Source: United States Attorneys General 11

A drug trafficker who retrieved methamphetamine from a stash house in Dallas was convicted at trial this week, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.

Omar Jorge Valle Estrada and his coconspirators were first charged in August 2021. On Thursday, a federal jury found Mr. Estrada guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to evidence presented at trial, law enforcement conducting surveillance at a stash house on Holcomb Road in Dallas observed Mr. Estrada drive up to the residence in a white Chevy Malibu.

Two men emerged from inside the home carrying duffel bags, which they placed in Mr. Estrada’s passenger seat.

After he departed the home, law enforcement pulled him over for operating with an expired registration and discovered 120 pounds of crystal methamphetamine inside the duffel bags.

Codefendants Angel Cabrera and Joaquin Salinas – who admitted they were concealing millions of dollars of methamphetamine inside boxes of cauliflower – pleaded guilty prior to trial.

Mr. Estrada now faces up to life in federal prison. Mr. Salinas received a life sentence; Mr. Cabrera received a sentence of more than 21 years.

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Dallas Police Department, the Hickory Creek Police Department, the Fort Worth Police Department, and the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Leal and John Kull prosecuted the case.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Source: United States Attorneys General 11

Eighteen alleged methamphetamine traffickers have been federally charged with drug and gun crimes, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.

Twelve of the eighteen individuals were arrested during a large-scale operation in Levelland, Texas and surrounding counties Wednesday. The operation, led by the FBI’s Lubbock Resident Agency, involved around 150 law enforcement personnel. The remaining six individuals, who were already in state custody, are being brought into federal court on writs.

Those charged include:

• Bobby Joe Gonzales – conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine
• Rance Devin Jordan – conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine
• Michael Salazar – conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine
• Timothy John Perez –  conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
• Judy Cirillo Qualls – conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm
• Anthony Raven Ruiz, aka Acid – conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine,
• Jose Angel Marquez – conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine
• Juan Luis Quezada – conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
• Ernest Michael Chavez – conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
• Jennifer Dianne Clem – conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine
• Jason Wade Grant – conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine
• Ruben Soliz Guajardo – conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine  
• Gilberto Guajardo – conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine
• Santiago Vizcarra, Jr., aka Quick – distribution of methamphetamine
• Gerry Wayne Varner – possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, convicted felon in possession of firearms, possession of unregistered firearms.

Indictments are merely allegations of criminal conduct, not evidence.

If convicted, some of the defendants face up to life in federal prison.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency conducted the investigation with the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division, the Hockley County Sheriff’s Office, the Levelland Police Department, and the Cochran County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Redd is prosecuting the case.

Source: United States Attorneys General 11

TEXARKANA, Texas – Three Houston men have been sentenced to prison for federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.

Marvin Charles Collins, 33; Aqunis Marquis Green, 23; and Antonio Thomas Foster, 21; each pleaded guilty on July 19, 2022, to conspiracy to commit bank theft.  Today, Collins was sentenced to 29 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution of $257,789; Green was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $70,324; and Foster was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution of $70,324.  The sentencing hearings were held in front of U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III.

According to information presented in court, Collins, Green, and Foster, along with four other co-conspirators, conspired to burglarize ATMs (automated teller machines) in the Bowie County area.  On Jan. 26, 2021, an ATM located at the Texar Federal Credit Union on Gibson Lane in Texarkana, Texas, was burglarized and approximately $127,654.00 was stolen.  On Feb. 2, 2021, an ATM located at the Texar Federal Credit Union on W. 7^th Street in Wake Village, Texas, was also burglarized and approximately $10,513.00 was stolen.  In each burglary, one of the co-conspirators stole a pickup truck and then the defendants attached chains to the ATM and used the stolen truck to break open the ATM.  There was approximately $60,000 in damage done to each ATM.    

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Wake Village Police Department, the Texarkana Police Department, and the Queen City Police Department.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan R. Jackson.

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Source: United States Attorneys General 11

PLANO, Texas – The former Argyle Fire Chief has been indicted for federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today. 

