 60 months in federal prison. Not U.S. citizens, they are expected to face deportation proceedings following their sentences.

On Oct. 5, 2017, Siller-Valdez entered the United States via the World Trade Bridge port of entry in Laredo driving a 2007 Freightliner. He was referred to secondary inspection, at which time law enforcement discovered two wooden chock blocks and two fire extinguishers in the sleeper area of the cab. Further inspection revealed a total of 22.78 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed inside the blocks and fire extinguishers.  Laboratory analysis revealed the drugs have a purity level of 97%.

Siller-Valdez stated he had met a male subject at a bar in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, who asked him if he was interested in making money by smuggling narcotics into the United States. Siller-Valdez agreed and was to be paid 30,000 Mexican pesos to transport the narcotics to Laredo. He met with that individual on Oct. 4, 2017. Siller-Valdez said he did not know exactly what he was smuggling but knew it was drugs.

In the Chavez case, he claimed that in early September 2017, four men approached him in Mexico and told him he would be paid 20,000 Mexican pesos for taking something into the United States. He claimed he was told that if he did not agree, the men would harm his family, so he agreed.

On Sept. 19, 2017, some unknown men dropped off two speaker boxes which he installed in his tractor. Chavez said he did not know exactly what was in the speaker boxes but knew it was illegal. The next day, he approached the Columbia Solidarity Bridge in Laredo driving a Tropex tractor and trailer, where law enforcement discovered 12 packages of a white, powdery substance found to be methamphetamine. The total amount found was nearly 21.956 kilograms.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted both investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Bukiewicz is prosecuting the cases.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Three Mexican nationals have pleaded guilty to conspiring to import 611 kilograms of marijuana into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Julio Cesar Cruz-Amaro, 31, Tito Mar-Herrera, 35, and Miguel Angel Ender-Diaz, 56, admitted they conspired to import marijuana into the United States while on board a vessel.

On Dec. 13, 2017, authorities detected and captured a Mexican lancha boat crew illegally transporting narcotics while in federal waters off southern Texas. Cruz-Amaro, Mar-Herrera and Ender-Diaz were interdicted in the vicinity of Packery Channel near Port Aransas along with one lancha and 30 bales of marijuana totaling 611 kilograms. 

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) originally detected the vessel offshore traveling northbound towards the United States which was then intercepted with the assistance of Custom and Border Protection (CBP) approximately nine nautical miles offshore. 

They had admitted a criminal organization hired them to bring the drugs into the United States through Corpus Christi.

A lancha is a fishing boat used by Mexican fishermen that is approximately 20-30 feet long with a slender profile, typically has one outboard motor and is capable of traveling at speeds exceeding 30 mph.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has set sentencing for July 18, 2018. At that time, each defendant faces a minimum of five and up to 40 years in federal prison and a possible $5 million maximum fine.

All  three defendants have been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

USCG conducted the investigation with the assistance of CBP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Miller prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A federal grand jury in Houston has returned a 13-count indictment against a Mexican National for allegedly running a fake kidnapping ransom extortion scheme that covered several states and nearly 40 victims, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan J. Patrick.

Ismael Brito Ramirez aka Mike Ramirez, 38, is currently incarcerated in Mexico on unrelated charges.

According to the indictment returned yesterday, Ramirez used Mexican telephone numbers to call numerous victims throughout the United States in Texas, California and Idaho, during which he would falsely represent he had kidnapped a victim’s child. Ramirez then allegedly demanded money for the safe release of the victim’s child. The indictment further alleges that to prevent victims from contacting their loved one or law enforcement, Ramirez threatened to cause bodily harm to the family member or child if the victim disconnected from the line or did not comply with his demands.

“It is important for people to be aware of these types of schemes and report them even if they know they are fake,” said Patrick. “Extortionists count on victims’ fear during the calls and embarrassment afterwards to not notify authorities and it is imperative they do so, whether falling victim or not. If you get a call like this, hang up and contact your loved one and law enforcement immediately.”

