News Releases and Statements

Homero Gonzalez-Carranza, 30, citizen of Mexico, who resided in Houston, was sentenced to 151 months in prison. Eduardo Luis Pompa, 26, also of Houston, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison. Co-conspirator Lisa Quintanilla, 46, of Premont, Texas, who had previously pleaded guilty for her role in the human smuggling operation, was sentenced Aug. 20 to 34 months in federal prison.

Jimmy Cantelmo, 26, admitted to conspiring with his brother, Sean Cantelmo, and others to persuade a minor to engage in prostitution from February through August 2014.

Guadalupe Medellin Jr., from Laredo, was convicted Aug. 18 for his role in attempting to transport illegal aliens into the United States for profit.

Marcus Randall Johnston, 42, pleaded guilty Aug. 12 before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane handed down the following sentences. Jaime Brewster Sanchez, 40, of Donna, Texas, was sentenced to 57 months imprisonment to be followed by three years supervised release. His wife Gabriela Garcia Candanoza, 37, also from Donna was sentenced to 51-months in federal prison. Both pleaded guilty May 7.

The following individuals were charged by the Mercer County Prosecutor: Ying Lan Lu, 34 of Flushing, New York, was charged with promoting prostitution; Meihua Cui, 31 of Little, New Jersey, was charged with promoting prostitution and engaging in prostitution; Feng Rong Chen, 46 of Queens, New York, was charged with promoting prostitution; Dan Dan Lu, 29, of Queens, New York, was charged with engaging in prostitution; and Zhang Zhanping, 46, of Flushing, New York, was charged with promoting prostitution and engaging in prostitution.

Ladestro Douglas, aka “Derek Douglas,” 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Barbara M. G. Lynn to 15 years in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. He must also register as a sex offender, and he was ordered to pay one of his victims, Jane Doe #1, $136,000 in restitution.

Justin Strait, 26, from Scranton, Pennsylvania allegedly conspired with others to use a minor female to engage in prostitution at various motels in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties during February through August 2014.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane sentenced the following three defendants to 262 months imprisonment; Julio Vargas-Hernandez, 39, Gustavo Morales-Manriquez, 32, both from Mexico and Osiris Bulos-Gonzalez, from Pharr.

Deswan Newsome, 19, from Amarillo, faces a statutory penalty of not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date was not set.

Christopher David Wix, 21, a former active-duty U.S. Army soldier based at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, pleaded guilty Oct. 30, 2014 to conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens.

Trenton McLemore, 29, faces a statutory maximum penalty of not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison, and a $250,000 fine. However, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, the appropriate term of imprisonment in this case is 252 months (21 years) in federal prison.

Jose Rene Martinez Guardado, 49, was identified while officers were conducting routine inspections near the San Cristobal Port of Entry on the El Salvador, Guatemala border.

Kanubhai Patel, AKA, Mr. Kenny, and Pop, 74, of Kenner, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of benefiting financially from trafficking in persons.

Emanuel Lockhart, 24, was sentenced June 26 by U.S. District Judge Philip R. Martinez to 240 months in prison for sex trafficking, a $2,500 fine and supervised release for 10 years after he completes his prison term.

Two suspects, Roberto Lemuz, 39, of Camden, New Jersey and Esteban Alcemon, 39, of New York City, were taken into custody and charged with third-degree promoting prostitution.

Eduardo Luis Pompa, 26, from Houston, Texas, was convicted following a 45-minute jury deliberation. During the trial, evidence established that Pompa served as a scout for an alien smuggling organization. In that role, he drove ahead or behind vehicles transporting illegal aliens to look for law enforcement.

Keith A. Arrick Sr., 47, of Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 13 years in prison for sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion.

Benjamin Granados-Lupian, 32, from Mexico, pleaded guilty to smuggling charges about one month after his arrest. He was convicted of conspiracy to harbor and transport illegal aliens and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The following five co-conspirators were convicted of the same charges: Jose Aviles-Villa, 32, Antonio Barruquet-Hildeberta, 46, Jonathan Solorzano-Tavila, 30, Jose Cesmas-Borja, 26, and Eugenio Sesmas-Borja, 20.

Luis Enrique Guevara, 44, of Brownsville, Texas, entered his guilty plea June 4 in federal court admitting he transported three illegal aliens in a Nissan Pathfinder.

Paul J. Monteiro, aka “Peezy,” 29, of Providence, received a three-count indictment charging alleged transportation of a 14-year-old Rhode Island girl to New Jersey for the purpose of engaging in commercial sexual activity.

Hassan Salem H. M. Al Homoud and his wife, Zainab Al Hosani, and their two children, live in San Antonio while Al Homoud is attending military training at Camp Bullis, according to a federal criminal complaint filed June 1. Camp Bullis is a training facility located at Joint Base San Antonio.

Martin Margarito-Casimiro, 28, of Camargo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, pleaded guilty to kidnapping on May 27.

Corderro Cody, 27, of Allentown, has been charged on four additional counts — three additional counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, or attempt; and one count of sex trafficking of a minor. The superseding indictment was filed in federal court May 14. Cody now faces a total of nine federal charges related to sex trafficking.