Western District of Texas
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Private Shipping Company to Pay $400,000 to Settle Allegations of Transshipping Fentanyl Precursor ChemicalsRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – IMC Pro International Inc. has agreed to pay $400,000 to the United States to resolve allegations it violated the Controlled Substances Act through transshipping fentanyl precursor chemicals.
The United States alleged IMC Pro International Inc., a North Carolina-based shipping and logistics company, entered business agreements with several companies operating in China. Under the terms of these arrangements, IMC Pro agreed to provide these Chinese companies with access to IMC Pro’s accounts for common carriers in order to generate domestic shipping labels for the final destinations of various goods and products sold or manufactured by the Chinese companies. These labels identified IMC Pro as the company or entity shipping the packages, though IMC Pro did not store or handle the packages at any time, nor did IMC Pro maintain any records concerning the contents of the packages.
The United States became aware of these business agreements after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration seized five packages in Eagle Pass, identifying IMC Pro as the shipper. Chemical analysis determined the five packages contained a total of 26.4 kgs of 1-BOC-4 Piperidone, a List I Regulated Chemical; and 138.66 kgs of (2-Bromoethyl) benzene, a chemical on the DEA’s Special Surveillance List and a laboratory supply within the definition provided under 21 U.S.C § 842(a)(11). Both chemicals are known to be used in the production of fentanyl. The United States alleged its investigation determined these packages were imported into the United States from China, transshipped to Eagle Pass, and intended for transport across the U.S./Mexican border where they were to be sent to be used in the production and manufacture of illicit fentanyl.
“In the face of the fentanyl epidemic, my office will hold both those who distribute illicit fentanyl and those who provide the means to manufacture such substances accountable for their actions,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “IMC Pro took on a responsibility to ensure the packages shipped under its name complied with federal laws and regulations. I encourage shipping and logistics companies that may have engaged in similar business arrangements to uphold their own responsibilities and assist in the efforts to stop the flow of fentanyl.”
“In addition to going after the drug cartels, DEA will continue to hold companies accountable who make it easy for drug trafficking organizations to get their hands on precursor chemicals to produce deadly synthetic drugs like fentanyl,” said Special Agent in Charge Daniel Comeaux for the DEA Houston Division. “This first-of-its-kind settlement exposes loopholes some companies are exploiting to bring poison to our communities.”
The settlement includes an affirmation by IMC Pro that it will not engage in similar business agreements with foreign-based entities at any time now or in the future; the affirmation is binding on the company’s successors in interest as well. IMC Pro, upon being made aware its domestic shipping accounts had been used to transship fentanyl precursors, immediately took steps to shut down such shipping accounts and end the prior business agreements. IMC Pro is further cooperating with the United States to assist in identifying other instances of transshipment of fentanyl precursors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Van De Walle negotiated the settlement on behalf of the United States.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
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Mexican National Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Transporting AliensRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – A Mexican national was sentenced in a federal court in El Paso to 97 months in prison for conspiracy to transport aliens.
According to court documents, Victor Ubaldo Hernandez-Ortega, 33, of Durango, worked as a load driver for a known human smuggler. As such, he would pick up illegal aliens in El Paso and transport them to other locations in El Paso or to a predetermined location in Albuquerque, New Mexico in exchange for $100 to $500 per alien. Additionally, Hernandez-Ortega was recruited to oversee two stash houses, between which more than 200 illegal aliens were harbored.
Hernandez-Ortega had previously been granted four voluntary departures, most recently on June 9, 2024, through Santa Teresa, New Mexico. He was arrested Aug. 21, 2024, and pleaded guilty Dec. 20, 2024.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Dearden prosecuted the case.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Driver of Second Human Smuggling Vehicle Involved in 2021 Del Rio Incident Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Salvadoran national was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 120 months in prison for his role in a deadly human smuggling operation that occurred in 2021.
According to court documents, Juan Alonso Barrientos-Quintanilla, 23, was apprehended and identified as one of 12 illegal aliens who fled from one of two vehicles involved in a failed human smuggling operation on Highway 277, March 15, 2021. The other vehicle, driven by Sebastian Tovar, crashed, killing eight of its nine illegal alien passengers.
Following the crash, U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered the second smuggling vehicle, leading to the attempted traffic stop and, subsequently, Barrientos-Quintanilla and the other illegal aliens fleeing on foot. All 12 illegal aliens were apprehended. Barrientos-Quintanilla initially claimed to be one of the aliens being smuggled, however, he later admitted to being the load driver of the vehicle. He pleaded guilty July 23, 2023 to one count of aiding and abetting illegal alien transportation resulting in death.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations, USBP and the Texas Department of Public Safety investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Banister prosecuted the case.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Files 200 New Immigration Cases This Week in the Western District of TexasRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 210 immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from March 14 through March 20.
Among the new cases, Mexican national Carlos Alberto Santoyo Holguin and Guatemalan national Bielman Alexander PU-Ruiz were arrested on March 16 and March 18, respectively, during Greyhound bus inspections at the Sierra Blanca Border Patrol checkpoint. Both defendants allegedly did not have any immigration documents that would allow them to be or remain in the United States legally. Records checks revealed prior removal orders by immigration judges. Criminal complaints allege that agents found fraudulent Social Security cards and fraudulent Lawful Permanent Resident Alien cards in the belongings of both Holguin and PU-Ruiz. The defendants are alleged to have purchased the fraudulent documents in California.
A convicted felon who is a citizen and national of Guatemala was arrested by Marfa Border Patrol Agents. A criminal complaint alleges that Marvin Miguel US-Mendoza was not in possession of immigration documents allowing him to legally be or remain in the U.S. and he had been previously removed from the U.S. four times—the first being Feb. 19, 2016 through Brownsville/Gateway, and the most recent deportation through Laredo on Dec. 9, 2024.
Manuel Andres-Miguel was also arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents and charged with transporting illegal aliens after he was allegedly guiding a group of illegal aliens through the desert to a pick-up location in Marfa. Records revealed that Andres-Miguel had been apprehended three times before for illegal entry and was last charged with illegal reentry after removal in March 2023. For that offense, he was sentenced to 90 days in federal prison.
In Del Rio, Ashley Nicole Dronenberg and Zachery Lee Justus were arrested for allegedly trafficking two illegal aliens further into the U.S. A criminal complaint alleges that Dronenberg was the driver of a vehicle, and was discovered at a Border Patrol checkpoint to have concealed a mother and child in the rear cargo area of the vehicle.
Jose Manuel Medellin-Guerrero was arrested in San Antonio March 20 and charged with one count of illegal re-entry. A Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office deputy dispatched Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) during a traffic stop after Medellin-Guerrero allegedly revealed he was a Mexican national with no legal status to enter, pass through, or remain in the country. Medellin-Guerrero has been previously convicted three times for illegal re-entry into the U.S.
Mexican national Reymundo Criado-Cruz was transferred to federal custody in Austin, where he had been convicted in state court for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and was serving a 700-day sentence. Criado-Cruz had been previously removed from the U.S. to Mexico twice, most recently in December 2007, and has an extensive record of criminal convictions, including burglary of a vehicle, theft of property, possession of a controlled substance, and evading arrest.
Also in Austin, Ezequiel Borja-Jaimes was arrested March 19 when he was encountered by the ICE Austin Fugitive Operations team. Borja-Jaimes had been previously removed from the U.S. in January 2021. He has been convicted of driving while intoxicated on three separate occasions between 2013 and 2021.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Mexican National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assaulting a USBP Agent During ArrestRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Mexican national was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 14 months in prison for one count of assaulting, resisting or impeding a United States Border Patrol agent.
According to court documents, on Feb. 3, 2024, Adrian Olan-Peralta, 21, of Tabasco, Mexico, resisted arrest by a USBP agent after being commanded in both English and Spanish to lie down and put his hands up after being identified hiding on a private ranch near Bracketville. While the agent attempted to apprehend him, Olan-Peralta attempted to push and grab the agent’s hands multiple times. Olan-Peralta had to be sprayed with OC spray twice and was eventually apprehended while attempting to crawl away.
Olan-Peralta had illegally crossed into the U.S. from Mexico through the Rio Grande River on Feb. 2, 2024. Olan-Peralta pleaded guilty on May 13, 2024.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matt Kass and Rex Beasley prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Texan Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sex with a Minor in Mexico Resulting in 2 BirthsRead the Press Release
Correction: A previous version of this press release stated that when Garcia applied for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CBRA), he misrepresented the age of the victim as 21 and 23 at the time of the two births. Court documents indicate Garcia was 21 and 23 years old at the time of the births and applied for CBRAs with that information--not misrepresenting the victim's age.
DEL RIO, Texas – A U.S. citizen who had been traveling to and from Mexico was sentenced today in a federal court in Del Rio to 188 months in prison for engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place.
According to court documents, David Manuel Garcia, 42, traveled from the U.S. to Mexico between July 2003 and August 2008, and engaged in forced sexual acts with a minor victim under the age of 18, which resulted in the birth of two children. Records indicate that the victim was 13 years old at the time of the first birth, and 15 years old when she gave birth to the second child.
Garcia was arrested Dec. 11, 2018 at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry. Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses found Garcia guilty in a bench trial on Aug. 26, 2022.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Holly Pavlinski prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Former Valentine ISD Employee Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Federal FundsRead the Press Release
PECOS, Texas – A former Valentine Independent School District employee was sentenced in a federal court in Pecos to 27 months in prison for wire fraud and theft concerning programs receiving federal funds.
According to court documents, Ernesto Villarreal Jr., 43, of Marfa, was employed as the Business Manager and served as the Tax Collector and Assessor for the Valentine ISD, in Valentine, Texas. During his time as an agent of Valentine ISD, Villarreal schemed to defraud Valentine ISD by using two ISD credit cards to make hundreds of unauthorized personal purchases totaling over $100,000; issued over $10,000 in unauthorized checks to himself from Valentine ISD accounts; and issued over $20,000 in unauthorized checks from Valentine ISD accounts to cover personal expenses owed to a credit card company. He also changed the bank account information for certain current and former employees, then generated over $100,000 in fraudulent payments to those current and former employees, for work that did not actually occur. Villarreal then routed those payments to his own personal bank accounts, all without the knowledge or permission of the employees.
Villarreal used the ill-gotten funds for hundreds of personal purchases, including but not limited to purchases for travel, lodging, home improvements, hardware store purchases, personal cell phone bills, fuel, oil changes, convenience store purchases, Airbnb rentals, personal flight purchases, and various other unauthorized purchases. The total loss to Valentine ISD was $314,497.74.
Villarreal was arrested on June 24, 2024 and pleaded guilty Nov. 20 to all nine counts against him. In addition to imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge David Counts ordered Villarreal to pay restitution to Valentine ISD in the amount of $314,497.74 and ordered a forfeiture money judgment against Villarreal in the amount of $291,853.90.
“Mr. Villarreal abused his positions and the trust given to him, to steal and defraud the Valentine ISD—one of the smallest school districts in Texas—out of more than $300,000,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “This investigation, conviction, and sentence in this case all show that this type of dishonest behavior will not be tolerated.”
