August 2012 Press Releases
Aug. 31, 2012 - Salazar
San Juan Man Headed to Prison for Harboring Aliens
McALLEN, Texas – Pedro Salazar, 56, of San Juan, Texas, has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy and harboring illegal aliens read more
Aug. 31, 2012 - Herrera
21-Year-Old Houston Woman Sentenced for Straw Purchasing Firearms
McALLEN, Texas – Nayely Ruby Herrera, 21, of Houston, has been handed a 36-month-term of federal imprisonment for making a false statement concerning the purchase of firearms on Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Form 4473, commonly referred to as straw purchasing read more
Aug. 31, 2012 - Villarreal
Elementary School Teacher Charged with Distribution of Child Pornography
HOUSTON – Juan A. Villarreal, 52, of Houston, has been arrested on charges of distribution of child pornography read more
Aug. 31, 2012 - Cooke
Aryan Brotherhood of Texas Gang Leader Sentenced for Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering
HOUSTON – A high ranking member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT), has been sentenced for his role in an aggravated assault that took place in Tomball, Texas, in September 2008 read more
Aug. 31, 2012 - Vo et al
Federal Jury Returns Guilty Verdicts in Houston Area Ecstasy Conspiracy
HOUSTON – A federal jury in Houston has returned its verdicts against three men in a multi-drug conspiracy operating in and around the Houston area over the course of approximately two years read more
Aug. 30, 2012 - McChester
Former Corpus Christi Police Officer Handed Sentence for Online Solicitation of a Minor
HOUSTON – Robert McChester Jr., 27, has been sentenced to more than 13 years in prison for using a telephone and a computer connected to the Internet to coerce and entice a minor to engage in sexual activity read more
Aug. 30, 2012 - Wong
McAllen Man Convicted of Possessing Stolen Debit and Bank Account Numbers
McALLEN, Texas – Mario Wong, 33, of McAllen, Texas, has entered a plea of guilty to access device fraud related to his possession unauthorized debit and bank account numbers from Domestic and International Banks read more
Aug. 30, 2012 - Silva et al
Former Sheriff’s Deputies Convicted in Drug Conspiracy
McALLEN, Texas – Two former deputy sheriffs from Duval County, Texas, have entered pleas of guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine read more
Aug. 30, 2012 - Gallegos-Avila
Aliens on a Plane Leads to Federal Conviction
McALLEN, Texas – Jorge Luis Gallegos-Avila, 39, of Tampico, Mexico, has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiring to harbor, conceal and shield illegal aliens from detection read more
Aug. 30, 2012 - Perez
Mexican National Gets Nine Years for Receipt of Child Pornography
HOUSTON - Jorge Luis Perez, 28, has landed in federal prison following his conviction of receipt of child pornography read more
Aug. 30, 2012 - King
Australian Citizen Sentenced for Possessing Child Pornography
HOUSTON - Christopher Mark King, 56, has been sentenced to 36 months in prison for possession of child pornography read more
Aug. 30, 2012 - Yeakey
American National Convicted of Intoxication Manslaughter for Death of Friend in Japan
HOUSTON - James Lewis Yeakey, the son of a former active duty member of the United States Navy, has entered a plea of guilty for his role in a car crash in Okinawa, Japan, which left one friend dead and another seriously injured read more
Aug. 29, 2012 - Ross
Title Company Attorney Convicted in Multi-Million Dollar Mortgage Fraud Scheme
HOUSTON – Lisa Carol Ross, 50, of Missouri City, Texas, has pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud read more
Aug. 28, 2012 - Estrada
Former Grocery Store Owner Sentenced for Conspiring to Commit WIC Fraud
McALLEN, Texas - Fernando Ramirez Estrada, the former owner and operator of Mary’s Mart in Mission, Texas, has been sentenced to prison for conspiring to commit WIC fraud read more
Aug. 27, 2012 - Rosales
Houston Man Gets Nearly 20 Years for Distributing Child Pornography
HOUSTON - Houston resident Pedro Rosales, 33, has been sentenced to federal prison following his conviction for distribution of child pornography read more
Aug. 22, 2012 - Castillo
Former USACE Engineer Convicted of Bribery
HOUSTON - Christopher Castillo, 33, of Monte Alto, Texas, has entered a plea of guilty to one count of bribery read more
Aug. 22, 2012 - Dinh et al
Search Warrants Lead to Multiple Arrests and Seizure of Thousands of Marijuana Plants
HOUSTON – A total of 24 people have been arrested and nearly 14,000 marijuana plants have been confiscated following enforcement actions conducted throughout the greater Houston area this week read more
Aug. 22, 2012 - Gore
Woman Arrested on Multiple Tax Fraud Charges
HOUSTON - Miranda Gore has been arrested following the return of an 11-count federal indictment alleging multiple violations involving fraudulent tax returns and evading taxes read more
Aug. 21, 2012 - Hannah
Brother and Sister Handed Federal Sentences for Transporting Ammunition
LAREDO, Texas – Richard Alan Hannah, 53, and his sister Judy Lynn Hannah, 49, both living in North Richland Hills, Texas, have been sentenced to federal prison following their convictions of attempting to smuggle almost 900 rounds of ammunition and 17 firearm magazines into Mexico read more
