Federal Prisoner in Beaumont Sentenced for Attempting to File Bogus Liens Against Former U.S. Attorney

In Beaumont this morning, 40-year-old Isaac Mireles of Houston was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for attempting to file fraudulent liens against a former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., Western District of Texas, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner, Houston Division.

In addition to the prison term, United States District Judge Marcia A. Crone ordered that Mireles be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.  Judge Crone also ordered that the 78-month prison term run consecutive to a 57-month federal prison term Mireles is currently serving.

On June 21, 2017, following a two-day trial, a federal jury convicted Mireles of two counts of retaliation against a federal officer or employee by false claim.  Testimony during trial revealed that Mireles, while in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons in Beaumont, knowingly mailed documents in an attempt to file two false liens—one on January 14, 2016, in Brazoria County; the other, on February 17, 2016, in Harris County.  Both retaliatory liens claimed the former U.S. Attorney, whose official duty was to oversee the prosecution of the defendant in a prior federal drug case, owed Mireles $5 million.

On June 17, 2014, Mireles pleaded guilty to two federal conspiracy charges involving the possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana.  On February 4, 2015, United States District Judge Thad Heartfield sentenced Mireles to 57 months incarceration for those offenses.

“Mireles’ sole purpose was to harass this public servant for doing his job.  Such malicious harassment of public officials is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” stated United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr.

Agents with the FBI investigated this case.  Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Wannarka of the Western District of Texas prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.  The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas was recused in this matter.