October 2012 Press Releases
Oct. 31, 2012 - Santibanez
Houston Man Handed Federal Sentence for Murder-for-Hire
HOUSTON – Francisco Santibanez, 33, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison following his conviction for use of interstate commerce facilities in murder-for-hire read more
Oct. 30, 2012 - Wang et al
Three Restaurant Owners Charged with Bribery of a Public Official
HOUSTON – A grand jury in Houston has returned a three-count Indictment charging Kong Ji Wang, 62, Kong Sheng Wang, 55, and Ying Hui Wang, 39, with one count of conspiracy to bribe a public official and two counts of bribery of a public official read more
Oct. 30, 2012 - Morgan
Jury Finds Alvin Man Guilty on Multiple Bank Fraud Charges
HOUSTON — A federal jury has convicted Patrick Cody Morgan, 45, of Alvin, guilty of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and nine counts of bank fraud read more
Oct. 30, 2012 - Tobias et al
Drug Trafficking Co-conspirators Head to Federal Prison
LAREDO, Texas – Two drug and money laundering co-conspirators are headed to federal prison as a result of a long-term Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Investigation dubbed “Operation Havoc,” read more
Oct. 30, 2012 - Solorzano
Convicted Felon Indicted for Unlawful Possession of Sawed-Off Shotgun During Alleged Wal-Mart Robbery
McALLEN, Texas – Aaron Solorzano, 25, of Donna, has been charged by a federal grand jury today with one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and another count of unlawfully possessing a sawed-off shotgun read more
Oct. 30, 2012 - Casarez et al
More Los Zetas Money Launderers Convicted, Others Head to Prison
LAREDO, Texas – Two men have entered pleas of guilty and two more have received their sentences for their roles in a money laundering investigation relating to the laundering of millions of drug proceeds by Los Zetas read more
Oct. 29, 2012 - Salas-Gardunio
“Welcome to Hell” Stash House Operator Handed Prison Sentence
McALLEN, Texas – Less than six months after his initial arrest, Mexican national Marcial Salas-Gardunio, one of the operators of what has become known as the "welcome to hell" stash house, has landed in federal prison read more
Oct. 29, 2012 - Garza et al
Mission Pharmacy Owner and Former Technician Sentenced to Federal Prison
McALLEN, Texas - Sara Elicia Garza, 56, and Valerie Jean Flores 39, both of Mission, have been sentenced to federal prison for conspiring to defraud the Texas Medicaid/Vendor Drug program read more
Oct. 29, 2012 - Election Officer
US Attorney Magidson Names SDTX Election Officer for Upcoming Election
HOUSTON - Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Ruben Perez will lead the efforts of his office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming Nov. 6, 2012, general elections read more
Oct. 25, 2012 - Garza et al
Jury Convicts Valley Men In Large Scale Marijuana Conspiracy
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Roberto Garza, 42, Jesus Gregorio Lopez aka Goyo Lopez, 62, and Ramon Zamora, 51, have been convicted in a large-scale drug-trafficking conspiracy read more
Oct. 25, 2012 - Yu et al
Three Chinese Nationals Arrested in Alien Harboring and Unlawful Employment Conspiracy
HOUSTON – Song Yu, 32, Hue Chen, 36, and Cheng Jie Chen, 40, all from the Katy area, have been taken into custody following the return of an indictment alleging a conspiracy to harbor and induce illegal aliens to reside in the U.S and unlawful employment read more
Oct. 25, 2012 - Gore
Woman Convicted of Preparing a False Income Tax Return
HOUSTON - Miranda Gore has entered a plea of guilty to one count of willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of a false U.S. Individual Income Tax Return read more
Oct. 22, 2012 - Escober and Molina
Airport Employees Arrested for Smuggling Heroin
HOUSTON - Rolin Eli Escober, of Houston, and Elidia Molina, of Humble, have been arrested on charges of possessing and conspiring to possess a controlled substance read more
Oct. 19, 2012 - Castillo-Chavez
Zeta Hitmen Gets Life in Prison
LAREDO, Texas – Gerardo Castillo-Chavez, aka “Cachetes” or Armado Garcia, and Eduardo Carreon-Ibarra, aka “Negro,” have been sent to federal prison for years following their multiple convictions stemming from a lengthy Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation read more
Oct. 19, 2012 - Reyes
Pharr Man Sent to Federal Prison for Attempting to Smuggle $190,720 into Mexico
McALLEN, Texas - Audencio Reyes-Casas, 61, of Pharr, has been handed an 18-month prison sentence for his conviction on one count of bulk cash smuggling read more
Oct. 19, 2012 - Nzeocha
Former Nigerian Fugitive Convicted in Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Scheme
HOUSTON – Godwin Chiedo Nzeocha, 45, a naturalized United States citizen originally from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has been convicted for his role in the multi-million dollar City Nursing health care fraud scheme read more
Oct. 17, 2012 - Cano
HISD Police Officer Charged with Extortion
HOUSTON - Richard Cano, 46, of Katy, has been arrested and charged with extortion under color of official right read more
Oct. 17, 2012 - Gonzales et al
16 Indicted in Drug Trafficking and Alien Smuggling Ring
HOUSTON - A total of 16 people have been charged with alien smuggling and/or drug smuggling conspiracies following a two-year investigation read more
Oct. 16, 2012 - Ramos
Former biller for Marcelo Herrera doing business as RGV DME Convicted
McALLEN, Texas - Beatriz Ramos, 28, of Edinburg, a former biller for RGV DME, a now defunct McAllen area durable medical equipment (DME) business, has pleaded guilty today for her role in a conspiracy and scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid through fraudulent billings read more
Oct. 15, 2012 - Davis
Former Attorney Pleads Guilty to $7 Million Ponzi Scheme
