February 2013 Press Releases
Feb. 28, 2013 - Castenada
Laredo Resident Sentenced in Alien Smuggling case
LAREDO, Texas – Jorge Castenada, 38, of Laredo, has been sentenced to total of 63 months following his conviction of alien smuggling read more
Feb. 28, 2013 - Henneberger et al
Several Charged in Counterfeit DVD/CD Investigation
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Seven Corpus Christi residents have been indicted as a result of the efforts of a multi-agency investigation into intellectual property rights violations read more
Feb. 28, 2013 - Estabrook
Missouri Man Charged with Counterfeit Viagra and Cialis Trafficking
HOUSTON - Timothy Ross Estabrook, 52, has been charged with trafficking in counterfeit Viagra® and Cialis®, introducing and delivering misbranded drugs into interstate commerce, smuggling and conspiracy read more
Feb. 28, 2013 - Martinez
Falfurrias Man Sent to Prison for Alien Smuggling Scheme That Resulted in Death
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Lewey Martinez, 32, of Falfurrias, has been ordered to prison for his role in an alien smuggling and harboring scheme that resulted in the September 2011 death of a 24-year-old Mexican national read more
Feb. 27, 2013 - Nino-Duenes
Firearm Possession Lands Mexican Citizen in Federal Prison
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Luis Ivan Nino-Duenes, 28, of Control, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been sentenced to prison following his convicted of being an alien in possession of a firearm read more
Feb. 27, 2013 - TDCJ
29 Taken into Custody in Massive Racketeering Indictment, Including 17 Former TDCJ Officers
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A sealed indictment charging numerous defendants with racketeering violations has been unsealed following their recent arrests throughout the Southern District of Texas and elsewhere read more
Feb. 25, 2013 - Giventer
South Texas Couple Sentenced In Bankruptcy Fraud Case
HOUSTON – Michael Giventer, 53, formerly of Brownsville, has been ordered to prison for five years following his conviction of conspiracy to commit bankruptcy fraud read more
Feb. 25, 2013 - Morgan
Alvin Man Gets 27 Years for Multiple Bank Fraud Convictions
HOUSTON — Patrick Cody Morgan, 46, of Alvin, has been sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for his convictions on multiple counts of bank fraud read more
Feb. 25, 2013 - Edem
Local Businessman Convicted in $19+ Million Health Care Fraud Scheme
HOUSTON - Joseph Edem, 53, of Richmond, has been convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud relating to medically unnecessary diagnostic testing and physical therapy read more
Feb. 25, 2013 - Gonzalez-Chavez
Federal Judge Sentences Last of 5 Convicted of Smuggling More Than 1 Ton of Marijuana
McALLEN, Texas – A federal judge in McAllen has sentenced the last of five men who previously pleaded guilty to smuggling approximately 2,672 pounds of marijuana read more
Feb. 25, 2013 - Flores-Martinez
Two Sentenced for Attempted Smuggling of Assault Rifle Magazines
LAREDO, Texas – Julio Cesar Flores-Martinez, 47, and Francisco Padilla-Perez, 41, both Mexican nationals living in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, have been ordered to prison for their roles in attempting to smuggle 652 assault rifle magazines into Mexico read more
Feb. 25, 2013 - Venegas
Rio Bravo Man Who Provided Assault Rifles to Mexican Gangs Sentenced to Prison
LAREDO, Texas – Silverio Venegas Jr., 37, of Rio Bravo, has been sentenced to serve a total of 51 months in prison read more
Feb. 25, 2013 - Puglisi
Houston Man Sentenced for Grocery Store Bank Robbery
HOUSTON – A Houston man indicted for a string of bank robberies in Houston during the summer of 2012 has been ordered to federal prison read more
Feb. 22, 2013 - Garza and Zamora
Life Sentenced Ordered Marijuana Trafficking Conspiracy
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A total of nine men have now been sentenced to federal prison as a result of the efforts of a multi-agency Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation into a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana read more
Feb. 22, 2013 - Montemayor and Reyna
Two Arrested for Failing to Pay Employment Taxes
LAREDO, Texas – Jorge Montemayor and Leticia Reyna have been arrested following the return of a 14-count indictment accusing them of failure to pay over employment taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) read more
Feb. 22, 2013 - Mendez
Felon in Possession Handed 15-Year Prison Term
MCALLEN, Texas – A convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition has been handed a significant federal term of imprisonment read more
Feb. 22, 2013 - Eyerly