Troy Mac Hohenberger, 63, was named in a federal indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Nov. 17, 2022, in the Eastern District of Texas.  The indictment charges Hohenberger with multiple federal violations related to misuse and theft of funds from the Argyle Fire District, Inc. operating account, along with making false statements to the Department of Labor.  Hohenberger made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kimberly C. Priest Johnson.   

According to the indictment, Hohenberger, while chief of the Argyle Fire Department, is alleged to have taken money from the operating account of the fire district (which received federal funds in the form of Medicare reimbursements) and used over $490,000 of those funds to pay personal credit card bills.  The indictment also alleges these personal credit card expenses included cash advances at casinos, payments related to a family member’s business in Hawaii, and other personal uses.  Hohenberger is also alleged to have failed to fund firefighter retirement accounts in the time required by federal regulations and thus embezzled or stole the funds, and that he made false statements related to the ERISA-qualified firefighter retirement plan on a form submitted to the Department of Labor.

If convicted, Hohenberger faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Labor – EBSA.

A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Source: United States Attorneys General 11

BEAUMONT, Texas– An Ashdown, Arkansas man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.

Charles Hawkins, Jr., 31, pleaded guilty on June 28, 2022, to distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone.  

According to information presented in court, on Dec. 4, 2020, Hawkins was stopped in Nacogdoches County for speeding in a construction zone.  Law enforcement officers noticed the odor of recently sprayed air freshener, which is often used to cover the odor of marijuana.  The officer’s canine alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle and a search was conducted which revealed three one-gallon size storage bags in the trunk containing approximately 2,449 grams of methamphetamine.  Hawkins was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 6, 2022.

This case was investigated by the Nacogdoches Police Department, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Gaston.

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Source: United States Attorneys General 11

BEAUMONT, Texas – Two Southeast Texas men have pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.

Arthur Wilson McDaniels, 46, of Houston. and Marcus Terrance Weathersby, 49, of Port Neches, each pleaded guilty to drug trafficking violations today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn.

According to court documents, beginning in January 2022, local law enforcement and federal agents began an investigation into a drug trafficking conspiracy involving phencyclidine (PCP) and fentanyl in Jefferson County.  The investigation revealed McDaniels was supplying drugs from Houston to Weathersby in Port Neches for further distribution in the area.  Law enforcement ultimately seized approximately 1.7 kilograms of PCP and three ounces of fentanyl during the course of the investigation.  McDaniels and Weathersby were indicted by a federal grand jury on May 11, 2022.

McDaniels pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute PCP and fentanyl.  Weathersby pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.

“If you are dealing dangerous drugs in our community we are coming after you,” said U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston.  “These drugs are capable of killing many people.  There is a dangerous wave of illegal fentanyl poisoning our citizens.  Please talk about this, discuss this, share this message with others to save a life.  In 2022, fentanyl is suspected of killing more Americans than car crashes and gun crimes combined.  This is a problem.”

McDaniels faces up to 40 years in federal prison.  Weathersby faces up to life in federal prison.    The maximum statutory sentences prescribed by Congress are provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.  Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Port Arthur Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Anderson.

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Source: United States Attorneys General 11

SHERMAN, Texas – A Denton County man has pleaded guilty to federal child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.

James Buck Briggs, 48, of The Colony, pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing child pornography today before U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant.  Briggs entered his guilty plea during his federal trial on the charges.

According to public information, in December 2021, an undercover law enforcement officer encountered Briggs in an online chat room dedicated to the sexual abuse of children.  Briggs and the undercover officer began a chat which resulted in Briggs sending the officer a video depicting child pornography involving a very young female victim.  The undercover officer was able to trace the IP address to Briggs’ residence in The Colony and a search warrant was executed.  A search of Briggs’ cellular phone revealed hundreds of images which contained child pornography.  Briggs was indicted by a federal grand jury on Jan. 20, 2022.

Briggs faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each count at sentencing.  The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.  A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Frisco Field Office and the Plano Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lesley Brooks and Maureen Smith.

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Source: United States Attorneys General 11

TYLER, Texas – A 37-year-old Florida woman has been indicted in a cryptocurrency money laundering scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston.

Sharena Seay, of Jacksonville, FL, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury, charging her with money laundering.  She was arraigned in federal court by U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.