The indictment alleges victims were typically instructed to wire money to individuals in Mexico. However, two victims were allegedly directed to make money drops at specified locations in Houston on Sept. 17, 2015, and Sept. 30, 2015, respectively. Both were told their daughters had been kidnapped because they had witnessed a crime, according to the allegations. The victims were also allegedly told that if they failed to comply with the caller’s instructions, their daughters’ fingers would be cut off.

The indictment alleges the victims paid a total of approximately $28,000. 

Ramirez is charged with conspiracy to commit extortion, interstate transmission of extortionate communications, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to launder money. All of the charges carry a possible 20-year-maximum prison term upon conviction.

The FBI - Los Angeles Field Office, IRS - Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation along with police departments in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Los Angeles. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Suh is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

LAREDO, Texas – A Laredo man and a Houston woman are headed to federal prison in separate, but similar cases involving drug smuggling via their vehicles, announced Ryan K. Patrick.

Celeste Esperanza Muñoz, 27, and Ismael Gonzalez, 34, pleaded guilty in December and September 2017, respectively.

Today, Visiting U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison ordered Muñoz to serve a 70-month term of imprisonment for her conviction of conspiracy to import methamphetamine. Gonzalez entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana and received a sentence today of 80 months in prison. Muñoz and Gonzalez were further ordered to serve five and four years of supervised release, respectively.

On Sept. 7, 2017, Muñoz arrived at the International Bridge II in Laredo for inspection. Soon after, law enforcement discovered 56 kilograms of methamphetamine in a false compartment inside the gas tank of the Ford Explorer she was driving.   

In the second case, Gonzalez admitted he took part in a conspiracy to smuggle 171.2 kilograms of marijuana. On July 1, 2017, he attempted to smuggle the drugs in the rear compartment of the 2005 Hummer he was driving. Authorities uncovered the marijuana after he arrived at the IH-35 checkpoint for inspection.

Muñoz was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Gonzalez has been and will remain in custody.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation involving Muñoz, while the Drug Enforcement Administration and Border Patrol worked the Gonzalez matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney José Angel Flores Jr. prosecuted both cases.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 34-year-old former Corpus Christi resident has entered a guilty plea to wire fraud and tax evasion, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Brian Perez, now of San Antonio, is a Certified Public Accountant. As part of his plea, Perez admitted that while working as a bookkeeper, he orchestrated the fraudulent transfer of funds from his employer’s bank account to his personal tax withholding account. Perez also admitted he filed a false income tax return and requested a refund of the overpayment.

Through this scheme, Perez defrauded his employer of $162,775 between March 9, 2015, and Aug. 7, 2015. 

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos accepted the plea today and set sentencing for July 18, 2018. At that time, Perez faces up to 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud as well as a maximum three years for tax evasion. Both charges also carry as possible punishment a $250,000 maximum fine.

IRS-Criminal Investigation and the FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. Thorpe Jr. is prosecuting the case.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas ‐ A federal judge has imposed a guilty verdict against a speech therapist and part-owner of a pediatric speech therapy for conspiring to defraud Texas Medicaid through fraudulent billings, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen presided over the seven-day trial that occurred in September 2017. Today, the court found Georgia Phillips, 67, of Olmito, guilty of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Judge Hanen found that she conspired with the clinic’s biller to submit false and fraudulent claims to Texas Medicaid on behalf of Children’s First Pediatric Rehabilitation (CFPR) in Harlingen and Georgia M. Phillips LLC in Brownsville.  

The evidence presented during the bench trial showed that the biller for CFPR and Georgia M. Phillips LLC submitted thousands of false and fraudulent claims to Texas Medicaid for children’s therapy services that were not provided, submitted duplicate bills for therapy services that had already been paid by Medicaid and overbilled therapy services that were provided.

The court heard evidence that from May 1, 2009, to May 31, 2012, CFPR and Georgia M. Phillips LLC submitted false and fraudulent claims totaling $821,145 to Texas Medicaid for children’s therapy services allegedly provided to Texas Medicaid recipients on behalf of the two companies.

The defense attempted to convince the judge that the fraudulent claims were the result of sloppy billing on the part of the biller. Judge Hanen did not believe defense’s argument and found Georgia Phillips guilty of conspiring to defraud Texas Medicaid.

