News Releases and Statements

Joshua William Jackson, 29, from Wichita Falls, Texas, pleaded guilty in January to one count of using a facility of interstate commerce in aid of a racketeering enterprise, one count of illegally receiving a firearm by a person under indictment, and one count of cyberstalking. Jackson has been in custody since his arrest in April 2016.

Maurice Morlee Johnson, 37, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced Aug. 16 to 20 years in federal prison. In a related case, Tonya Gay Gum, 44, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced the same day to four years in federal prison. Both were convicted of conspiracy to commit child sex trafficking.

Jesus Manuel Ramirez, 32, from Pharr, Texas, was sentenced Aug. 8 by U.S. District Judge Randy Crane to 240 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard from some of the victims who noted that not even illegal aliens should have to endure what they went through.

In May 2017, a federal grand jury in Dallas returned an indictment charging conspiracy to engage in child sex trafficking against Shatara Armstrong, 31, and the following four other co-defendants: Marquist Fulcher, aka “Keezie,” 28, Chapoleon Fischer, aka “Kidd,” 28, Marcus Speed, 26, and Tiffany Gideon, 22.

Terrell Orlando Kinchen, 20, and Troy Lee Applin Jr., 23, were each sentenced by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor to 240 months in federal prison.

After the jury announced its verdict, Curtis Allen Anthony, 50, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending his sentencing.

Deuvontay Shelby Charles, 22, was indicted on March 7, 2016, and on Dec. 14, 2016, was convicted by a federal jury on 20 of 23 counts.

Martavious Detrel Banks Keys, aka “Cheese” and “Matt,” 34, was convicted in February 2017, following a three-day jury trial, on two counts of child sex trafficking and one count of sex trafficking through force, fraud or coercion. Keys had been in custody since his arrest in May 2016.

Lawrence T. Gunn Jr., 33, whose last known residence was in Woodland Hills, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion. 

Valentin Mendiola-Castaneda, 35, was transferred to the custody of Mexico’s Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR) and Mexican immigration by deportation officers with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Mendiola was arrested in January by officers with ERO’s Fugitive Operations and special agents with ICE Homeland Security Investigations. 

Jovanni Rodarte, 20, from Rio Bravo, Texas, was sentenced May 17 by U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo to 97 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Fang Wang, 28, of Queens, New York; Yongguang Wu, 27, Yunzhong Chen, 44, Yaoan He, 32, Zhaofeng Zhang, 22, all of Seattle; and Steven Thompson, 59, of Renton, Wash., are charged with conspiracy to promote prostitution.

Jose Diaz, 42, from Laredo, was sentenced May 2 by U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo to 360 months in federal prison; Angel Alexis Diaz, 20 and Julio Osorio, 42, also from Laredo, received respective sentences of 262 months and 292 months. All the sentences will be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. All three pleaded guilty to the charges Sept. 8, 2016.

Julio Puente-Oliva, from Mexico, was sentenced April 27 by U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez to 70 months in federal prison for conspiring to harbor illegal aliens. The court enhanced the sentence because he raped the victim and brandished a dangerous weapon during the course of the conspiracy.

George Lester Stewart, 61, from Wheeler, Michigan, was sentenced April 25 by U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo to 71-months in federal prison for attempting to smuggle 10 illegal aliens in the back of a Penske rental truck.

The defendants are Jovan Rendon-Reyes, aka Jovani, 33, of Mexico; Saul Rendon-Reyes, aka Satanico, 39, of Queens; Guillermina Rendon-Reyes, 46, of Mexico; Francisco Rendon-Reyes, aka Pancho, 28, of Queens; Jose Rendon-Garcia, aka Gusano, 34, of Mexico; Felix Rojas, 47, of Mexico; Odilon Martinez-Rojas, aka Chino or Saul, 45, of Mexico; and Severiano Martinez-Rojas, 52, of Mexico. 

Shane Roach, 27, was sentenced April 13. His prison sentence is to be followed by five years of supervised release, and he must register as a sex offender when he completes his sentence.

A federal criminal complaint was filed April 21 against Luis Cesar Avalos-Hernandez, 32, Alvaro Cruz-Suarez, 27, and Giovanni Arrelola-Villalobos, 21, all from Mexico. They are expected to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frances Stacy on Tuesday, April 25.

Sharafat Ali Khan, 32, a Pakistani citizen and former resident of Brazil, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to smuggle undocumented migrants into the United States for profit before U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton of the District of Columbia.

Barry Davis, 38, pleaded guilty to three counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion and three counts of interstate transportation with intent to engage in prostitution. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for August 8, 2017.