U.S. Attorney Jaime E. Esparza
Recent News About U.S. Attorney Jaime E. Esparza
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Arlington woman sentenced for role in meth smuggling conspiracy
An Arlington woman, Linnette Rodriguez-Potter, has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for her involvement in a methamphetamine smuggling conspiracy.
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Austin man sentenced for Ponzi scheme defrauding investors of $1.5 million
An Austin man, Nurnepes Nurjanov, has been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for his involvement in a $1.5 million Ponzi scheme.
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El Paso woman sentenced for $1.7 million healthcare fraud scheme
An El Paso woman has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for her involvement in a healthcare fraud scheme amounting to $1.7 million.
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Authorities urge firearm security amid rise in San Antonio vehicle thefts
As the holiday season approaches, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas is urging residents to secure their firearms properly when not in use.
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New Braunfels man pleads guilty in thwarted mass murder plot
A New Braunfels resident, Cameron Darrick Peterson, has admitted guilt in a federal court in San Antonio to attempting to receive a firearm for committing a felony.
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San Antonio couple imprisoned for filing false tax returns
A San Antonio couple has been sentenced to federal prison for tax evasion.
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La Pryor man convicted on multiple human smuggling-related charges
A federal jury in San Antonio has found Joshua Lee Balderas, a resident of La Pryor, guilty on charges related to human smuggling. The convictions include one count of conspiracy to kidnap and two counts associated with harboring undocumented noncitizens, resulting in serious bodily harm and endangering lives.
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Former police chief convicted for wire fraud involving insurance scam
A federal jury in San Antonio has found former Castroville Police Chief Christopher Filline guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The conviction stems from a scheme Filline devised in 2016, aimed at defrauding Farmers Insurance Group.
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El Paso man sentenced to 15 years for dealing fentanyl causing death
An El Paso man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl, resulting in death or serious bodily injury.
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Justice Department awards $7.8 million grant to support Uvalde community
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza has announced a $7,821,753 grant from the Department of Justice to aid the Texas Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office, Victim Services Team (VOCA). This funding aims to support victims of the May 24, 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. The grant will fund trauma-informed and evidence-based services related to crisis response and consequence management for those affected by the attack. The grant was awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
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Del Rio man sentenced to 10 years for coercing minor
A Del Rio man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for coercion and enticement of a minor. Alejandro Zavala, 31, was found guilty after initiating contact with a 15-year-old on Snapchat and engaging in sexual acts with the minor.
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San Antonio woman sentenced for inducing minors into sexual conduct
A San Antonio woman was sentenced in federal court to 325 months in prison followed by 30 years of supervised release for one count of sexual performance by a child.
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Georgia man sentenced for receipt of child pornography
A Georgia man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 60 months in prison followed by ten years of supervised release for receipt of child pornography.
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Mexican national sentenced to over 20 years for role in drug trafficking conspiracy
A Mexican national was sentenced in El Paso to 245 months in prison for two counts related to her role in a drug trafficking conspiracy.
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McKinney man sentenced for human trafficking in Del Rio
A McKinney man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 30 months in prison for conspiracy to transport undocumented noncitizens.
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Former Army employee sentenced to prison for $100 million fraud scheme
SAN ANTONIO – Janet Yamanaka Mello, a former civilian Army employee, was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison for her involvement in a fraud scheme that embezzled over $108 million from a grant program meant to provide services to military dependents and their families.
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Cedar Park man sentenced for unlicensed firearm dealing
A Cedar Park man was sentenced in federal court in Austin to one year and one day of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for dealing firearms without a license and making a false statement to ATF agents. The court also ordered the forfeiture of 32 firearms.
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Floresville man sentenced for sexually exploiting child at home daycare
A Floresville man has been sentenced to 360 months in federal prison for the sexual exploitation of a seven-year-old girl. According to court documents, Rodney Allan Felux, 45, sexually assaulted and exploited the child while she attended a residential daycare in December 2022. The victim reported the incident to her mother, prompting an investigation. During a forensic interview, the victim revealed that she was blindfolded, taken to a shed, and subjected to sexual assault while Felux took explicit images of her.
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El Paso couple arrested on federal child abuse charges
EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso couple has been arrested on charges detailed in a four-count federal indictment related to alleged child abuse.
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Former Texas school official arrested over allegations of fund misappropriation
A former Valentine Independent School District employee was arrested on criminal charges related to an alleged scheme to misappropriate school district funds for personal expenses.