December 2011 Press Releases
Dec. 29, 2011 - Tijerina-Herrera
Leader of Straw Purchasing Ring Lands 10-Year Prison Sentence
McALLEN, Texas – Manuel Tijerina-Herrera, 48, a lawful permanent alien residing in McAllen, Texas, will serve the next 10 years in prison for possessing an unregistered silencer and his role in a straw purchasing ring read more
Dec. 28, 2011 - Morales et al
Federal Indictments Lead to Arrests in Stem Cell Case
Three men have been arrested for their participation in a scheme to manufacture, distribute and sell to the public stem cells and stem cell procedures that were not approved by the Food and Drug Administration read more
Dec. 28, 2011 - Perez-Solis
Nuevo Laredo Man Gets 24 Years in Meth Case
LAREDO, Texas – Israel Perez-Solis, 32, has been sentenced to 292 months in prison as a result of his conviction for trafficking in methamphetamine read more
Dec. 28, 2011 - Duckett and Jenkins
Two Plead Guilty in Cocaine Transport Conspiracy
LAREDO, Texas – Terril Monteiz Duckett, 34, and Aaron Jenkins, 36, have pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess five kilograms or more of cocaine with the intention of distributing it read more
Dec. 22, 2011 - Andrade
Resident Alien Gets 10 Years in Meth Case
LAREDO, Texas – Hermelinda Andrade, 46, a resident alien from Garland, Texas, has been sentenced to federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine read more
Dec. 22, 2011 - Gonzalez et al
Last Defendant Pleads Guilty in Brooks County Marijuana Case
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Lamar Gonzalez, 38, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana read more
Dec. 22, 2011 - Inocencio
Laredo Mother Sentenced for Attempting to Smuggle Ammunition into Mexico
LAREDO, Texas – Yvonne Garcia Inocencio, 32, of Laredo, Texas, has been sentenced to federal prison for attempting to smuggle 60 rounds of .223 caliber ammunition into Mexico earlier this year read more
Dec. 22, 2011 - Frazier et al
Kirby Lofts Trio Pleads Guilty
HOUSTON - Derwin Frazier, Veronica Frazier and Felton Greer have pleaded guilty for their respective roles in connection with fraudulently obtaining home loans in the Kirby Lofts condominium complex and others read more
Dec. 21, 2011 - Reyes et al
Six Plead in 3000+ Pound Marijuana Case
HOUSTON – A total of six men have entered guilty pleas in a case involving the smuggling of more than a ton of marijuana concealed in pallets of watermelons read more
Dec. 21, 2011 - Essien et al
Former DME Company Owner Lands in Federal Prison for 12 Years
HOUSTON – Benjamin Essien, the former owner of Durable medical Equipment (DME) companies Logic World Medical and Roben Medical in Houston, has been sentenced to 145 months in federal prison for defrauding the Texas Medicaid program read more
Dec. 21, 2011 - Thomas
Manvel Woman Arrested for Bank Fraud
HOUSTON – Shewanna Y. Thomas, 31, of Manvel, Texas, has been arrested following the return of an 11-count indictment charging her with bank fraud read more
Dec. 20, 2011 - Bravo-Hernandez et al
Three Sentenced for Involvement in a 100+ Firearm Straw Purchase and Export Ring
MCALLEN, Texas – Three men involved in making false statements in the acquisition of firearms from federal firearms licensees (FFL) and exporting those firearms to Mexico are now serving prison terms read more
Dec. 19, 2011 - Orridge
Cocaine in Shoes Leads to Arrest of 19-Year-Old New Yorker at IAH
HOUSTON - Brielle Latoi Orridge, 19, of the Bronx, N.Y., has been arrested at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) for possession of 1.38 kilograms of cocaine read more
Dec. 19, 2011 - Woerner
Los Fresnos Man Gets 80 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography Convictions
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Mark William Woerner, 55, formerly of Las Vegas, Nev., has been sentenced to 960 months in federal prison for distribution and possession of child pornography read more
Dec. 19, 2011 -Qadir
Pakistan National Lands in Federal Prison for Trafficking in Counterfeit Drugs
HOUSTON - Irfan Qadir, 37, a citizen of Pakistan and a resident of Houston, has been sentenced to 13 months in prison for trafficking in counterfeit prescription drugs from sources in Pakistan and London read more
Dec. 19, 2011 - Martin
Local Man Charged With Attempted Solicitation of a Minor
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Bryan Martin, 39, has been ordered held without bond on charges of online coercion and enticement of a child read more
Dec. 19, 2011 - Gonzalez
Mission Man Gets 7 1/2 Years for Child Pornography Conviction
McALLEN, Texas - Julian Gonzalez, 31, of Mission, Texas, has been sentenced to 91 months in prison for receiving child pornography via the Internet read more
Dec. 16, 2011 - Flores and Garza
