U.S. Attorney media releases

FEDERAL GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENTS IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

Federal Charges Include Firearms, Drug, and Immigration Violations

SHERMAN, TX—United States Attorney John L. Ratcliffe announced that a federal grand jury has returned indictments this week charging multiple individuals in separate cases of federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas.

RANGANAYI COLLINS MAKOMBE, 42, of McKinney, has been indicted for managing a prohibited unlicensed money transmitting business. On or about April 5, 2006, Makombe managed Collmark Global Services a/k/a Collmark Financial Services a/k/a Collmark Consultants an unlicensed money transmitting business. The main business purpose of Collmark was to process the transmission of money from the United States to Zimbabwe.

If convicted, Makombe faces up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine not to exceed $250,000.00. This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney M. Andrew Stover.

JAVIER GRIMALDO-CORONA, 33, a citizen of Mexico, has been indicted for illegal reentry of a deported alien, making a false claim of United States citizenship, aggravated identity theft and access device fraud. On August 27, 2007, Grimaldo-Corona was arrested in Plano using a false identification after illegally reentering the United States.

If convicted, Grimaldo-Corona faces up to 2 years imprisonment and a fine not to exceed $250,000.00 on Count 1; up to 3 years imprisonment and a fine not to exceed $250,000.00 on Count 2; up to 2 years imprisonment and a fine not to exceed $250,000.00 on Count 3; and up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine not to exceed $250,000.00 on Count 4. This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney M. Andrew Stover.

MARLYN MATTHIAS HARRINGTON, 27, of Augusta, Kansas, and MELISSA ANNE KENNEDY, 17, of Hot Spring Village, Arkansas, have been indicted on 5 Counts of conspiracy to possess stolen mail, theft or receipt of stolen mail matter.

If convicted, the Defendants face up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine not to exceed $250,000.00 for each count. This case is being investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney M. Andrew Stover.

RANDY LOUIS ERIKSEN, 23, of Collinsville, Texas has been indicted for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

If convicted, Eriksen could face up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine not to exceed $250,000.00. This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Errin Martin.

JAMES GORDON GODWIN, JR., 27, of Gainesville, Texas has been indicted for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

If convicted, Godwin could face up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine not to exceed $250,000.00. This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Errin Martin.

JAMILE NICOLE WILSON, 31, of Sherman, has been indicted and charged with possession with the intent to distribute or dispense cocaine base.

If convicted, Wilson could face up to 40 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $2 million. This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Errin Martin.

RICHARD ERIC HUNN, 34, of Sherman, has been indicted and charged with Possession of a Firearm not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record; and Possession of a Firearm which is not identified by a serial number.

If convicted, Hunn could face up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00.

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Errin Martin.

LIBERATO VENTURA-MEDINA, 33, of Honduras, has been indicted for Illegal Reentry of Removed or Deported Alien. On October 21, 2007, Collin County notified Immigration and Customs Enforcement that they had a possible deported felon in custody on a local warrant.

If convicted, the defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00.

This case is being investigated by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randall Blake.

JOSE SAUCEDO-MANCILLAS, 44, of Mexico, has been indicted for Illegal Reentry of Removed or Deported Alien. On October 28, 2007, Collin County notified Immigration and Customs Enforcement that they had a possible deported felon in custody on a local warrant.

If convicted, faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00. This case is being investigated by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randall Blake.

SALVADOR RAMIREZ-GARCIA, 33, of Mexico, has been indicted for Illegal Reentry of Removed or Deported Alien. On October 29, 2007, Collin County notified Immigration and Customs Enforcement that they had a possible deported felon in custody on a local warrant.

If convicted, the defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00. This case is being investigated by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randall Blake.

NICOLAS LOPEZ-AGUILAR, 34, of Mexico, has been indicted for Illegal Reentry of Removed or Deported Alien. On October 16, 2007, Collin County notified Immigration and Customs Enforcement that they had a possible deported felon in custody on a local warrant.