"The foundation of any financial system is trust—and the expectation that those persons entrusted with public funding will honor that trust and act with integrity. As the Valentine School District Business Manager and Tax Collector/Assessor, Villarreal held a position of absolute trust. Instead, he chose to betray that trust by misappropriating funds that were destined for students,” said Special Agent in Charge John Morales for FBI El Paso. “Most students and everyday citizens don’t have access to institutional finances to be able to question discrepancies or missing funds. That is why the FBI El Paso, alongside our law enforcement partners, is committed to uncovering financial wrongdoing and ensuring those who believe they can quietly take $300,000 without consequence are held fully accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Texas Rangers and the Department of Education Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Fedock, Scott Greenbaum and Chris Skillern prosecuted the case.
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New Braunfels Man who Planned Mass Murder Attacks Sentenced to over 6 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A New Braunfels man was sentenced in federal court today to 78 months in prison for a charge related to his planned mass murder attacks that were thwarted by federal and local law enforcement.
According to court documents, Cameron Darrick Peterson, 20, began planning mass shootings since November 2022. On Jan. 4, 2024, Peterson attempted to purchase a 12-gauge shotgun from a New Braunfels pawn shop. He completed the required background check and was denied due to his age and the type of firearm he was attempting to purchase. On May 31, he attempted to purchase an assault weapon-style 12-gauge shotgun from the pawn shop and was denied a second time.
FBI agents obtained an arrest warrant on June 5, and Peterson was immediately taken into custody by the New Braunfels Police Department. During a search of his home, FBI agents found and seized an altered .22 caliber long rifle with a sawed-off buttstock and six magazines loaded with 60 rounds.
On June 6, as part of a federal search warrant, agents reviewed Peterson’s Instagram account, revealing statements Peterson had made about plans to attack a gas station. Also on June 6, Peterson was recorded from jail instructing a witness to hide or destroy a videotape he had made in which he surveilled a grocery store to plan a future attack.
On June 10, another search of Peterson’s home revealed a box that contained 11 aerosol containers and other ingredients to manufacture destructive devices. One of the containers was determined that it could be readily made operational and was categorized as an Improvised Explosive Device. The IED was not registered in the National Firearms Registry, nor could it be due to Peterson’s age.
Peterson was indicted in June 2024 for three counts related to firearm and explosive offenses. He pleaded guilty on Oct. 30, 2024, to one count of attempt to receive firearm to use to commit a felony.
“This case is demonstrative of how our law enforcement and the systems in place to prevent certain firearm purchases by those under the legal age work in tandem to successfully prevent mass murder events like this defendant had planned,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Due to the fine investigative efforts and teamwork of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the New Braunfels Police, and other local and federal partners, Peterson’s plans to detonate explosives and slaughter innocents in multiple locations in our district were deterred.”
“Americans should be able to live free from fear of becoming a victim of a mass shooter. Thankfully, Peterson’s plans were thwarted when vigilant citizens saw something and said something,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI San Antonio Field Office. “We are grateful to our partners on the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force - especially the San Antonio Fire Department, the New Braunfels Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the United States Attorney's Office for their continued assistance in keeping our communities safe. Cases like this are a priority for the FBI and we encourage anyone who observes something suspicious, potential indicators of violence, or threats against our community to report them at tips.fbi.gov. Together we can prevent acts of mass violence.”
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, San Antonio Fire Department, New Braunfels Police Department, and ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Roomberg and Eric Yuen prosecuted the case.
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Human Smuggling Foot Guide Convicted of 2 Counts by Federal Jury in Del RioRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A federal jury in Del Rio convicted Nicacio Arellano-Garcia today for one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and one count of illegal alien transportation placing lives in jeopardy.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Arellano-Garcia, 34, of Mexico, conspired to transport five illegal aliens with codefendant Alexander Galvez-Zelaya, 30, of Honduras, and other facilitators. Arellano-Garcia served as the foot guide, while Galvez-Zelaya was the driver.
Arellano-Garcia walked the five illegal aliens through the brush for two days. One of the illegal aliens fainted just before getting picked up by Galvez-Zelaya and, at some point before or entering the vehicle, the alien died. A medical examiner later confirmed the deceased illegal alien died from a combination of dehydration and environmental exposure to walking in the brush.
On Feb. 11, 2024, the illegal aliens and the foot guide were picked up in the vehicle driven by Galvez-Zelaya. A high speed chase with law enforcement ensued when a Zavala County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop for defective license plate lighting. Galvez-Zelaya exceeded speeds of 100 miles per hour and crashed into a private property fence near La Pryor. Both Arellano-Garcia and Galvez-Zelaya were arrested and confirmed to be illegally present in the United States.
Galvez-Zelaya pleaded guilty Nov. 4, 2024 to one count of conspiracy to transport aliens placing lives in jeopardy and is scheduled to be sentenced May 28. Both defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison for each count.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Warsame Galaydh and Matt Kass are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Two Men Convicted and a Third Extradited from Guatemala to the United States for Involvement in 2022 Mass Casualty Alien Smuggling Event in San Antonio, TXRead the Press Release
Two men were convicted today by a federal jury for their roles in a 2022 mass casualty alien smuggling event in San Antonio, Texas, that resulted in 53 deaths and 11 aliens injured. A third man allegedly involved in the same fatal smuggling incident was extradited from Guatemala to the United States to face justice in the case.
“These convictions and extradition represent the Justice Department’s commitment to prosecuting the leaders, organizers, and key facilitators of alien smuggling networks that bring people illegally — at significant risk to life — into the United States,” said Supervisory Official Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “It is a powerful example of the crucial work of Joint Task Force Alpha, which has been enhanced and empowered to go after cartels and transnational criminal organizations and to eliminate the scourge of human smuggling and trafficking.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Felipe Orduna-Torres, also known as Cholo, Chuequito, and Negro, 30, and Armando Gonzalez-Ortega, also known as El Don and Don Gon, 55, conspired with others as part of an alien smuggling organization that loaded approximately 66 aliens into a tractor trailer, which lacked functioning air conditioning, and drove the aliens north across the U.S.-Mexico border and on a Texas interstate. On June 27, 2022, as the temperature rose, some of the migrants inside the trailer lost consciousness, while others clawed at the walls, trying to escape. By the time the tractor-trailer reached San Antonio, according to the evidence presented at trial, 48 migrants had already died. Another five migrants died after being transported to local hospitals. Six children and a pregnant woman were among the deceased. The defendants conspired with others to facilitate the travel of the aliens from Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras to the United States, charging the aliens and their families approximately $12,000 to $15,000 for the perilous journey.
Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death, resulting in serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, one count of transportation of illegal aliens resulting in death, and one count of transportation of illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy. For both counts resulting in death, they each face a maximum penalty of life in prison at their sentencing on June 27. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
In addition, extensive coordination and cooperation between U.S. and Guatemalan law enforcement authorities resulted in the extradition of Rigoberto Ramon Miranda-Orozco, 48, an alleged leader of a Guatemala-based alien smuggling organization, for his alleged role in the San Antonio mass casualty incident.
“The extradition of Miranda-Orozco to U.S. custody is a major step in the takedown of a large and complex human smuggling organization he is alleged to be a part of,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Just as we’ve shown throughout the trial of Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega, we will continue to prosecute this case aggressively — seeking justice for those who have perished, and holding accountable those who illegally value profit over human life.”
“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) aggressively targets human smugglers, no matter where they operate or how far they think they can hide,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio. “These verdicts reflect the scope and depth of our human smuggling investigations. From country of origin to final destination, our special agents have worked tirelessly to track these criminals down and dismantle their entire smuggling network. One by one we are seeing the consequences of human smuggling as the justice system prevails.”
According to court documents, Miranda-Orozco conspired with other smugglers to facilitate the travel of four aliens from Guatemala through Mexico, and ultimately, to the United States, charging the families approximately $12,000 to $15,000 for the deadly journey. In particular, Miranda-Orozco is alleged to be responsible for smuggling three migrants who perished in the tractor trailer.
In August 2024, Miranda-Orozco was arrested in Guatemala pursuant to a U.S. request for his extradition. His arrest was part of a large-scale takedown during which Guatemalan law enforcement executed multiple search and arrest warrants across Guatemala. Miranda-Orozco was indicted under seal in the Western District of Texas (WDTX), and his indictment was unsealed after he was arrested. Miranda-Orozco made his initial appearance Monday in federal district court in San Antonio and was arraigned on the indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States resulting in death, three counts of aiding and abetting bringing an alien to the United States resulting in death, one count of conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, and one count of aiding and abetting bringing an alien to the United States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy.
The convictions and extradition are the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern District of California, District of Arizona, District of New Mexico, and Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 355 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 315 U.S. convictions; more than 260 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
HSI San Antonio led U.S. investigative efforts, working in concert with HSI Guatemala’s invaluable team members, and the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. HSI received substantial assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center/Operation Sentinel; U.S. Border Patrol; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the San Antonio Police Department; the San Antonio Fire Department; and the Palestine Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Guatemala to secure the arrest and extradition of Miranda-Orozco and, along with the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT), provided crucial assistance in this matter.
The case against Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Fuchs, Sarah Spears, and Amanda Brown for the Western District of Texas. The case against Miranda-Orozco is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s HRSP Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney/JTFA prosecutor Jose Luis Acosta for the Western District of Texas, with assistance from HRSP Historian/Latin America Specialist Joanna Crandall.
The Justice Department thanks its Guatemalan law enforcement partners, who were instrumental in arresting Miranda-Orozco, and the Guatemalan Attorney General’s Office and Anti-Human Smuggling Unit for making the extradition possible.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Dos hombres condenados y un tercero extraditado de Guatemala a Estados Unidos por su participación en contrabando masivo de extranjeros en 2022 en San Antonio, TexasRead the Press Release
Dos hombres han sido condenados hoy por un jurado federal por su participación en un caso de contrabando masivo de extranjeros ocurrido en 2022 en San Antonio (Texas), en el que fallecieron 53 personas y 11 extranjeros resultaron lesionados. Un tercer hombre presuntamente implicado en el mismo incidente mortal de contrabando fue extraditado de Guatemala a Estados Unidos para comparecer ante la justicia por este caso.
“Estas condenas y extradiciones representan el compromiso del Departamento de Justicia de perseguir a los líderes, organizadores y facilitadores clave de las redes de contrabando de extranjeros que introducen ilegalmente a personas, con un riesgo significativo para la vida, en Estados Unidos,” declaró el funcionario supervisor Matthew R. Galeotti, jefe de la División Penal del Departamento de Justicia. “Es un potente ejemplo de la labor crucial de la Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta Alpha (JTFA), que ha sido mejorada y facultada para perseguir a los cárteles y las organizaciones delictivas transnacionales así como para eliminar la lacra del contrabando y la trata de seres humanos.”