Former Conroe Resident Gets 30 Years for Conspiring to Produce Child Pornography
HOUSTON – Matthew David Eyerly, 36, has been handed a 30-year term of federal imprisonment following his conviction of conspiracy to produce child pornography and possession of child pornography read more
Feb. 21, 2013 - Herrera and De La Garza
RGV DME Owner and Two Others Convicted in $11 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme
McALLEN, Texas - The owner of a now defunct McAllen area durable medical equipment (DME) business, his wife and another former employee have been convicted for their roles in a conspiracy and scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid through fraudulent billings read more
Feb. 21, 2013 - Walsh
Houstonian Convicted of Receiving Child Pornography
HOUSTON – Sean Louis Walsh, 30, a Houston resident, has entered a guilty plea to receipt of child pornography read more
Feb. 20, 2013 - Obregon
Last of Los Zetas Arms Traffickers Convicted
LAREDO, Texas – Jose Roberto Obregon, 29, of Laredo, has entered a plea of guilty for his role in a conspiracy to export weapons to Mexico destined for Los Zetas Drug Trafficking Organization read more
Feb. 19, 2013 - Villarreal
Former HISD Elementary Teacher Convicted of Possession and Distribution of Child Pornography
HOUSTON – Juan Antonio Villarreal, 53, of Houston, has entered a plea of guilty to both distribution and possession of child pornography read more
Feb. 19, 2013 - Reid
Federal Jury Finds Houston Man Guilty in Firearms Conspiracy
HOUSTON - Tyrone Reid, 22, of Houston, has been found guilty of a conspiracy involving numerous co-defendants who lied to federal firearms dealers in the purchase of firearms read more
Feb. 19, 2013 - Garza
Kingsville Woman Arrested in Ohio on Corpus Christi Embezzlement Case
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Maricella Garza, 37, of Kingsville, has been arrested following the return of an indictment charging her with embezzling funds from the Kingsville Community Federal Credit Union read more
Feb. 19, 2013 - Bjork
Former Employee of Deceased Friendswood Financial Advisor Convicted of Running Own Ponzi Scheme
HOUSTON - Brian Anthony Bjork, 43, of Missouri City, has pleaded guilty in connection with an investment scam that defrauded nearly a dozen investors of more than $1 million read more
Feb. 15, 2013 - Melchor-Sanchez
Houston Man Lands in Federal Prison for Theft of Government Funds
HOUSTON - Carlos Melchor-Sanchez, 47, of Houston, has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction on one count of theft of government funds from the Social Security Disability Insurance fund read more
Feb. 14, 2013 - Martinez-Pedraza and Silva-Hernandez
Drug Smuggler Sentenced to More than 10 Years for Hitting Border Patrol Unit
McALLEN, Texas – Alejandro Javier Martinez-Pedraza, 19, and Osvaldo Javier Silva-Hernandez, 19, both Mexican nationals who were illegally present in the United States, have been ordered to prison following convictions for possession with intent to distribute 662 kilograms of marijuana read more
Feb. 14, 2013 - Tobias
Edinburg Alien Smuggler Heads to Federal Prison for Alien Harboring Conspiracy
McALLEN, Texas - Jose Luis Tobias, 28, of Edinburg, has been ordered to prison following his convictions of two counts of conspiring to harbor and transport undocumented aliens and three counts of harboring undocumented aliens read more
Feb. 14, 2013 - Krist
Bulverde Man Indicted for Bank Robbery
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Joseph C. M. Krist, 41, of Bulverde, has been indicted by a Corpus Christi federal grand jury for robbing IBC Bank read more
Feb. 14, 2013 - Cone
Local Businessman Sentenced for Avoiding Income Taxes on $1 Million Severance
HOUSTON – Robert Edward Cone has been sentenced for using a foreign account in the Channel Islands to corruptly obstruct and impede the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the collection of approximately $282,871 in federal income taxes read more
Feb. 14, 2013 - Lopez and Kuhrt
Former Executives of Stanford Financial Group Entities Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Roles in Fraud Scheme
HOUSTON – Gilbert T. Lopez Jr., the former chief accounting officer of Stanford Financial Group Company, and Mark J. Kuhrt, the former global controller of Stanford Financial Group Global Management, were each sentenced today to 20 years in prison for their roles in helping Robert Allen Stanford perpetrate a fraud scheme involving Stanford International Bank (SIB) read more
Feb. 12, 2013 - Carvajal and Vargas
Four Sentenced for Robbing a Traveling Jeweler in College Station
One Remaining Fugitive Sought – Reward Offered
