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:

• Wilmer Avigael Umana-Reyes pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property and is set for sentencing on 11/3/2025 at 09:00 a.m. in Courtroom 1546 before U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay.

  The remaining defendants pled guilty to the following charges and were sentenced on the dates noted below:

   

  • 1/8/24 – Edelmiro Coronado Lopez, Jr., pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property; sentenced to 10 months in custody and 2 years’ supervised release
  • 3/5/24 – Christina Stromquist, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property; sentenced to 48 months in custody and 3 years’ supervised release
  • 3/19/24 – Jamie Reyna, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property; sentenced to 27 months in custody and 3 years’ supervised release
  • 5/7/24 – Erik Escobar, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property; sentenced to 41 months in custody and 3 years’ supervised release
  • 7/2/24 – Christine Bordelon, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property; sentenced to 21 months in custody and 2 years’ supervised release
  • 11/05/24 – Asa Thorne, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property; sentenced to 37 months in custody and 3 years’ supervised release
  • 1/28/25 – Erik Menchaca Sandoval, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property; sentenced to 21 months in custody and 3 years’ supervised release
  • 4/22/25 – Fernando Tovar, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property; sentenced to 37 months in custody and 3 years’ supervised release
  • 5/20/25 – Jonathan Wigand, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property; sentenced to 37 months in custody and 3 years’ supervised release
  • 6/3/25 – Justin Blessing, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property; sentenced to 21 months in custody and 3 years’ supervised release
  • 6/30/25 – Tommy Chau, pled guilty to Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods; sentenced to 92 months in custody and 2 years’ supervised release
  • 6/30/25 – Maggie Chau, pled guilty to Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods; sentenced to 92 months in custody and 2 years’ supervised release

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: