United States v. Maggie Chau et al.

United States v. Maggie Chau et al. (Case No. 3:23-CR-48-L)

On April 18, 2023, defendants Maggie Chau, Tommy Chau, Erik Escobar, Justin Blessing, Wilmer Avigael Umana-Reyes, Edelmiro Coronado Lopez, Jr., Asa Thorne, Jonathan Wigand, Erik Menchaca Sandoval, Christina Stromquist, Christine Bordelon, Fernando Tovar, and Jaime Reyna were indicted by a federal grand jury for their role in transporting stolen motor vehicle catalytic converters from the Northern District of Texas to New York and elsewhere between at least April 2022 and November 2, 2022. Specifically, defendants Escobar, Blessing, Umana-Reyes, Lopez, Jr., Thorne, Wigand, Sandoval, Stromquist, Bordelon, Tovar, and Reyna were charged with one count of Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property, and defendants Maggie Chau, Tommy, Chau, Escobar, Blessing, Umana-Reyes, Lopez, Jr., Thorne, Wigand, Sandoval, Stromquist, Bordelon, Tovar, and Reyna were charged with one count of Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property.

Scheduled Court Hearings:

The defendants are scheduled for a jury trial on May 28, 2024, at 9:00 AM in Dallas, Texas, before United States District Judge Sam A. Lindsay at the Earle Cabell Federal Courthouse.

Victim Information:

According to the Crime Victims’ Rights Act, victims may be entitled to restitution. If you believe you may be an individual who was harmed by the defendants’ actions described above, you may submit a victim impact statement orally and/or in writing at the sentencing hearing. Under the CVRA, victims are entitled to timely notice of public court proceedings, the right to be treated with respect for their dignity and privacy, and the right to be reasonably heard at any public sentencing proceeding.  For a more detailed description of victims' rights under the law, click here.  

For assistance, please call the NDTX Victim Witness Hotline at 1-800-496-8341.

Court Documents: