July 2011 Press Releases
July 29, 2011 - Mascorro
Freight Broker Convicted Of Wire Fraud and Bankruptcy Fraud
McALLEN, Texas - An area freight broker has pleaded guilty to the federal felony offenses of wire fraud and bankruptcy fraud before U.S. District Judge Randy Crane read more
July 29, 2011 - Gonzalez
Mission Man Convicted of Receiving Child Pornography Via the Internet
McALLEN, Texas – Julian Gonzalez, 31, of Mission, Texas, has been convicted of receiving child pornography via the Internet read more
July 29, 2011 - AFLAC
Twenty Convicted This Week for Defrauding AFLAC
McALLEN, Texas – A total of 20 South Texas residents indicted for their roles in a scheme to defraud the American Family Life Assurance Company (Aflac) of millions of dollars by filing thousands of false injury claims under Aflac’s Accident-Only Insurance Plan have been convicted this week read more
July 28, 2011 - Alanis et al
Brownsville Residents Charged With Health Care Fraud
McALLEN, Texas - Felicitas Velez Alanis, 50, and her daughter-in-law Erika Ortega Alanis, 26, both of Brownsville, Texas, have been arrested on charges of health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud read more
July 27, 2011 - Alvarez et al
Members of Ring Convicted of Lying to Buy Firearms Bound for Mexico Sentenced
McALLEN, Texas – Eight members of ring convicted of lying to buy firearms bound for Mexico have been sentenced to prison terms read more
July 27, 2011 - Aikens
Sealed Indictment Charging an HPD Officer Unsealed Following His Arrest
HOUSTON – A Houston Police officer has been arrested following the return of an indictment by a Houston grand jury charging him with drug trafficking and corruption read more
July 26, 2011 - Garza and Garza Jr.
Rio Grande City Residents Sentenced for Embezzlement
McALLEN, Texas - Silverio Garza Jr., 60, and Joel Javier Garza, 42, both of Rio Grande City, Texas, have been sentenced to prison for embezzlement read more
July 26, 2011 - Pena
Probationer Allowed by Judge Limas to Report by Mail After Bribe Paid, Pleads Guilty
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The probationer who left the state without authorization but was permitted to report by mail after a bribe was paid to former State District Judge Abel Limas has been convicted of aiding and abetting honest services wire fraud read more
July 26, 2011 - Lira and Lopez
Two Persons Prohibited from Possessing Ammunition Headed to Prison
McALLEN, Texas - Two men prohibited from possessing ammunition under federal law will be serving prison terms read more
July 25, 2011 - Hill
Houston Venture Capitalist Charged With Fraud
HOUSTON - Harvard H. Hill, of Houston, has been charged with three counts of wire fraud in connection with an investment in the general partnership of a Houston-based venture capital fund he promoted read more
July 22, 2011 - Perez-Solis and Martinez
Two Laredo Residents Convicted of Trafficking Methamphetamine
LAREDO, Texas - After two days of trial and approximately two hours of deliberation, a federal jury has found Israel Perez-Solis, a legal resident of the United States living in Laredo, Texas, guilty of conspiring to possess and possessing with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine read more
July 22, 2011 - Aldridge
Attorney Sentenced to Prison for Wire Fraud and Money Laundering in a Multi-Million Dollar Mortgage Fraud Scheme
HOUSTON – Vincent Wallace Aldridge, a former fee attorney for First Southwestern Title Company, has been sentenced to 63 months imprisonment for wire fraud and money laundering arising from a scheme to defraud residential mortgage lenders of more than $3.7 million in loans in connection with home purchases in the Houston area read more
July 22, 2011 - Galaviz
Jury Convicts Kingpin and Members of his Family of Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering
LAREDO, Texas -Late yesterday afternoon, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts on 14 of 16 counts charged against the five remaining defendants charged as a result of Operation Reload read more
July 21, 2011 - Ramirez-Villa et al
Alleged Leader and Others of Multi-Drug Trafficking Organization Indicted
LAREDO, Texas – SDTX arrests part of “Project Delirium” targeting alleged members of La Familia Michoacana Drug Cartel read more
July 20, 2011 - Cruz
Laredo Jury Convicts Chicago Man of Trafficking Marijuana
LAREDO, Texas - A federal jury has convicted a Chicago resident of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute more than 50 kilograms of marijuana read more
July 19, 2011 - Zainladin et al
