June 2011 Press Releases
June 30, 2011 - Barraza-Galindo
Mexican Woman Convicted of Attempting to Smuggle Teddy Bears and Pillows Stuffed with Cash Into Mexico
McALLEN, Texas – A 33-year-old Mexican national has been convicted of bulk cash smuggling in her attempt to smuggle more than $270,000 stuffed in teddy bears and pillows read more
June 30, 2011 - Lim
Former Owner of Houston Mail Presort Operation to Serve Lengthy Prison Term for Stealing Millions from US Postal Service
HOUSTON – Neal Lim, former owner of one of the largest mail presort operations in the Houston area has been sentenced to prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and possessing and using counterfeit postage meter machines to affix counterfeit postage in his mass mailing businesses read more
June 29, 2011 - Thomas and Jordan
Married Couple Indicted for Counterfeiting $100 Bills
HOUSTON – A Houston grand jury has indicted a husband and wife team for conspiracy, counterfeiting $100 bills and passing the counterfeit currency at Houston area businesses read more
June 29, 2011 - Hinojosa and Garcia
Jury Convicts Drug Traffickers in Possession of More than 6,000 Pounds of Marijuana
McALLEN, Texas – A federal jury has convicted two Mexican nationals of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana read more
June 28, 2011 - Milan et al
Jury Convicts Four Hermanos Pistoleros Latinos Gang Members of Drug and Firearms Charges
LAREDO, Texas – Late yesterday afternoon a federal jury convicted four members of the Hermanos Pistoleros Latinos (HPL) street gang of various charges arising from a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) sting operation read more
June 28, 2011 - Quintero
Head of the Quintero Drug Trafficking Enterprise Convicted
(SAN ANTONIO, Texas) – Juan Jose Quintero-Payan, 69, of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering read more
June 27, 2011 - Leon-Villa et al
Hostage Taker Who Accidently Shot Himself Sentenced Along With Three Others
McALLEN, Texas – Four men convicted of the hostage taking of 10 aliens including one who accidently shot himself while threatening the hostages, have been sentenced to prison read more
June 23, 2011 - Christian Outreach Center
The Christian Outreach Center is Part of the Solution to Safer Communities
HOUSTON – As part of the District’s ongoing Anti-Violence Strategy efforts supporting our law enforcement and community partners in their efforts to make our neighborhoods safer, First Assistant U.S. Attorney (FAUSA) Toni Trevino visited with Executive Director Dr. Shirley Ledet and toured the Christian Outreach Center (COC) today read more
June 22, 2011 - Gonzalez
Court Rules in U.S. Favor in Suit Brought by Local Taco Stand Owner for Damages
LAREDO, Texas – On Tuesday, June 21, 2011, visiting U.S. District Court Judge Donald Walter ruled in favor of the United States and against Humberto Gonzalez, who owns a taco stand in South Laredo read more
June 22, 2011 - Marchan
Local Attorney Accused of Bribing Former State District Court Judge for Favorable Rulings
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A federal grand jury has indicted an attorney for his alleged involvement in the former State Judge Abel Limas’ use of his then state court as a racketeering enterprise read more
June 22, 2011 - Woerner
Federal Jury Convicts Area Resident of Distributing and Possessing Child Pornography
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – After less than five minutes of deliberations, a Brownsville jury has convicted a 55-year-old Los Fresnos, Texas, resident of distributing and possessing child pornography read more
June 23, 2011 - Chavarria
Jury Convicts Mexican National of Trafficking Marijuana
McALLEN, Texas – A federal jury has convicted a Mexican national of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana read more
June 22, 2011 - Cisneros
Another Allegedly Involved in Former Judge Limas’ Criminal Enterprise Indicted
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Francisco “Pancho” Cisneros, a bail bondsman, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiring to and aiding and abetting the extortion of money from persons with cases pending in former state District Court Judge Abel Corral Limas’ court read more
June 21, 2011 - Reyes
Mission Man Sentenced to Prison for Attempting to Export Ammunition to Mexico
McALLEN, Texas – A 19-year-old Mission, Texas, man who attempted to export a firearm and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition into Mexico has been sentenced to prison read more
June 20, 2011 - Marines
Former Weslaco ISD Trustee Convicted of Accepting Bribe for School Renovation Project
HOUSTON – A former trustee for the Weslaco Independent School District (WISD) has pleaded guilty to accepting a bribe in exchange for using his official capacity to influence the award of a contract on a school renovation project read more
June 17, 2011 - Alcala et al
32 South Texas Residents Charged With Fraud as a Result of “Operation Sitting Duck”
More than 20,000 allegedly false insurance claims submitted to AFLAC
McALLEN, Texas – “Operation Sitting Duck,” an ongoing investigation into fraudulent insurance claims filed with the American Family Life Assurance Company (AFLAC), has resulted in the return of eight separate but related sealed indictments, charges of conspiracy and wire fraud and the arrest of 32 South Texas residents for their alleged involvement in a scheme to defraud AFLAC of millions of dollars by allegedly filing false injury claims read more
June 16, 2011 - Garcia-Garay et al
Three Convicted on All Counts of Harboring Aliens and Importing Minor Girls for Prostitution
McALLEN, Texas - A McAllen federal jury has convicted Juan Antonio Garcia-Garay, 31, Juan Ignacio Chavarria-Ontiveros, 26, and Antonio Martinez Jr., 38, on all counts charged against them arising from a conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens imported for purposes of prostitution read more
June 16, 2011 - Lebaron
Jacqueline Lebaron Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Obstruct Religious Beliefs
HOUSTON – Jacqueline Lebaron, 46, the last of several members of the LeBaron family and “Lamb of God” religious sect charged for their involvement in a series of murders in 1988 in Houston and elsewhere, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct religious beliefs read more