Según los documentos judiciales y las pruebas presentadas en el juicio, Felipe Orduna-Torres, también conocido como Cholo, Chuequito y Negro, de 30 años, y Armando González-Ortega, también conocido como El Don y Don Gon, de 55 años, conspiraron con otras personas como parte de una organización de contrabando de extranjeros que cargó a aproximadamente 66 extranjeros en un remolque de camión, que carecía de aire acondicionado en funcionamiento, y condujo a los extranjeros hacia el norte a través de la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México y por una carretera interestatal de Texas. El 27 de junio de 2022, a medida que subía la temperatura, algunos de los migrantes que se encontraban en el interior del remolque perdieron el conocimiento, mientras que otros arañaban las paredes intentando escapar. Cuando el camión de remolque llegó a San Antonio, según las pruebas presentadas en el juicio, ya habían muerto 48 migrantes. Otros cinco murieron tras ser trasladados a hospitales locales. Entre los fallecidos había seis niños y una mujer embarazada. Los acusados conspiraron con otros para facilitar el viaje de los extranjeros desde México, Guatemala y Honduras a Estados Unidos, cobrando a los extranjeros y sus familias entre 12.000 y 15.000 dólares por el peligroso viaje.
Orduna-Torres y González-Ortega fueron condenados cada uno por un cargo de conspiración para el transporte de extranjeros ilegales con resultado de muerte, lesiones corporales graves y poner la vida en peligro, un cargo de transporte de extranjeros ilegales con resultado de muerte y un cargo de transporte de extranjeros ilegales con resultado de lesiones corporales graves y poner la vida en peligro. Por ambos cargos con resultado de muerte, se enfrentan a una pena máxima de cadena perpetua en la sentencia que se dictará el 27 de junio. Un juez federal de distrito determinará la sentencia tras considerar las directrices de Estados Unidos para la imposición de penas y otros factores estatutarios.
Además, la amplia coordinación y cooperación entre las autoridades policiales estadounidenses y guatemaltecas dio lugar a la extradición de Rigoberto Ramón Miranda-Orozco, de 48 años de edad, presunto dirigente de una organización de contrabando de extranjeros con sede en Guatemala, por su presunta participación en el incidente con fallecimientos masivos de San Antonio.
“La extradición de Miranda-Orozco a Estados Unidos es un paso importante en el desmantelamiento de una gran y compleja organización de contrabando de personas de la que presuntamente forma parte,” declaró la fiscal en funciones de Estados Unidos para el Distrito Oeste de Texas, Margaret Leachman. “Al igual que hemos demostrado a lo largo del juicio de Orduna-Torres y González-Ortega, continuaremos procesando este caso enérgicamente, buscando justicia para aquellos que han perecido, y responsabilizando a aquellos que ilegalmente valoran el beneficio económico por encima de la vida humana.”
“El Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE) de Estados Unidos persigue enérgicamente a los traficantes de seres humanos, independientemente de dónde operen o de lo lejos que crean que pueden esconderse,” declaró el agente especial al mando Craig Larrabee, de la Oficina de Investigaciones de Seguridad Nacional (HSI) del ICE en San Antonio. “Estos veredictos reflejan el alcance y la profundidad de nuestras investigaciones sobre el contrabando de personas. Desde el país de origen hasta el destino final, nuestros agentes especiales han trabajado incansablemente para localizar a estos delincuentes y desmantelar toda su red de contrabando. Uno a uno estamos viendo las consecuencias del contrabando de seres humanos a medida que se impone la justicia.”
Según los documentos judiciales, Miranda-Orozco conspiró con otros traficantes para facilitar el viaje de cuatro extranjeros desde Guatemala a través de México y, en última instancia, a Estados Unidos, cobrando a las familias entre 12,000 y 15,000 dólares por el mortal viaje. En particular, Miranda-Orozco es presuntamente responsable del contrabando de tres migrantes que perecieron en el remolque del camión.
En agosto de 2024, Miranda-Orozco fue detenido en Guatemala en respuesta a una solicitud de extradición de Estados Unidos. Su detención formó parte de una operación a gran escala durante la cual las fuerzas del orden guatemaltecas ejecutaron múltiples órdenes de registro y detención en Guatemala. Miranda-Orozco fue acusado bajo secreto de sumario en el Distrito Oeste de Texas (WDTX), y su acusación se hizo pública tras su detención. Miranda-Orozco compareció por primera vez el lunes ante el tribunal federal de distrito de San Antonio y fue acusado de un cargo de conspiración para introducir a un extranjero en Estados Unidos con resultado de muerte, tres cargos de complicidad para introducir a un extranjero en Estados Unidos con resultado de muerte, un cargo de conspiración para introducir a un extranjero en Estados Unidos causando lesiones corporales graves y poniendo vidas en peligro, y un cargo de complicidad para introducir a un extranjero en Estados Unidos causando lesiones corporales graves y poniendo vidas en peligro.
Las condenas y la extradición son el resultado de los esfuerzos coordinados de la Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta Alpha (JTFA). La JTFA, una asociación con el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS), ha sido elevada y ampliada con el mandato de dirigirse contra los cárteles y organizaciones criminales transnacionales que operan en México, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panamá y Colombia para eliminar el contrabando y la trata de personas. En la actualidad, la JTFA está integrada por funcionarios de las fiscalías de Estados Unidos situadas a lo largo de la frontera suroeste, incluidos el Distrito Sur de California, el Distrito de Arizona, el Distrito de Nuevo México y los Distritos Oeste y Sur de Texas. Numerosos componentes de la División Penal del Departamento de Justicia, dirigidos por la Sección de derechos humanos y procesos especiales (HRSP) y apoyados por la Sección de lavado de dinero y recuperación de activos, la Oficina de operaciones de aplicación de la ley y la Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales, entre otros, prestan un apoyo específico. La JTFA también cuenta con una importante inversión de las fuerzas del orden procedentes del DHS, el FBI, la DEA y otros socios. Hasta la fecha, la labor de la JTFA se ha saldado con más de 355 detenciones nacionales e internacionales de dirigentes, organizadores y facilitadores importantes del contrabando de extranjeros; más de 315 condenas en Estados Unidos; más de 260 importantes penas de prisión impuestas; y decomisos de importantes bienes.
El HSI San Antonio dirigió los esfuerzos de investigación de Estados Unidos, trabajando conjuntamente con los valiosos miembros del equipo del HSI Guatemala y la Unidad contra el Contrabando de Personas del HSI en Washington D. C. El HSI recibió ayuda sustancial del Centro Nacional de Identificación/Operación Centinela de la Oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza de Estados Unidos; la Patrulla Fronteriza de Estados Unidos; la Agencia de Alcohol, Tabaco, Armas de Fuego y Explosivos (ATF); el Departamento de Policía de San Antonio; el Departamento de Bomberos de San Antonio; y el Departamento de Policía de Palestina. La Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales del Departamento de Justicia colaboró con las fuerzas del orden de Guatemala para lograr la detención y extradición de Miranda-Orozco y, junto con la Oficina de Desarrollo, Asistencia y Capacitación Fiscal en el Extranjero (OPDAT) de la División Penal, prestó una ayuda crucial en este asunto.
El caso contra Orduna-Torres y González-Ortega está siendo procesado por los fiscales federales adjuntos Eric Fuchs, Sarah Spears y Amanda Brown para el Distrito Oeste de Texas. El caso contra Miranda-Orozco está siendo procesado por la abogada Alexandra Skinnion de la sección HRPS de la División Penal y el fiscal adjunto de Estados Unidos/fiscal JTFA José Luis Acosta para el Distrito Oeste de Texas, con la asistencia de la historiadora HRSP/especialista en América Latina Joanna Crandall.
El Departamento de Justicia agradece a sus socios guatemaltecos del sector policial, que fueron fundamentales para la detención de Miranda-Orozco, y a la Unidad contra el tráfico ilícito de migrantes del Ministerio Público de Guatemala por hacer posible la extradición.
Una acusación es simplemente una alegación. Se presume la inocencia de todos los acusados hasta que se prueben culpables sin lugar a dudas razonables en un tribunal de justicia.
Texas Man Sentenced to More than 3 Years in Federal Prison for Resisting Arrest During Alien Smuggling AttemptRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Texas man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 41 months in prison for resisting arrest and endangering a United States Border Patrol agent in 2022.
According to court documents, Draylon Floyd, 25, was driving on Highway 277 near Del Rio on May 26, 2022. A USBP agent noticed several passengers in the back seat, crouched down in an attempt to conceal themselves. The agent conducted a traffic stop and, instead of pulling onto the road’s shoulder, Floyd simply stopped in the righthand lane. The USBP agent conducted an immigration inspection on three backseat passengers, determining that they were Guatemalan nationals without any legal authority or documentation to have entered or remain in the U.S.
The agent instructed Floyd to turn off the engine and informed him that he was under arrest. Floyd opened his door just partially, and when the agent grabbed his wrist to remove him from the vehicle, Floyd pushed away, turned on the car’s ignition and shifted the car into drive. The vehicle moved several feet as the agent struggled with Floyd over control of the steering wheel and gear shift. He succeeded in shifting the vehicle into neutral just as Floyd slammed his foot on the gas pedal. The agent then turned off the vehicle, drew his service weapon, and arrested Floyd. During the arrest of Floyd’s passenger, Ryan Matthew Brashier, who is also a U.S. citizen, the agent discovered a cell phone that displayed their GPS route back home.
The three illegal aliens in the backseat were lawfully arrested and transported to the Border Patrol station for further investigation and processing. A plea agreement states that Floyd and Brashier had picked up the three aliens at a church around 11pm on May 25, honking four times per a pre-arranged signal. Each of the migrants had traveled for more than two weeks from Guatemala after their families paid at least $10,000 each to an alien smuggling organization.
Brashier was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison on July 10, 2024.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
USBP investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Warsame Galaydh prosecuted the case.
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Convicted Felon was Recruited over Social Media to Smuggle Aliens, will now Spend More than 2 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – Alexzander JM Bisbee, 20, of Bryan, was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 27 months in prison for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens placing lives in jeopardy.
According to court documents, on July 3, 2024, a U.S. Border Patrol agent initiated a lawful immigration stop of an SUV traveling south on U.S. Route 377. The driver, Mark Anthony Sanchez, Jr., 22, accompanied by Bisbee, stopped the vehicle to let three undocumented noncitizens exit and run into the brush. As the agent approached the vehicle, Sanchez quickly accelerated and fled from the immigration stop. The agent returned to his vehicle and gave pursuit before ultimately terminating the pursuit for safety reasons.
Sanchez and Bisbee were later pulled over by the Sonora Police Department for speeding and ordered to exit the vehicle. A lawful search of the vehicle uncovered two 9mm semiautomatic pistols, including an AR-15–style pistol. Agents canvassed the area where the passengers were observed fleeing and apprehended two of the undocumented noncitizens that were being transported by Sanchez and Bisbee.
Bisbee admitted that an unindicted coconspirator contacted him on Instagram and offered to pay him to transport undocumented noncitizens and that he would be paid $2,000 per person. Bisbee was a convicted felon at the time of the offense, having previously been convicted of burglary of a building.
Bisbee pleaded guilty Nov. 20, 2024. Sanchez pleaded guilty to the same charge Dec. 18. His sentence hearing is scheduled for May 13.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
USBP investigated the case with support from the Sutton County Sheriff’s Office and Sonora Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jayvee Rhoda and Joshua Banister prosecuted the case.
