September 2012 Press Releases
Sept. 28, 2012 - Rincon-Rincon
Jury Convicts Gulf Cartel Plaza Boss
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Juan Roberto Rincon-Rincon, a high ranking member of the Gulf Cartel, has been convicted on all counts as charged in a large drug trafficking conspiracy read more
Sept. 28, 2012 - Lumbreras and Lozano
Former Clinic Staffers Convicted in Health Care Fraud Conspiracy
McALLEN, Texas – Eliza Lozano Lumbreras, 65, and San Juanita Gallegos Lozano, 56, both of Mission, have entered pleas of guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud arising from a scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid in the operation of the Mission Clinic and La Hacienda Family Clinic read more
Sept. 28, 2012 - Castillo
Nearly Seven Kilos of Pure Meth Lands Kyle Man in Prison for Nearly 20 Years
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Jesus Castillo Jr., 40, of Kyle, has been ordered to prison following his conviction of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a large quantity of methamphetamine read more
Sept. 28, 2012 - Luna
Valero Refinery Bomb Threat Lands Robstown Man in Federal Prison
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Erasmo Luna, 27, of Robstown, Texas, has been handed a 37- month prison term after having been convicted of persuading or inducing another to use a telephone to communicate bomb threats to the Valero Refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas read more
Sept. 27, 2012 - Sissom
Former Houston Businessman Convicted of Bankruptcy Fraud
HOUSTON - Jimmy Wayne Sissom, 46, has entered a plea of guilty to one count of bankruptcy fraud read more
Sept. 26, 2012 - Villanueva
Edinburg Man Convicted of Receiving Glocks with Intent to Assault
McALLEN, Texas – David Villanueva, 20, has entered a plea of guilty to receiving firearms with the intent to commit a felony read more
Sept. 26, 2012 - Chavez-Casarez et al
Three Laredoans Head to Federal Prison for Smuggling Aliens
LAREDO, Texas – Manuel Chavez-Casarez, 40, Hector Fernandez-Garay, 24, and Imelda Rodriguez, 23, all of Laredo, have been sentenced to prison for their roles in an alien transporting conspiracy read more
Sept. 26, 2012 - Nevarez
Laredo Bailbonds Manager Indicted for Money Laundering
LAREDO, Texas – A federal grand jury has returned an 11-count indictment against Elizabeth Nevarez, 43, of Laredo, alleging wire fraud, falsification of documents and money laundering read more
Sept. 25, 2012 - Trejo-Onofre et al
Federal Charges Filed Against Four Men in Massive Smuggling Case
HOUSTON – Four Mexican nationals have been charged in federal court in a massive human smuggling case that resulted in the discovery of more than 80 illegal aliens in a Houston residence read more
Sept. 25, 2012 - Maldonado
Felon in Possession Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Antonio Maldonado, 28, of Corpus Christi, has been handed a 15-year sentence for his conviction of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon read more
Sept. 25, 2012 - Cedillo-Narvaez
Final Three Defendants Sentenced in Hostage Taking/Harboring Case
McALLEN, Texas – The final three of 10 people involved in a hostage taking/alien harboring conspiracy have been ordered to federal prison read more
Sept. 25, 2012 - East
Kirby Lofts Scheme Results in More Prison Time for Previously Convicted Felon
HOUSTON - Brenda East, 51, formerly of Houston, has been sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for her role in obtaining home loans in the Kirby Lofts condominium complex and others read more
Sept. 25, 2012 - Salinas et al
Los Zetas Money Launderers Head to Federal Prison
LAREDO, Texas – Josue Alejandro Salinas, 22, David Villarreal, 40, and Jose Vasquez, 44, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation relating to the laundering of millions of drug proceeds by Los Zetas read more
Sept. 25, 2012 - Crossland
Oklahoma Man Found Guilty of Smuggling Marijuana
Jury Returns Verdict in Just 25 Minutes
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Johnny Tom Crossland, 64, of Altus, Okla., has been found guilty as charged in relation to the smuggling of marijuana through the Falfurrias Border Patrol Checkpoint read more
Sept. 25, 2012 - Martinez-Aguilar
Illegal Alien Lands in Federal Prison for Harboring Illegal Aliens
HOUSTON – Carlos Martinez-Aguilar, 44, an illegal alien from Mexico, has been sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for harboring illegal aliens read more
Sept. 24, 2012 - Plato
Baytown Man Convicted in Massive Ponzi Scheme
HOUSTON – A federal jury sitting in Houston has convicted Richard Plato, 64, of Baytown, Texas, on several counts in relation to a mail and securities fraud conspiracy read more
Sept. 24, 2012 - Churchwell and Russell
Government Employees Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Passport Fraud
HOUSTON – Nyle Churchwell, 60, and Temi Russell, 40, both of Houston, have been arrested for their roles in a passport fraud conspiracy read more
Sept. 21, 2012 - Martinez
HCSO Deputy Indicted
HOUSTON – Jesus Martinez, a Harris County Sheriff's Office (HSCO) deputy, has surrendered to federal authorities following the return of a federal indictment alleging he aided in the possession of a controlled substance read more
