Kaska was indicted for indecency with a child by contact. Pursuant to a plea agreement,
Kaska entered a plea of nolo contendere. In accordance with the plea agreement, the trial court
deferred a finding of guilt and placed Kaska on deferred adjudication community supervision for
a term of ten years. The trial court also assessed a fine of $1,500.00.
Subsequently, the State... More...   $0 (09-25-2016 - TX)

A jury convicted Michael Rosario, Jr., of Assault on a Family/Household Member
with a Previous Conviction. See Tex. Penal Code § 22.01(a)(1), (b)(2)(A). The trial court assessed
punishment at nine years’ imprisonment.
Rosario’s appointed attorney has filed a motion to withdraw supported by a
brief concluding that the appeal is frivolous and without merit. The brief meets the re... More...   $0 (09-24-2016 - TX)

The indictment in this case alleged that “pursuant to a common scheme or continuing
course of conduct” and “with the intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in
the profits of a combination,” Smith collaborated to commit the offense of unlawfully delivering,
dispensing, or distributing methamphetamine in an amount between four and 200 grams. The
indictment... More...   $0 (09-24-2016 - TX)

Dallas, TX - Leader of Fraud Scheme Involving Family Members is Sentenced

Rolando Minano, 48, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $665,962 in restitution, following his guilty plea in May 2016 to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

Rolando Minano’s ex-wife, Martha Irene Collantes, 53, and his stepson, Carlos Arturo Pastor Collantes, 32, were ... More...   $0 (09-21-2016 - TX)

Houston, TX - Final Defendant Sentenced in Aggravated Identity Theft and Wire Fraud Scheme

A Houston woman was ordered to federal prison following her conviction of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Alicia Myles, 32, pleaded guilty Oct. 9, 2015.

U.S. District Judge David Hittner ordered Myles to serve a total of 42 months – 18 months for the wire fraud and a consecutive ... More...   $0 (09-15-2016 - TX)

Houston, TX - Accountant Convicted of Embezzling More than $3 Million from Houston Company

An accountant from Georgia admitted he committed wire fraud and stole more than $3 million from Houston company Airis International Holdings.

Daniel Nathan West, 50, of Duluth, Georgia, was previously employed as the treasurer and chief financial officer for Airis International Holdings. In... More...   $0 (09-17-2016 - TX)

McAllen, TX - Two Doctors from Mexican Clinic Sentenced in Scheme to Commit Wire Fraud

Two physicians from a family medicine clinic in Mexico have been ordered to prison for their role in a scheme to submit false and fraudulent insurance claims.

Dr. Mayolo Melchor, 59, and Dr. Bertha Hernandez-Melchor, 61, both of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico, pleaded guilty June 1, 2016, to cons... More...   $0 (09-15-2016 - TX)

Houston, TX - Houston Man Heads to Prison for Credit Card Fraud

A 29-year-old Houston resident was ordered to federal prison following his convictions of conspiring to commit credit card fraud and aggravated identity theft. Darnell Wayne Menard pleaded guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas sentenced Menard to 57 months for the conspiracy as well as a mandatory and co... More...   $0 (09-15-2016 - TX)

Brownsville, TX - Texas Syndicate Gang Member Ordered to Federal Prison

A member of the Texas-based prison and street gang known as the Texas Syndicate was ordered to federal prison for narcotics trafficking. Juan Matias Trevino, 29, of Brownsville, pleaded guilty Feb. 2, 2016, to possession with intent to distribute one kilogram of methamphetamine.

U.S. District Judge Rolando Ol... More...   $0 (09-14-2016 - TX)

Following his arrest for the charged offense, Blackard completed a “form for court
appointed attorney,” in which he indicated that he was unemployed and received no income
See Tex. Penal Code § 71.02.1
from public assistance. Subsequently, the district court ordered that Blackard be appointed counsel,
finding that Blackard did not have “sufficient net assets to use in hiring a l... More...   $0 (09-14-2016 - TX)

Jeffrey Ryan Moore was charged with the trafficking of a child and with compelling
the prostitution of a child. See Tex. Penal Code §§ 20A.02(a)(7) (specifying that person commits
offense if he “knowingly . . . traffics a child and by any means causes the trafficked child to engage
in, or become the victim of, conduct prohibited by” statute governing compelling prostitution), (b)(1)More...   $0 (09-14-2016 - TX)

Walter Lee Scott, Jr., was charged with assaulting Kassandra Holt, who was a
member of Scott’s family or household, “by intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly impeding the
normal breathing or circulation of . . . Holt by applying pressure to [her] throat or neck.” See Tex.
Penal Code § 22.01(a) (setting out elements of offense of assault), (b)(2)(B) (elevating offense level
from ... More...   $0 (09-14-2016 - TX)

M.A., the victim in this case, was returning to her home in New Braunfels after
leaving her job at Taco Bell at approximately 1:15 a.m. The victim was traveling south on Interstate
Highway 35 when her car ran out of gas and stalled just north of San Marcos near the Blanco River
turnaround. After trying to call family and friends for help, M.A. decided to walk to the nearest
gas s... More...   $0 (09-14-2016 - TX)

