August 2011 Press Releases
Aug. 31, 2011 - Gutierrez et al
Five Men Sentenced in Narcotics Trafficking Conspiracy
LAREDO, Texas - Five men have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from 21 to 109 months for trafficking narcotics read more
Aug. 31, 2011 - Robinson
Houston Medical Equipment Company Owner Lands in Federal Prison for Medicare Fraud
HOUSTON - Sunny Robinson, the owner of Memorial Medical Supply - a Houston durable medical equipment business, has been sentenced to 97 months in prison for his role in a Medicare fraud scheme read more
Aug. 31, 2011 - Woodward
Harlingen Businessman Sentenced in Million-Dollar Check Kiting Case
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – John Jeff Woodard Jr., 49, of Harlingen, Texas, has been sentenced to a 51-month-term of imprisonment for bank fraud conducted through the operation of a check kite scheme involving multiple bank accounts held in the names of several of his former businesses read more
Aug. 30, 2011 - Salas et al
Texas Syndicate Gang Members and Associates Sentenced to Prison
McALLEN, Texas - Six Texas Syndicate members and associates have been sentenced to prison for racketeering, violent crimes in aid of racketeering, kidnapping and possession with intent distribute cocaine read more
Aug. 30, 2011 - Castillo-Estrada
Mexican Man Convicted of Harboring Illegal Aliens
McALLEN, Texas – Manuel Ivan Castillo-Estrada, 22, of Mexico, has pleaded guilty today to a criminal information charging him with knowingly concealing and harboring an illegal alien for profit read more
Aug. 30, 2011 - Baker
Galveston Man Charged With Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography
GALVESTON, Texas – A two-count sealed indictment charging Phillip Edward Baker, 48, with possession and receipt of child pornography has been unsealed following his arrest today by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents read more
Aug. 30, 2011 - Bustamonte
Attempt to Export Firearms into Mexico Lands Laredo in Prison
LAREDO, Texas – Daniel Bustamante, 35, of Laredo, Texas, was sentenced to prison today for attempting to smuggle 16 firearms, including AR-15 and AK-47 assault rifles, to the Republic of Mexico in violation of the Arms Export Control Act read more
Aug. 30, 2011 - Osteen
Former Bank Employee Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Funds Held in Trust
HOUSTON - Michele Lauryn Osteen, a former administrative assistant in the Trust Department of a Galveston branch of Frost Bank, has been sentenced to prison for bank fraud read more
Aug. 26, 2011 - Smith
First of Four Convicted for Role in Wire Fraud Conspiracy Sentenced to Federal Prison
HOUSTON - Royce Lamar Smith, 38, has been sentenced prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud read more
Aug. 25, 2011 - O'Neill
Houston Man and Son Indicted For Fraud
HOUSTON - Jeffery Wayne O’Neil, 63, of Houston, has been arrested following the return of an indictment charging him and his son, Nathaniel Chilo aka Nathaniel O’Neil, 21, with mail and wire fraud read more
Aug. 24, 2011 - Rezaei
Grocer Pleads Guilty of Food Stamp Fraud
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Parviz Sheikh Rezaei, 56, the proprietor of Pariz Dollar Supermarket in Brownsville, Texas, has pleaded guilty to defrauding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as Food Stamp Fraud read more
Aug. 24, 2011 - Garcia-Garay
Rio Grande Man Sentenced for Importing Aliens for Prostitution
McALLEN, Texas - Juan Antonio Garcia-Garay, age 32, of Rio Grande City, Texas was sentenced today to the statutory maximum of 120 months imprisonment for importing aliens for prostitution, conspiracy to harbor and harboring aliens read more
Aug. 24, 2011 - Munivez
Former District Attorney Investigator Arrested in Investigation Related to Judge Limas
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A former Cameron County District Attorney’s Office investigator, who was also former state Judge Abel Limas’s bailiff, has been indicted and now arrested read more
Aug. 23, 2011 - Garcia-Gonzalez
Mission Bar Owner Sentenced to Prison for Sex Trafficking Minors
McALLEN, Texas - Beleal Garcia-Gonzalez, 35, of Mission Texas, has been sentenced to prison for sex trafficking of minors read more
