Oakdale Man Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison on Drug Charges

Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Investigation Code Named “Broken Hitch”

LAKE CHARLES, LA—United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that Thomas Dwain Tilton, Jr., age 51, of Oakdale, Louisiana, was sentenced today to 87 months in prison and three years’ supervised release for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi as a result of Tilton’s guilty plea in February of 2012.

In May of 2011, Tilton and two others were indicted on drug charges as a result of a joint Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation conducted by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Tilton’s co-defendants admitted to trafficking in methamphetamine for several years and asserted that Tilton was one of their suppliers. On June 11, 2010, the co-defendants went to Humble, Texas, where they met Tilton at a motel room and obtained two ounces of methamphetamine. Upon returning from Texas to Louisiana, the two co-defendants were stopped in Sulphur, Louisiana. One of the co-defendants was found to be in possession of what was later analyzed to be 21 grams of actual methamphetamine.

During his guilty plea, Tilton admitted that his methamphetamine source in East Texas possessed and distributed to him and others more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. Both of Tilton’s co-defendants previously pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Kimberly Ann Thompson pled guilty on March 19, 2012, and was sentenced on July 19, 2012 to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release; Harlis Ramsey Martin pled guilty on March 9, 2012, and was sentenced on June 14, 2012 to 140 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Finley stated: “Methamphetamine continues to have a destructive and deadly effect on our communities. We hope this case sends a message that anyone who traffics in these types of drugs will face serious consequences. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with its law enforcement partners, will not be hindered or deterred in the prosecution of these cases.”

OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and Texas Department of Public Safety and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Grayson.

Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced To Life

Oklahoma Fugitive Captured By Task Force in 2011, Sentenced in 2012

San Antonio, TX – Matthew Mallory, 36, convicted sex offender, entered a plea of guilty earlier this week to 4 counts of child abuse by intentional infliction of mental injury, before an Oklahoma District Court Judge in Kingfisher County. In April 2011, authorities in Oklahoma issued an arrest warrant for Mallory who was captured by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in San Antonio.

Last year, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations contacted the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force to assist in the search for Mallory, who went on the run accompanied by his 14-year old niece, Ariel. It was determined that the two were in San Antonio after they were seen by witnesses at a local drug store. Mallory had a prior conviction for second-degree rape and while on the run was considered to be armed and dangerous. After a 2-day manhunt, task force officers located Mallory and Ariel near a south side ranch in San Antonio. Mallory was taken into custody without incident and Ariel was reunited with her family.

District Judge Paul Woodward accepted Mallory’s plea of guilty to the charges and sentenced him to 4 consecutive life sentences in a state prison. The District Attorney’s Office learned that Mallory had been sexually assaulting Ariel since the age of 9 and had sexually assaulted 3 other young girls as well.

Robert Almonte, United States Marshal for the Western District of Texas, states, “It’s sad when anyone is the victim of sexual assault, especially a child. I sincerely hope that Mallory’s conviction will help these children to one day find closure and peace. Thanks to the men and women who worked so diligently and tirelessly to ensure that justice was served.”

Members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force:

San Antonio Police Department

San Antonio Independent School District Police Department

Bexar County Sheriff’s Office

Comal County Sheriff’s Office

Bexar County Fire Marshal's Office

Bexar County District Attorney’s Office

Texas Office of The Attorney General

Texas Department of Public Safety

Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Office of the Inspector General

U.S. Marshals Service

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.

Barrio Azteca Leader Extradited from Mexico to United States to Face Charges Related to the U.S. Consulate Murders in Juarez

WASHINGTON—An alleged leader of the Barrio Azteca (BA), a transnational border gang allied with the Juarez Cartel, was extradited from Mexico to the United States to face charges related to the March 2010 U.S. Consulate murders in Juarez, Mexico, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman for the Western District of Texas, FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark Morgan of the FBI’s El Paso Office, and Administrator Michele M. Leonhart of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced today.

Arturo Gallegos Castrellon, aka “Benny,” arrived in the United States yesterday and made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Castaneda in El Paso, Texas. Gallegos Castrellon was charged in a 12-count third superseding indictment unsealed in March 2011.

“We allege that Gallegos Castrellon participated in the U.S. Consulate shootings in March 2010,” said Assistant Attorney General Breuer. “His extradition to the United States is an important step forward in our pursuit of justice for the victims of those tragic murders in Juarez, Mexico. Innocent men and women on both sides of our border with Mexico should not have to live in fear of Barrio Azteca and other violent criminal gangs.”

“The extradition represents the FBI’s unwavering commitment to track down individuals who continue to commit senseless and unconscionable acts of violence against the citizens of our community in furtherance of their criminal enterprise,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Morgan. “Today’s action stands as a shining example of effective coordination and collaboration with the law enforcement community within El Paso, as well as the government of Mexico, to ensure the border will not act as an obstacle to justice being served.”