Conspiracy to commit health care fraud carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in federal prison and a potential $250,000 maximum fine.

Sentencing has been set for June 5, 2018. Phillips was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

The Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Department of Health and Human Services‐Office of Inspector General, FBI and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Day and Andrew Swartz are prosecuting the case.

GALVESTON – A 37-year-old Galveston sex offender has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction for distribution and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. 

Adam Vargas pleaded guilty April 21, 2017.

Today, Judge George C. Hanks ordered Vargas to serve 300 months in prison for the distribution charge and 240 months in prison for the possession charge to run concurrently. Vargas was further ordered supervised release for life following completion of his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. In imposing the sentence, the court noted his prior conviction of two counts of aggravated sexual assault against a minor.

Vargas came to the attention of law enforcement after investigators found evidence he was uploading child pornography to his DropBox account. A search warrant was executed on Vargas’ residence on Sep. 24, 2015, at which time investigators found the cellphone he used to upload and store the child pornography. During a forensic examination on that phone, agents found more than 2,000 images and 1,100 videos of child pornography. This was in addition to the numerous images and videos of child pornography found in his DropBox account.

The FBI and the Galveston Police Department conducted the investigation.

This case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Ann Leo, 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."

HOUSTON – The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against the City of Houston alleging the Houston Fire Department (HFD) discriminated against two female firefighters on the basis of sex in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick and Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division. Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin and religion.

The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of Texas, alleges that Jane Draycott and Paula Keyes were subjected to a hostile work environment based on sex when they were employed as firefighters at HFD’s Station 54. According to the complaint, HFD’s hostile work environment included males urinating on the walls, floors and sinks of the women’s bathroom and dormitory, disconnecting the cold water to scald the women while they were showering and deactivating the female dormitory’s announcement speakers so the women could not respond to emergency calls. The complaint further alleges the conduct culminated in death threats and vulgar slurs written on the walls of their work and living spaces at Station 54 and on their personal possessions. This conduct continued despite at least nine complaints made to management, according to the allegations.

The lawsuit further alleges that HFD retaliated against Draycott in response to her complaints by permitting her co-workers to publicly disparage her in an attempt to prevent her from returning to work at Station 54 and that she was forced into early retirement because of her intolerable working conditions.  

Other female firefighters who had previously worked at Station 54 allegedly made similar complaints to HFD about sex-based discrimination prior to Draycott and Keyes working there. According to the complaint, HFD did not take meaningful steps to stop the discrimination. 

Through this lawsuit, the United States seeks to require HFD to develop and implement policies that would prevent sex discrimination and retaliation. The United States also seeks monetary relief for Draycott and Keyes to compensate them for the damages they sustained as a result of the alleged discrimination.

“No employee should be subjected to a hostile work environment based on their sex,” said Patrick. “We will aggressively protect employees who are victims of sex discrimination and retaliation and pursue employers who violate the law.”

“Far too often, women are targeted and harassed in the workplace because of their sex,” said Gore. “Employees have the right to work in an environment that is free from sex discrimination and retaliation. The Civil Rights Division—under the newly created Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Initiative—will continue to work vigorously to protect employees from these workplace abuses.”

Draycott and Keyes each filed charges of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC’s Houston Office investigated the charges and made reasonable cause findings. After unsuccessful conciliation efforts, the EEOC referred the charges to the Justice Department. 

The Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section brought the case in collaboration with the U.S. Attorneys’ Office for the Southern District of Texas.

This lawsuit is the first of a new initiative that the Department of Justice announced today - the Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Initiative - which is aimed at combatting sexual harassment and sex-based harassment in the public sector workplace. It is the second initiative created under the leadership of Attorney General Jeff Sessions to combat sexual harassment. The first initiative - the Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative - was announced in October 2017 to fight sexual harassment in housing.

More information about Title VII and other federal employment laws is available on the Civil Rights Division’s website at www.justice.gov/crt. 