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Western District of Texas Exceeds 200 New Immigration Cases in 4 DaysRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 215 immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from March 10 through March 13.
In Austin, several individuals were charged with illegal reentry after deportation, after being found in local area jails. Among those were Ricardo Hernandez-Hernandez, a Mexican national who had allegedly been previously removed from the United States to Mexico on two prior occasions and had been convicted of indecency with a child sexual contact and failure to register as a sex offender; Andres Garcia-Saldana, a Mexican national who had allegedly been previously removed from the United States on four occasions and had been convicted of intoxication assault with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury and driving while intoxicated three times—the third time being a felony conviction; Hernan Vasquez-Medina, a Mexican national who had allegedly been removed from the United States three times before and had been convicted of making a terroristic threat and driving while intoxicated three times—like Garcia-Saldana, Vasquez-Medina’s third DWI was charged as a felony as well; and Jaime Ricardo Lopez-Rojas, a Mexican national who had allegedly been removed from the United States a total eight times and had been convicted of illegal entry twice, illegal reentry after deportation four times, driving while intoxicated three times, and family violence assault causing bodily injury.
In the Midland-Odessa area, two individuals with prior federal convictions were found in local area jails and were charged with illegal entry after deportation. Mexican national Saul Villalobos-Vasquez was allegedly removed from the United States once before and convicted in the Eastern District of Texas for unauthorized use of a social security number for which he had been sentenced to 12-months imprisonment in 2016. Daniel Olivas-Nieto, also a Mexican national, had been allegedly removed from the United States and was previously convicted in the Western District of Texas for the illegal transportation of aliens for financial gain, for which he was sentenced to nine months imprisonment.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Leader of Meth Smuggling Conspiracy Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Maypearl man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 210 months in prison for his role as an organizer and leader in a conspiracy to import methamphetamine into the U.S. from Mexico.
According to court documents, Stetson Lee Spearman, 36, provided his pickup truck to be used to import 3.422 kgs of 100% pure methamphetamine on July 25, 2020 through the Del Rio Port of Entry. Spearman also arranged for co-defendant Linnette Rodriguez-Potter to be the driver and recruited another co-defendant, Joshua Keith Stewart, to drive to Del Rio in order to monitor the drug smuggling operation.
Spearman was arrested Dec. 10, 2021 and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to import methamphetamine on April 25, 2022.
Rodriguez-Potter was sentenced Dec. 16, 2024 to 168 months imprisonment; Stewart was sentenced Oct. 4, 2024 to 235 months; and Sally Renae Smith, who had coordinated logistics with Rodriguez-Potter through cell phone calls and text messages, was sentenced Feb. 5, 2024 to 292 months imprisonment.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
HSI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rex Beasley prosecuted the case.
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Former High School Athletic Trainer Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WACO, Texas – A Moody man who had worked as a high school athletic trainer was sentenced in a federal court in Waco to 84 months in prison for possession of visual depictions of sexual activities by minors.
According to court documents, Trevor Swift, 57, was employed as an athletic trainer at Lake Belton High School in May 2022 when students, through his office window, observed him viewing images depicting child sexual abuse material on his cell phone. Students recorded Swift’s activities and reported his conduct to administrators. Swift admitted to Temple Police Department investigators that he had viewed sexually explicit images but said they were of adult males and females. He was dismissed from campus and placed on administrative leave. Swift was arrested May 26, 2022 and was convicted in a bench trial July 31, 2024.
The investigation included seizure of an SD memory card from Swift’s office at the high school, which revealed pornographic images depicting prepubescent and pubescent children—males and females as young as 5 years of age or younger—engaged in sexual acts.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The FBI and the Temple Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Kucera prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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El Paso Man to Spend Nearly 22 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso man was sentenced in federal court today to 262 months in prison for production of a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
According to court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received information that a video depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) had been uploaded to a Dropbox account. NCMEC referred the file to Homeland Security Investigations, which traced the account information to Jose Eduardo Larin, 36. A review of the Dropbox account also revealed additional CSAM images and videos as well as documents displaying Larin’s name and image.
A forensic review of Larin's cellphone, obtained from a search warrant in August 2024, revealed 3,207 files containing CSAM. Of these, there were 31 pictures and 31 videos depicting CSAM that had been produced by Larin at this residence involving a five-year-old child. Larin was arrested Aug. 13, 2024 and pleaded guilty Nov. 21, 2024.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Micaela Glass prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Western District of Texas Files Nearly 250 Immigration Cases in First Week of MarchRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 240 new immigration-related criminal cases between March 3 and March 9—up from 153 the week prior. Of the 240 defendants, more than 160 are charged with illegally re-entering the country with the majority having felony convictions such as narcotics, violent crimes and prior immigration offenses. More than 60 face charges of illegally entering the country, six cases involve various instances of human smuggling, and the remainder relate to other immigration crimes.
Among those charged during this week were a Mexican national, who was arrested in El Pasoon criminal charges related to his alleged illegal re-entry. Clemente Galvez-Alapisco has been deported twice before, most recently June 28, 2022 after he was convicted for indecency with a child. He was also convicted of illegal re-entry in July 2019 and sentenced to five months and 11 days confinement. If convicted, Galvez-Alapisco faces up to 10 years in prison.
Also in El Paso, Mexican national Salvador Arellano-Quintero was allegedly found approximately 1.5 miles west of the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry without immigration documents allowing him to be or remain in the U.S. legally. He had been previously deported six times, the most recent being through Calexico, California on Jan. 30, 2015. Arellano-Quintero has an extensive history as a convicted felon, including a 2013 case in Santa Maria, California, in which he was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison for inflicting corporal injury on a spouse/cohabitant, threatening crime with intent to terrorize, preventing/dissuading a victim/witness, and assault with a deadly weapon. In 2002, Arellano-Quintero was convicted in Santa Barbara, California, for inflicting corporal injury on a spouse/cohabitant and sex with a minor under the age of 16.
On March 3, a U.S. Border Patrol agent observed several individuals climb over the border fence in San Elizario, allegedly led by Mexican national David Alexis Herrera-Ramirez. A criminal complaint alleges Herrera-Ramirez was responsible for guiding illegal aliens into the U.S. and communicating with other co-conspirators over WhatsApp to arrange for pickup and further transport. Herrera-Ramirez is charged with one count of bringing in and harboring aliens.
In San Antonio, the U.S. Marshal Service Fugitive Task Force arrested Pedro Ruiz-Cisneros inside his residence on March 4. A criminal complaint alleges Ruiz-Cisneros was previously removed from the country five times as an aggravated felon—as early as April 1994 and as recently as June 2018. Ruiz-Cisneros was convicted in 1990 of second-degree robbery and sentenced to five years confinement. Less than one year later, he was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to eight years confinement. Ruiz-Cisneros was later convicted three times of illegal re-entry and sentenced to a total of 133 months in federal prison between 2007 and 2016.
Jaime Aguilar-Guerrero was arrested on March 3 by local law enforcement in Belton for public intoxication. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement determined Aguilar-Guerrero was a Mexican national who had been previously removed from the United States in July 2016. Additionally, on April 11, 1996, Aguilar-Guerrero had been sentenced to seven years confinement for intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle. He was transferred into federal custody and faces up to 10 years in federal prison, if convicted for illegal re-entry.
A Mexican national was arrested near Dryden on March 6, after he was previously removed through Del Rio as recently as Jan. 21. Miguel Diego-Mateo has been deported from the U.S. six times and has two DUI convictions in addition to two convictions for illegal re-entry.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Western District of Texas U.S. Attorney Announces More Than 150 Immigration Cases Filed in Final Week of FebruaryRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 153 immigration-related criminal cases between Feb. 24 and March 3. The following defendants are among those charged during this week:
A Mexican national was arrested in El Paso on criminal charges related to his alleged illegal re-entry. Jaime Perez Salinas was allegedly located without immigration documents that allowed him to be or remain in the country legally. Salinas has been removed from the U.S. twice before, the most recent removal being Dec. 27, 2024. He was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to 60 months in prison for distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. If convicted of the illegal re-entry charge, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
Honduran national Oscar Adrian Vasquez-Peraza was arrested after he was allegedly found approximately 1.69 miles west of the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry without immigration documents allowing him to be or remain in the U.S. legally. Vasquez-Peraza was convicted in January 2021 for robbery in Houston and deported to Honduras in June 2022.
Rene Garibay-Robledo was arrested on Feb. 25 in San Antonio during a traffic stop on criminal charges related to his alleged possession of a firearm as an illegal alien. Garibay-Robledo is a Mexican national who allegedly presented FBI agents and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers a Mexico ID and allegedly stated he lacked legal status to be in the United States. Additionally, the criminal complaint alleges Garibay-Robledo stated that he had one firearm—a pistol—at his house. During the execution of a federal search warrant at Garibay-Robledo’s home, three handguns, a semi-automatic CZ Scorpion EVO 3, approximately 450 rounds of mixed caliber ammunition, and 6.8 grams of a substance that tested positive for cocaine were seized. Garibay-Robledo faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, if convicted.
A criminal complaint filed in San Antonio alleges that Kevin Raul Corniel-Rodriguez is a Venezuelan national affiliated with the Tren De Aragua (TDA) Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) organization. Corniel-Rodriguez was arrested by the San Antonio Police Department on Dec. 24, 2024, for assault of a pregnant person and unlawful carry of a weapon. State charges were dismissed on Feb. 25. Corniel-Rodriguez was released into federal custody and charged with one count of illegal alien in possession of a firearm.
On Feb. 28, Simon Alexander Mendez, of Austin, was arrested near Eagle Pass during a U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoint vehicle inspection. USBP agents allegedly discovered an illegal alien in the trunk of the vehicle Mendez was driving. A criminal complaint alleges Mendez was transporting the illegal alien from Eagle Pass to San Antonio. He was previously convicted for the same offense in 2021, when he was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison with credit for time served for conspiring to transport two illegal aliens to Austin. On that occasion, Mendez’s human smuggling attempt was prevented by USBP agents in Uvalde.
On Feb. 27, Mexican national Pedro Luis Colmenero-Rangel was arrested by USBP near Carrizo Springs. Colmenero-Rangel had been previously removed from the U.S. through Brownsville in 2019. Prior to his deportation, he was convicted in the Southern District of Texas and sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison for his role in an alien smuggling conspiracy.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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El Paso Woman Arrested for Allegedly Defrauding Paycheck Protection Program of More Than $2 MillionRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso woman was arrested on criminal charges related to her alleged Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) fraud.
According to court documents, Araceli Benitez, 46, was the owner of both an insurance and tax services company and a home health services company. Between April 9, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2022, she allegedly submitted fraudulent loan applications and requests for fund disbursement to the PPP, a federal government COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the Small Business Administration.
The indictment, filed Jan. 22, alleges Benitez attracted and induced clients to hire her to apply for PPP loans through paid radio commercials and social media—usually in Spanish. She allegedly sent and caused to be sent to a credit union PPP loan applications which contained material misrepresentations and omissions. Unbeknownst to her clients, Benitez allegedly included false federal income tax documentation, false information about her clients’ businesses, and false information about her clients’ need and qualifications. Benitez allegedly submitted approximately 156 loan applications totaling $2,305,294.06.
