April 2012 Press Releases
April 30, 2012 - Salinas
Beeville Couple Convicted in Cocaine/Money Laundering Case
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Casimiro Dimas Salinas, 62, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering, while his wife, Patsy Gail Salinas, 53, pleaded to structuring financial transactions read more
April 30, 2012 - Trammell et al
Three Family Members Land in Federal Prison for Mortgage Fraud
Each Ordered to Pay Nearly $1 Million in Restitution
HOUSTON – Claymon “Butch” Trammell along with his wife and daughter, all of Houston, have been sentenced to federal prison for their respective roles in a multi-million dollar mortgage fraud scheme read more
April 30, 2012 - Estrada
Former Grocery Store Owner Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Commit WIC Fraud
McALLEN, Texas - Fernando Ramirez Estrada, 45, of Mission, Texas, has been convicted of conspiracy to commit WIC fraud read more
April 27, 2012 - Huang
Houston Resident Pleads Guilty to Charges of Intellectual Property Theft
HOUSTON - Wen-Long Huang aka Joseph W. Huang, 62, a U.S. Citizen originally from Taiwan now residing in Houston, has pleaded guilty to theft of trade secrets read more
April 26, 2012 - Corley et al
Indictment Returned in Murder-For-Hire Case
LAREDO, Texas – Seven people have now been charged in a five-count indictment with drug trafficking, use and carrying of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and violent crime and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire read more
April 25, 2012 - Zapata
Man Sentenced to Nearly 25 Years for Drug Conspiracy
McALLEN, Texas – Edgar Daniel Zapata, 31, from Mexico, has been handed a 292- month prison term for his role in the conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 3,000 kilograms of marijuana and 66 kilograms of cocaine read more
April 25, 2012 - Cardona
Production of Child Pornography Lands Mission Man in Federal Prison for 27 Years
McALLEN, Texas – Luis Andres Cardona, 54, of Mission, Texas, has been sentenced to 324 months in prison for production of child pornography read more
April 25, 2012 - Gomez-Vega et al
Four Illegals Sentenced for Harboring Aliens
McALLEN, Texas – Jose Santos Gomez-Vega, 33, of Altamirano, Guerrero, Mexico, has been sentenced to 92 months in prison for his role in harboring aliens at stash houses located near Alton and La Blanca, Texas, as well as for re-entering the United States after prior removal read more
April 24, 2012 - Iracheta-Tamez
Drug Trafficker Sentenced To 10 Years Prison For Loading Marijuana
McALLEN,TEXAS - Gonzalo Iracheta-Tamez, 25, a Mexican national, has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison read more
April 24, 2012 - Medrano
DME Operator Convicted In Illegal Kickback Conspiracy
McALLEN, Texas – The owner of an area medical supply company has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the federal anti-kickback statute read more
April 24, 2012 - Trevino
Owner of Med-Quick Diagnostics Convicted In Illegal Kickback Conspiracy
McALLEN, Texas - The owner of an area medical supply and diagnostic testing company has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the federal anti-kickback statute read more
April 24, 2012 - Avila
20-Year-Old Lands 10+Year Sentence for Importing Methamphetamine
McALLEN, Texas - Carolina Avila, 20, of Illinois, has been handed a 121-month sentence for importing and possessing with intent to distribute more than seven kilograms of actual methamphetamine read more
April 23, 2012 - De La Cruz Reyna et al
Gulf Cartel Figure and Others Convicted in Bribery Scheme
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Juan Carlos De La Cruz Reyna, 37, has entered a plea of guilty to bribery of a public official read more
April 23, 2012 - Reid
Serial Identity Thief Handed Prison Sentence
HOUSTON - Sharif John Reid, 37, of League City, Texas, has been handed a total of 75 months in prison sentence for his conviction of aggravated identity theft and access device fraud read more
April 20, 2012 - Flores et al
Several Laredoans Charged in Multi-Million Dollar Meth Conspiracy
LAREDO, Texas – A nine-count federal indictment has been partially unsealed following the arrest of eight Texas residents on charges of conspiracy to possess methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin with the intent to distribute read more