HOUSTON – A 45-year-old woman has been convicted of charges related to defrauding the Federal Highway Administration Congestion mitigation Air Quality and Surface Transportation Program (FHWA-CMAQ), announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick along with Special Agent in Charge Joseph Zschiesche of the Department of Transportation - Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG). The jury deliberated for less than two hours following a two-day day trial before convicting Shonda Renee Stubblefield of all the counts in the indictment - theft of public money, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft.

The jury found that Stubblefield, the owner of World Corporation Inc. (WCI)., stole $125,659.90 from the Department of Transportation (DOT) CMAQ program funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

The CMAQ Program provides money to reduce traffic congestion and thereby reduce air pollution in certain areas. The jury heard that Stubblefield stole the money by falsely and fraudulently representing to Houston Galveston Area Counsel (HGAC) that she had hundreds of employees working at WCI who participated in a telework program designed to reduce air-pollution.

The United States proved through documents and 25 witnesses that Stubblefield created a fake business list, fake bank records, fake income and earnings statements and other false WCI business records including employee timesheets, invoices and match documents. The testimony included that of an individual whose identification information Stubblefield stole and used to create a fake $18,100 check that was submitted to the government to further the theft. The evidence and testimony revealed Stubblefield created at least 500 fake and fictitious WCI employee profiles that included fake names, addresses and email accounts.

The defense attempted to convince the jury that Stubblefield was not the person who engaged in the criminal activity, despite the fact that her name was on virtually all WCI business records, at least four witnesses identified her and the money trail lead directly to Stubblefield’s bank account.

“These cases illustrate how agency works tirelessly against individuals who defraud hardworking taxpayers and steal money intended to reduce traffic congestion and improve the air quality in Texas,” said Zschiesche. 

U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett presided over the trial and will sentencing at a later date. At the time of her sentencing, Stubblefield faces up to 10 years in prison for theft of public money, 20 years for mail fraud and wire fraud, 10 years for money laundering as well as a mandatory two years for the identity theft which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. All counts also carry as possible punishment a $250,000 maximum fine. Previously released on bond, Stubbefield was taken into custody following the guilty verdict where she will remain pending that hearing.

The DOT-OIG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Redlinger and Michael Day prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 31-year-old Mexican woman has been ordered to federal prison for her role in conspiring to hold two U.S. nationals hostage in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Ruth Sarahi Lopez-Espinoza, of Nuevo Laredo, pleaded guilty Feb. 15, 2017.

Today, Visiting U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison handed Lopez-Espinoza a total sentence of 153 months in federal prison. At the hearing, two kidnapping victims spoke of the pain and destruction this event inflicted on them and their families. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that this was one of the worst cases he has seen during his time on the bench. Lopez-Espinoza was ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution to the two victims. Not a U.S. citizen, Lopez-Espinoza is expected to face deportation proceedings following the sentence.

On July 16, 2006, four men wearing masks and brandishing pistols kidnapped two U.S. nationals as they were leaving a wedding reception of a co-worker from a Laredo restaurant. The masked captors forced the victims into the victims’ vehicle and to wear hoods. They were taken to an unknown residence in Nuevo Laredo and detained for two days until the ransom demands were met. The captors demanded $20,000 and the victims’ two vehicles.

During their confinement, the captors told the victims there was an employee at the restaurant who was providing them with current information about what actions were being taken to secure their release. The kidnappers also said they knew about the wedding reception and that they were targeted because of their vehicle  - a Chrysler 300.

With cooperation from Mexican law enforcement, U.S. authorities eventually identified Christina Rodriguez, an employee at the restaurant where one of the victims worked at the time, and her sister - Lopez-Espinoza - as the persons who provided the captors with information about the wedding date, location, targets and real time information about investigative efforts during the detention of the victims.

Lopez-Espinoza was arrested in Nuevo Laredo on March 12, 2015, and later extradited to the United States June 28, 2016. 

She has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Rodriguez, 42, of Laredo, was also convicted and previously sentenced to 168 months in federal prison and also ordered to pay restitution to the victims.

The kidnappers who executed the plot are currently incarcerated in Mexico for a separate but similar scheme.  

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Christopher S. Coker is prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 22-year-old Texas man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of importing more than 56 kilograms of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Amado Flores-Casas Jr., of Elgin, pleaded guilty Sept. 1, 2017.