HOUSTON – Four people have been sentenced to federal prison for robbing an interstate traveling jeweler of jewelry in College Station read more
Feb. 12, 2013 - Castillo
Former USACE Engineer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bribery
GALVESTON, Texas - Christopher Castillo, 33, of Monte Alto, has been handed a federal prison sentence after having been convicted of one count of bribery read more
Feb. 12, 2013 - Morales
Five Convicted in Relation to $20+ Million ‘Black Market Peso Exchange’ Scheme
HOUSTON – One of the leaders of an organization that laundered more than $20 million through “shell” business bank accounts has just entered a guilty plea in federal court in Houston read more
Feb. 11, 2013 - Scott
Coast Guard Petty Officer Convicted of Stealing Government Property
HOUSTON – Brandon Lee Scott, U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class, of Dickinson, has entered a plea of guilty to theft of government property read more
Feb. 8, 2013 - Stancil
Magnolia Man Sent to Prison for Attempted Theft of Trade Secrets
HOUSTON - Steven Thomas Stancil, 52, of Magnolia, has landed in federal prison following his conviction for attempted theft of trade secrets read more
Feb. 8, 2013 - Zuniga
24 Years for Mexican National in Cocaine Conspiracy
HOUSTON – Jose Manuel Zuniga, 42, a Mexican National residing in Houston, has been sent to federal prison for his conviction on one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine read more
Feb. 7, 2013 - Ochoa-Rodriguez
Jury Convicts Pharr Man in Marijuana Smuggling Conspiracy
Evidence showed he admitted crimes via Facebook
McALLEN, Texas – A federal jury in McAllen has convicted Erick Ochoa-Rodriguez, 19, of Pharr, on two counts of conspiring to possess and actually possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute the controlled substance to another read more
Feb. 7, 2013 - Cabanillas-Torres
Mexican Citizen Convicted of Smuggling Heroin in Her Luggage at IAH
HOUSTON – A Mexican woman who was smuggling nearly two kilograms of heroin in her luggage as she arrived at George Bush-Intercontinental Airport (IAH) from Ecuador has entered a plea of guilty read more
Feb. 7, 2013 - Bjork
Former Employee of Deceased Friendswood Financial Advisor Charged With Running Own Ponzi Scheme
HOUSTON - Brian Anthony Bjork, 43, of Missouri City, has been charged in an one-count Information with running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded nearly a dozen investors of more than $1 million read more
Feb. 7, 2013 - Gore
Woman Sentenced for Preparing a False Income Tax Return
HOUSTON - Miranda Gore has been ordered to prison for willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of a false U.S. Individual Income Tax Return read more
Feb. 7, 2013 - Aleman
Former Bank Employee Charged with Stealing More Than $190K
McALLEN, Texas – Armando Ruben Aleman, 28, of Weslaco, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly stealing more than $190,000 from former employer BBVA Compass Bank in Mission read more
Feb. 6, 2013 - Villareal Hernandez
Bermuda Bank Account Allegedly Owned by Former Mexican Secretary of Finance Seized by US
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The United States has seized a bank account located in Bermuda alleged to have been owned by former State of Coahuila, Mexico, Secretary of Finance Hector Javier Villareal Hernandez read more
Feb. 5, 2013 - Rohacek
Crystal Beach Woman Arresting for Defrauding FEMA in the Wake of Hurricane Ike
GALVESTON, Texas – Whitney Rohacek, 26, of Crystal Beach, has been was arrested following the return of an indictment charging her with fraud in connection with a major disaster and aggravated identity theft read more
Feb. 5, 2013 - Tolmie
Corpus Christi Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A man accused of robbing a Texas Champion Bank through use of force and intimidation has been convicted of bank robbery read more
Feb. 4, 2013 - Pena
Jury Convicts Kingsville Man of Marijuana Trafficking Via the Intercoastal Waterway
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Michael "Mickey" Pena, 45, of Kingsville, has been found guilty of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute in excess of 100 kilograms of marijuana read more
Feb. 1, 2013 - Gu
Chinese National Sent to Prison in Nearly $1 Million Bank Fraud/Identity Theft Scam
HOUSTON – Xin Gu, 29, of Dalian, China, has been sentenced to prison following his convictions of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft read more
Feb. 1, 2013 - McCune et al
5 Area Residents Charged in Tax Fraud Scheme
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Five family members have been charged in an eight-count indictment alleging a tax fraud scheme that involved filing false tax returns on behalf of deceased individuals read more