Pharmacy Technician Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Commit Health Care Fraud
McALLEN, Texas - Valerie Jean Flores 38, of Mission, Texas, has been convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud read more
Dec. 15, 2011 - Bazaluda et al
Four Sentenced to Prison in Duval County Alien Smuggling Death Case
McALLEN, Texas – Four people have been sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to harbor undocumented aliens read more
Dec. 15, 2011 - Gonzalez
Corpus Christi Used Car Dealership Owner Sentenced to Prison for Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A Corpus Christi used car dealership owner who arranged for the delivery and transport of approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine to an undercover agent has been sentenced to prison read more
Dec. 14, 2011 - James
British National Charged With Defrauding Hewlett-Packard in the Purchase and Resale of Computer Equipment
More than $10 million in estimated losses to HP
HOUSTON – In an indictment returned a few minutes ago, a British National has been charged with conspiring with a number of other individuals to defraud Hewlett-Packard (HP) by utilizing straw buyers to make false representations in order to fraudulently secure HP computer equipment at steeply discounted rates read more
Dec. 13, 2011 - Munivez
Judge Limas Public Corruption Investigation Nets Another Guilty Plea
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Another defendant has entered a guilty plea in the FBI’s public corruption investigation of former 404th District Court Judge Abel Corral Limas read more
Dec. 13, 2011 - Ochoa
Convicted Child Sex Offender Gets 15 Years for Drug Trafficking
McALLEN, Texas – A 38-year-old known sex offender from Alton, Texas, convicted of drug trafficking, has been sentenced to federal prison read more
Dec. 12, 2011 - Milan et al
HPL Gang Member Gets 35 Years in Federal Prison
Three others also receive significant sentences
LAREDO, Texas – Four members of the Hermanos Pistoleros Latinos (HPL) street gang have been sentenced to federal prison for their part in preparing an armed robbery in which they planned to steal drugs read more
Dec. 12, 2011 - Banda
Laredoan Pleads Guilty to Firearm Charge
LAREDO, Texas – Gerardo Banda Jr., 24, of Laredo, Texas, has pleaded guilty to being a prior convicted felon unlawfully in possession of a firearm read more
Dec. 12, 2011 - Salas-Galaviz et al
Laredo based Kingpin with Ties to Los Zetas Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison
LAREDO, Texas - Leandro Salas-Galaviz aka Daniel Obregon, 35, has been sentenced to life in prison for his role as a leader/organizer in a drug and money laundering conspiracy engaged in trafficking kilograms of cocaine and marijuana for the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas
Dec. 12, 2011 - Norris
Katy Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud
HOUSTON - Anthony Terrence Jerel Norris, 39, of Katy, Texas, has pleaded guilty for his role in a scheme to defraud Capital One Bank read more
Dec. 12, 2011 - Alves et al
Two Plead Guilty in Cocaine Transport Conspiracy
LAREDO, Texas – Andrew Ayran Alves and Shomari E. Fussell, both 30, have pleaded guilty today to conspiring to possess five kilograms or more of cocaine with the intention of distributing it read more
Dec. 12, 2011 - James
Detainee Sentenced to Prison for Assaulting Immigration Agent
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – An immigration center detainee convicted of assaulting and obstructing a federal agent has been sentenced to 28 months imprisonment read more
Dec. 9, 2011 - Castro and Martinez
Last Two Defendants Sentenced in Firearms Case
LAREDO, Texas – Jose Luis Castro, 39 of Austin, Texas, and Raul Martinez, 34 of Laredo, Texas, have been sentenced today to federal prison for participating in a scheme to recruit straw-purchasers to buy firearms, particularly Colt “El Grito” .38 caliber super pistols read more read more
Dec. 9, 2011 - Cook and McAlister
Attorney General Recognizes SDTX Employees
WASHINGTON – Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSA) Glenn Cook and Jim McAlister of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Texas (SDTX) were two of 163 members of the Department of Justice recognized by Attorney General Eric Holder and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) Director H. Marshall Jarrett read more
Dec. 8, 2011 - Washington
Houston Federal Jury Returns Guilty Verdicts in Health Care Fraud Trial
HOUSTON – Kelvin Washington, 48, of Houston, has been convicted on all counts of health care fraud, conspiracy and violations of the anti-kickback statute charged against him read more
Dec. 8, 2011 - Kelly
Brazoria County Woman Sentenced to Prison for Distribution of Child Pornography
HOUSTON - Carrie Louise Kelly, 31, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for distribution of child pornography read more