Seven Charged in Interstate Theft and Fencing Ring of Over-the-Counter Drugs
HOUSTON - A sealed indictment charging several Houston area residents for their alleged involvement in an interstate over-the-counter (OTC) drug theft and fencing ring as well as structuring and money laundering was unsealed today following the arrest of the seven charged read more
July 19, 2011 - Dobbins and Roberts
Two Charged in Scheme to Defraud Schlumberger
HOUSTON – Jeremy Gene Dobbins, 35, and Bobby Dean Roberts, 51, have been indicted for defrauding their employer MI-SWACO, a division of Schlumberger, of more the $3 million read more
July 19, 2011 - Pena
Wife of Probationer Pleads Guilty to Role in Bribe of Former Judge Limas
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The wife of a probationer who was involved in the $1500 payment to former state District Judge Abel Limas to permit her husband to report to state probation officials by mail rather than in person has pleaded guilty read more
July 18, 2011 - Hedrick
Owner of Local Airline Charged with Distribution of Child Pornography
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Robert L. Hedrick, 60, has been arrested following the filing of a criminal complaint alleging he distributed images of child pornography read more
July 15, 2011 - Andaverde-Tinoco
Jury Convicts Mexican National of Illegally Re-entering the U.S. After Deportation
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A Brownsville federal jury has found Jose Julian Andaverde-Tinoco guilty of illegally re-entering the country after having been previously deported read more
July 15, 2011 - Marshall
Mississippi Doctor Indicted for Failing to Pay Child Support
HOUSTON - Dr. Demetri Wendell Marshall, 59, of Port Gibson, Miss., has been indicted by a Houston grand jury for failure to pay child support and related medical expenses for his Texas resident child read more
July 14, 2011 - Ibanez
Mission Attorney Pleads Guilty to Fraud
HOUSTON – On the eve of jury selection, an attorney and former bank chairman pleaded guilty to the federal felony offense of wire fraud before Senior U.S. District Judge David Hittner read more
July 14, 2011 - Palmer
Retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Arrested on Child Pornography Charges
HOUSTON – Dieter David Palmer, 42, a retired Navy chief petty officer, has been indicted on charges of distribution, receipt, attempted receipt, transportation and possession of child pornography read more
July 14, 2011 - Scott et al
Six More Charged in Series of Houston Area Armed Bank Robberies
HOUSTON – A sealed superseding indictment charging six more Houston area residents for their alleged involvement in a series of Houston area bank robberies including the New Year’s Eve robbery of a Pearland bank was unsealed today read more
July 13, 2011 - Alvarado
Local Man Sentenced for Receiving Child Pornography
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Adrian Alvarado, 25, of Corpus Christi, has been sentenced to 170 months imprisonment for receiving child pornography read more
July 13, 2011 - Huerta
Brownsville Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Rene Huerta Jr., of Brownsville, has been sentenced to a total of 136 months for being a felon in possession of ammunition and attempting to export ammunition into Mexico without a license read more
July 13, 2011 - Longoria
Mission Man Sentenced to Prison for Carjacking
MCALLEN, Texas – Jaime Alfonso Longoria, 28, of Mission, Texas, has been sentenced to prison for carjacking read more
July 13, 2011 - Rodriguez-Montoya
Last of Five involved in Hostage Taking Sentenced to Federal Prison
McALLEN, Texas – Hugo Oscar Rodriguez-Montoya, previously convicted of the hostage taking of 10 aliens has been sentenced to prison read more
July 12, 2011 - Ramirez
Jury Convicts Husband of Kidnapping Wife
McALLEN, Texas – A federal jury has convicted a Mission, Texas, man of kidnapping his wife read more
July 12, 2011 - Rivera-Martinez
Mexican National Indicted for Passport Fraud and Making a False Claim of US Citizenship
McALLEN, Texas – Joel Alonso Rivera-Martinez, 37, of Mexico, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for passport fraud (making a false statement in a passport application) and making a false claim to citizenship read more
July 11, 2011 - Thornton
Houston Man Indicted for Fraud Related to Compensation Programs for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
HOUSTON – Eric Michael Thornton, 26, of Houston, has been indicted on charges of wire fraud and mail fraud in relation to the Deepwater Horizon disaster read more
