NDTX Weekly Roundup -- 10/25/18

PLEA – Larry Duncan, 72
On Oct. 22, four-term Dallas City Councilman Larry Duncan, a former president of Dallas County Schools’ Board of Trustees, pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion. The charge stems from the federal investigation into the Dallas County Schools bribery scandal, which claimed its fifth conviction Monday. Press release here.

INDICTMENT* – Jeffrey Richie, 53, & Wendy Richie, 58
On Oct. 23, a federal grand jury indicted a Red Oak, Texas couple who allegedly embezzled $14.5 million from retirement plans they managed. Jeffrey Richie, 53, and Wendy Richie, 58, co-owners of Vantage Benefits Administrators, were charged with conspiracy, theft from an employee benefit plan, wire fraud, and aggravated identify theft after they allegedly misappropriated funds from at least 1,000 participants in at least 20 employer’s plans.  Press release here. 

INDICTMENT* – Michelle North, 53
On Oct. 23, a federal grand jury indicted Michelle North, of Balch Springs, for theft of government funds and making false statement to the Social Security Administration (SSA).  She allegedly received income-based disability payments from SSA while also receiving a large amount of Indian tribal funds.  Ms. North failed to accurately tell SSA how much money she was receiving from the Tribal Counsel.  If convicted on this case, Ms. North will have to pay back approximately $32,000 in restitution.  SSA Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.

PLEA – Chris Faulkner, 41
On Oct. 23, Texas oil-and-gas mogul Christopher A. Faulkner pleaded guilty to securities fraud, engaging in illegal monetary transactions, and tax evasion. A frequent media commentator and self-proclaimed “frack master,” Faulkner admits he bilked investors out of millions of dollars and concealed millions more from the IRS. He now faces 12 years in prison. The IRS-CI, FBI, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated. Press release here.

SENTENCING – Bill Day, 39 & Laura Day, 47
On Oct. 23, Bill and Laura Day, of Seymour, Texas were both sentenced in Wichita Falls federal court to 30 years in prison for child sexual exploitation. The husband and wife duo admitted to producing sexually explicit images involving an infant in 2015. The images were discovered while the Department of Public Safety was conducting a child pornography investigation of the Days in May 2017.  DPS and HSI conducted the investigation. 

SENTENCING – Miller Hogan, 44
On Oct. 24, Miller Hogan was sentenced to nearly 4 years in federal prison for his role in a cocaine distribution conspiracy.  In March, Hogan pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute, after Dallas Drug Enforcement Administration agents intercepted him on a wiretap negotiating and purchasing 1.5 kilograms of cocaine from a codefendant. 

SENTENCING – Mohammed Natour, 33
On Oct. 24, Mohammed Natour was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison for his role in a RICO conspiracy.  In March, Natour pled guilty for his participation in a transnational criminal enterprise, comprised mostly of Colombian nationals or individuals of Colombian descent, whose members targeted and robbed traveling diamond and jewelry salesmen across the United States.  Natour participated in four armed robberies of traveling diamond and jewelry salesmen over a one-year period, between 2014 and 2015, in Oklahoma, Texas, and Florida.

SENTENCING – Glenn Eugene Halfin, 64
On Oct. 24, a 64-year-old Grapevine, man was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison for a hate crime after he repeatedly threatened an African American family living in the apartment above him because of their race. Glenn Eugene Halfin admits he hung a baby doll dangling from a noose around a railing in their apartment complex. He pleaded guilty to interfering with housing rights. The FBI and Grapevine Police Department, in conjunction with the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, investigated. Press release here.

SENTENCING – Horacio Alpizar, 58
On Oct. 24, Horacio Alpizar was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison for his role in a cocaine distribution conspiracy. In April, Alpizar pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute, after Dallas Drug Enforcement Administration agents found $186,681 of drug proceeds in his home along with drug paraphernalia.  In a separate residence, DEA agents found a firearm, drug paraphernalia, cocaine, and a garage set up as a mechanic shop to load and unload vehicles with drugs and drug proceeds.  As part of his punishment, Alpizar was ordered to forfeit the cash, firearm, two vehicles, and three properties, all totaling nearly one million dollars.

PLEA – Denene Griggs, 24
On Oct. 25, Denene Griggs of Wichita Falls pleaded guilty to concealing a person from arrest. She admits to sheltering two fugitives – her child’s father, Javaris Damon Scott, and his brother, Trevor Scott -- inside her apartment. The Scott brothers, wanted in connection with a July 12 drug bust, were arrested Sept. 6, when officers spotted them climbing out of Grigg’s window. She now faces up to 5 years in prison. The FBI, DEA, DPS – Criminal Investigation Division, Wichita Falls PD, Rhome PD, and Iowa Parks PD investigated.

* An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.