Billy Frank Davis, aka Bill F. Davis, a former attorney residing in Houston, has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in connection with his investment fraud scheme that victimized more than 20 investors of approximately $7.8 million read more
Oct. 15, 2012 - Dixon
Husband and Wife Plead Guilty to Separate Tax Crimes
HOUSTON - Married couple James R. Dixon and Sharon C. Dixon have each been convicted of committing separate tax crimes in two separately-filed, but related cases read more
Oct. 12, 2012 - Iyamu
Business Owner Heads to Prison for Health Care Offenses Perpetrated in Texas and Louisiana
HOUSTON - Endurance Iyamu, 48, of Houston, has been handed a 30-month prison sentence following his convictions of conspiracy and health care fraud read more
Oct. 11, 2012 - Alonzo
Progreso Man Sentenced to Prison for Having Sex with a Minor in Mexico
McALLEN, Texas - Carmen Alonzo, 58, of Progreso, Texas, has been handed a 72-month prison term for engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign country read more
Oct. 11, 2012 - Gage
Several Huntsville Residents Arrested and Charged in Drug Conspiracy
HOUSTON - Two separate indictments have been returned resulting in the arrests of 11 Huntsville area residents on charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana and illegal possession of weapons read more
Oct. 11, 2012 - Mares et al
25 Alleged Members and Associates of Texas Mexican Mafia Prison Gang Indicted
Charges Include Drugs, Guns and Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering
HOUSTON – Alleged members or associates of the notorious Texas Mexican Mafia (TMM) prison gang have been indicted for trafficking in heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, firearms violations and for distributing explosive materials read more
Oct. 11, 2012 - Casas and Mata
Weslaco Duo Sent to Prison for Cocaine Trafficking
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Two men have been sentenced to federal prison after admitting their guilt in the trafficking of cocaine in Weslaco, Texas read more
Oct. 11, 2012 - Houston Refining
Victim Company to Receive More than $23 Million in Forfeited Assets
HOUSTON – More than $23.7 million in forfeited assets will be returned to LyondellBasell Industries’ subsidiary, Houston Refining LP, which was the victim of a multimillion dollar fraud and kickback scheme read more
Oct. 10, 2012 - Lopez-Cuevas
Illegal Alien Sentenced to Prison for Firearms and an Illegal Silencer
MCALLEN, Texas – Humberto Lopez-Cuevas, 27, a Mexican national illegally in the United States, has been handed a federal prison sentence for being a prohibited person in possession of firearms and silencers read more
Oct. 10, 2012 - De La Cruz Reyna et al
Gulf Cartel Figure and Five Others Sentenced to Prison in Bribery Scheme
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Juan Carlos De La Cruz Reyna, 37, has been sentenced to another 11+ years in federal prison after having been convicted of bribery of a public official read more
Oct. 9, 2012 - Cabanillas-Torres
Baggage with Heroin Leads to Arrest at IAH
HOUSTON - Mexican citizen Yessica Chanel Cabanillas-Torres, 21, has been arrested following the discovery of heroin in her luggage as she arrived at Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) read more
Oct. 9, 2012 - Amador
Houston Resident Sentenced for Possessing Child Pornography
HOUSTON – Roberto Amador has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for possessing child pornography read more
Oct. 9, 2012 - Gladney
Houston Man Ordered to Serve 60 Years for Producing and Advertising Child Pornography
HOUSTON - Edward Jorodge Gladney, 28, of Houston, has been sentenced to a total of 720 months in prison following his convictions for producing and advertising child pornography read more
Oct. 5, 2012 - Campos
Trafficking Methamphetamine Lands Texas Man in Federal Prison
LAREDO, Texas – Julio Cesar Campos, 29, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute more than 3.5 kilograms of methamphetamine read more
Oct. 4, 2012 - Gonzalez-Cavazos and Cisneros
Two Handed Sentence for Transporting Illegal Aliens
McALLEN, Texas - Enrique Gonzalez-Cavazos, 41, a legal permanent resident of Lopeno, has been sentenced to prison following his convictions of three counts of transporting illegal aliens within the United States read more
Oct. 4, 2012 - Butler et al
Remaining Defendants Convicted in District’s Largest Domestic Sex Trafficking Case
HOUSTON – The last three defendants charged in Operation Total Exposure have been convicted read more
Oct. 4, 2012 - Duran-Gomez et al
U.S. Seeks Death Penalty in Human Smuggling Case
HOUSTON – A superceding indictment has been returned charging six defendants with multiple counts of engaging in transporting and harboring aliens, harboring aliens and money laundering read more
Oct. 4, 2012 - Nguyen
Houston Man Convicted of Possessing Stolen Credit Cards Numbers
HOUSTON – Ninh Nguyen, 58, of Houston, has been convicted of access device fraud read more
Oct. 3, 2012 - Rogers
Houston Resident Sentenced for Distributing and Possessing Child Pornography
HOUSTON – Nicholas Martin Rogers, has been sentenced to nearly 13 years in federal prison for distributing and possessing child pornography read more
Oct. 2, 2012 - Gobert
Houston Man Handed 20-Year Sentence in Drug/Money Laundering Conspiracy
HOUSTON – Kevin Joseph Gobert, 39, of Houston, has been handed a 20-year sentence for his leadership role in a multi-year drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy read more
Oct. 1, 2012 - Boria et al
Houston Federal Jury Convicts Five in Attempted Cocaine Robbery
HOUSTON – Four Colombian nationals and one Panamanian have been convicted in federal court on drug conspiracy and firearms charges read more
Oct. 1, 2012 - Witt
Former Union Head Heads to Federal Prison For Conspiracy to Embezzle
HOUSTON - Ronald Witt, the former business manager of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 450, has been sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to embezzle union funds read more