A total of 35 BA members and associates based in the United States and Mexico were charged in the third superseding indictment for allegedly committing various criminal acts, including racketeering, narcotics distribution and importation, retaliation against persons providing information to U.S. law enforcement, extortion, money laundering, obstruction of justice, and murder. Of the 35 defendants, 10 Mexican nationals, including Gallegos Castrellon, were charged with the March 13, 2010 murders in Juarez, Mexico of U.S. Consulate employee Leslie Ann Enriquez Catton; her husband Arthur Redelfs; and Jorge Alberto Salcido Ceniceros, the husband of a U.S. Consulate employee.

Of the 35 defendants charged, 33 have been apprehended, including April Cardoza, who was found in Juarez, Mexico, last week. Twenty-four of those defendants have pleaded guilty, one defendant committed suicide while imprisoned during his trial, and six others are pending extradition from Mexico. U.S. and Mexican law enforcement are actively seeking to apprehend the two remaining fugitives in this case: Luis Mendez and Eduardo Ravelo, an FBI Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitive.

According to court documents and information presented in court throughout this case, the Barrio Azteca is a violent street and prison gang that began in the late 1980s and expanded into a transnational criminal organization. In the 2000s, the BA formed an alliance in Mexico with “La Linea,” which is part of the Juarez Drug Cartel (also known as the Vincente Carrillo Fuentes Drug Cartel or VCF). The purpose of the BA-La Linea alliance was to battle the Chapo Guzman Cartel and its allies for control of the drug trafficking routes through Juarez and Chihuahua. The drug routes through Juarez, known as the Juarez Plaza, are important to drug trafficking organizations because they are a principal illicit drug trafficking conduit into the United States.

The gang has a militaristic command structure and includes captains, lieutenants, sergeants, and soldiers—all with the purpose of maintaining power and enriching its members and associates through drug trafficking, money laundering, extortion, intimidation, violence, threats of violence, and murder.

According to court documents, Gallegos Castrellon allegedly participated in BA activities, including narcotics trafficking and acts of violence by BA members, both in Mexico and the United States. Gallegos Castrellon allegedly participated in the March 2010 murders in Juarez, Mexico, of U.S. Consulate employee Leslie Ann Enriquez Catton; her husband Arthur Redelfs; and Jorge Alberto Salcido Ceniceros, the husband of a U.S. Consulate employee.

If convicted, Gallegos Castrellon faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Gallegos Castrellon’s extradition is the result of close coordination between U.S. law enforcement and the government of Mexico in the investigation and prosecution of this case. The cooperation and assistance of the government of Mexico was essential to achieving the successful extradition.

Yesterday, three of Gallegos Castrellon’s co-defendants were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone of the Western District Court of Texas to 20 years, 30 years, and life in prison. The sentencings mark the closure of the case against the U.S.-based defendants charged in the superseding indictment. Twenty-one of 22 U.S.-based defendants have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced, including another BA Lieutenant Roberto Angel Cardona, who was also sentenced to life by Judge Cardone on February 14, 2012. The remaining U.S.-based defendant, Ramon Renteria, aka “Spooky,” took his own life while in prison during his trial. Witnesses testified that Renteria was a BA captain, the highest rank of the Barrio Azteca, and the only U.S.-based captain not currently serving a life sentence in prison.

The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Joseph A. Cooley of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, Trial Attorney Brian Skaret of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney George Leal of the Western District of Texas-El Paso Division. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico provided significant assistance in this case, including by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Davenport. Valuable assistance was provided by the Criminal Division’s Offices of International Affairs and Enforcement Operations.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s El Paso Field Office, Albuquerque Field Office (Las Cruces Resident Agency); DEA Juarez; and DEA El Paso. Special assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Federal Bureau of Prisons; U.S. Diplomatic Security Service; the Texas Department of Public Safety; the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; El Paso Police Department; El Paso County Sheriff’s Office; El Paso Independent School District Police Department; Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission; New Mexico State Police; Dona Ana County, New Mexico Sheriff’s Office; Las Cruces, New Mexico Police Department; Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility and Otero County Prison Facility New Mexico.

Former Sheriff’s Deputies and Convicted Felons Indicted in Relation to Drug Conspiracy, Firearm Possession

McALLEN, Texas — Two former deputy sheriffs from Duval County, Texas, have been indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.

Ruben Silva, 35, of Freer, Texas, was arrested following the filing of a criminal complaint on May 24, 2012, and an arrest warrant is now pending for Victor Carrillo, 27, of Hebbronville, Texas. Both were deputy sheriffs at the time of the alleged offenses but are no longer employed by Duval County. Also arrested by separate criminal complaint in relation to this case were Jerry Tovar, 39, and Jose Luis Tovar, 47, both of Mission, Texas.

Silva and Jerry and Jose Luis Tovar remain in federal custody following their previous appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dorina Ramos. Victor Carrillo is expected to make a similar appearance in the near future before a magistrate judge after being taken into custody.