According to the indictment, Seay is alleged to have laundered the proceeds of her drug trafficking operations through cryptocurrency.  The defendant allegedly supplied alpha-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone (alpha-PVP), which is often called “flakka,” and similar synthetic cathinones, such as Eutylone or alpha-PiHP.  Seay distributed alpha-PVP and other controlled substances to various customers across the United States.  Customers who purchased controlled substances from Seay paid for their purchases with cash.  Seay laundered the cash proceeds through cryptocurrency in order to purchase more controlled substances on the dark web and to conceal her criminal activity.

During the course of the conspiracy, Seay allegedly laundered more than $1.2 million.

On August 17, 2022, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas returned a five-count indictment charging Seay with money laundering and aiding and abetting. 

If convicted, Seay faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each charge.  A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld.

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Source: United States Attorneys General 11

Memphis, TN – Mohammed Al-Abadi, 51, of Memphis, has been indicted and arrested for one count of trafficking in counterfeit goods and one count of causing the criminal transportation of hazardous materials by air carrier. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz announced the charges today.

According to United States Attorney Ritz and the information presented in court, from about October 1, 2019, to January 14, 2021, Al-Abadi imported counterfeit motor vehicle airbag parts from China, assembled them and then sold them on eBay to unsuspecting automobile repair shops and individual customers. Federal agents recovered more than 2,000 counterfeit airbags and parts from the defendant’s residence and place of business.

“The alleged actions of the defendant have placed unsuspecting motorists and the general public in harm’s way,” said United States Attorney Kevin Ritz. “Vehicle airbags are subject to strict quality standards which must be followed to ensure passenger safety. The defendant’s alleged actions undermined the efforts of the automobile industry and regulatory bodies to keep the public safe.”

“The diligent and extensive investigative work by our special agents led to the discovery of the sale of fraudulent, counterfeit airbags, sold by bypassing regulatory oversight meant to keep dangerous and ineffective products out of the U.S. market,” said Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud, HSI Nashville. “The defendant will now have to answer for his alleged criminal actions that put consumers lives at risk.”

“Counterfeit air bags are not regulated or tested to ensure they meet federal safety standards, and when transported and used by unsuspecting consumers, they can be unsafe and lead to potentially grave consequences,” said Todd Damiani, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Southern Region. “The indictment and arrest handed down demonstrates the continuous coordination with our federal and prosecutorial partners to curtail the flow of these dangerous and illegal automobile products into the United States.”

If convicted, Al-Abadi faces up to ten years imprisonment and a fine of two million dollars for trafficking in the counterfeit airbags and up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 for causing the transportation of hazardous materials by air carrier. Both charges also carry a period of up to three years supervision following release from imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Department of Transportation-Office of Inspector General.

Assistant United States Attorney Raney Irwin is prosecuting this case.

Source: United States Attorneys General 11

Jackson, TN – Jason Perkins, 44, of Tiptonville, has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and the unlawful taking of a bald eagle. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz announced the sentence today.

According to United States Attorney Ritz and information presented in court, on March 21, 2021, United States Fish and Wildlife Service Agents and Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency Officers received a report of a bald eagle carcass in Tiptonville, Tennessee. Through witness interviews and the execution of search warrants on Perkins’s home and his father’s home, officers determined that Perkins shot the bald eagle and that he was previously convicted of felony offenses. A 12-gauge shotgun and .357 handgun possessed by Perkins were recovered.

United States Attorney Ritz stated, “The bald eagle has been a symbol of our country since 1782. This defendant, a felon, shot and killed one of these great birds—violating federal law in the process. I appreciate the federal, state, and local partners who worked to bring him to justice.”

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement, Atlanta, GA Special Agent in Charge, Stephen Clark stated, “United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, is committed to working collaboratively with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. The illegal taking of a bald eagle is a violation of numerous federal statutes and will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We will continue to work closely with our state partners to conduct these criminal investigations.”

United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Perkins to 24 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked former Assistant United States Attorney Matt Wilson and Assistant United States Attorney Christie Hopper who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.

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For more information, please contact Public Information Officer Cherri Green at (901) 544-4231 or cherri.green@usoj.gov. Follow @ WDTNNews on Twitter for office news and updates.