The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas prosecuted 35 defendants as part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative in May, according to a June 2 announcement by U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
The Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), established by Executive Order 14159, focuses on eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating within the United States and abroad. The HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children, while also targeting violent criminal aliens for prosecution and removal.
During May, eight indictments were returned by federal grand juries charging 25 defendants with crimes including drug trafficking and immigration violations. Five convictions were secured during this period. Among those convicted was James William Quinney, Jr., who pleaded guilty to leading a methamphetamine distribution organization; Latisha Mae Thebeau also pleaded guilty for her role in the conspiracy. Micheal Corbin admitted to distributing methamphetamine and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Darrell Charles Coleman pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine after being stopped for speeding; his passenger Kory Jarvis Schaffer pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl.
Five substantial sentences totaling 944 months were imposed during May. Mauricio Diaz-Abraham received a sentence of 240 months for conspiring to traffic large amounts of methamphetamine from Mexico into East Texas. Juan Jose Montanez was sentenced to 90 months and ordered to forfeit cash, bank accounts, firearms, and luxury items after being found responsible for trafficking both methamphetamine and cocaine. Steven Mark Moore received a sentence of 60 months related to firearms trafficking linked with cartel violence in Mexico. Angel Luis Lopez-Montero was sentenced to 18 years for supplying methamphetamine; Donald Lee Harris received a sentence of nearly thirty years for distributing over three kilograms of methamphetamine from Mexico.
The HSTF Dallas comprises agents from several agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations Dallas; Drug Enforcement Administration Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations; United States Postal Inspection Service; Transportation Security Administration Federal Air Marshal Service; United States Secret Service; Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security; TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service Eastern District of Texas.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas covers 43 counties across East Texas with offices located in Beaumont, Lufkin, Plano, Sherman, Texarkana, and Tyler as part of its role within the United States Department of Justice, employing about 100 staff members including approximately fifty assistant U.S. attorneys while supporting victims through dedicated services according to the official website.