Nelson Michael Daniel was indicted for continuous sexual abuse of a young child.
See Tex. Penal Code § 21.02. He pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault. See id. § 22.021. Daniel
also pleaded true to an allegation of a prior felony conviction, and the trial court sentenced him to
40 years’ imprisonment. In his sole point of error, he contends that the trial court lacked jurisdi... More...   $0 (09-13-2016 - TX)

This is an appeal pursuant to Anders v. California. A jury convicted appellant 1
Richard Vasquez of the offenses of attempted capital murder of a peace officer and aggravated
assault against a public servant. The district court rendered judgment on each verdict and sentenced 2
Vasquez to thirty years’ imprisonment for the attempted-capital-murder offense and fifteen years’
impris... More...   $0 (09-13-2016 - TX)

This is an appeal pursuant to Anders v. California. A jury convicted appellant 1
Jason Sibley of the offense of sexual assault. The district court rendered judgment on the verdict 2
and sentenced Sibley to 24 years’ imprisonment.
Evidence considered by the jury during trial included the testimony of the
complainant, Gabrielle Rhodes. Rhodes testified that on the night of Februar... More...   $0 (09-13-2016 - TX)

Appellant was charged with indecency with a child. See Tex. Penal Code § 21.11(a)(1)
(providing that person commits offense if he “engages in sexual contact with the child or causes the
child to engage in sexual contact” and if child is “younger than 17 years of age”), (d) (stating that
offense is second-degree felony). Under the terms of a plea-bargain agreement, appellant agreed to... More...   $0 (09-13-2016 - TX)

Clifton Crews Hoyt was charged with driving while intoxicated. See Tex. Penal
Code § 49.04(a) (listing elements of offense). The indictment also alleged that Hoyt had previously
been convicted of the offense on two prior occasions, which elevated the level of the offense to
a third-degree felony. See id. § 49.09(b)(2). In addition, the indictment alleged that Hoyt was also
prev... More...   $0 (09-13-2016 - TX)

This is an appeal pursuant to Anders v. California. Following a bench trial, appellant 1
Amador Fernandez was convicted of the offense of evading arrest and detention with a vehicle.2
After finding Fernandez guilty, the district court sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment. This
appeal followed.
At trial, the district court heard evidence that on the night of March 15, 2014, D... More...   $0 (09-13-2016 - TX)

The State indicted appellant for “intentionally or knowingly caus[ing] the penetration
of the anus of [H.C.], a child who was then and there younger than 14 years of age, by [appellant’s]
sexual organ.” At trial, the jury heard the testimony of H.C., H.C.’s sister, and a police officer who
investigated the allegation of sexual abuse. H.C. testified that appellant regularly babysat hi... More...   $0 (09-12-2016 - TX)

In count one, the jury found Appellant guilty of aggravated sexual assault
by the penetration of a child’s sexual organ. See Tex. Penal Code Ann.
§ 22.021(a)(B)(i) (West Supp. 2016). In count two, the jury found Appellant guilty
of aggravated sexual assault by his causing the child’s mouth to contact his
sexual organ. See id. § 22.021(a)(B)(v).
II. The Denial of Appella... More...   $0 (09-12-2016 - TX)

This appeal arises out of an altercation between Appellant and his
girlfriend, Miriam.2 As a result of the altercation, Appellant was indicted for
assaulting Miriam, a person with whom he had a dating relationship, by impeding
her breath, a third-degree felony. See id. § 22.01(a), (b)(2)(B).
At trial, the jury heard the audio recording of a 9-1-1 call placed shortly
a... More...   $0 (09-11-2016 - TX)

Beaumont, TX - Former Orange County Detective Guilty in HUD Fraud Scheme

A 47-year-old former Orange County Sheriff’s Detective has pleaded guilty to federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas.

Chad Wayne Hogan, of Orange, Texas, pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with money laundering today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Giblin.

Acco... More...   $0 (09-06-2016 - TX)

San Antonio, TX - Former State Employee Sentenced to Federal Prison in Fraudulent Drivers License Scheme

Jose A. Ytuarte, age 54, a former Texas Department of Public Safety Customer Service Representative in Hondo, TX, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release for his role in a scheme to provide fraudulent drivers’ licenses to undocumented al... More...   $0 (09-10-2016 - TX)

El Paso, TX - Former Supervisory Customs and Border Protection Officer Sentenced to Federal Prison in Alien Smuggling Conspiracy

Lawrence Madrid, a 54–year-old former Supervisory Customs and Border Protection Officer, was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for alien smuggling and accepting a bribe.

On May 26, 2016, a federal ju... More...   $0 (09-10-2016 - TX)

Victoria, TX - Anderson Man Sentenced for Smuggling Orangutan Skulls

A professional reptile breeder has entered a guilty plea to smuggling two orangutan skulls into the country from Indonesia.

Graham Scott Criglow, 39, pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey. Criglow was ordered to pay a $2,500 fine and must serve three years of probation.

“One of... More...   $0 (09-10-2016 - TX)

Dallas, TX - Dallas Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty

Curtis Demond Johnson, who operated an income tax preparation business in Dallas pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a fraudulent tax return.

