USAO NDTX Weekly Roundup -- 10/19/18

PLEA – Kendell Jackson, 24
On Oct. 16, Kendell Jackson of Dallas pled guilty to bank robbery and firearm charges.  Jackson admitted that in January, he entered the BBVA Compass Bank on West Northwest Highway in Dallas with a .40 caliber handgun.  He used that gun to jeopardize the life of a bank teller so that he could steal several thousand dollars in U.S. currency.  Police apprehended Jackson nearby after a dye-pack exploded, forcing Jackson to stop at a Jack-in-the-Box to try to clean himself.  Both the money and the gun were recovered.  Jackson now faces a minimum of 7 years and up to life in prison as well as a fine of up to $250,000.  The FBI and the Dallas Police Department investigated.

PLEA – Valandus Gibson, 29
On Oct. 16, Valandus Javon Gibson of Chicago, IL, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to money laundering.  Gibson admitted to conspiring with others to conduct financial transactions involving no less than $209,000, which were the proceeds of unlawful activity (namely: wire fraud).  He now faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of at least $500,000.  The United States Postal Service investigated the case.

SENTENCING – Olusola Akingbade, 55
On Oct. 17, Olusola Akingbade was sentenced to more than 5 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $2.5 million in restitution for his role in a Medicare home health care fraud. A jury convicted Akingbade on one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and three counts of health care fraud following a one-week trial in June 2017.  Akingbade, a registered nurse at Paradise Home Health, falsified patient files to make non-homebound patients appear qualified for services and facilitated the payment of cash kickbacks to patients.

SENTENCING – Alan Nash, 41
On Oct. 18, a Dallas-area pimp who preyed on teenage girls was sentenced to life in prison. Alan Nash was convicted in April of sex trafficking of children, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, sex trafficking through force, fraud or coercion, transportation of a minor to engage in commercial sex acts, and illegal possession of ammunition after he forced two victims, aged 17 and 19, into the illicit sex trade in the fall of 2014.” I think it’s safe to say the devil lives in him,” a victim wrote in an impact statement read aloud in court at sentencing. Release here.

VERDICT – Marco Lopez, 25
On Oct. 19, a federal jury convicted Marco Lopez of engaging in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine in a case involving a failed drug deal turned shootout. During the trial, jury heard evidence that at the scene of a shooting on “Hideout Road” in rural Navarro County, authorities discovered a kilogram of cocaine, two handguns smeared with blood, and an abandoned duffel bag full of counterfeit cash.  They later identified Marco Lopez, who called 911 for a gunshot wound to his arm, on surveillance video buying a package of counterfeit pens. He faces up to 40 years in federal prison. The DEA, U.S. Marshal’s Service, and Navarro County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.

PLEA -- Leslie Summitt, 53         
Leslie Eugene Summitt of Keene, Texas pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  He now faces up to 20 years in prison and is set to be sentenced January 31, 2019.

SENTENCING -- Mia Vasquez, 44     
Mia Vasquez of Dallas, Texas, was sentenced to just over 3 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to deliver 1 kilogram or more of heroin in late 2013 and early 2014. 

PLEA – Kendell Jackson, 24
On Oct. 16, Kendell Jackson of Dallas pled guilty to bank robbery and firearm charges.  Jackson admitted that in January, he entered the BBVA Compass Bank on West Northwest Highway in Dallas with a .40 caliber handgun.  He used that gun to jeopardize the life of a bank teller so that he could steal several thousand dollars in U.S. currency.  Police apprehended Jackson nearby after a dye-pack exploded, forcing Jackson to stop at a Jack-in-the-Box to try to clean himself.  Both the money and the gun were recovered.  Jackson now faces a minimum of 7 years and up to life in prison as well as a fine of up to $250,000.  The FBI and the Dallas Police Department investigated.

PLEA – Valandus Gibson, 29
On Oct. 16, Valandus Javon Gibson of Chicago, IL, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to money laundering.  Gibson admitted to conspiring with others to conduct financial transactions involving no less than $209,000, which were the proceeds of unlawful activity (namely: wire fraud).  He now faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of at least $500,000.  The United States Postal Service investigated the case.

SENTENCING – Olusola Akingbade, 55
On Oct. 17, Olusola Akingbade was sentenced to more than 5 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $2.5 million in restitution for his role in a Medicare home health care fraud. A jury convicted Akingbade on one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and three counts of health care fraud following a one-week trial in June 2017.  Akingbade, a registered nurse at Paradise Home Health, falsified patient files to make non-homebound patients appear qualified for services and facilitated the payment of cash kickbacks to patients.

SENTENCING – Alan Nash, 41
On Oct. 18, a Dallas-area pimp who preyed on teenage girls was sentenced to life in prison. Alan Nash was convicted in April of sex trafficking of children, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, sex trafficking through force, fraud or coercion, transportation of a minor to engage in commercial sex acts, and illegal possession of ammunition after he forced two victims, aged 17 and 19, into the illicit sex trade in the fall of 2014.” I think it’s safe to say the devil lives in him,” a victim wrote in an impact statement read aloud in court at sentencing. Release here.

VERDICT – Marco Lopez, 25
On Oct. 19, a federal jury convicted Marco Lopez of engaging in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine in a case involving a failed drug deal turned shootout. During the trial, jury heard evidence that at the scene of a shooting on “Hideout Road” in rural Navarro County, authorities discovered a kilogram of cocaine, two handguns smeared with blood, and an abandoned duffel bag full of counterfeit cash.  They later identified Marco Lopez, who called 911 for a gunshot wound to his arm, on surveillance video buying a package of counterfeit pens. He faces up to 40 years in federal prison. The DEA, U.S. Marshal’s Service, and Navarro County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.

PLEA -- Leslie Summitt, 53         
Leslie Eugene Summitt of Keene, Texas pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  He now faces up to 20 years in prison and is set to be sentenced January 31, 2019.

SENTENCING -- Mia Vasquez, 44     
Mia Vasquez of Dallas, Texas, was sentenced to just over 3 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to deliver 1 kilogram or more of heroin in late 2013 and early 2014.