Sept. 21, 2012 - Frank
Medicare Recruiter to Spend Three Years in Prison
HOUSTON – Gwendolyn Kay Frank, 43, of Houston, has been sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for her role in a massive health care fraud conspiracy that billed the Medicare and Medicaid programs for more than $45 million over a 2 ½-year period read more
Sept. 21, 2012 - Chilo
Houston Man Guilty in Debt Relief Scam
HOUSTON - Nathaniel Chilo, aka Nathaniel O’Neil, 23, of Houston, has entered a guilty plea to one count of wire fraud in relation to a debt relief scam he perpetrated with his father read more
Sept. 21, 2012 - Luna-Nieto
Houston Man Convicted of Witness Tampering and Drug Trafficking in Brownsville Case
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Julian Luna-Nieto, 43, has entered a guilty plea to methamphetamine trafficking as well as conspiring to tamper with witnesses by using intimidation and threats read more
Sept. 21, 2012 - Prendergast
Galveston Man Sentenced in FEMA Fraud Scheme
HOUSTON - Patrick Adolf Prendergast Jr., 53, has been sentenced to federal prison following his conviction of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) fraud read more
Sept. 21, 2012 - Caldwell and Doorga
Two Women Charged After Allegedly Ingesting Cocaine-Filled Pellets
HOUSTON – Azzie LaDawn Caldwell, 32, and Indira Doorga, 42, have been charged with importing cocaine into the U.S., conspiring to possess with intent to distribute as well as possessing with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine read more
Sept. 20, 2012 - Russell
Houston Man Sent to Prison for Identity Theft
HOUSTON – Joseph Russell, 31, has been sentenced to 65 months in prison following his convictions of access device fraud and aggravated identity theft read more
Sept. 20, 2012 - Torres
Distributor of Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals Heads to Federal Prison
HOUSTON – Luis Angel Garcia Torres, 41, of Patillas, Puerto Rico, has been handed his federal sentence year prison term for 12 counts in relation to the trafficking of counterfeit goods read more
Sept. 20, 2012 - Baker
Angleton Resident Found Guilty on Multiple Child Pornography Charges
GALVESTON, Texas - Phillip Edward Baker, 49, has been found guilty of receipt and possession of child pornography as well as accessing a website with intent to view child pornography read more
Sept. 19, 2012 - Garcia-Matias et al
Leader and Eight Others Sentenced in Large Purchasing Organization
Two Defendants Get 15 Years Each
McALLEN, Texas – One of the leaders of a large straw purchasing ring responsible for the purchase of more than 200 firearms is now headed to federal prison read more
Sept. 19, 2012 - Dinh et al
27 Indicted as a Result of Massive Marijuana Plant Seizure
HOUSTON – A total of 27 people have been indicted as a result of the seizure of nearly 14,000 marijuana plants during enforcement actions conducted throughout the greater Houston area on Aug. 21, 2012 read more
Sept. 18, 2012 - Chapa and Cruz-Chapa
Roma Women Sentenced for Involvement in a Straw Purchases Ring
MCALLEN, Texas – Two family members involved in making false statements on Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) forms 4473 in the acquisition of firearms from federal firearms licensees (FFL) will now be serving federal prison terms read more
Sept. 17, 2012 - Salas-Campos
Third Man Convicted of Enticing a Minor
McALLEN, Texas - Teofanes Salas-Campos, 40, of Mission, Texas, has pleaded guilty to enticing a minor read more
Sept. 13, 2012 - Cardenas et al
Local Residents Arrested in Drug Trafficking and Money Remitting Conspiracy
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 19-count indictment has been partially unsealed following the arrest of four people by federal and state law enforcement read more
Sept. 13, 2012 - Pendergest-Holt
Former CIO of Stanford Financial Group Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Obstruction of Justice
HOUSTON – Laura Pendergest-Holt, 39, the former chief investment officer of Houston-based Stanford Financial Group, was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for her role in obstructing a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation into Stanford International Bank (SIB) read more
Sept. 12, 2012 - Corley and Davis
Former Army Man Convicted in Murder-for-Hire and Drug Trafficking Conspiracy
LAREDO, Texas – Kevin Corley, a former active duty officer in the U.S. Army, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire read more
Sept. 12, 2012 - Mendez and Flores
Three Arrested in “Operation El Patron”
LAREDO, Texas – Three persons have been arrested as a result of the return of a sealed indictment for allegedly conspiring to traffic cocaine read more
Sept. 12, 2012 - Lopez
Edinburg Woman Sentenced for Mail Fraud
McALLEN, Texas - An Edinburg, Texas, resident has been sentenced to 33 months in federal custody in connection with a mail fraud scheme she developed in the McAllen area read more
Sept. 12, 2012 - Dixon
Husband and Wife Charged for Tax Crimes
HOUSTON – A husband and wife have been charged in separate cases, both involving tax fraud read more