April 19, 2012 - Scott
Former Camp Buehring Postmaster Sent to Prison for Stealing Half Million in Money Orders
HOUSTON – Delmus Eugene Scott, Jr., 34, of Humble, Texas, has been sentenced to federal prison for theft of government money read more
April 19, 2012 - Barriga
Final Defendant in Alien Smuggling Case Handed Sentence
HOUSTON - Ulises Barriga, 21, an illegal alien from Mexico, has been sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens read more
April 19, 2012 - Brooks and Frank
Recruiters Charged in Multi-Million Dollar City Nursing Scheme
HOUSTON – Floyd Leslie Brooks, 45, Gwendolyn Kay Frank, 43, both of Houston, have been charged with conspiracy to violation the Anti-Kickback Statue read more
April 19, 2012 - Monreal
Woman Charged with Preparing False Tax Returns
HOUSTON - Yolanda Monreal has been charged in a 20-count indictment alleging she willfully aided and assisted in the preparation and presentation of false U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns read more
April 19, 2012 - Mejia et al
MS-13 Gang Members and Associates Indicted for Racketeering and Drug Trafficking
HOUSTON – Five members or associates of the Mara Salva Trucha (MS-13) Street gang have been indicted on racketeering, drug trafficking and firearms violations read more
April 19, 2012 - Pena
Wife Who Assisted Husband Sentenced in Limas Scheme
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Karina Pena, wife of a man on probation, has been sentenced for her role in the scheme of former State District Judge Abel Corral Limas to solicit and accept bribes in exchange for official action read more
April 18, 2012 - Muniz and Aceituno
Two Charged in Death of Smuggled Alien
HOUSTON – Two defendants have been charged with the smuggling of a group of illegal aliens from Houston to Los Angeles that left one of the aliens dead read more
April 17, 2012 - Solis et al
Six Charged With Harboring Aliens
Nine of the Aliens Later Killed During Transport
McALLEN, Texas – Five of the six people arrested last week in relation to the fatal rollover in Palmview, Texas, have made their initial appearances and been ordered detained pending further criminal proceedings read more
April 17, 2012 - Alcala
Another South Texas Resident Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Aflac
28 Now Sentenced to Prison in Connection with Multi-Million Dollar Conspiracy
McALLEN, Texas - Another south Texas resident has been sentenced to federal prison in connection with 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
April 16, 2012 - Gonzalez
Jury Convicts Angleton Man in Marijuana Case
LAREDO, Texas – Carlos Gonzalez, 44, of Angleton, Texas, has been convicted of possessing with intent to distribute 637 kilograms of marijuana read more
April 16, 2012 - Mora-G0nzalez
Weslaco Man Handed 262-Month Prison Term for Narcotics Smuggling
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Miguel Angel Mora-Gonzalez, 22, has been sentenced to more than 21 years in federal prison for his participation in an organization smuggling marijuana into the U.S. from Mexico read more
April 16, 2012 - Puckett
Repeat Offender Gets 10 Years For Possession of Child Pornography
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Corpus Christi resident Brian Puckett, 52, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison following his conviction of possession of child pornography read more
April 13, 2012 - Oritz
Laredoan Guilty of Smuggling Illegal Aliens
LAREDO, Texas - Jose Rolando Ortiz, 30, of Laredo, Texas, has been found guilty on all 10 counts as charged read more
April 13, 2012 - Carrington
Woman Charged With Preparing False Tax Returns and Providing False Information
HOUSTON - A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against Shirley M. Carrington, charging her with eight counts of willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns read more
April 12, 2012 - Aikens
Former HPD Officer Handed 15+ Year Sentence
HOUSTON - Former Houston Police officer Leslie Aikens has been sentenced to 188 months in prison following his convictions on charges of public corruption read more
April 12, 2012 - Ruffino
Houston Man Gets Federal Prison in Child Pornography Case
HOUSTON – Mario Joseph Ruffino, 30, of Houston, has been sentenced to 97 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography read more
April 12, 2012 - Sosa and Solorio
