Federal Criminal Defense Lawyers

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

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Seven Charged in Interstate Theft and Fencing Ring of Over-the-Counter Drugs

McNabb Associates, P.C. (Federal Criminal Defense Lawyers)
Submitted at 10:12 AM July 20, 2011

The U.S. Attorneys Office Southern District of Texas on July 19, 2011 released the following: HOUSTON A sealed indictment charging several Houston area residents for their alleged involvement in an interstate over-the-counter (OTC) drug theft and fencing ring as well as structuring and money laundering was unsealed today following the arrest of the seven charged, United States Attorney Jos Angel Moreno announced today along with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) acting Special Agent in ChargeJohn Connolly. The 29-count indictment, returned on July 13, 2011, charges seven defendants with conspiracy to transport stolen merchandise in interstate commerce, structuring monetary transactions to evade reporting requirements, money laundering and substantive counts of transporting stolen goods and structuring as well as seeks to forfeit the interest of the defendants in the illicitly obtained proceeds. Those charged include the alleged fence, Mohammad Zainaldin, the owner of Quick Gas and Lube on Westheimer Road in Houston, his girlfriend, Innessa Stafeyeva, who allegedly worked at the warehouse where the stolen OTC merchandise was stored along with two allegedly high level and three additional boosters persons who steal the goods ultimately delivered to the fence for re-sale. Zainladin, 33, was born in the Palestinian territory and his girlfriend, Stafeyeva, 23, is a citizen of Kazakhstan. Carlos Reyes Roque 40, and Marcos Ascencio Perdomo, 35, both alleged high level boosters, and Irma Hernandez, 34, Ana Ramos, 30, and

Claudia Flores, 35, are all citizens of Honduras. The indictment was unsealed today following the arrest of Zainladin, Stafeyeva, Ramos and Flores. Zainladin and Flores were arrested at their respective residences, while Stafeyeva and Ramos were taken into custody at Zainladins warehouse on Westpark Drive and HSI offices in Houston, respectively. These four are expected to make their initial appearance tomorrow before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at which time the government expects to request the defendants remain in federal custody without bond pending trial. Reyes-Roque and Perdomo are presently in federal custody on unrelated criminal charges and are expected to appear in federal court for initial appearances on these charges in the near future. Hernandez is today being transferred from Department of Homeland Security administrative custody into federal custody to face these charges and may make her initial appearance in federal court as early as tomorrow. The indictment accuses all seven defendants of conspiring together to steal OTC medicine from retail pharmacies and other stores both in Texas and in other states. The indictment alleges that thieves referred to as boosters, allegedly used aluminum foil lined bags to steal the OTC from pharmacies and retail stores. The boosters would ship the OTC to Zainladin during out of state trips via FedEx or UPS to avoid detection by law enforcement during routine traffic stops. According to allegations in the indictment, Zainladin was the fence for the stolen merchandise and the leader of the organization. Once Zainladin received the stolen OTC he would pay the boosters cash payments at his gas station. Zainladin would use bank accounts to mask his

illegal activity and would withdraw $10,000 and below, allegedly avoiding bank reporting requirements, to pay his boosters. Conspiracy to transport stolen merchandise in interstate commerce and to structure carries a maximum punishment of five years imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine upon conviction. Conspiracy to launder proceeds of greater than $10,000 from the alleged interstate transportation of stolen property carries a maximum punishment of 10 years and/or a $250,000 fine upon conviction. Structuring financial transactions to avoid currency reporting requirements carries a maximum penalty of 10 years and/or a $250,000 fine upon conviction. Each count of transporting stolen goods and structuring carries a maximum punishment of 10 years imprisonment and /or a $250,000 fine upon conviction. The charges are the result of an 12-month investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Houston Police Department Major Offenders Unit with the substantial assistance and cooperation of CVS and Walgreens loss prevention divisions. To find additional federal criminal news, please read The Federal Crimes Watch Daily. Douglas McNabb and other members of the U.S. law firm practice and write extensively on matters involving Federal Criminal Defense, INTERPOL Red Notice Removal, International Extradition and OFAC SDN List Removal. The author of this blog is Douglas McNabb. Please feel free to contact him directly at mcnabb@mcnabbassociates.com or at one of the offices listed above.

Pennsylvania Anesthesiologist Pleads Guilty to Filing a False Document with the Internal Revenue Service
(USDOJ: Justice News)
Submitted at 4:28 PM July 20, 2011

Eliseo Roquiz of Erie, Penn., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Sean J.
(USDOJ: Justice News)
Submitted at 10:34 AM July 20, 2011

McLaughlin of the Western District of Pennsylvania to charges of filing a false document with the Internal Revenue Service. A federal court has permanently barred Cecil A. Collier from preparing federal tax returns for others.