Benitez was arrested March 7 and is charged with seven counts of wire fraud; eight counts of bank fraud; two counts of money laundering; one count of structuring transactions to evade reporting requirement; two counts of aggravated identity theft; and one count of false or fictitious claims. If convicted, she faces up to 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigations are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Kanof is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Doctor Agrees to Pay $468,000 to Settle Civil False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – John Patterson, M.D., a physician practicing in El Paso has agreed to pay the United States $468,626 to resolve allegations under the Federal False Claims Act.
The United States alleged that Dr. Patterson received kickbacks from Nursemind Home Care Inc., a freestanding hospice care center in El Paso, to certify patients as eligible for hospice services when in fact the patients were not eligible for these services. The United States further alleged that by falsely certifying these patients as eligible for hospices services, Dr. Patterson caused false claims to be submitted to federal healthcare programs.
“My office will hold providers accountable, both through the civil and criminal process, when they attempt to defraud federal healthcare programs and the American taxpayer,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas.
Dr. Patterson received cooperation credit under the terms of the settlement pursuant to the Justice Department’s Guidelines for Taking Voluntary Disclosure, Cooperation, and Remediation into Account in False Claims Act Matters. Dr. Patterson cooperated with the United States’ investigation by, among other things, agreeing to cooperate with an ongoing criminal investigation and to testify truthfully in any resulting criminal prosecutions.
The investigation into this scheme led to the criminal prosecution of Zenia Chavez, the owner of Nursemind Home Care, Inc. Chavez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit illegal renumerations regarding a federal health care program, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371.
“Violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute waste valuable federal health care program funds and corrupt the medical decision-making process,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “The emotional toll it takes on Medicare recipients and their families to be placed on hospice when it is not appropriate is reprehensible. HHS-OIG will continue to identify and investigate those who seek to unlawfully benefit from such abhorrent financial arrangements.”
“Dr. Patterson falsely certified individuals for hospice services under Medicare when they did not meet eligibility criteria,” said Special Agent in Charge John Morales for FBI El Paso. “He violated his oath as a physician to fight against healthcare fraud and waste. Today’s civil settlement shows how steadfastly committed the FBI El Paso Healthcare Fraud and Financial Crimes Task Force is in protecting the integrity of the Medicare Program, which is vital to the health and well-being of individuals in need of their services. We will go after individuals who seek to enrich themselves by jeopardizing the healthcare of Medicare beneficiaries and defrauding American taxpayers.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eduardo Castillo negotiated the civil settlement on behalf of the United States.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris Skillern and Debra Kanof represented the United States in the criminal prosecution of Ms. Zenia Chavez.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
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San Antonio Man Sentenced to More Than 16 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced in federal court to 200 months in prison for one count of distribution of child pornography.
According to court documents, Gianni Versace Del Prado, 28, was identified as using both Telegram and X (formerly known as Twitter) to distribute child sexual abuse material. He created a chat room on Nov. 28, 2022 dedicated to the distribution of child pornography and discussions about the sexual abuse of children and between Dec. 1 2022 and April 30, 2023, posted approximately 81 files depicting the sexual abuse of children. On April 30, 2023, he sent 93 child pornography files directly to an undercover FBI employee engaged in an investigation to identify individuals who were sexually exploiting children.
On June 6, 2023, FBI agents executed a federal search warrant at Del Prado’s residence and seized electronic devices. He was arrested the following day and pleaded guilty to the distribution of child pornography on May 29, 2024. Following the 200 months in federal prison, Del Prado will serve 25 years supervised release. U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam also ordered Del Prado to pay two victims $5,000 each in restitution.
“This sentence serves as both punishment for Del Prado’s crimes committed against children and as a deterrent for anyone else considering engaging in the trafficking of child sexual abuse material,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “This office will continue to prioritize and prosecute individuals like this defendant, and I thank our partners at the FBI for their integral investigative work on these cases.”
“Protecting children is a top priority for the FBI. Every member of our communities—and especially our children—deserve to feel safe from predators like Del Prado,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “We want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work and partnership in seeking justice on behalf of the victims in this case.”
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Mexican Felon, Previously Convicted of Sexual Contact with a Child, Arrested in El PasoRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – A Mexican national was arrested in El Paso on criminal charges related to his alleged illegal re-entry.
According to court documents, Clemente Galvez-Alapisco, 47, of Sinaloa, has been deported twice before, most recently June 28, 2022 after he was convicted for indecency with a child. He was also convicted of illegal re-entry in July 2019 and sentenced to five months and 11 days confinement.
If convicted, Galvez-Alapisco faces up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The U.S. Border Patrol is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Aguayo is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Mexican National with Vehicular Manslaughter Conviction in Federal Custody for Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
WACO, Texas – A Mexican national was transferred into federal custody in Waco on criminal charges related to his alleged illegal re-entry.
According to court documents, Jaime Aguilar-Guerrero was arrested on March 3 by local law enforcement in Belton for public intoxication. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement determined Aguilar-Guerrero was an illegal alien who had been previously removed from the United States in July 2016. Additionally, on April 11, 1996, Aguilar-Guerrero had been sentenced to seven years confinement for intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle.
Aguilar-Guerrero is charged with one count of illegal re-entry. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
ICE is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Gloff is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Mexican National Pleads Guilty, Faces 10 Years to Life in Federal Prison for Attempting to Smuggle Fentanyl and Cocaine into U.S.Read the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Mexican national pleaded guilty in a federal court in Del Rio to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents, Federico De Los Rios Rios, of Durango, Mexico, attempted to enter the U.S. from Mexico through the Eagle Pass port of entry on Oct. 26, 2024. Accompanied by his wife and child, De Los Rios Rios presented a U.S. Visa to Customs and Border Protection officers and was referred to secondary inspection. A scan of the vehicle revealed anomalies, and a canine inspection resulted in a positive alert.
CBP officers inspected the rear of the vehicle and located a trap door under a seat, which contained multiple bundles wrapped in electrical tape. One set of bundles weighed 2.14 kgs and was consistent with the properties of fentanyl. A second set of bundles weighed a total of 11.16 kgs and was consistent with the properties of cocaine. A Drug Enforcement Administration laboratory test confirmed the substances to be fentanyl and cocaine.
De Los Rios Rios admitted that he had been instructed to drive the vehicle from his home in Durango to Orlando, Florida, had been given $700 up front, and anticipated he would be paid an additional $10,000 once he arrived at the destination.
De Los Rios Rios pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. He faces 10 years to life in prison with a maximum $10 million fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Kass is prosecuting the case.
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Mexican National Arrested in San Antonio for Illegal Re-Entry was First Convicted in 1990Read the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A Mexican national was arrested in San Antonio on criminal charges related to his alleged illegal re-entry.
According to court documents, the U.S. Marshal Service Fugitive Task Force arrested Pedro Ruiz-Cisneros inside his residence on March 4. A criminal complaint alleges Ruiz-Cisneros was previously removed from the country five times as an aggravated felon—as early as April 1994 and as recently as June 2018.
In March 1990, Ruiz-Cisneros was convicted of second-degree robbery in Bell County and sentenced to five years confinement. Less than one year later, he was convicted in Bexar County for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to eight years confinement. Ruiz-Cisneros was later convicted of illegal re-entry—once in the Southern District of Texas and twice in the Western District of Texas—and sentenced to a total of 133 months in federal prison between 2007 and 2016.
Ruiz-Cisneros made his initial appearance in federal court on March 5 and is charged with one count of illegal re-entry. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The USMS Fugitive Task Force and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement Removal Operations are investigating the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Marie Cordova is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Mexican National with Vehicular Homicide Conviction in Federal Custody for Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
WACO, Texas – A Mexican national was transferred into federal custody in Waco on criminal charges related to his alleged illegal re-entry.
According to court documents, Arturo Olalde-Velazquez, 40, was booked in the Falls County jail in December 2024 for driving while intoxicated, unlawful carrying a weapon, and possession of a controlled substance. Olalde-Velazquez had been previously removed in December 2019 after being convicted in Louisiana for a 2016 vehicular homicide.
Olalde-Velazquez is charged with one count of illegal re-entry. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Gloff is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Five-Time Deported Mexican National Arrested in New BraunfelsRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A Mexican national was arrested in San Antonio on criminal charges related to his alleged illegal re-entry.
According to court documents, Jose Guadalupe Deciga-Lopez was arrested during a vehicle stop in New Braunfels on March 3. Immigration records reflect Deciga-Lopez had been previously removed from the U.S. to Mexico once in 2014, twice in 2017, again in 2018 and, most recently, in 2023.
If convicted, Deciga-Lopez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) is investigating the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Marie Cordova is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Previously Convicted Peruvian National Arrested After 2 Prior DeportationsRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – A Peruvian national with multiple prior violent crime convictions was arrested near El Paso on criminal charges related to his alleged illegal re-entry.
According to court documents, Joel Edgardo Flores-Reyes was allegedly found just over one mile west of the Paso Del Norte port of entry without immigration documents allowing him to legally be or remain in the U.S. He has been previously removed from the U.S. twice, the most recent occasion being on June 13, 2024. Flores-Reyes was convicted on four counts in three separate misdemeanor cases in Arizona between 2006 and 2010.
Flores-Reyes is charged with one count of illegal re-entry. If convicted, he faces up to two years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The U.S. Border Patrol is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Aguayo is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Mexican National Arrested in San Antonio for Illegal Alien in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A Mexican national was arrested in San Antonio on criminal charges related to his alleged possession of a firearm as an illegal alien.
According to court documents, during a Feb. 25 traffic stop, Rene Garibay-Robledo presented FBI agents and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers a Mexico ID and allegedly stated he lacked legal status to be in the United States. Additionally, the criminal complaint alleges Garibay-Robledo stated that he had one firearm—a pistol—at his house. During the execution of a federal search warrant at Garibay-Robledo’s home, three handguns, a semi-automatic CZ Scorpion EVO 3, approximately 450 rounds of mixed caliber ammunition, and 6.8 grams of a substance that tested positive for cocaine were seized.
A review of Department of Homeland Security records revealed Garibay-Robledo entered the U.S. illegally on or about Jan. 1, 1994 near Laredo. Law enforcement databases also confirm a prior theft conviction from December 2000 in California.
Garibay-Robledo is charged with one count of illegal alien in possession of a firearm. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO) are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Parsons is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Fort Cavazos Soldiers Plead Guilty, Face up to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Human SmugglingRead the Press Release
ALPINE, Texas – Two Fort Cavazos soldiers, Enrique Jauregui and Angel Palma, pleaded guilty in a federal court in Alpine to one count of aiding and abetting the transportation of illegal aliens for financial gain.
According to court documents, Jauregui organized a smuggling event, recruiting Palma and another co-conspirator, Emilio Mendoza Lopez. Jauregui provided Palma and Mendoza Lopez the location information to pick up illegal aliens to smuggle, supported them with encouraging messages and instructions, and intended to pay Palma and Mendoza Lopez after they dropped off the illegal aliens.
