USAO - Texas, Southern

DOT employee admits to extortion HOUSTON – A 54-year-old Lyford man had entered a guilty plea to extortion under color of law, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Patrick Gorena was a border investigator for Department of Transportation (DOT)’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. As,,,

Fourth sentenced in government impersonation call center scam HOUSTON – A 28-year-old Indian citizen who illegally resided in the United States has received his sentence following his conviction of conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Moin Idrishbhai Pinjara pleaded guilty Nov. 30,,,

Podiatrist pays $90,000 to settle false billing allegations HOUSTON – A 39-year-old Cypress man has agreed to pay to resolve allegations he submitted false claims for the placement of electro-acupuncture devices, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Dr. Amr El-Khashab is a podiatrist who,,,

Pastors of defunct church plead guilty to car loan and COVID-19 fraud HOUSTON – Three locals associated with Jesus Survives Ministries have admitted to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery. William Dexter Lucas aka Bill Lucas, 60, and Deborah Jean,,,

Former Department of Transportation employee charged with bribery and extortion A federal grand jury in Houston has returned an indictment charging a former Department of Transportation (DOT) employee with bribery and extortion. Patrick Gorena, 54, Lyford, is scheduled for his initial court,,,

Houstonian receives sentence for enticing South Texas minor into commercial sex HOUSTON – A 23-year-old man has been ordered to prison for enticement of a minor online, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery. Malcolm Lenard Thomas, Houston, pleaded guilty June 21. Today, U.S. District Judge,,,

Indian national sentenced for government impersonation call center scam HOUSTON – A 38-year-old Indian citizen who was illegally residing in Houston has been ordered to prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery. Waseem Maknojiya pleaded guilty Sept. 13,,,

Home health manager sent to prison for $21M Medicare fraud scheme HOUSTON – The last convicted in a large-scale multi-year home health fraud conspiracy has been ordered to federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery. Felix Amos, 72, Houston, pleaded guilty Dec. 18, 2018, to conspiracy,,,

Pharmacist sent to prison for fraudulent compounding cream scheme HOUSTON – A Houston woman has been ordered to federal prison following her conviction of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery. Kyhati Undavia pleaded guilty Oct. 12, 2021. Today, U.S,,,

Out of state group charged in $11M Indian call center fraud ring HOUSTON – Three individuals have been charged for their roles in a multi-year fraud and money laundering conspiracy involving call centers, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery. Amirsinh Diwan, 42, Des Plaines, Illinois, is,,,