June 15, 2011 - Stilwell et al
Four Seamen Charged With Conspiring to Fraudulently Obtain Merchant Mariner Credentials
HOUSTON – In a first for the district, a vessel captain, an engineer, a first engineer and an able bodied seaman and dynamic position officer have been indicted for conspiring to manufacture and submit false documents to the National Maritime Center to upgrade their certifications read more
June 13, 2011 - Officer Safety
US Attorney Moreno Meets With Houston/Galveston Area Law Enforcement Leaders Aboust Officer Safety
(HOUSTON) - As part of the Attorney General’s (AG) Law Enforcement Officer Safety Initiative, U.S. Attorney José Angel Moreno has met with various Houston Division law enforcement agencies at his Houston headquarters office to discuss the most serious threats currently facing our officers and ways to protect and enhance their safety read more
June 10, 2011 - Navarro et al
Zapata Area Residents Charged With Trafficking Marijuana, Methamphetamines and Crack Cocaine and Laundering Drug Proceeds
12 arrested in Zapata County during early morning enforcement action
(LAREDO, Texas) – A total of 12 Zapata area residents were arrested today as a result of the return of a sealed indictment by a Laredo grand jury for allegedly conspiring to traffic marijuana, methamphetamine and crack cocaine and conspiring to smuggle cash into Mexico read more
June 10, 2011 - Watson
“Alpha One” Foreign Curremcy Trader Convicted of Securities Fraud
(HOUSTON) - Robert David Watson, 50, of Spring, Texas, the “developer and owner” of “Alpha One,” a purportedly profitable foreign currency investment model, has been convicted of securities fraud after defrauding investors of millions of dollars read more
June 10, 2011 - Rios
Possession of Child Pornography Lands 20-Year-Old Area Man in Prison
(CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas) – A 20-year-old Corpus Christi man convicted by a jury of multiple counts of possessing child pornography was sentenced to the maximum prison term allowed by law (read more)
June 9, 2011 - Jones
Baptist Minister Who Committed Bank Fraud Sentenced to Prison
(HOUSTON) – A Baptist minister who, along with his co-conspirator, used the personal identification information of victims to open fraudulent accounts at banks to defraud the victims of thousands of dollars has been sentenced to prison read more
June 9, 2011 - Brink and Kalter
Court Orders Land Owners to Remove Dam on La Para Creek
(CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas) - U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack has ordered two land owners to remove a dam placed across La Para Creek in Live Oak County, Texas read more
June 9, 2011 - Swetnam
Insurance Broker Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Valley Baptist Hospital of Millions
(HOUSTON) – Michael N. Swetnam Jr., 47, of Harlingen, Texas, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for his role in a scheme to defraud Valley Baptist Hospital of more than $3.8 million by selling nonexistent and altered insurance policies read more
June 9, 2011 - Jabbour
Attorney and Former Victoria County Democratic Party Chair Sentenced to Prison for Receiving and Possessing Child Pornography
(CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas) – Stephen Jabbour, 57, of Victoria, Texas, has been sentenced to prison for receiving and possessing child pornography (read more)
June 8, 2011 - Uriegas
Roma Woman Involved in Collision with Sullivan City Police While Evading Arrest for Transporting Illegals Convicted
(McALLEN, Texas) – A Roma, Texas, woman has pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport illegal aliens and has agreed to pay more than $5,000 in restitution for medical expenses incurred by two Sullivan City police officers injured during her attempt to flee from apprehension read more
June 8, 2011 - Rocha
High-Speed Chase to Evade Arrest While Transporting Illegal Aliens Ends With Conviction of Mission Man
(McALLEN, Texas) – A 19-year-old Mission resident indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiring to transport illegal aliens and placing the lives of three illegal aliens and two police officers in jeopardy while transporting illegal aliens has pleaded guilty read more
June 6, 2011 - Ewanko
Former Houston Pilot to Remain in Custody Without Bond Pending Trial for Allegedly Distributing Child Pornography
(HOUSTON) - A Houston resident and former commercial pilot has been ordered to remain in federal custody without bond pending trial on charges of possession, receipt and distribution of child pornography read more
June 2, 2011 - Smith
TDCJ GUARD ARRESTED ON FEDERAL CHARGES
(HOUSTON) - Alejandro Smith, 21, has been arrested following the filing of a criminal complaint alleging he knowingly and intentionally conspired to possess with intent to distribute heroin read more
June 2, 2011 - Moreno et al
Managers and Supervisors of Mambo Seafood Indicted
(HOUSTON) – Two current managers and three former managers or supervisors of Mambo Seafood have been indicted for conspiring to induce illegal aliens to come to the U.S. and harboring and concealing illegal aliens and individually for making false statements on employment documents read more
June 1, 2011 - Rocha
High Speed Chase to Evade Arrest While Transporting Illegal Aliens Leads to Federal Indictment of Mission Man
(McALLEN, Texas) – A 19-year-old Mission resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiring to transport illegal aliens and placing the lives of five people - two police officers and three aliens - in jeopardy while transporting illegal aliens read more
June 1, 2011 - Kramer
Bacliff Man Indicted for Distributing and Possessing Child Pornography
(GALVESTON, Texas) – A four-count sealed indictment charging Larry James Kramer, 38, with possession and distribution of child pornography has been unsealed following his appearance before U.S. Magistrate John R. Froeschner read more
June 1, 2011 - Cole and Watkins
Two Houston Men Sentenced to Prison for Mortgage Fraud
(HOUSTON) – Adrian Levale Cole and Albert Terrance Watkins, both of Houston, have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a multi-million dollar mortgage fraud scheme (read more)