On Nov. 27, 2024, Palma and Mendoza Lopez drove from Fort Cavazos to Presidio and picked up three illegal aliens before leading U.S. Border Patrol agents on a high-speed chase. At one point, the defendants hit a marked USBP vehicle with an agent inside, causing injuries. Palma and Mendoza Lopez, along with the three illegal aliens, fled the vehicle on foot. All were apprehended with the exception of Palma, who was located at a hotel in Odessa and eventually arrested.
Jauregui and Palma are both scheduled to be sentenced on May 23. They each face up to 10 years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine. Mendoza Lopez pleaded guilty to the same aiding and abetting charge on Jan. 27 and is scheduled to be sentenced April 25. He also faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Border Patrol, and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigations Division are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Cayton is prosecuting the case.
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Convicted Mexican Felon Arrested for Alleged Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – A Mexican national was arrested in El Paso on criminal charges related to his alleged illegal re-entry.
According to court documents, Jaime Perez Salinas was allegedly located in El Paso without immigration documents allowing him to be or remain in the country legally. Salinas has been removed from the U.S. twice before, the most recent removal being Dec. 27, 2024. He was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to 60 months in prison for distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.
Salinas is charged with one count of illegal re-entry. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The U.S. Border Patrol is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Aguayo is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Venezuelan National Arrested in El Paso for Alleged Misuse of DocumentsRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – A Venezuelan national was arrested in El Paso on criminal charges related to his alleged fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents.
According to court documents, Alcides Jose Urrivari-Arape, was pulled over by an El Paso County Sherriff’s Office deputy Feb. 24. After the deputy requested U.S. Border Patrol assistance, Urrivari-Arape allegedly presented a fraudulent U.S. Social Security card to the USBP agent, claiming that the ID allowed him to remain in the country legally. He allegedly admitted to paying $690 for the false document.
If convicted, Urrivari-Arape faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The U.S. Border Patrol and El Paso County Sherriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Wang is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Skilled Nursing Facility and Acute Care Hospital to Pay $6.5 Million to Settle Civil False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Providence Park, Inc., doing business as Ascension Living Providence Village, and Ascension Providence, formerly known as Providence Health Services of Waco, have agreed to pay the United States and the State of Texas $6,526,851.64 to resolve allegations under the Federal False Claims Act and the Texas Health Care Program Fraud Prevention Act.
The United States alleged that Providence Park, which owns and operates a skilled nursing facility in Waco, submitted medically unnecessary Ultra-High Resource Utilization Group therapy claims to federal healthcare programs. The United States further alleged that Ascension Providence, which owns and operates an acute care hospital in Waco, submitted false claims to federal healthcare programs for individual outpatient therapy services at the Lacy Lakeview Clinic when group therapy was being provided, and for therapy services at Woodway, Providence Sports & Physical Therapy, and Lacy Lakeview when there was no plan of care signed by a physician.
“My office will hold providers accountable when they submit inaccurate claims or seek reimbursement for medically unnecessary services,” said Acting United States Attorney Margaret F. Leachman of the Western District of Texas. “I encourage providers that identify instances of improper billing to work proactively to remedy the issue, as happened in this case.”
Providence Park and Ascension Providence received cooperation credit under the terms of the settlement pursuant to the Department of Justice’s Guidelines for Taking Voluntary Disclosure, Cooperation, and Remediation into Account in False Claims Act Matters. They cooperated with the United States’ investigation by, among other things, disclosing the results of an internal investigation at Ascension Providence that resulted in an overpayment refund to Medicare, voluntarily identifying overpayments for outpatient therapy services at Ascension Providence pursuant to the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General Healthcare Fraud Self-Disclosure Protocol, and identifying corrective actions to address the issues identified in the self-disclosure.
The civil settlement resolved a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit is captioned United States and Texas ex rel. Bland and Ellison v. Ascension Health Senior Care, et al., No. 5:21-CV-269 (W.D. Tex.).
Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Parnham negotiated the settlement on behalf of the United States.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
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Former Fort Cavazos Soldier Sentenced to More Than 16 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted MurderRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A former soldier was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 200 months in prison for the attempted murder of another soldier while he was stationed at Fort Hood (now Fort Cavazos) in June 2000.
According to court documents, Allen Houston James, 46, of Suffolk, Virginia, entered the barracks room of another soldier while she was sleeping and attempted to rape her at knifepoint. The victim resisted and was repeatedly stabbed. After James left the room, she escaped and reported the incident before she was taken to the hospital for emergency surgery for stab wounds. Medical records revealed that one of the victim’s neck wounds was within millimeters of her jugular vein and penetrated from the front to the back, nearly reaching her spine. As a result of the stabbing, the victim sustained permanent nerve damage.
When a DNA profile did not produce a match and a suspect was not identified, the case went cold until 2019. Through new DNA analysis by the United States Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory (USACIL), the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) was able to identify James as the perpetrator and locate him while he was stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia in March 2021.
James was indicted July 13, 2021 for one count of attempt to commit murder and arrested the following day in the Eastern District of Virginia. He was transferred to Waco July 19, 2021, then reassigned to Chief Judge Alia Moses in Del Rio Nov. 13, 2023. James was found guilty by jury trial on Feb. 23, 2024.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Army CID investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Frazier, Mary Kucera and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Siddharth Dadhich prosecuted the case.
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El Paso Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Dealing FentanylRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso man was sentenced in a federal court to 180 months in prison for trafficking fentanyl and other illicit drugs.
According to court documents, Victor Arellano, 40, delivered 1,000 fentanyl pills to an undercover agent in exchange for $1,500 on or about Nov. 28, 2023. He sold more narcotics, including fentanyl, to agents through controlled purchases on four other occasions. On Jan. 18, 2024, Drug Enforcement Administration agents conducted an operation to seize 20 kgs of methamphetamine, resulting in the arrest of Arellano.
Arellano pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance on Dec. 5, 2024. Arellano also forfeited a total of $10,225 in drug proceeds seized during the investigation.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The DEA investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Watts prosecuted the case.
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El Paso Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso man was sentenced in a federal court in El Paso to 180 months in prison for possession and receipt of child sexual abuse material depicting a prepubescent minor.
According to court documents, a device belonging to Victor Enrique Artalejo, 60, was identified for downloading more than 3,000 torrent files between June 17, 2022 and Sept. 18, 2023, many of which contained child sexual abuse material. Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant at Artalejo’s residence on March 29, 2024, seizing a laptop and several other electronic devices. A forensic review revealed that Artalejo had downloaded and possessed 1,434 photos and 111 videos depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The majority of the victims were determined to be under the age of 12.
Artalejo was arrested March 29, 2024 and has remained in federal custody. He pleaded guilty Dec. 4, 2024 to one count of possession of a visual depiction involving the sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of receipt of a visual depiction involving the sexual exploitation of a minor.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
HSI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Micaela Glass prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Jamaican Felon Facing Federal Charges in El Paso for Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – A Jamaican national with multiple felonies was arrested at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry on criminal charges related to his alleged illegal re-entry.
According to court documents, Dwight Donovan Moulton, 43, allegedly presented a Texas identification card to a Customs and Border Protection officer (CBPO) and claimed that he was a United States citizen traveling to El Paso after visiting his girlfriend in Mexico. The CBPO recognized facial discrepancies between Moulton and the photo ID, and escorted Moulton to the Passport Control Secondary (PCS) office for further inspection. At the PCS, he allegedly stated his true identity and admitted to being a citizen of Jamaica. A criminal complaint also alleges that Moulton admitted to finding the ID card he had presented and intended to use it to travel to El Paso.
Further investigation revealed that Moulton had been previously removed to Jamaica from Houston, most recently on or about Sept. 22, 2005. Additionally, his criminal record included three felonies, including a firearm offense and sale of a controlled substance.
If convicted, Moulton faces up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Customs and Border Protection is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Aguayo is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Honduran National with Three Violent Crime Convictions Arrested for Illegal Re-Entry in Del RioRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Honduran national was arrested near Eagle Pass on criminal charges related to his alleged illegal re-entry.
According to court documents, Daniel Antonio Borjas-Flores, 29, was previously removed from the United States through Alexandria, Louisiana on Nov. 4, 2024. Borjas-Flores has three prior convictions—two for assault, including one domestic violence charge, and a third for cruelty toward a child.
If convicted, Borjas-Flores faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Border Patrol are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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High-Ranking Sinaloa Leader Extradited to El Paso, Faces up to Life in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – A high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel was extradited from Mexico to El Paso, indicted for criminal charges related to his alleged federal racketeering, narcotics, money laundering, firearms, and continuing criminal enterprise offenses.
According to court documents, Daniel Franco Lopez aka “Micha” aka “Neon” aka “Fer,” 40, of Mexico, allegedly coordinated the shipments of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and thousands of kilograms of marijuana into the United States, along with the pickup of drug proceeds, and kidnappings and murders.
Lopez was indicted in April 2012 along with Joaquin Guzman Loera aka “Chapo,” Ismael Zambada Garcia “Mayo,” and over a dozen other codefendants. He was arrested Aug. 14, 2012, and remained in Mexican custody until his extradition. Lopez made his initial appearance in federal court Monday.
“The extradition of this defendant is one of many significant pieces in a very large cartel case that spans more than a decade,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Not only are we grateful for the enduring and successful efforts of our federal law enforcement partners at the DEA, FBI and ATF, but I want to emphasize our goal to put an end to these organizations is shared by this U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Justice Department and our counterparts in Mexico.”
“Daniel Franco Lopez was defendant #16 on DEA’s RICO indictment that included Joaquin ‘Chapo’ Guzman and Ismael ‘Mayo’ Zambada,” said Special Agent in Charge Towanda Thorne-James for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division. “This extradition demonstrates that the men and women of DEA will never tire of pursuing the most violent, drug traffickers responsible for thousands of deaths in our country. We thank our domestic and international partners for their assistance on this case.”
“The extradition is one more step towards dismantling and ending violence perpetrated by criminal drug trafficking organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel,” said Special Agent in Charge John Morales for FBI El Paso. “The FBI and our partners will endlessly pursue and prosecute cartel members and associates who attempt to control and intimidate their communities through violence. This extradition starts the justice process to all of those who have suffered as a result of Franco Lopez’s criminal actions as a member of the Sinaloa Cartel.”
“This case reads like a Hollywood movie script. You know the film…cartels, guns, drugs, money, feds,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C Boshek II for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Dallas Field Division. “Fortunately for the citizens of the United States, the good guys prevailed in this one. Mr. Lopez, an alleged underground criminal mastermind, left a path of destruction in his path. The American people are safer with this bandit in handcuffs and behind bars.”
Lopez is charged with one count of RICO conspiracy; two counts related to conspiracy to possess and import over five kgs of cocaine and over 1,000 kgs of marijuana; one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments; one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes and aid and abet; and one count of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise in furtherance of drug trafficking. If convicted, Lopez faces up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The DEA, FBI, and ATF are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Antonio Franco, Kyle Myers and Susanna Martinez are prosecuting the case for the Western District of Texas. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and extradition of Lopez.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Exceeds 900 Immigration Cases Filed in Western District of TexasRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman announced today that federal prosecutors in the Western District of Texas have filed more than 900 immigration and immigration-related criminal cases since Jan. 20. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.