Alien Smugglers Land in Federal Prison
HOUSTON - Denis Sosa, 20, an illegal alien from Mexico, and Luis Enrique Solorio, 21, an illegal alien from Honduras, have been sentenced to federal prison read more
April 11, 2012 - Pejouhesh
Houston Jury Convicts Iranian National
HOUSTON – Hassan Ali Pejouhesh, 63, of Iran, has been convicted of multiple counts of bank fraud, possession of stolen mail and aggravated identity theft read more
April 11, 2012 - Garcia-Pena et al
Six Men Handed Federal Sentences for Drug Trafficking
McALLEN, Texas – Six people associated with the Escobedo drug trafficking organization have landed in federal prison for their respective roles in the distribution of marijuana read more
April 11, 2012 - Casa-Gonzalez and Mata-Ramirez
Weslaco Duo Arrested for Alleged Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Two men have been detained following their arrest on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine read more
April 10, 2012 - McChester
Corpus Christi Police Officer Charged With Solicitation of a Minor
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Robert McChester Jr., 25, has been arrested on charges of using a facility and means of interstate and foreign commerce - a telephone and a computer connected to the internet - to coerce and entice a minor to engage in sexual activity read more
April 10, 2012 - Gonzalez
Roma Man Sentenced for Attempting to Export Ammunition and Night Vision Devices
McALLEN, Texas - A Roma man who was caught attempting to export munitions is heading to federal prison read more
April 10, 2012 - Hernandez
Progresso Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison For Possessing a Firearm
McALLEN, Texas – Sergio Hernandez Jr., 21, of Progresso, Texas, has been sentenced to 110 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a revolver read more
April 9, 2012 - Rojas
Leaders in Sex Trafficking/Alien Harboring Conspiracy Handed Lengthy Federal Sentences
HOUSTON – Maria Rojas aka “Nancy,” 47, and Jose Luis Rojas, 39, the leaders of an organization involved in the trafficking of Mexican females for compelled service at Houston area bars and restaurants through force, fraud and coercion have landed significant time in federal prison read more
April 9, 2012 - Cloyd
Dublin Resident Handed Federal Prison Sentence
LAREDO, Texas – Robert Lee Cloyd, 40, has been sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute more than 2000 kilograms of marijuana read more
April 9, 2012 - Morgart
Credit Card and ID Thief Lands in Federal Prison
HOUSTON – Arthur David Morgart, 31, of Houston, has been sentenced to a total of 65 months in federal prison read more
April 5, 2012 - Felder and Lowe
Two Handed Sentences for Roles in Bank Fraud Scam
HOUSTON - Voncil Felder, 23, and Netfa Lowe, 34, both of Houston, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud read more
April 4, 2012 - Furlough
29-Year-Old Houston Man Lands in Prison for Possession of Child Pornography
HOUSTON – Brandon Rashaud Furlough, 29, has been sentenced to 60 months in prison for possession of child pornography read more
April 4, 2012 - Kramer
Dickinson Resident Sentenced for Distribution of Child Pornography
HOUSTON – Larry James Kramer, 38, has been sentenced to 151 months in federal prison for distribution of child pornography read more
April 3, 2012 - Obi
New Defendant Charged in Multi-Million Dollar Health Care Fraud Case
HOUSTON – Tony Nnonso Obi, 56, a naturalized U.S. citizen from the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been charged in a 20-count indictment for his role in a massive health care fraud conspiracy that billed the Medicare and Medicaid programs for more than $45 million read more
April 2, 2012 - Vega
Mission Man Convicted in Child Porn Case
McALLEN, Texas – Reynaldo Vega, 45, of Mission, Texas, has been convicted of receiving child pornography via the Internet read more
April 2, 2012 - Howard
Cuero Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography
VICTORIA, Texas – Archie Terry Howard, 33, of Cuero, Texas, has been convicted of distribution of child pornography read more
April 2, 2012 - Reyna
Leader in 3000+ Pound Marijuana Case Handed Sentence
HOUSTON – Roel Reyna, 46, of Rio Grande City, Texas, has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a case involving the smuggling of more than a ton of marijuana concealed in pallets of watermelons read more
