February 2012 Press Releases
Feb. 29 - Flores et al
Five More South Texas Residents Sentenced to Prison This Week For Insurance Fraud
27 defendants sentenced to prison to date in connection with multi-million dollar conspiracy to defraud Aflac
McALLEN, Texas – Five more south Texas residents have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a scheme to defraud the American Family Life Assurance Company (Aflac) by filing false injury claims under Aflac’s Accident-Only Insurance Plan read more
Feb. 29, 2012 - Guzman
11+ Years in Hostage Taking Case
HOUSTON – Evaristo Guzman, 26, of Mexico, has been handed a 135-month prison term by U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal for his involvement in the hostage taking of a local man and son read more
Feb. 29, 2012 - Vasquez
McAllen Area Health Care Marketer Guilty of Illegal Kickback Conspiracy
McALLEN, Texas – The owner of a purported health care resource center has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy in relation to a scheme to solicit and receive illegal kickbacks from area health care providers read more
Feb. 28, 2012 - Cooper
Stolen Identity Leads to Federal Indictment for Huntsville Man
HOUSTON - Christopher Tyrone Cooper, 32, of Huntsville, Texas, has been indicted on charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft read more
Feb. 24, 2012 - Sarabia
McAllen Jury Returns Verdict in Marijuana Trafficking Case
McALLEN, Texas – Just moments ago, a federal jury hearing the case against Hugo Elio Sarabia Jr., 34, from Palmview, Texas, returned a guilty verdict for possession with intent to distribute 458 kilograms of marijuana read more
Feb. 23, 2012 - Reyes
Dallas Woman Found Guilty in Marijuana Case
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Rhonda Raquel Reyes, 28, of Dallas, Texas, has been convicted of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana read more
Feb. 23 - Garcia
Fugitive Arrested After 22 Years
McALLEN, Texas - Macario Garcia Jr., 54, of Mexico, has been arrested after 22 years on the run read more
Feb. 23, 2012 - Gu
Houston Man Indicted for Identity Theft
HOUSTON – Xin Gu, 27, of Houston, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for his part in an identity theft scheme rooted in New York read more
Feb. 22, 2012 - Garcia
Jury Convicts Final Raza Unida Gang Member in Meth Trafficking Conspiracy
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Orlando Garcia, 33, of Corpus Christi, Texas, has been convicted by a federal jury of drug trafficking in a conspiracy that involved gang leadership both inside and outside of the Texas prison system read more
Feb. 22, 2012 - Moreno
Mexican National Gets Hefty Sentence in Meth Case
McALLEN, Texas – Jose Angel Saavedra Moreno, 23, of Mexico, has been sentenced to 210 months imprisonment for possessing with intent to distribute approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine “Ice” read more
Feb. 22, 2012 - Delgado
San Juan Man Lands in Federal Prison for Child Pornography Charges
MCALLEN, Texas – Benito Delgado Jr., 34, of San Juan, Texas, has been sentenced to a total of 180 months in prison for receipt and production of child pornography read more
Feb. 21, 2012 - Talbert
Belize Citizen Convicted in One-Day Bench Trial
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Bernard Talbert, 37, a citizen of Belize, has been found guilty of attempted illegal re-entry into the United States after deportation read more
Feb. 21, 2012 - Scott
First Sentenced in Cocaine Theft Case Involving HCSO Deputy
HOUSTON - John Edward Scott, 35, of Houston, has been sentenced to federal prison for his participation with a Harris County Sheriff’s deputy in a scheme to steal narcotics read more
Feb. 21, 2012 - Martin
Corpus Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Solicitation of a Minor
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Bryan Martin, 39, of Corpus Christi, Texas, has pleaded guilty to using a facility and means of interstate and foreign commerce, specifically a telephone and a computer connected to the Internet, in an attempt to coerce and entice a minor to engage in sexual activity read more
Feb. 21, 2012 - Atchison
Local Man Pleads Guilty to Possession Child Pornography
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Scott Randall Atchison, 50, of Corpus Christi, Texas, has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography read more
Feb. 21, 2012 - Waters
Former Winnie Resident Sentenced for Receipt of Child Pornography
GALVESTON, Texas – Donald Wayne Waters, 44, has been sentenced to 151 months in prison for receipt of child pornography read more
Feb. 17, 2012 - Arreola-Perez
Illegal Alien Sentenced for Making a False Claim for Social Security Benefits
HOUSTON – Javier Arreola-Perez, 39, of Houston, has been sentenced to federal prison for making a false statement to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and receiving more than $100,000 in benefits to which he was not entitled read more
Feb. 16, 2012 - Sanchez and De La Rosa
Laredo Couple Charged with False Claims to FEMA
LAREDO, Texas – Nora Sanchez, 47, of Laredo, Texas, has been arrested on charges of making false claims to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and false statements to the Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG) read more
Feb.14, 2012 - Cisneros
Limas Corruption Case Lands Another in Prison
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Francisco “Pancho” Cisneros, a local bail bondsman charged for his role in former State District Judge Abel Limas’ scheme to solicit and accept bribes in exchange for official action, has been sentenced to federal prison read more
Feb. 13, 2012 - Prendergast
Houston Jury Convicts Galveston Man in FEMA Fraud Scheme
HOUSTON - Patrick Adolf Prendergast Jr., 54, of Galveston, Texas, has been convicted for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) fraud read more
Feb. 10, 2012 - Perez
Federal Jury Convicts Bishop Man for Heroin and Cocaine Trafficking