Aug. 23, 2011 - Smith
Former TDCJ Guard Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Heroin
HOUSTON - A former Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Institution Division guard has been conviced of possessing with intent to distribute heroin read more
Aug. 23, 2011 - Lomas
Jury Convicts Laredoan of Trafficking a Ton of Marijuana
LAREDO, Texas – Late this morning, a federal jury returned its verdict finding Artemio Lomas, 45, of Laredo, guilty of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute more than 2000 pounds of marijuana read more
Aug. 19, 2011 - Simmons et al
Alleged Convicted Felon and Recruited Straw Purchasers of Firearms Charged with Lying to Buy Firearms
HOUSTON - A seven-month investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has resulted in the return of a nine-count indictment charging the alleged ring leader and two of his recruits with conspiracy to lie to buy firearms and aiding and abetting the unlawful purchase of 15 firearms read more
Aug. 18, 2011 - Branyon
Owner of Arizona Company Charged and Convicted Of Introducing an Unapproved New Drug - Stems Cells - into Interstate Commerce
HOUSTON - The former owner of Global Laboratories LLC, located in Scottsdale, Ariz., has been convicted of unlawfully introducing stem cells into interstate commerce read more
Aug. 18, 2011 - Rocha
Mission Man Sentenced For Transporting Illegal Aliens During High-Speed Chase That Resulted in Crash in Homeowner's Backyard
McALLEN, Texas - Guillermo Rocha, a 19-year-old Mission, Texas, resident has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for his role in driving four illegal aliens in a car while leading police on a multi-city high-speed chase that ended with the car crashing into a structure in a homeowner's backyard read more
Aug. 18, 2011 - Guerra et al
Raza Unida Gang Leader Sentenced to Life in Prison Without Parole for Racketeering
Two other gang members sentenced to lengthy prison terms
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Raza United gang leader Johnny Joe Guerra will be serving the rest of his life in federal prison for drug trafficking and two other members of the Raza Unida gang will be serving lengthy prison terms for committing Violent Crimes in aid of Racketeering (VICAR) read more
Aug. 18, 2011 - Benavides
Mexican National Gets 10 Years in Federal Prison
McALLEN, Texas - A Mexican National illegally in the United States has been sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison for assaulting a Border Patrol (BP) agent and other offenses read more
Aug. 18, 2011 - Budha
Jury Convicts Illegal Alien of Refusing to Comply with a Deportation Order
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A citizen of Nepal has been found guilty of four counts of failing to comply with his order of deportation read more
Aug. 18, 2011 - Ellington
Former Harris County Deputy Sentenced to Prison for Extortion
Deputy’s wife also sentenced to prison for concealing husband’s criminal activity
HOUSTON - A former Harris County Deputy Sheriff and his wife, charged and convicted for their respective roles in the deputy’s criminal activities, have been sentenced to prison by U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison read more
Aug. 18, 2011 - Gonzalez et al
Four Convicted in March 2011 Robbery of International Bank of Commerce
Two IBOC bank tellers admit planning heist
HOUSTON – Two former female bank tellers and two males indicted for bank robbery and embezzlement of bank funds arising from the March 23, 2011, robbery of the International Bank of Commerce (IBOC) in Houston have all been convicted read more
Aug. 17, 2011 - Armendariz
Penitas Man Sentenced to Life Imprisonment Plus 30 Years for Carjacking and Firearms Convictions
McALLEN, Texas – Jose Antonio Armendariz, 27, last known to reside in Penitas, Texas, has been sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years for the 2006 hostage taking of a local rancher, two 2006 carjackings and the 2009 attempted carjacking of an off duty Border Patrol (BP) agent read more
Aug. 17, 2011 - Castro et al
Firearm Straw Purchaser Recruiters Plead Guilty
