PLEA - Isaiah Alexander Allen
On Jan. 2, 22-year-old Isaiah Alexander Allen pleaded guilty to cyberstalking, after law enforcement caught him posting so-called “revenge porn." Allen met his victim, a California college student, on an internet gaming website. Over the course of their online relationship, she sent him several sexual photos. But when she refused to provide additional lascivious images, Allen posted dozens of her naked photos online, along with screenshots of B.K.’s driver’s license, college ID, and social security card, as well as her phone number and physical address. The photos, originally uploaded to Reddit and Imgur and later shared on sites like 4Chan and PornStarTube, have been viewed more than a million times. The FBI and Lubbock Police Department investigated.
INDICTMENT* - Daniel Jenkins & Michael Atkinson
On Jan. 8, two Dallas men were charged with conspiracy to commit hate crimes, kidnapping, and carjacking. Daniel Jenkins, 19, and Michael Atkinson, 24, allegedly used fake profiles targeting gay men on Grindr, a GTBQ dating app, to lure at least nine men, ages 19 to 57, to an apartment complex, where they were assaulted, taunted, and robbed. At least five victims were physicaly assaulted, one was sexually assaulted with an object, and one was smeared with feces. The FBI investigated.
VERDICT -- Robert Bazan
On Jan. 8, a federal jury found Robert Bazan, 45, of Seminole, Texas, guilty of methamphetamine and firearms offenses. According to the evidence presented at trial, in April 2018, Mr. Bazan sold an AR-style pistol and approximately one ounce of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. Less than four months later, Mr. Bazan led deputies with Gaines County, Texas, and Lea County, New Mexico, on a high-speed pursuit following a traffic stop. During the pursuit, which reached speeds over 95 miles per hour, Bazan attempted to discard two handguns and approximately 413 grams of methamphetamine. Upon being indicted, Mr. Bazan also attempted to intimidate a cooperating witness. A six-time convicted felon, Mr. Bazan now faces up to life in prison. The ATF and DEA conducted the investigation, along with the Gaines and Lea County Sheriff’s Offices.
SENTENCING -- James Smith
On Jan.10, James Gabriel Smith, a former member of the military, was sentenced more than 12 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to attempted enticement of a minor. Smith, a former resident of Saginaw, Texas, admits he chatted online with an undercover NCIS agent posing as a 13-year-old girl. Over the span of three months, Smith sent graphic images of himself and told the 'girl' he wanted to engage in sexual activity with her. When Smith showed up to an apartment in Fort Worth in April 2018, he was arrested by NCIS agents and Fort Worth police.
SENTENCING -- William Smith
On Jan. 11, William Brian Smith (no relation to above) was sentenced to 15 years' inprisonment followed by lifetime supervision after pleading guilty to receipt of child pornography. Smith, a resident of Fort Worth, was discovered with child pornography on his work computer after one of his co-workers complained. At his sentencing, Smith admitted to surreptitiously recording a child taking a shower -- and to taking surreptitious recordings of his female coworkers. The case was investigated by Saginaw Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.
* An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
NOTE: Due the the lapse in appropraitions, the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Northern District of Texas will not be issuing press releases or distributing news roundups via email. We will, however, post roundups online.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