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – After one day of trial, a Brownsville federal jury has found a former reserve officer for the Nueces County Constables Office guilty on three drug trafficking charges read more
Feb.10, 2012 - Cone
Local Businessman Pleads Guilty to Avoiding Income Taxes on $1 Million Severance
HOUSTON – Robert Edward Cone has entered a plea of guilty to using a foreign account to corruptly obstruct and impede the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the collection of approximately $282,871 in federal income taxes read more
Feb. 10. 2012 - Watson
Alpha One” Foreign Currency Trader Lands 20-Year Prison Term
HOUSTON – Robert David Watson, 50, of Spring, Texas, has been sentenced to the statutory maximum of 240 months in federal prison for securities fraud read more
Feb. 9, 2012 - Padilla
Robstown Man Guilty of Valero Bomb Threat
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Jose Orlando Padilla, 19, of Robstown, Texas, has been convicted of using a telephone to communicate bomb threats to the Valero Refinery in Corpus Christi read more
Feb. 9, 2012 - Essien
Former DME Company Owner Lands in Federal Prison
HOUSTON – Bassey Essien, the former co-owner of Durable Medical Equipment (DME) companies Logic World Medical and Roben Medical in Houston, has been sentenced to 99 months in federal prison for defrauding the Texas Medicaid program read more
Feb. 9, 2012 - Stephens et al
Houston Men Sentenced for Roles in Attempted Armored Car Robbery
HOUSTON – Four Houston residents have been sentenced to prison for the attempted robbery of an armored car read more
Feb. 9, 2012 - Quezada-Alcala
Jury Convicts Matamoros Man on Cocaine Charges
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A Brownsville federal jury has convicted Omar Quezada-Alcala, 35, of Matamoros, Mexico, on all four counts charged against him read more
Feb. 7, 2012 - Callen
Long Time Fugitive Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering
HOUSTON – John Callen Jr. 52, formerly of Cypress, Texas and Detroit, Mich., has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute 14 kilograms of cocaine and laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug money read more
Feb. 7, 2012 - Perez
Illegal Possession Lands Local Man in Federal Prison
Involved in altercation at local bar and grill
LAREDO, Texas – Fernando Perez, 28, of Laredo, Texas, has been sentenced to federal prison for 41 months for illegally possessing a firearm read more
Feb. 6, 2012 - Ewanko
Former Houston Pilot Convicted of Distribution and Possession of Child Pornography
Millions of images found on multiple devices
HOUSTON – Todd Steven Ewanko, 47, an Humble, Texas, resident and former commercial pilot, has pleaded guilty to distribution and possession of child pornography read more
Feb. 6, 2012 - Demmon
Retired Federal Park Ranger Convicted on Child Pornography Charge
HOUSTON - Retired federal park ranger Douglas Crockwell Demmon of Galveston, Texas, has entered a plea of guilty read more
Feb. 6, 2012 - Alanis
Brownsville Mother and Daughter-in-Law Guilty in Health Care Fraud Scheme
McALLEN, Texas - Felicitas Velez Alanis, 51, and her daughter-in-law Erika Ortega Alanis, 27, both of Brownsville, Texas, have entered pleas of guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud read more
Feb. 6, 2012 - Trevino et al
Four Plead Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering
McALLEN, Texas - Four Texas men have pleaded guilty for their roles in a large scale drug trafficking organization operating out of Starr County, Texas read more
Feb. 3, 2012 - Lopez-Ramos
Career Offender Gets Hefty Sentence in Cocaine Case
McALLEN, Texas – Octavio Lopez-Ramos, 29, of Mexico, has been sentenced to 348 months imprisonment for possessing with intent to distribute approximately 72 kilograms of cocaine read more
Feb. 3, 2012 - Baker
Local Tax Preparer Sentenced to Prison
HOUSTON - Kendrick Baker, a former franchisee of Colbert/Ball Tax Service, has been sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison read more
Feb. 3, 2012 - Robles Perez
Mexican National Convicted of Moving 600 Lbs. of Marijuana
LAREDO, Texas – Joel Hugo Robles Perez, 24, has pleaded guilty in federal court to having nearly 600 pounds of marijuana intended for distribution read more
Feb. 3, 2012 - Garza
Pharmacy Owner Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Commit Health Care Fraud
McALLEN, Texas - Sara Elicia Garza, 55, of Mission, Texas, has been convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud read more
Feb. 2, 2012 - Garcia
Former Webb County Deputy Constable Sentenced to Five Years
LAREDO, Texas - Eduardo Garcia, a former Webb County Deputy Constable, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for interference with commerce under color of official right, a violation of the Hobbs Act read more
Feb. 2, 2012 - Munoz-Vargas
Mexican National Convicted for Possession of 100% Pure Methamphetamine
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Rigoberto Munoz-Vargas, 37, has pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being an alien in possession of a firearm read more
Feb. 2, 2012 - Alonzo
Progreso Man Convicted of Having Sex With Minor in Mexico
McALLEN, Texas - Carmen Alonzo, 57, of Progreso, Texas, has pleaded guilty to engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign country read more
Feb. 2, 2012 - DeLeon
DME Business Owner Lands in Federal Prison for 10 Years for Health Care Fraud and Identity Theft Scheme
McALLEN, Texas - Juan De Leon, 41, of Edinburg, Texas, and owner of United DME Inc. was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison, without parole, for his role in a health care fraud and identity theft scheme read more
Feb. 1, 2012 - Cepeda
Convicted Felon Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Firearm and Ammunition
McALLEN, Texas - An Edinburg man, previously convicted of a state felony, will be serving prison term for possessing a firearm and ammunition read more