Court Bars Georgia Man from Preparing Federal Tax Returns

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Jeremy Gene Dobbins and Bobby Dean Roberts Indicted by a Houston Federal Grand Jury for Allegedly Defrauding Their Employer MI-SWACO, a Division of Schlumberger
McNabb Associates, P.C. (Federal Criminal Defense Lawyers)
Submitted at 10:17 AM July 20, 2011

The U.S. Attorneys Office Southern District of Texas on July 19, 2011 released the following: HOUSTON Jeremy Gene Dobbins, 35, and Bobby Dean Roberts, 51, have been indicted for defrauding their employer MI -SWACO, a division of Schlumberger, of more the $3 million, United States Attorney Jos Angel Moreno announced today. The 10-count indictment was returned by a Houston grand jury on Thursday, July 14, 2011. Dobbins was taken into federal custody following his surrender to United States Postal inspectors yesterday while Roberts surrendered today. After appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Milloy today, both have been ordered released on bond pending trial. The indictment accuses the two men of conspiring to commit wire fraud between

February 2008 and June 2010, committing wire fraud and money laundering. According to allegations in the indictment, Dobbins worked for MI-SWACO as a facilities manager and Roberts worked for MI-SWACO as a supervisor of building operations. The two men allegedly formed four vendor entities to do business with MI-SWACO and caused these entities to submit false and fraudulent invoices, which they then approved for payment. All told, the indictment alleges that the defendants caused MI-SWACO to pay out more than $3.5 million in fraudulent proceeds. Conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000 upon conviction. The remaining counts each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $500,000 upon conviction. The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by inspectors with the

United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney F. Andino Reynal is prosecuting the case. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law. To find additional federal criminal news, please read The Federal Crimes Watch Daily. Douglas McNabb and other members of the U.S. law firm practice and write extensively on matters involving Federal Criminal Defense, INTERPOL Red Notice Removal, International Extradition and OFAC SDN List Removal. The author of this blog is Douglas McNabb. Please feel free to contact him directly at mcnabb@mcnabbassociates.com or at one of the offices listed above.

Wife of Probationer Pleads Guilty to Role in Bribe of Former Judge Limas

McNabb Associates, P.C. (Federal Criminal Defense Lawyers)
Submitted at 10:20 AM July 20, 2011

The U.S. Attorneys Office Southern District of Texas on July 19, 2011 released the following: BROWNSVILLE, Texas The wife of a probationer who was involved in the $1500 payment to former state District Judge Abel Limas to permit her husband to report to state probation officials by mail rather than in person has pleaded guilty, United States Attorney Jos Angel Moreno announced today. Karina Pena, 29, of Corpus Christi, Texas, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting honest services wire fraud by former state Judge Abel Corral Limas, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343, 1346, and 2 before U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen today. Pena admitted her involvement in the April 2008 wire transfer of $1,800 from Hot

Springs, Ark., to Harlingen, Texas. Of that sum, $1,500 was paid to then Judge Limas, allegedly through middleman, Jose Manuel Meme Longoria, in exchange for Limass order allowing her husband, Armando Pena, 30, to report to the state probation office by mail rather than in person. Per pleadings filed in court today, Judge Limas contacted the probation office on April 23, 2008, instructing said office to allow Armando Pena, who had left Texas without permission to work in Arkansas, to report by mail. Judge Limas entered a written order on May 13, 2008, modifying Armando Penas reporting condition. Judge Andrew Hanen has set sentencing for Oct. 24, 2011. Pena faces a maximum prison term of 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release of up to five years. Pena has been permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.

The charges against Karina Pena are the result of an ongoing investigation being conducted by the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brownsville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Wynne and Oscar Ponce are prosecuting the case. To find additional federal criminal news, please read The Federal Crimes Watch Daily. Douglas McNabb and other members of the U.S. law firm practice and write extensively on matters involving Federal Criminal Defense, INTERPOL Red Notice Removal, International Extradition and OFAC SDN List Removal. The author of this blog is Douglas McNabb. Please feel free to contact him directly at mcnabb@mcnabbassociates.com or at one of the offices listed above.

Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division Speaks at the National District Attorneys Association Summer Conference
(USDOJ: Justice News)
Submitted at 1:33 PM July 20, 2011

"As prosecutors, we occupy a unique role

in the criminal justice system. Our job is not just to win cases, but also to do justice in every case."