Today, U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison handed Flores a total sentence of 120 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that this was the defendant’s first drug offense and had no record of violent crimes. 

On June 17, 2017, Flores arrived at the Lincoln Juarez International Bridge in Laredo driving a white Ford F-150. He was ordered to secondary inspection, at which time agents using a fiber optic scope noticed crystallization and a thick milky substance below the gasoline inside the tank of the vehicle.  Authorities removed the gas tank and discovered approximately 56.78 kilograms of  liquid methamphetamine.

Flores will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher S. Coker prosecuted the case. 

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Sea World Management & Trading Inc. and Edmon Fajardo were convicted today for maintaining false and incomplete records relating to the discharge of oil and garbage from an oil tanker that was operating off the coast of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick and Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey H. Wood.

Sea World Management & Trading Inc. is a tank vessel operating company, and Fajardo is the master of the tank vessel Sea Faith. Both admitted that oil cargo residues and machinery space bilge water were illegally dumped from the Sea Faith directly into the ocean while the vessel was transiting to Corpus Christi without the use of required pollution prevention equipment. They also admitted that these discharges were not recorded in the vessel’s Oil Record Book as required. Specifically, on five different occasions between March 10, 2017, and March 18, 2017, Fajardo ordered crew members to illegally discharge oily waste from various locations of the vessel’s cargo/deck spaces. These oily waste discharges bypassed the use of the vessel’s required oil discharge monitoring equipment and were done while the vessel was in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

Sea World Management & Trading Inc. and Fajardo further admitted that on March 10, 2017, and March 15, 2017, Fajardo ordered crew members to throw plastics, empty steel drums, oily rags, batteries and empty paint cans directly overboard into the ocean. None of these garbage discharges were recorded as required in the vessel’s Garbage Record Book. 

Sea World Management & Trading Inc. and Fajardo pleaded guilty to two felony violations of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships for failing to accurately maintain the Sea Faith’s Oil Record Book and Garbage Record Book. Under the terms of the plea agreement, the company will pay a total fine of $2.25 million and serve a three-year term of probation during which all vessels the company operated and calling on U.S. ports will be required to implement a robust Environmental Compliance Plan. Fajardo was also sentenced today to six months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $2,000 fine. 

The U.S. Coast Guard Corpus Christi Sector, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service and Environmental Protection Agency-Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney-In-Charge Julie K. Hampton and Trial Attorney Stephen Da Ponte of the Environmental Crimes Section of the Department of Justice prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON –  The final two defendants charged in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud involving their former employer have pleaded guilty, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. 

Michell Garcia, 36, and Ray Torres, 46, both of Houston, admitted they electronically submitted falsified vendor requests for payment to divert money to themselves from their former employer’s bank account. Torres pleaded guilty today, while Garcia pleaded guilty Feb. 16, 2018. A third member of the scheme - Sonja Martinez, 47 of Rosharon, entered her guilty plea Feb. 9, 2018.

All three worked at the Houston branch of a Florida-based security company that installed, tested and monitored fire and security systems. The Florida company had acquired the Houston branch from another company and Garcia, Torres and Martinez all worked at the predecessor company. 

The company used third party vendors to install its alarm systems. Garcia, Torres and Martinez all worked in the Accounting Department and were responsible for paying the vendors and noting in the company’s accounting system. From November 2011 until May 2016, they all participated in a scheme to divert approximately $1,661,163 to themselves and their family members. 

A computer in Texas was used to submit fraudulent vendor requests for payment to their employer’s out-of-state bank. The defendants then utilized an electronic bank token to release funds and transfer money from their employer’s account to their own bank accounts and the bank accounts of their relatives. 

U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison set sentencing for Torres on May 10, 2018, while Garcia and Martinez are set for May 3 and April 26, 2018, respectively. All face up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine. At the hearing today, the court also entered a money judgment against Torres for $174,647.48, while Garcia and Martinez have respective money judgements for $801,198.40 and $739,450.36.  

All were permitted to remain on bond pending their sentencing hearings.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Beek is prosecuting the case.