Month: April 2022

Source: United States Department of Justice News

McALLEN, Texas – A local tax preparer admitted to preparing false and fraudulent tax returns on behalf of taxpayers, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Linda Lopez was the owner and operator of a tax preparation business known as Premier Tax Solutions, which operated from 2012 through 2022 in and around Mission. 

Lopez admitted that in or around February 2017, she prepared a federal tax return for a taxpayer that included multiple instances of false and fraudulent information, including false employee business expenses and false residential energy credit qualifying expenses.

U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez set sentencing for July 18. At that time, Lopez faces up to three years in prison and a possible $100,000 maximum fine.

She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Swartz prosecuted the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

McALLEN, Texas – A 33-year-old McAllen resident has admitted to illegally exporting firearms and ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Brenda Belinda Barba entered a guilty plea to attempting to unlawfully exporting a Glock 9mm pistol, Glock .22 caliber pistol, four Glock pistol magazines and 550 rounds of various caliber ammunition.

On Nov. 29, 2021, Barba attempted to exit the United States at the Anzalduas Port of Entry. At that time, she told law enforcement she had nothing to declare, to include firearms and ammunition.

However, upon inspection of the vehicle, authorities discovered two pistols, magazines and ammunition concealed in her handbag. She admitted she had purchased the firearms at an Academy Sports and Outdoors store and was planning to take them to her family’s ranch in Mexico.

Barba was not a licensed gun exporter and did not have permission to export the guns to Mexico.

U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez will impose sentencing July 18. At that time, Barba faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

She was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliza Carmen Rodriguez is prosecuting the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A St. Albans man was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute five or more grams of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, A St. Albans police officer stopped Austin Nathaniel Miller, 24, for riding a dirt bike on a city street on Aug. 14, 2021. Miller admitted to possessing a gun, and the officer recovered a loaded Ruger 9mm handgun from Miller’s waistband. In searching Miller’s backpack, the officer found two packages of suspected methamphetamine with a combined approximate weight of 239.21 grams. Drug lab analysis determined that the methamphetamine was approximately 96.4% pure. 

U.S. Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the St. Albans Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence.  Assistant United States Attorney Nick Miller prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00204.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that, on April 6, 2022, TIANNA HART, age 32, of LaPlace pled guilty to making a false statement to the United States Small Business Administration, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(2).  In pleading guilty to Count 1 of the bill of information, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of five years, up to three years of supervised release, a restitution order, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.

As part of the plea, HART admitted to submitting false information in order to obtain a $20,832.00 Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan from the United States Small Business Administration.  HART falsely attested that she was the owner/sole proprietor of a nail salon that was started on January 1, 2018.  In truth, the business was owned by a third party and was not formed until on or about March 26, 2021.

Sentencing in this matter is scheduled for July 13, 2022, before United States District Judge Lance M. Africk. 

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Secret Service and the St. John’s Parish Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Andre J. Lagarde is in charge of the prosecution.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that CHRISTOPHER KINZY, age 40, of Kenner, was sentenced on April 5, 2022 by United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry after previously pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). 

According to court documents, KINZY possessed a Glock Model 34, 9x19mm caliber firearm on or about January 25, 2021. 

Judge Guidry sentenced KINZY to a term of imprisonment of 87 months followed by three years of supervised release and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. 

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Kenner Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan L. Shih is in charge of the prosecution.