LAREDO, Texas - Jose Luis Castro, 39 of Austin, Texas, and Raul Martinez, 34 of Laredo, Texas, have pleaded guilty to participating in a scheme to recruit straw-purchasers to buy firearms, particularly Colt “El Grito” .38 caliber super pistols read more
Aug. 17, 2011 - Rivera
Possession of Child Pornography Results in Prison Sentence for Houston Area Resident
HOUSTON – A 51-year-old Houston resident will be serving a two-year-prison term without parole and must register as a sex offender for possessing child pornography read more
Aug. 16, 2011 - Salinas et al
Four Sentenced For Making False Statements in Two Related Firearms Cases
McALLEN, Texas - Yesterday, a San Juan man, who was identified as a supervisor in aiding and abetting the straw purchase of approximately 23 firearms, was sentenced to 120 months in prison, the maximum sentence under the law read more
Aug. 16, 2011 - Hedrick
Robert L. Hedrick Indicted For Attempted Production, Distribution and Possession of Child Pornography
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A Brownsville grand jury has indicted Robert L. Hedrick, 60, for attempted sexual exploitation of children, transfer of obscene materials to a minor, distribution and possession of child pornography read more
Aug. 12, 2011 - Seaside
Seaside Aquaculture and Owner Convicted For Killing Protected Species
VICTORIA, Texas – Following one and one-half days of trial testimony and approximately three and one-half hours of deliberation, a federal jury has returned its verdict finding Seaside Aquaculture Inc., a fish farm located in Palacios, Texas, and its owner, Khanh Vu, guilty of illegally killing approximately 90 brown pelicans, which are protected under federal law read more
Aug. 12, 2011 - Morgart
Possession of Counterfeit IDs and Credit Cards Leads to Identity Theft Charges
HOUSTON – A federal grand jury in Houston has returned a seven-count indictment charging Arthur David Morgart with access device fraud related to counterfeit and unauthorized credit card numbers, fraud related to identification documents and aggravated identity theft read more
Aug. 12, 2011 - Guerrero
Ft. Worth Resident Sentenced to Prison For Trafficking Cocaine
LAREDO, Texas – A 51-year-old Mexican national and a legal permanent resident of the U.S. has been sentenced to prison for possessing with intent to distribute more than 40 kilograms of cocaine read more
Aug. 11, 2011 - Macapaz et al
Businessmen, Loan Officer and Title Company Attorney Indicted for Wire Fraud and Money Laundering in a Multi-Million Dollar Mortgage Fraud Scheme
HOUSTON – Two Houston businessmen, a mortgage company loan officer and a title company attorney and escrow officer have been indicted for their alleged involvement in a scheme to defraud residential mortgage lenders of more than $22 million in loans read more
Aug. 11, 2011 - Fuentes et al
Anti-Gang Effort Leads to Indictment of MS-13 Gang Members
HOUSTON – A sealed four-count indictment charging seven members or associates of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) Street Gang with racketeering and the commission of three violent acts - three murders - in aid of racketeering has been unsealed following the arrest of the men charged read more
Aug. 10, 2011 - Ballow
Harris Dempsey “Butch” Ballow Sentenced to Statuatory Maximum Prison Term For Money Laundering
HOUSTON – Convicted money launderer Harris Dempsey “Butch” Ballow, 68, formerly of Galveston County, Texas, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge David Hittner to 10 years in federal prison without parole and ordered to pay more than $10 million in restitution to his victims read more
Aug. 10, 2011 - Villarreal
Former LPD Officer’s Co-conspirator Sentenced to Prison
LAREDO, Texas – The drug trafficker who conspired with a former Laredo Police officer to distribute cocaine has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison without parole read more
Aug. 10, 2011 - Valle
Local Attorney Pleads Guilty to Helping former Judge Abel Limas Misuse and Abuse his Court For Personal Gain
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A local attorney has admitted to aiding and abetting former State District Court Judge Abel Limas’ unlawful use of his court for his and Limas’ benefit read more
Aug. 9, 2011 - Cardona
Luis Andres Cardona Indicted for Production of Child Pornography