Dec. 8, 2011 - Navarro
Leader of Zapata Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Organization Convicted
LAREDO, Texas – The leader of a drug trafficking and money laundering organization operating out of the Zapata, Texas, area from approximately June 2006 through June 2011 has pleaded guilty read more
Dec. 8, 2011 - Puebla
Federal Jury Returns Guilty Verdict Against Corpus Man in Firearm Case
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Elias Puebla, 21, has been found guilty of one count of illegally receiving a firearm read more
Dec. 8, 2011 - Klein
Local Physician Gets 11 Years in Prison…Again
HOUSTON - Dr. Ira Klein, the local physician who was sentenced in 2007 to federal prison for defrauding insurance companies of more than $10 million, has once again appeared in federal court for a resentencing hearing read more
Dec. 8, 2011 - Vargas-Munoz et al
Partially Unsealed Federal Indictment Reveals Drug and Firearms Violations
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 14-count superseding indictment was partially unsealed this morning revealing narcotics and firearms charges against two Houston residents read more
Dec. 8, 2011 - Payan
Head of the Quintero Drug Trafficking Enterprise Sentenced to Federal Prison
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Juan Jose Quintero Payan, 69, of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, has been sentenced to 222 months in prison and ordered to pay a $250,000 fine for conspiracy to commit racketeering (RICO) read more
Dec. 8, 2011 - Munoz et al
Bank Branch Manager Arrested for Embezzlement
LAREDO, Texas – A former bank manager at a Laredo branch of BBVA Compass Bank has been arrested following the return of a six-count indictment charging her with embezzlement and misappropriation of bank funds read more
Dec. 7, 2011 - Alaniz
Palmview, Texas, Siblings Convicted of Health Care Fraud Conspiracy
McALLEN, Texas – A co-owner and manager of a McAllen-area durable medical equipment (DME) business have both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud for their roles in a scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid through fraudulent billings for power wheelchairs read more
Dec. 7, 2011 - Ibanez
Mission Attorney Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison in Houston Fraud Case
HOUSTON – A former attorney and bank chairman has been sentenced today for the federal felony offense of wire fraud read more
Dec. 5, 2011 - Mims et al
Prison for Unemployment Insurance Fraudsters
VICTORIA, Texas B Andrea Mims, 48, and Lea Ann Battles, 44, both of Cuero, Texas, have been sentenced to federal prison for defrauding the Unemployment Insurance Program read more
Dec. 5, 2011 - Gammon
Houston Attorney Sentenced in Child Pornography Case
Ordered to pay $375,000 to Victims
HOUSTON - William George Gammon, 50, a Houston attorney, has been sentenced to 48 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography read more
Dec. 5, 2011 - Hernandez
North Carolina Man Convicted in Meth Conspiracy
LAREDO, Texas – Salvador Hernandez, 25, of Newton Grove, N.C., has entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine read more
Dec. 5, 2011 - Rosales
Houston Man Convicted of Distributing Child Pornography
Bondage and other graphic material found on computer
HOUSTON - Houston resident Pedro Rosales, 32, has entered a plea to the charge of distribution of child pornography read more
Dec. 2, 2011 - Lowe
Houston Area Man Convicted on Multiple Child Pornography Charges
HOUSTON - DJ Christopher Lowe, 37, has pleaded guilty to all eights of an indictment charging him with possession, distribution as well as production of child pornography read more
Dec. 1, 2011 - Palmer
Retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography
HOUSTON – Dieter David Palmer, 42, has pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography read more
Dec. 1, 2011 - King
Australian Citizen Enters Guilty Plea for Possessing Child Pornography
HOUSTON - Christopher Mark King, 55, has been convicted of one count of possession of child pornography read more
Dec. 1, 2011 - Mata et al
Brooks County Marijuana Traffickers Convicted
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Edward Mata, 27, Richard Scott Patton, 40, Luis Andres Longoria, 39, Lamar Gonzalez, 38, and Servando Guerra, 61, have pleaded guilty to conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana read more
Dec. 1, 2011 - Martinez
International Bank of Commerce Robbery Lands Former Bank Teller in Federal Prison
HOUSTON – Estefany Danelia Martinez, a former bank teller convicted for bank robbery and embezzlement of bank funds arising from a robbery of the International Bank of Commerce (IBOC) has been sentenced to federal prison read more