Aug. 21, 2012 - Padilla
South Texas Man Handed Federal Sentence in Houston for Cocaine Trafficking
HOUSTON – Donna, Texas, resident Jose G. Padilla, 26, has been sentenced today for his conviction for aiding and abetting in the possession with intent to distribute cocaine read more
Aug. 20, 2012 - Cruz-Gallardo
Mexican Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assault of Border Patrol Agent
McALLEN, Texas - Jorge Cruz-Gallardo, Jr., 25, of Guadalajara, Mexico, been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, with no parole, for assaulting and causing bodily injury to a Border Patrol agent who was trying to detain him read more
Aug. 20, 2012 - Pena
Brownsville Jury Convicts CBP Officer in Firearms Case
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A federal jury has found Manuel Eduardo Pena, 38, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer, guilty of two counts of making a false statement in a firearms record and one count of making a false statement to a federal agency read more
Aug. 20, 2012 - Jacaman
Local Gun Store Owner and Wife Arrested for Numerous Alleged Firearms Violations
Laredo, Texas – Robert Jacaman Sr. and his wife, Veronica Jacaman, have been arrested following the return of an 11-count federal indictment alleging a variety of violations associated with the selling of firearms and ammunition read more
Aug. 20, 2012 - Nwora
Houston Doctor Arrested on Charges of Health Care Fraud
HOUSTON – Dr. Emmanuel Nwora, 48, of Houston, has been arrested following the return of a sealed indictment alleging health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud read more
Aug. 17, 2012 - Morales et al
Professional Money Laundering Ring Charged with Laundering $27 Million in Drug Trafficking Proceeds Using “Black Market Peso Exchange”
HOUSTON – A three-count federal indictment has been partially unsealed following the arrests of three people charged in a multimillion dollar money laundering conspiracy read more
Aug. 16, 2012 - Prater
Houston Man Heads to Federal Prison for Drug Conspiracy
HOUSTON – Jimmie Prater, 40, of Houston, has been sentenced to federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine read more
Aug. 16, 2012 - Bland
Transporting a Woman for Commercial Sex Lands Houston Man in Federal Prison
HOUSTON – Jerald Bland aka “Moe Betta,” 30, of Houston, has been handed more than nine years in federal prison following his conviction of transportation of a woman for commercial sex read more
Aug. 16, 2012 - Ogbonu
Nigerian Arrested at IAH After Allegedly Ingesting Dozens of Heroin Pellets
HOUSTON – A 47-year-old Nigerian man has been arrested and charged as a result of his alleged ingestion of 65 pellets containing approximately one kilogram of heroin read more
Aug. 16, 2012 - Ukabam
Former Army Officer Indicted for Theft of Government Property
HOUSTON - Former Army officer Abuzuike O. Ukabam, 34, of Humble, Texas, has been arrested following the return of an indictment alleging wire fraud, theft of government property, money laundering and false statements in connection with his military service read more
Aug. 15, 2012 - Thomas
Cypress Husband Sentenced for Counterfeiting $100 Bills
HOUSTON – Synaca Thomas, 35, of Cypress, Texas, has been handed a nearly 22-year sentence for his role in a scheme involving nearly $500,000 in counterfeit $100 bills and the passing of those bills at Houston area businesses read more
Aug. 15, 2012 - Alcala
Laredo Man Convicted of Possession of Child Pornography
LAREDO, Texas – Luis Alberto Alcala, 24, of Laredo, Texas, has pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to view visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct read more
Aug. 15, 2012 - Thamby
Canadian Businessman Convicted of $3 Million Telemarketing Fraud
LAREDO, Texas - Ragavan Thamby, 51, a Canadian citizen, has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit telemarketing fraud read more
Aug. 15, 2012 - Gallegos
Leader in Multi-Million Dollar Cocaine Conspiracy Gets Nearly 22 Years in Federal Prison
HOUSTON – The leader of a Houston-based drug trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and the transportation of millions of dollars in drug proceeds to drug traffickers in Mexico will now serve 262 months in federal prison read more
Aug. 15, 2012 - VALOR
Texas Law Enforcement Gets Safety and Survival Training
HOUSTON - More than 200 law enforcement agents and officers from across the state of Texas are attending an officer safety training conference sponsored by the Department of Justice read more
Aug. 14, 2012 - Baker
Prominent Houston Radiologist Settles False Claims Act Allegations
HOUSTON – Dr. Jack L. Baker, a prominent Houston radiologist, has agreed to pay the United States $650,000 to settle claims that he violated the False Claims Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute, the Stark Statute and the Texas Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act between 2002 and 2010 read more
Aug. 13, 2012 - Mendez
Convicted Felon Sentenced for Possessing a Firearm