Along with enhanced interdiction efforts at the border, federal law enforcement has been also prioritizing immigration enforcement operations and prosecutions of aliens unlawfully in the interior of the country and also those otherwise engaged in criminal activity in the U.S., including those who commit drug and firearms crimes, who have serious criminal records, who have active warrants for their arrest, or who have outstanding final orders of removal from the U.S., issued by an immigration judge. Federal authorities have also been prioritizing investigations and prosecutions against drug, firearm, and human smugglers and those who endanger and threaten the safety of our communities and the law enforcement officers who protect us all.
Cases of interest include the arrest of Juan Ramon Hernandez-Limon in San Antonio, who had been previously convicted on April 28, 2021 for illegal re-entry into the United States and alien in possession of a firearm, and a second time on Feb. 8, 2024 for illegal re-entry. Hernandez-Limon repeatedly attempted to evade arrest during an ICE ERO operation on Jan. 26, 2025, and was eventually taken into custody. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison, if convicted.
Guatemalan nationals Anderson Morales-Calderon and Ever Morales-Calderon were arrested on Jan. 24 in Waco on criminal charges related to their alleged aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm as undocumented noncitizens. Troy Police Department and Lorena Police Department officers were responding to a road rage complaint called into 911. The 911 caller alleged that an individual pointed a rifle at a semi-truck on IH-35. During the traffic stop, officers observed two air rifles and one .22 caliber rifle in plain view in the back seat and on the back floorboard of the vehicle. Further investigation revealed that both Anderson and Ever Morales-Calderon were unlawfully present in the United States. If convicted, they each face up to 10 years in federal prison.
Honduran national Melvin Armando Funes-Canales was transferred to federal custody after he was located in the Williamson County jail, where he had been detained for alleged possession of a controlled substance. An investigation revealed Funes-Canales had been previously removed from the U.S. to Honduras on or about Oct. 9, 2020, and had also been deported on five other occasions. Additionally, Funes-Canales was previously convicted of burglary, grand theft and illegal re-entry. He now faces up to 10 years in federal prison for illegal re-entry, if convicted.
Four individuals illegally present in the U.S. were arrested in El Paso and face up to 10 years in federal prison each for criminal charges related to their alleged involvement in a human smuggling conspiracy. Yair Alejandro Aguilar-Flores, Angel Eduardo Carrillo-Carrillo, Jorge Alfredo Lopez-Acevedo, and Jesus David Reyes-Villagran allegedly conspired to harbor 12 illegal aliens in two El Paso hotels.
A Mexican national was indicted by a federal grand jury in Austin for one count of possession of a firearm by illegal alien. Marcelo Olvera-Moreno was stopped while driving in Hutto, Jan. 24. A Williamson Country Sheriff’s Office deputy conducted the traffic stop after allegedly observing the passenger in Olvera-Moreno’s vehicle fire a handgun from the front passenger window. Olvera-Moreno admitted to law enforcement that he knew that he was illegally and unlawfully in the U.S. and that he had purchased the pistol at a flea market approximately three months prior. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in federal prison.
“Because the Western District of Texas shares 660 miles of common border with Mexico and is home to three of Texas’ largest cities and an estimated 7.6 million people, prosecuting immigration and border-related crimes has long been and remains a priority within this district,” said Leachman. “With the valuable investigative and enforcement efforts of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, this U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting immigration-related crimes in the interest of the nation and our citizens.”
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Mexican National Sentenced for Assaulting Border Patrol Agents at El Paso Processing CenterRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – A Mexican national was sentenced in a federal court in El Paso to 46 months in prison for three counts of assault on a federal officer.
According to court documents, Carlos Ernesto Guerrero-Gutierrez was being detained in a pod of 20 individuals at an El Paso processing center in November 2023. Guerrero-Gutierrez became disruptive and was placed in a separate isolation pod where he dismantled the pod’s frame, removing a wooden board with nails on it. When U.S. Border Patrol agents responded, Guerrero-Gutierrez bit one agent on the leg and injured two others using the board with nails. One of the agents was hit in the head, causing him to bleed above the temple and another agent bled from his hand after being stabbed in the thumb with a nail. Guerrero-Gutierrez was ultimately subdued after two taser deployment attempts, cuffed and restrained. He pleaded guilty to three counts of assault on a federal officer May 6, 2024.
“Our Border Patrol partners place their lives on the line daily in defense of the United States and the integrity of our border,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “We take these violations seriously and will vigorously prosecute violent individuals who assault those who work tirelessly to protect us and our communities.”
“This conviction serves as a clear message—any individual who attempts to harm a federal officer will face swift and decisive action. These assaults will not be tolerated. Those who engage in such violence will be held fully accountable under the law,” said El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar. “We are grateful for the unwavering support from our law enforcement partners and the justice system in ensuring that those who threaten the safety of our agents face the consequences of their actions.”
"The El Paso FBI stands firmly with our U.S. Border Patrol partners as well as with all law enforcement officers who work tirelessly, day in and day out, to protect our borders and our communities,” said El Paso FBI Special Agent in Charge John Morales. "Any assault on these dedicated, brave men and women will not be tolerated and will be swiftly investigated. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers they face in their mission to keep our nation safe, and this sentencing reflects our unwavering commitment to supporting and partnering with law enforcement at all levels to uphold public safety."
The FBI and USBP investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stanley Serwatka prosecuted the case.
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Previously Deported Mexican National with Prior Convictions Arrested for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A Mexican national was arrested in San Antonio on criminal charges related to his alleged illegal possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Sergio Lopez Rodriguez, 48, was arrested during a surveillance operation conducted by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force (LSFTF) on Feb. 20. Federal law enforcement agencies had learned that Rodriguez was in the United States illegally and had previously been removed from the country in 2015. In addition to the deportation, Rodriguez was convicted of theft in 2009, of forgery in 2013, and also had been arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. A state arrest warrant was issued for Rodriguez on Jan. 28.
A filed criminal complaint alleges that, on Feb. 20, LSFTF members surrounded Rodriguez’s vehicle while he was parked a gas station pump. During the arrest, officers allegedly located a handgun, a magazine and .40 caliber ammunition, along with a glass pipe, torch lighter and .9 grams of a crystal-like substance. The complaint also alleges that Rodriguez informed officers that he possessed an AK-47 magazine inside a bag located in the vehicle.
Rodriguez was booked into the Bexar County Jail for his outstanding warrant and, due to his immigration status, Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged a detainer. He is federally charged with one count of illegal alien in possession of a firearm. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The U.S. Marshals Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the case, along with the Office of the Texas Attorney General, Bexar County District Attorney’s Criminal Investigation Division and Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Fidel Esparza III is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Government A handgun, magazine, and .40 caliber ammunition allegedly seized during the arrest in San Antonio, Feb. 20, 2025.###
Barrio Azteca Gang Leader and Member Extradited from Mexico to the United States to Face Charges Related to 2010 U.S. Consulate Murders in JuarezRead the Press Release
Two alleged members of the Barrio Azteca (BA), a transnational criminal organization allied with the Juarez Cartel, were extradited from Mexico to the United States to face charges related to the March 2010 murders of U.S. Consulate employees in Juarez, Mexico. Eduardo Ravelo, also known as Tablas, Tablero, and T-Blas, and Enrique Guajardo Lopez, also known as Kiki, arrived in the United States on Feb. 20 and made their initial appearances today in the Western District of Texas. Ravelo, a former FBI Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitive, and Guajardo were charged in a 12-count third superseding indictment unsealed in March 2011.
“The defendants allegedly participated in the murder of three U.S. Consulate employees in Mexico in March 2010, along with many other acts of senseless violence,” said Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “No U.S. citizen, on either side of our border with Mexico, should have to live in fear of Barrio Azteca, any other violent border gang, or any drug cartel. The defendants’ extradition to the United States is an example of the Department’s unwavering commitment to eliminating transnational criminal organizations and the pursuit of justice for the victims of those tragic murders in Juarez, Mexico.”
“The extradition and U.S. custody of these two defendants, who are both alleged to be members of Barrio Azteca operating along the border, is essential to our mission of disrupting and dismantling these dangerous criminal organizations,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “With the help of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, this U.S. Attorney’s Office will aggressively prosecute Ravelo and Guajardo throughout this case for their alleged participation in the 2010 Consulate murders and other gang related activity.”
“These extraditions demonstrate the FBI’s commitment to holding violent criminals accountable, no matter where they flee,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI and our partners will continue to aggressively pursue the Barrio Azteca and other transnational gangs wherever they operate and seek justice for the victims affected by their violent actions.”
“The extradition of these two members of the Barrio Azteca transnational criminal organization brings us another step closer to justice for the victims of the 2010 U.S. Consulate murders in Juarez,” said Acting Administrator Derek S. Maltz of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “DEA never forgets and we never give up. Our commitment to pursue the members of violent criminal organizations threatening American lives is as strong as ever, and our message is clear — DEA will use every resource we have to get justice for American lives lost as a result of these violent networks.”
A total of 35 BA members and associates based in the United States and Mexico were charged in the third superseding indictment for allegedly committing various criminal acts, including racketeering, narcotics distribution and importation, retaliation against persons providing information to U.S. law enforcement, extortion, money laundering, obstruction of justice, and murder. Of the 35 defendants, 10 Mexican nationals, including Ravelo and Guajardo, were charged with the March 13, 2010, murders in Juarez of U.S. Consulate employee Leslie Ann Enriquez Catton; her husband, Arthur Redelfs; and Jorge Alberto Salcido Ceniceros, the husband of another U.S. Consulate employee. All the defendants have been apprehended, and 28 have pleaded guilty. Three defendants have been convicted at trial, one committed suicide before the conclusion of his trial, and one is awaiting extradition from Mexico.
According to court documents and evidence presented at co-defendant trials, the BA is a violent street and prison gang that began in the late 1980s and expanded into a transnational criminal organization. In the 2000s, the BA formed an alliance in Mexico with “La Linea,” which is part of the Juarez Drug Cartel (also known as the Vincente Carrillo Fuentes Drug Cartel or VCF). The purpose of the BA-La Linea alliance was to battle the Chapo Guzman Cartel and its allies for control of the drug trafficking routes through Juarez and Chihuahua. The drug routes through Juarez, known as the Juarez Plaza, are important to drug trafficking organizations because they are a principal illicit drug trafficking conduit into the United States.
The gang has a militaristic command structure and includes captains, lieutenants, sergeants, and soldiers — all with the purpose of maintaining power and enriching its members and associates through drug trafficking, money laundering, extortion, intimidation, violence, threats of violence, and murder.
According to court documents, Ravelo and Guajardo participated in BA activities, including narcotics trafficking and acts of violence by BA members, both in Mexico and the United States. If convicted, Ravelo and Guajardo each face a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Ravelo’s and Guajardo’s extraditions are the result of close coordination between U.S. law enforcement and the government of Mexico in the investigation and prosecution of this case. The cooperation and assistance of the government of Mexico was essential to achieving the successful extraditions.