Sept. 11, 2012 - Walker
Bank Robber Sentenced to Federal Prison
HOUSTON - Cedric Tyrone Walker, 30, has been handed a more than 13-year sentence for his role in a Houston area bank robbery and for brandishing a weapon during the course of the robbery read more
Sept. 11, 2012 - Mose-Burrel
Bank Employee Handed Federal Prison Term for Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and ID Theft
HOUSTON - Jamal Gerard Mose-Burrel, 22, of Houston, has been sentenced to a four-year-term of imprisonment for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft read more
Sept. 10, 2012 - Chavez et al
Detention Center Employees Convicted on Federal Firearms Charges
LAREDO, Texas – Seven Laredo residents have pleaded guilty to making false statements in connection with firearms purchases from local gun stores read more
Sept. 10, 2012 - Hinojosa
McAllen Jury Convicts Major Brownsville Drug Trafficker
McALLEN, Texas – A federal jury in McAllen, Texas, has convicted Edgar Hinojosa, aka EWOK, of Brownsville, Texas, on both counts as charged in relation to a cocaine trafficking conspiracy read more
Sept. 10, 2012 -
Morales de Guzman
Powdered Juice Mix Reveals Heroin, Suspect Arrested at IAH
HOUSTON – A 27-year-old Guatemalan woman has been arrested and charged as a result of her alleged importation of approximately three kilograms of heroin into the United States read more
Sept. 7, 2012 - Morales and Stowe
Convictions Entered in Two Separate Texas Cases Involving Stem Cells
HOUSTON – Francisco Morales, 52, of Brownsville, Texas, and Illinois resident Lawrence Stowe, 59, and have entered guilty pleas in a conspiracy to introduce misbranded and unapproved new drugs into interstate commerce read more
Sept. 7, 2012 - Duckett et al
Four Sentenced in Cocaine Transport Conspiracy
LAREDO, Texas – Four people have been handed sentences for their roles in a conspiracy to transport cocaine from Laredo, Texas, to Philadelphia, Penn., and Camden, N.J. read more
Sept. 7, 2012 - O’Neil
Houston Man Convicted in Debt Relief Scam
HOUSTON – Jeffery Wayne O’Neil, 54, of Houston, has entered a plea of guilty to mail fraud in relation to a debt relief scheme he perpetrated read more
Sept. 7, 2012 - Pollett
Houston Man Lands in Federal Prison in Child Pornography Case
HOUSTON – Christopher Clark Pollett, 64, of Houston, has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography read more
Sept. 6, 2012 - Clift
Portland Man Sentenced for Distributing Child Porn
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Michael Thomas Clift, 49, of Portland, Texas, has landed in prison for 14 years read more
Sept. 6, 2012 - Puckett
Corpus Man Convicted of Solicitation of a Minor
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Less than two months following his indictment, Corpus Christi resident Anthony Michael Puckett, 41, has entered a plea of guilty to online coercion and enticement of a child read more
Sept. 6, 2012 - Rodriguez-Fajardo et al
Seven Arrested in Conspiracies to Transport Cocaine and Marijuana
LAREDO, Texas – Two separate indictments have been partially unsealed following the arrest of seven Texas residents on charges of conspiracy to possess cocaine and marijuana with the intent to distribute read more
Sept. 6, 2012 - Juarez
Reputed Leader of Tri City Bomber Street Gang Pleads Guilty in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy
HOUSTON – Jeffrey Juarez, the one-time leader of the notorious Tri City Bomber (TCB) Street gang, has entered a plea of guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and ecstasy read more
Sept. 6, 2012 - Marroquin et al
Six Valley Men Convicted of Conspiracy to Traffic Marijuana
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Six men have pleaded guilty in federal court as a result of the efforts of a multi-agency Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation read more
Sept. 5, 2012 - Gaines
Local Man Sent to Prison for Possessing Child Porn
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Christopher Gaines, 32, of Corpus Christi, Texas, has been handed a five-year prison sentence following his conviction for possession of child pornography read more
Sept. 5, 2012 - Howard
Cuero Man Handed Sentence for Distribution of Child Pornography
VICTORIA, Texas – Archie Terry Howard, 34, of Cuero, Texas, has been sentenced to federal prison following his conviction of distribution of child pornography read more
Sept. 4, 2012 - Salinas et al
“Operation Dirty Dozen” Sends Five More to Federal Prison for Several Years
McALLEN, Texas – Six more people have landed in federal prison for their roles in a large scale drug trafficking organization operating out of Starr County, Texas read more
Sept. 4, 2012 - Phillips
Houston Attorney and Former VA Fiduciary Convicted of Conspiracy and Tax Fraud
HOUSTON - Joe B. Phillips, 73, has been convicted of conspiracy to make false statements, misappropriation by a fiduciary and signing a false income tax return read more
Sept. 4, 2012 - Gonzalez-Torres et al
More Arrests in Local Gun Store Indictment
LAREDO, Texas – The last four persons named in last week’s indictment of a local gun store owner and his wife have been taken into custody by federal authorities read more
