NDTX Round-Up: September 25 – October 1

SENTENCING – JERARDO ALVAREZ

On September 29, Jerardo Alvarez, 35, was sentenced was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison for aiding and abetting foreign travel in aid of racketeering. Customs and Border Protection officers in Laredo identified a shipment of 200 kilograms of methamphetamine headed to a Dallas, Texas address from Mexico. DEA undercover agents coordinated delivery of the methamphetamine with a Mexico-based drug dealer. The Mexican drug dealer directed the undercover agents to contact Alvarez. Upon transfer, Alvarez signed the delivery manifest acknowledging receipt of the 48 buckets of the methamphetamine and was taken into custody by law enforcement. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanna Etessam prosecuted the case.

GUILTY PLEA – LEONARD TANNIEHILL

On September 29, Leonard Tanniehill, 20, plead guilty to interference with commerce by robbery. Tanniehill and coconspirators robbed two gas stations located in Irving and Dallas. While robbing the station in Irving, Tanniehill was a passenger in the “getaway” vehicle. He also disguised his identity before entering and robbing a gas station in Dallas. Tanniehill split the proceeds from the two robberies along with other coconspirtions. Tanniehill faces up to 20 years in federal prison for his crimes. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Dallas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Damien Diggs is prosecuting this case.

GUILTY PLEA – MIGUEL ANGEL SAUSTEGUI-PEREZ

On September 29, Miguel Angel Saustegui-Perez, 30, plead guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Saustegui-Perez visited a Dallas apartment to collect methamphetamine for further distribution. He was arrested while exiting the apartment. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on the apartment and recovered recovered 19 clear gallon sized zip-lock bags containing methamphetamine, $72,122, and a drug ledger. Saustegui-Perez faces up to 40 years in federal prison for his crimes. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kull is prosecuting this case.

SENTENCING – DEANNA JEFFERSON SMITH

On September 30, Deanna Jefferson Smith, 52, was sentenced to two years’ probation with the condition that she cannot practice law while on probation for theft in connection to health care. Deanna Jefferson Smith, a former municipal judge with the City of Dallas, met and became with Alicia Belfrey-Farley, a federal employee with the Bureau of Prisons. Belfrey-Farley listed Jefferson Smith’s children as Belfrey-Farley’s dependents on her health insurance policy through the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program. Belfrey-Farley also listed also listed Jefferson Smith as a dependent on the SF 2809 Health Benefits Election Form. The total billed cost of the services received by Jefferson Smith's children was approximately $28,000 and Blue Cross Blue Shield paid the providers at least $12,316.00 for the services. This case was investigated by the Department of Justice’s Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney John De La Garza prosecuted this case.

SENTENCING – IAN MOHN

On October 1, Ian Mohn, 27, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for making false statements to a federal agent. Mohn reported knowledge of human trafficking in Wisconsin during an interview conducted with the FBI. Agents in Lubbock and Milwaukee spent hours vetting Mohn’s story and requesting additional information which he could not provide. In a second interview with FBI agents, Mohn spent over four hours providing details of the false human trafficking story to law enforcement. At the end of the interview, Mohn admitted that the entire story was fraudulent.  This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam prosecuted this case.

GUILTY PLEA – BRODERICK WALKER

On October 1, Broderick Walker, 40, plead guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.  Walker engaged in schemes to defraud the IRS by obtaining stolen tax refunds that had been produced through electronic filings of false and fraudulent U.S Individual Income Tax Returns. Walker used stolen PII belonging to deceased individuals.  He admitted that the unlawful financial transactions totaled $27,457.07 Walker faces up to 5 years in federal prison for his crimes.  This case was investigated by the IRS – Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Martin is prosecuting this case.