McALLEN, Texas – A McAllen grand jury has indicted Luis Andres Cardona, 53, for production of child pornography read more
Aug. 9, 2011 - Garcia
Webb County Deputy Constable Indicted for Accepting Bribes
LAREDO, Texas - A Webb County Deputy Constable has been arrested following the return of an indictment by a Laredo grand jury accusing him of accepting bribes in his official capacity and accessing protected computer information read more
Aug. 8, 2011 - Cisneros
Local Bail Bondsman Convicted of Paying Bribe to Former State District Judge Limas
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A local bail bondsman charged for his role in former State District Court Judge Abel Limas’ scheme to solicit and accept bribes in exchange for official action has been convicted read more
Aug. 5, 2011 - Revis
Recruiter in Multi-Million Dollar Health Care Fraud Scheme Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Violate the Anti-Kickback Statute
HOUSTON – An accused recruiter in a multi-million dollar health care fraud scheme scheduled for trial on Monday, has instead pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute read more
Aug. 5, 2011 - Rosales
32-Year Old Houston Man Indicted for Distributing and Possessing Child Pornography Ordered Held Without Bond
HOUSTON – A 32-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to remain in federal custody without bond pending trial on charges of possessing and distributing child pornography read more
Aug. 5, 2011 - Randle
Houston Woman Pleads to Theft of Public Money
HOUSTON - Mary Kirby-Randle, aka Mary Ellis Randle, 63, of Houston, has pleaded guilty to one count of theft of public money read more
Aug. 4, 2011 - Villarreal
Former Compass Bank International Banking Officer Indicted
LAREDO, Texas - A federal grand jury has indicted a former employee of Compass Bank in Laredo, Texas, for bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, money laundering and unlawful monetary transactions arising from an alleged scheme involving more than $8 million in losses to bank customers read more
Aug. 4, 2011 - Martinez
Former Laredo Police Officer Sentenced to Prison for Drug Trafficking
LAREDO, Texas – Former Laredo Police Department (LPD) officer Pedro Martinez III was sentenced to prison today by Senior U.S. District Judge George P. Kazen for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine read more
Aug. 4, 2011 - Washington
Nursing Home Administrator Arrested for Health Care Fraud and Taking Kickbacks
HOUSTON – An employee of a Houston area nursing home has been arrested as a result of the return of a sealed indictment by a Houston grand jury chaging him with conspiracy, health care fraud and violations of the anti-kickback statute arising from a scheme to unlawfully bill federal health care programs for ambulance transport read more
Aug. 4, 2011 - Beas
Former Pharr Police Officer Sentenced to Prison for Bribery
McALLEN, Texas - Jaime Beas, 34 of Pharr, Texas, has been sentenced to 144 months imprisonment for his conviction of extortion under color of official right read more
Aug. 2, 2011 - Scott
Postmaster Overseas at Army Camp Post Office Arrested for Theft of Public Funds
HOUSTON - Delmus Eugene Scott Jr. has been charged with one count of theft of public funds in connection with his civilian duties at an overseas army post read more
Aug. 2, 2011 - DEFY
50 Laredo Kids Return From Drug Education for Youth (DEFY) Camp
LAREDO, Texas - Fifty kids from Laredo returned home Friday from their week-long Drug Education for Youth (DEFY) summer camp read more
Aug. 1, 2011 - Wilbourn et al
Robbers Who Terrorized Bank Tellers with Guns Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Terms
HOUSTON - Houston residents Michael A. Wilbourn, 25, Michael J. Washington, 30, Ronald D. Thomas, 29, and Kenneth R. Randle, 23, will all be serving lengthy prison terms without parole for robbing the First National Bank on South Gessner Road in Houston on Oct. 14, 2010 read more
Aug. 1, 2011 - Mims
Cuero, Texas, Man Convicted of Unemployment Insurance Fraud
VICTORIA, Texas – Frederick Dwayne Mims, 46, of Cuero, Texas, has been convicted of mail fraud arising from a scheme to defraud the Unemployment Insurance Program read more
