Federal Grand Jury indicts fifteen individuals for criminal violations
By U.S. Attorney
Nov 9, 2006
Tyler, TX -- United States Attorney Matthew D. Orwig announced today that a federal grand jury has returned numerous indictments this week charging 15 defendants in separate cases of federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas.

CARL CARVER, 40, of Lufkin, was indicted on charges of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and possession of equipment and chemicals with knowledge of its intended use to manufacture a controlled substance.

Information presented in Court stated Carver was stopped by the Lufkin Police Department in a stolen vehicle. Officers discovered a loaded firearm in the driver’s floorboard of the vehicle and equipment and chemicals used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. They also found a bullet in Carver’s pocket. Carver has prior felony convictions for kidnapping and aggravated assault and is prohibited from possessing or owning firearms or ammunition.

If convicted, Carver could receive up to 10 years in federal prison on the felon in possession charge and 5 years in federal prison to run concurrent to other prison sentences on the other counts.

This case was investigated by the Lufkin Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa Flournoy.

FREDY VILLEGAS-GAONA, 30, was indicted on charges of being a criminal alien unlawfully present in the United States after having been deported.

According to information presented by prosecutors, on September 5, 2006, Villegas-Gaona was arrested by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office for wearing a bullet-proof vest, failure to identify and unlawfully possessing a firearm. Because he was a suspected deported alien, the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement was notified. On September 14, 2006, an ICE special agent found Villegas-Gaona at the Smith County Jail and his investigation revealed that Villegas-Gaona had unlawfully reentered the United States after having been deported to Mexico subsequent to a North Carolina manslaughter conviction.

If convicted, Villegas-Gaona faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

This case is being investigated by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Allen Hurst.

SAUL ZAMORA MUNOZ, aka “El Tio”, age 32, FERNANDO VARGAS, aka “Jose Garcia Sanchez”, age 33, and RAUL MARTINEZ RIVERA, age 39, were indicted on charges of conspiracy to produce false identification documents, production of false identification documents and transfer of false identification documents.

According to information presented by prosecutors, these individuals conspired with each other to produce and transfer fraudulent identification documents, including Social Security cards, driver’s licenses and resident alien cards, from June 5, 2006 through October 25, 2006.

If convicted, each defendant faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Texas Department of Public Safety investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Jim Middleton is prosecuting this case.

JUAN REYES JASSO, age 30, FRANCISCO VERA, age 40, and CLIFFTON TERAN, age 20, all inmates housed at the Federal Correctional Institute in Texarkana, Texas, were indicted on charges of assault.

According to information presented by prosecutors, the defendants are members of a prison gang, “Mexikanemi,” and they assaulted a fellow inmate on September 16, 2006, during a confrontation between rival gang members. The victim was seriously injured and required hospitalization.

If convicted, each defendant could receive up to ten additional years in federal prison. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Barry Bryant.

JOHNNY E. ROBINSON, 38, of Texarkana, Texas was indicted on charges of felon in possession of a firearm.

According to information presented by prosecutors, Robinson is alleged to have possessed a .357 caliber pistol on July 25, 2005. He had previously been convicted of the felony offense of possession of a controlled substance in Bowie County, Texas in 2002, and is prohibited from possessing or owning a firearm or ammunition.

If Robinson is convicted, he could receive up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Bi-State Narcotics Task Force investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Barry Bryant is prosecuting this case.

ROBERT BRAMMER, 32, of Lufkin, Texas, has been indicted on charges of distribution of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors, possession of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors and production of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors.

According to information presented by prosecutors, in October 2006, an investigation by law enforcement officers disclosed that Brammer had possessed, distributed and produced material involving the sexual exploitation of minors on his personal computer at his residence in Lufkin.

If convicted, Brammer could receive up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the distribution charge, a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000 on the possession count, and a prison sentence of up to 30 years and a fine of up to $250,000 on the production count.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Longview Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gregg Marchessault.

JOSHUA ALLEN, 23, of Jacksonville, has been indicted on charges of distribution of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors and possession of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors.

According to information presented by prosecutors, during August and September 2006, an investigation by law enforcement officers disclosed that Allen had possessed and distributed material involving the sexual exploitation of minors on his personal computer at his residence in Jacksonville. If convicted, Allen could receive up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the distribution count, and a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000 on the possession count.

This case is also part of Project Safe Childhood and is being investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Longview Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gregg Marchessault.

SACRAMENTO SILVA-ALVAREZ, aka “Ricardo Alvarez-Silva”, 29, who lives in Tyler, but is a citizen of Mexico, was indicted on charges of possession with intent to distribute over 5 grams of actual methamphetamine; use, carrying and possession of 2 firearms during, and in furtherance, of a drug trafficking crime and illegal alien in possession of two firearms.

According to information presented by prosecutors, on August 13, 2006, officers with the Tyler Police Department arrested Silva-Alvarez after a traffic stop for various offenses including driving while intoxicated, possession of a controlled substance, unlawfully carrying a weapon, and resisting arrest/search/transportation. The defendant was found to be in possession of a large amount of methamphetamine and two firearms. ICE has determined that Silva-Alvarez is a citizen and national of Mexico by birth who is unlawfully present in the United States. The defendant is currently in custody in Smith County Jail.

If convicted, Silva-Alvarez faces up to 40 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $2 million on the possession of methamphetamine count, a prison sentence of up to 5 years, which must be served consecutively to any other term, and a fine of up to $250,000 for the possession of firearms charge, and a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000 on the illegal alien in possession of firearms count. The Tyler Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement are investigating this case. Assistant United States Attorney Allen Hurst is prosecuting.

THOMAS BURNS, 56, and MATTIE BURNS, 52, of Marshall, have both been indicted for Theft of Government Property in excess of $1,000.00 and Concealment of an Event to Secure Social Security Insurance Disability Benefits.

The indictment alleges that from November 8, 2001 through March 24, 2005, the Burns concealed Thomas Burns' employment with Jessie Oil Field Service in Elysian Fields and Dan Blocker Petroleum Consultants in Longview with the intent to fraudulently secure payments when no payments would have been authorized had the employment been made known to the Social Security Administration.

If convicted the Burns each face up to ten years in federal prison and a $250,000.00 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble is prosecuting the case.

DAVID KEGLEY, 55, and MARION KEGLEY, 61, of Tyler, have both been indicted for False Statements for Use in Determining Disability Insurance Benefits. David Kegley was separately indicted for Theft of Government Property in excess of $1,000.00. The indictment alleges that on September 20, 2004, David and Marion Kegley both made false statements and representations to the Social Security Administration for use in determining rights to Social Security Disability Benefit payments. Specifically the indictment alleges that they both stated that David Kegley had not worked since 1988, when in fact they both knew that David Kegley had done work for "Homes by Greg Langley" from 1994 through 2000 and for "Terry Blevins Homes" from 2002 through 2004.

If convicted the Kegleys each face up to ten years in federal prison and a $250,000.00 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble is prosecuting the case.

It is important to note that an indictment should not be considered as evidence of guilt and that all persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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