The FBI El Paso Field Office; FBI Albuquerque Field Office, Las Cruces Resident Agency; DEA Juarez Division; and DEA El Paso Division investigated the case. Special assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Federal Bureau of Prisons; U.S. Diplomatic Security Service; Texas Department of Public Safety; Texas Department of Criminal Justice; El Paso Police Department; El Paso County Sheriff’s Office; El Paso Independent School District Police Department; Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission; New Mexico State Police; Dona Ana County, New Mexico Sheriff’s Office; Las Cruces, New Mexico Police Department; Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility and Otero County Prison Facility New Mexico.
Trial Attorney Jay Bauer of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, Trial Attorney Christina Taylor of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Spitzer for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, and the Criminal Division’s Office of Enforcement Operations provided significant assistance in this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
“La Empresa” Member Sentenced in El Paso to Nearly 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso transnational criminal organization (TCO) member was sentenced in federal court Thursday to 235 months in prison for his role in a hostage taking conspiracy.
According to court documents, a man was forcefully kidnapped at gunpoint from his motel room in Juarez, Mexico, on Aug. 24, 2023, and was held hostage until Sept. 5, 2023. During that time, the victim’s family received threatening phone calls from multiple unknown subjects demanding payment. Ultimately, the family paid approximated $9,000 to the TCO for safe travel and release of the victim.
Luis Edward Castro, 28, worked for the TCO, “La Empresa.” Armed with a handgun, he recorded and sent proof-of-life videos to the victim’s family. In the videos, the victim appeared visibly scared and stated he was in El Paso. An investigation led law enforcement to Castro’s address, where they searched the residence and found six undocumented noncitizens and multiple firearms.
Castro was arrested Sept. 5, 2023 and charged with six counts pertaining to harboring and transporting undocumented noncitizens for financial gain, hostage taking, and the possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He pleaded guilty to the hostage taking charge on Sept. 26, 2024.
“This case highlights some of the many dangers posed by TCOs on both sides of our southern border, and Castro’s sentencing of two decades in federal prison is a significant penalty,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “I am thankful for our partners at the FBI, HSI and the U.S. Border Patrol, whose investigative skill and expertise led to the recovery of these kidnapping victims and the outcome of this case.”
“TCOs such as La Empresa will find no refuge whatsoever in our communities," said Special Agent in Charge John Morales for FBI’s El Paso Field Office. "These ruthless networks exploit the vulnerable through human smuggling, drug trafficking, and violent extortion, as seen in Castro’s crimes where innocent people were held hostage to extract more money from their families. This sentencing serves as a clear warning: the FBI and our partners at the U.S. Border Patrol are relentless in our pursuit of those who seek to profit from suffering. We will dismantle these criminal enterprises, protect our communities, and bring every perpetrator to justice—because we will never tolerate those who threaten the safety and dignity of our people.”
"This criminal was recognized as both a stash house operator and enforcer for a transnational criminal organization, thanks to our diligent collaboration with law enforcement partners." said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens. “This prison sentence delivers a powerful message to human smugglers who engage in holding hostage and exploiting vulnerable individuals: we are fully committed to collaboration and the protection of our communities, and we will relentlessly hold these ruthless transnational criminal organizations accountable.”
“Criminal organizations like ‘La Empresa’ and other TCOs are not in the business of helping people. Their sole motive is profit, with no regard for human life,” said El Paso Sector Chief Walter N. Slosar. “The U.S. Border Patrol remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to dismantle these criminal networks. Those who put innocent lives at risk will be identified, apprehended, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The FBI, ICE HSI, and USBP investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mathew Engelbaum and Kyle Myers prosecuted the case.
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Mexican National Indicted After Traffic Stop for Alleged Criminal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
AUSTIN, Texas – A federal grand jury in Austin returned an indictment this week charging a Mexican national with one count of possession of firearm by illegal alien.
According to court documents, Marcelo Olvera-Moreno was stopped while driving in Hutto, Jan. 24. A Williamson Country Sheriff’s Office deputy conducted the traffic stop after allegedly observing the passenger in Olvera-Moreno’s vehicle fire a handgun from the front passenger window. Olvera-Moreno admitted to law enforcement that he knew that he was illegally and unlawfully in the United States and that he had purchased the pistol at a flea market approximately three months prior.
Olvera-Moreno made his initial court appearance Jan. 28. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Williamson Country Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gabriel Cohen and Daniel Castillo are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Man Who Robbed National Chain Stores in San Antonio Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced in federal court to 78 months in prison after his plea of guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery.
According to court documents, James Anthony Kirkwood, 70, robbed six national chain stores around San Antonio between Jan. 28 and 31, 2023, using an Airsoft gun, which employees believed to be a real handgun. Over those three days, Kirkwood robbed two Dollar General stores, two Dollar Trees, a PetSmart and a Big Lots. At the time of the robberies, Kirkwood was on state parole for aggravated robbery. He was arrested Feb. 13, 2023 and pleaded guilty in July 2024.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the San Antonio Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Calve prosecuted the case.
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Law Enforcement Cooperation Between United States and Mexico Results in Mexican Takedown of Cartel-Linked Alien SmugglersRead the Press Release
Last night, extensive bilateral cooperation between the United States and Mexico resulted in the Mexico Attorney General’s Office “Fiscalía General de la República” (FGR) conducting a significant enforcement operation to dismantle a prolific transnational alien smuggling organization operating in Juarez, Chihuahua, along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The targeted alien smuggling organization, a group based in Juarez, Mexico, utilizes smuggling corridors centered in the Anapra, Chihuahua / Santa Teresa, New Mexico area, employs Mexican nationals, many of whom are current and former members of various Mexico-based cartels, and is alleged to be responsible for illegally smuggling large numbers of individuals, including children, from Central America into El Paso, Texas. The criminal organization is also alleged to have kidnapped aliens seeking to enter the United States illegally and extorted their families for money before completing their smuggling journey. The enforcement operation included the execution of two arrest warrants in Mexico for alleged alien smugglers Brian Alan Torres Gonzalez and Soledad Morales Nava. Torres and Morales are Mexican citizens and will be prosecuted in Mexico in part with evidence provided by the United States.
“On her first day in office, the Attorney General directed the Department of Justice to prioritize efforts to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and empowered Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) to increase their contributions to this fight,” said Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s action by Mexican authorities is the latest example of how JTFA provides critical contributions to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department, and its law enforcement partners, to target human smugglers and enhance coordination in transnational law enforcement efforts to better combat these criminal organizations.”
U.S. authorities provided assistance to the Mexico Attorney General’s Office through coordination under JTFA, which, since its creation in 2021, has marshalled the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Colombia, and Panama. Attorney General Pamela Bondi has elevated JTFA to the Office of the Attorney General, to be jointly supervised by the Office of the Deputy Attorney General. The task force focuses on disrupting and dismantling smuggling and trafficking networks that abuse, exploit, and endanger migrants, pose national security threats, or are involved in organized crime. JTFA comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the border, along with dedicated prosecutor support by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section; the Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training; the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section; the Office of Enforcement Operations; the Office of International Affairs; and the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 350 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of human smuggling; more than 300 U.S. convictions; more than 245 defendants sentenced, including significant jail sentences imposed; and substantial seizures and forfeitures of assets and contraband including millions of dollars in cash, real property, vehicles, firearms and ammunition, and drugs.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) El Paso assisted foreign investigative efforts in the United States, working in concert with the U.S. Border Patrol. Support from ICE HSI-Mexico City was critical in providing coordination between American and Mexican law enforcement agencies. The Justice Department — including the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas in El Paso, HRSP, and the Office of the Judicial Attache in Mexico City — provided significant assistance in this matter.
Indian National Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Defrauding Elderly Victims of Nearly $6 MillionRead the Press Release
AUSTIN, Texas – An Indian national was sentenced in a federal court in Austin today to 97 months in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to court documents, Moinuddin Mohammed, 34, engaged in a conspiracy to launder proceeds of a scheme to defraud elderly victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gold. Mohammed was a courier who picked up the cash and gold from vulnerable elderly people. The international conspiracy originated from India and involved the impersonation of government officials in order to convince the victims to turn over millions of dollars from their retirement and savings accounts.
Multiple victims were contacted by a person claiming to be the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, who told the victims that they were under investigation or at risk of financial loss. The victims were told that they would need to deposit cash, gold or other items of financial value in order to resolve the investigation or prevent the loss. One victim was defrauded of more than $300,000, another was defrauded of approximately $151,500, and a third victim lost a total of approximately $470,000 to the fraud scheme. Nationwide, investigators identified 21 victims who lost a total of nearly $6 million to the scheme.
In addition to his imprisonment, Mohamed will pay full restitution in the approximate amount of $960,000, forfeits $20,000 in cash that was seized by investigators, and forfeits a money judgement in the amount of $16,000.
“The significant sentence of this courier for an international fraud scheme sends a strong message that we will investigate and prosecute those at every level of the organization,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Mohammed illegally used the likeness of government officials to prey on and victimize the vulnerable, elderly people in our community, and fraudsters like him will be held accountable.”
“Mohammed targeted some of our most vulnerable elderly citizens in an effort to line his own pockets and the pockets of foreign fraudsters,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. "The FBI continues to see an uptick in financial scams targeting our elderly population and we work every day to bring awareness to our victims and justice to those who perpetuate these devastating schemes. We want to thank our U.S. Attorney’s Office for aggressively pursuing justice for those who fell victim to this scammer. Cases like this are a priority for the FBI and we encourage anyone who has been a victim of a financial scam to contact your local FBI office or go to www.IC3.gov. We also encourage the public to review the FBI's last report on Elder Fraud to educate yourselves and protect those you love.”
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Henneke prosecuted the case.
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Federal Jury Finds Convicted Felon Guilty of Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A federal jury convicted a San Antonio man Wednesday for one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Dante Delray Vecera, 33, was found unresponsive in a locked and running vehicle blocking two lanes of traffic on the 410 frontage road. Police officers observed a bag containing white powder, a marijuana cigarette, and a bag of what appeared to be black tar heroin inside the vehicle. The officers provided Vecera with Narcan, fearing an overdose. While waiting for EMS to arrive on scene, officers looked for Vecera’s driver’s license in an attempt to identify him and located an unholstered pistol in the pocket of his pants. While removing the weapon, Vecera regained consciousness. He refused all field sobriety tests and was taken into custody after being medically cleared.
Prior to this arrest Vecera had been convicted of several violent felonies, including two prior Nevada convictions for burglary and coercion (sexually motivated), and a Texas conviction for violation of a protective order and assault. Vecera faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, San Antonio Police Department and the Castle Hills Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karina O’Daniel and Amy Hail are prosecuting the case.
This is a Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Initiative case. VAWA was first enacted in 1994 as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. It initially focused on providing resources and training to improve the responses and policies of law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts, to support victim services, and to address crimes historically treated as private matters. Recognizing that domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking require a coordinated community response that extends beyond the justice system, Congress subsequently reauthorized VAWA, enhancing its policies and expanding grant funding streams, in 2000, 2005, 2013, and 2022. The Office on Violence Against Women has issued more than $11 billion in funding authorized by VAWA in its lifetime.
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