McALLEN, Texas – Alexis Nazareth Mendez, 22, of Edinburg, Texas, has been sentenced to prison for illegal possession of a firearm read more
Aug. 9, 2012 - Gonzalez et al
Last of 12 Sentenced in Straw Purchasing and Export Ring
McALLEN, Texas – With the sentencing of five people today, 12 people have been now been convicted and sentenced for their respective roles in making false statements on Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) forms 4473 in the acquisition of firearms from federal firearms licensees (FFL) and exporting those firearms to Mexico read more
Aug. 9, 2012 - Montgomery
Houston Federal Jury Convicts Husband and Wife
HOUSTON - David A. Montgomery and wife Bridget M. Montgomery have been found guilty on all counts as charged read more
Aug. 9, 2012 - Garcia-Perguero and Rodriguez-Olivio
Mexican Couple Handed Federal Sentences for Transporting Huge Stash of Ammunition
LAREDO, Texas – Abraham Garcia-Perguero, 38, and his common-law wife Maria Isabel Rodriguez-Olivio, 36, both undocumented Mexican aliens living in Laredo, Texas, have been sentenced to federal prison following their convictions of possessing 27,000 rounds of ammunition read more
Aug. 7, 2012 - Freeman et al
5 Charged in Area Armored Car Robberies
HOUSTON – A six-count federal indictment has now been unsealed as two of the five charged made their initial appearances in federal court read more
Aug. 7, 2012 - Paredes-Santos and Vazquez
Two Sentenced in Houston Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy
HOUSTON – Jose L. Paredes-Santos, 32, from Honduras, and Calixto Centeno Vazquez, 38, from the Dominican Republic, have landed in federal prison for their roles in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy operating in and around the Houston area read more
Aug. 6, 2012 - Guerrero
Convicted Pharr Drug Trafficker Handed Federal Prison Sentence
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Israel Guerrero Sr., of Pharr, Texas, will now be serving 108 months in federal prison following his convictions of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and possession of 122 kilograms of marijuana read more
Aug. 6, 2012 - Obi
7th Defendant Convicted in Multi-Million Dollar Health Care Fraud Scheme
HOUSTON – Tony Nnonso Obi, 56, a naturalized U.S. citizen from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has entered a plea of guilty for his role in a massive health care fraud conspiracy that billed the Medicare and Medicaid programs for more than $45 million read more
Aug. 6, 2012 - Abundis-Carreon
Houston Man Convicted of Alien Transportation
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Leonel Alvaro Abundis-Carreon, 22, of Houston, has pleaded guilty for conspiring to transport 14 aliens within the United States and causing serious bodily injury to a person read more
Aug. 3, 2012 - Quiroz
NJ Man Caught at IAH with 4.5 Kilos of Cocaine Hidden in Paintings
HOUSTON – A 46-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly possessing 4.5 kilograms of cocaine hidden in painted plaques brought from Lima, Peru read more
Aug. 3, 2012 - Radcliff
Houston Resident Handed 10+Year Prison Term for Multiple Child Pornography Charges
HOUSTON – Michael Johnathan Radcliff, 45, has been handed a total sentence of 121 months for distribution and possession of child pornography read more
Aug. 3, 2012 - DEFY
Laredo Kids Attend Drug Education for Youth (DEFY) Camp
LAREDO, Texas – Forty-one Laredo kids recently returned from their week-long Drug Education for Youth (DEFY) summer camp read more
Aug. 2, 2012 - Purser et al
“Insurer” of the Ethan Allen Heads to Federal Prison
HOUSTON – Christopher Purser, 50, of Houston, has been handed a 188-month-term of federal imprisonment following his conviction for conspiracy to commit wire fraud read more
Aug. 2, 2012 - Yarbrough et al
Three Arrested for Alleged Unlawful Manufacturing of Firearms
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Two men and one woman have been charged with aiding, abetting and assisting one another in dealing and manufacturing firearms without a federal license read more
Aug. 1, 2012 - Rueda-Cabrera and Chapa
Attempted Firearms and Ammunition Smuggling to Zeta Cartel Lands Two Men in Federal Prison
LAREDO, Texas – Damaso Alberto Rueda-Cabrera, 30, and Rene Chapa, 51, have been handed federal prison sentences in case involving the attempted smuggling of 147 firearms and 10,000 rounds of ammunition for Zeta cartel in Mexico read more
Aug. 1, 2012 - Chapa
Leader/Organizer Handed 21+ Years in Marijuana Conspiracy
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Julio Alberto Chapa, 40, of Corpus Christi, has been handed a significant federal sentence for his leadership role in a conspiracy to smuggle 1,257 kilograms of marijuana into the United States on board several small fishing vessels read more
Aug. 1, 2012 - Shittu
DME Owner Indicted for Health Care Fraud
HOUSTON – Abdul Waheed Alex Shittu, 54, a naturalized United States citizen from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has been charged in a 21-count indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft read more