The criminal complaint charging Silva alleges he conspired with Jerry Tovar and others, including Carrillo, for Silva to transport 10 kilograms of cocaine from Mission and smuggle the cocaine north through the checkpoint using former Deputy Silva’s Duval County patrol unit to Freer, Texas. Once the cocaine arrived north of the checkpoint in Freer, the alleged agreement was for the cocaine to then be further distributed by another person designated by Tovar. The complaint alleges Silva received $5,000 as payment for his role in the drug distribution conspiracy.

A separate criminal complaint filed against Jerry and Jose Luis Tovar alleges the brothers sold an uncover federal agent six firearms on May 10, 2012, near Jose Luis Tovar’s home in Mission. At least two of the firearms allegedly sold to uncover agents were Uzi type weapons. Both Tovar brothers are convicted felons and are prohibited from possessing firearms. Additionally, the indictment charges Jose Luis Tovar with possessing two additional firearms on the day he was arrested on the criminal complaint.

If convicted, Silva, Carrillo and Jerry Tovar face a penalty from 10 years to life and a fine of up to $20 million. Jerry Tovar and Jose Luis Tovar face up to 10 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $250,000 on the firearms charges.

This case is being jointly investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas Rangers, Texas Department of Public Safety, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cory J.H. Crenshaw and Jason C. Honeycutt are prosecuting the case.

Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force Arrest Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitive

U.S. Marshal Albert Najera, of the Eastern District of California, announced today that the U.S. Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force (PSWRFTF) arrested 56 year old Paul Joseph Borreson.  This subject was added to the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives on May 9, 2012. 

Borrenson was wanted by the Texas Department of Public Safety for a Parole Violation with an original offense of Forgery.  He also had outstanding warrants in four other states to include South Dakota, Minnesota, Indiana, and Texas.  Borrenson has been identified as a member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas and was considered to be armed and dangerous.     

The Texas Department of Public Safety originally reached out to the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force who in turn contacted the U.S. Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force, Fresno Division.  Acting on a tip, task force officer responded to the Fresno Rescue Mission and observed a subject matching Borrenson’s description.  The officers made contact with the subject who initially provided a different name; upon further investigation the man was identified as the wanted fugitive.     

Borrenson was booked into the Fresno County Jail where he will await extradition back to Texas to face the outstanding charges.         

The Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force is a U.S. Marshals-sponsored partnership comprised of investigators from federal, state, and local agencies.  The main objective of the task force is to seek out and arrest fugitives charged with violent crimes, drug crimes, sex offenders, and other felonies.  More fugitives are arrested annually by the U.S. Marshals Service than all other federal agencies combined.

Two Aryan Brotherhood of Texas Gang Members Sentenced for Racketeering Assault

WASHINGTON – Two members of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT) have been sentenced to federal prison for their role in an aggravated assault that took place in Tomball, Texas, in September 2008, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson of the Southern District of Texas.

 Benjamin Dillon, aka, “Tuff,” 39, was sentenced on May 11, 2012, to 41 months in prison.  Justin Northrup, aka, “Ruthless,” 27, was sentenced to 63 months in prison on April 27, 2012.

 The defendants, who are both from the greater Houston-area, pleaded guilty to racketeering aggravated assault for their role in an attack against an ABT prospect member.  The defendants were sentenced by U.S. District Court Senior Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. in the Southern District of Texas.

 According to court documents, both defendants were members of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT), a powerful race-based, state-wide organization that operated inside and outside of state and federal prisons throughout Texas and the United States.  The ABT was established in the early 1980s within the Texas prison system.  As alleged in the indictment, it modeled itself after and adopted many of the precepts and writings of the Aryan Brotherhood, a California-based prison gang that was formed in the California prison system during the 1960s.  According to court documents, previously, the ABT was primarily concerned with the protection of white inmates and white supremacy/separatism.  Over time, however, the ABT has expanded its criminal enterprise to include illegal activities for profit.

 The ABT enforces its rules and promotes discipline among its members, prospects and associates through murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, assault, robbery and threats against those who violate the rules or pose a threat to the enterprise.  Members, and oftentimes associates, are required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members, often referred to as “direct orders.”

 According to court documents, Dillon and Northrup, along with 10 fellow ABT gang members, participated in the beating of an ABT prospect member at the home of another ABT gang leader, Steven Walter Cooke, 48, aka “Stainless,” in Tomball, Texas, on Sept. 22, 2008. The ABT prospect, who sustained serious bodily injury, was beaten by ABT gang members because he violated certain ABT rules of conduct.

 Eleven of the 12 co-defendants previously pleaded guilty to violent crimes in aid of racketeering aggravated assault.  The 12th ABT gang member, David Harlow, aka, “Bam Bam,” 43, was found guilty at trial by Senior Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. on March 21, 2012.

 This case is being investigated by a multi-agency task force consisting of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the FBI; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Texas Rangers; the Texas Department of Public Safety; the Montgomery County, Texas, Sheriff’s Department; the Houston Police Department-Gang Division; Tomball Police Department; Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Inspector General; and the Harris County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office.

 The case is being prosecuted by David Karpel of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman of the Southern District of Texas in Houston.