July 11, 2011 - Witt
Two Indicted for Defrauding International Union of Operating Engineers and Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee
HOUSTON – A Houston grand jury has indicted Ronald and Anita Witt for conspiracy and embezzlement of funds from Local 450 of the International Union of Operating Engineers and Local 450’s apprenticeship school read more
July 8, 2011 - Tilford
Navy JAG Attorney Sentenced for Receiving/Distributing Child Pornography
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Mark Tilford, 44, has been sentenced to 125 months in federal prison for his convictions of receiving and distributing child pornography read more
July 8, 2011 - Liszt
Clute Resident Pleads Guilty to Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography
HOUSTON - Alain Marcony Liszt, 47, has pleaded guilty today to two counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography read more
July 8, 2011 - Pulley
League City Businessman Charged With Fraud Involving Space Vehicle Parts
HOUSTON - Roger Lewis Pulley, 63, of League City, Texas, has been indicted and charged with fraud involving space vehicle parts and making a false statement in a matter within the jurisdiction of NASA read more
July 8, 2011 - Leal
Former Port Isabel Detention Officer Charged With Violating Civil Rights of Detainee
Grand jury alleges excessive use of force, obstruction of justice and lying to federal agents
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A sealed federal indictment returned by a McAllen grand jury on June 7, 2011, charging former Port Isabel Detention Center (PIDC) lieutenant Raul Leal with using excessive force on a detainee, obstruction of justice and lying to a federal agent was unsealed today following Leal’s arrest read more
July 6, 2011 - Trammell et al
Mother, Daughter, Father Plead Guilty to Mortgage Fraud Scam
HOUSTON – Claymon “Butch” Trammell along with his wife, Jeannettea Williams, and daughter, Michelle Trammell, have all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their roles in a multi-million dollar mortgage fraud scheme read more
July 6, 2011 - Ramirez
Former Customs and Border Protection Inspector Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Term
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Former Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspector Luis Enrique Ramirez, 39, has been sentenced to a total of 204 months in federal prison read more
July 6, 2011 - Ramirez-Macias
Mexican Man Convicted for Using U.S. Citizen’s Identity and Passport to Import Methamphetamine Into U.S.
McALLEN, Texas – Ramiro Ramirez-Macias, 30, of Mexico, has pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa to importation of methamphetamine and misuse of another’s passport in order to import methamphetamine read more
July 6, 2011 - Lall et al
Four Indicted for Identity Theft Scheme
HOUSTON – Four area men have been indicted for taking part in an identity theft ring at various banks in the Houston area read more
July 5, 2011 - Ladewig
U.S. Citizen Living and Working in Mexico Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography
HOUSTON - David Aric Ladewig, 43, has pleaded guilty today to one count of possession of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes read more
July 1, 2011 - Sullivan
Former Border Patrol Agent Convicted of Aggravated Sexual Assault Sentenced
McALLEN, Texas - Scott Anthony Sullivan, a former Border Patrol agent previously convicted of violating the civil rights of a young female by sexually assaulting her, has been sentenced to 184 months imprisonment read more
July 1, 2011 - Corvera et al
Three Plead Guilty to Harboring Illegal Aliens and Use of a Firearm
HOUSTON – Juan Corvera, 32, of Houston, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge David Hittner to charges of harboring illegal aliens within the United States and using, possessing or brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence read more
July 1, 2011 - Mitlo
Failing to Pay Taxes Lands Houstonian in Prison for Two Years and Owing the IRS $550,000
HOUSTON - Jimmy Mitlo will be serving 24 months in federal prison without parole and owe the IRS $555,720.36 read more
July 1, 2011 - Waters
Former Winnie, Texas, Resident Indicted for Attempted Distribution, Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography
GALVESTON, Texas – A former manager of a family style restaurant in Beaumont and car salesman in Houston has been indicted and is pending trial on charges of attempted distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography read more