According to the factual resume filed in the case, from approximately 2010 to 2014, Johnson operated Inworks Tax Services, located in Galleria Tower Three ... More...   $0 (09-10-2016 - TX)

Dallas, TX - Texas Woman Pleads Guilty to Preparing False Tax

A Greenville, Texas, resident pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns.

According to documents filed with the court, Lourdes Ramirez, 39, was a tax return preparer operating under the names TX ASAP Tax Services and Fiesta Tax Service in Greenville. Ramirez admitted t... More...   $0 (09-10-2016 - TX)

Del Rio, TX - Eagle Pass Texas Mexican Mafia Leader Faces Up to Life Imprisonment after Pleading Guilty to Federal R.I.C.O. Charge

A 36-year-old Eagle Pass Texas Mexican Mafia (TMM) leader, Jesus Lopez (aka “Worst Ever”), faces up to life in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to violate the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) statute to include acts of mur... More...   $0 (08-25-2016 - TX)

San Antonio, TX - San Antonio Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison for Receipt of Child Pornography

John Michael Rymers, age 29, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for receipt of child pornography.

In addition to the prison term, United States District Judge Fred Biery ordered that Rymers pay $20,000 restitution to his victims and be placed under supervised releas... More...   $0 (09-02-2016 - TX)

El Paso, TX - Mexican Businessowner Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal Prison for Estimated $3 Million Stolen Identity Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

Elizabeth “Betty” Garcia de Nieto, age 44, of Delicias, Chihuahua, Mexico, was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $3,009,999.80 restitution to the Government for her role in an income tax return scheme that resulted in fraudul... More...   $0 (09-02-2016 - TX)

Archie Glenn Hashaw, Jr., executive director of Waller County Emergency
Medical Service (“Waller County EMS”), a non-profit organization and the
complainant in this case, testified that Waller County EMS provides “9-1-1
ambulance service” for the county. It shares “a building in downtown Monaville,”
designated as Fire Station Number 2, with the Monaville Volunteer Fire Departm... More...   $0 (09-01-2016 - TX)

San Antonio, TX - San Antonio Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison for Receipt of Child Pornography

John Michael Rymers, age 29, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for receipt of child pornography.

In addition to the prison term, Defendant was ordered to pay $20,000 restitution to his victims and be placed under supervised release for the remainder of his life aft... More...   $0 (08-28-2016 - TX)

Appellant John Joseph Jordan attempts to appeal from his conviction for
possession of a controlled substance, Oxycodone, and his conviction for the theft
of property worth less than $2,500, enhanced by two prior convictions. See Tex.
Health & Safety Code Ann. § 481.115 (West 2010), Tex. Penal Code Ann.
§ 31.03 (West Supp. 2016). Appellant pleaded guilty in both cases pursuant ... More...   $0 (08-25-2016 - TX)

According to her testimony at trial, when Brittany3 was in the fourth grade,
appellant touched her sexual organ, and she touched his penis with her hands
and her mouth. Appellant also showed Brittany pornographic videos on his
phone and took pictures of her with his phone while she was naked. Appellant
told Brittany that these acts were a secret and that he would “make it wor... More...   $0 (08-25-2016 - TX)

At a hearing on appellant’s motion to suppress, Pasadena Independent
School District (“PISD”) Police Department Officer M. Rodriguez testified that on
April 2, 2014, he was assigned to monitor Pasadena Memorial High School (the
“high school”). He saw appellant and another student, Jonathan Castillo, standing
at the trunk of a “blue sports car” that was parked in the “horseshoe... More...   $0 (08-24-2016 - TX)

Houston, TX - Second Trafficker Convicted of Distributing Dangerous Counterfeit Viagra and Cialis

A 47-year-old Pennsylvania man entered a guilty plea to charges related to a conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit Viagra and Cialis and for smuggling, trafficking and introducing the misbranded prescription drugs into interstate commerce.

“The FDA regulates pharmaceuticals in the leg... More...   $0 (08-21-2016 - TX)

In three separate cases, appellant, Carlos Renard Henry, pleaded guilty to the
offenses of burglary of a habitation (trial court cause no. 1400600), theft (trial court
cause no. 1417781), and burglary of a motor vehicle (trial court cause no. 1418788).
In each case, the trial court found appellant guilty and, in accordance with the terms
of appellant’s plea bargain agreements w... More...   $0 (08-20-2016 - TX)

Appellant, Marcus Allen, was found guilty by a jury of the state jail felony
offense of possession of a controlled substance in an amount less than one gram. See
TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. §§ 481.102(6), 481.115(b) (West 2010).
Appellant pleaded true to two enhancement paragraphs and the trial court sentenced
appellant to ten years’ imprisonment. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § ... More...   $0 (08-20-2016 - TX)

A grand jury indicted Patterson for the murder of Kristian Sullivan, who died
of multiple gunshot wounds in the front yard of his grandmother’s house. Patterson
filed a pre-trial motion to suppress any statement he had made to law enforcement
officers. In this motion, he asserted several bases for suppression, including that his
statements “were taken without the safeguards r... More...   $0 (08-20-2016 - TX)