LUIS JOEL GONZALEZ-PENA, 34, of Guatemala, has been indicted for Illegal Reentry of Removed or Deported Alien. On October 7, 2007, Collin County notified Immigration and Customs Enforcement that they had a possible deported felon in custody on a local warrant.

JASON MINEO, 39, of Collin County, Texas, has been indicted in a five (5) count indictment charging him with (1) Possession with the Intent to Distribute Marijuana; (2) Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; (3) and (4) Unlawful User of a Controlled Substance in Possession of a Firearm; and (5), Possession of a Firearm not Registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

If convicted, Mineo could face up to life in federal prison and a fine not to exceed $250,000.00. This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tracey M. Batson.

KARINA ARMIJO, 23, ELIZABETH ARMIJO, 19, MARTIN ARMIJO, SR., a/k/a Epifanio Arevalo, 42, and ELIZABETH DIAZ, 46, all of Dallas, have been indicted for Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Heroin Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.

If convicted, they face up to life in federal prison and a fine of up to $4 million. This case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tracey M. Batson.

It is important to note that an indictment should not be considered as evidence of guilt and that all persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

TARRANT COUNTY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGE

FORT WORTH, Texas — James L. Rudzavice of Mansfield, Texas, pled guilty today in federal court in Fort Worth to receiving child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Rudzavice, 44, faces a maximum statutory sentence of not less than five years nor more than 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and up to a lifetime of supervised release. As part of his plea agreement with the government, Rudzavice has agreed to forfeit the computers and computer equipment, as outlined in the forfeiture allegations, that he used in the commission of all the alleged offenses. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John McBryde on March 7, 2008 at 9:00 a.m.

Rudzavice was arrested on September 24, 2007, on child pornography and child obscenity charges outlined in an indictment returned the previous week by a federal grand jury in Fort Worth, and has been in custody since that date.

According to documents filed in Court today, in September 2006, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) initiated an investigation when Yahoo! Inc. reported that it had discovered images of child pornography and child erotica on a particular internet protocol (IP) address. Agents determined through computer tracing that this IP address was used in Mansfield, Texas, and were further able to identify James L. Rudzavice as the individual who had purchased internet access to that residence.

On December 20, 2006, Dallas Police Department officers, along with inspectors with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, executed a federal search warrant at Rudzavice’s residence, and during that search, law enforcement encountered Rudzavice. A forensic examination of the computer and related storage media was performed and more than 10 images of child pornography and more than 20 video clips of child pornography were discovered. Rudzavice admitted he received the child pornography images and videos of children, ranging from eight to 17 years-old, posing and engaging in sexual acts. He also admitted that he saved child pornography to his computer’s hard-drive and that he only received the images of child pornography.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov

U.S. Attorney Roper commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Texas Attorney General’s Office and the Dallas Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex C. Lewis.

ELLIS COUNTY, TEXAS, MEN SENTENCED TO LENGTHY PRISON TERMS IN METHAMPHETAMINE DISTRIBUTION CASE

DALLAS — Two Ellis County, Texas, men who were charged with distributing methamphetamine, have been sentenced, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Today, U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay sentenced John Arredondo to 216 months (18 years) in prison. Last week, in a related case, U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn sentenced Lee Roy Chaney to 132 months (11 years) in prison. Both Arredondo, 32, and Chaney, 33, are from Ellis County, Texas, and were part of a nine-month investigation that culminated last January when the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Mobile Enforcement Team (MET), assisted by local and state authorities from the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office and the Waxahachie Police Department worked undercover to arrest numerous major drug distributors in the Ellis County area.

John Arredondo was the lead defendant in the federal indictment that charged him and eight co-conspirators with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance. He pled guilty in April to the conspiracy charge. All of Arredondo’s co-defendants have pled guilty and have been sentenced, or are awaiting sentencing. Co-defendant Angel Rodriguez also received a lengthy sentence, having been sentenced in July by Judge Lindsay to 135 months (more than 11 years) in prison. Lee Roy Chaney was convicted at trial in July on two counts of distribution of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting.

Arredondo admitted that beginning in April 2006, he and his co-conspirators were involved in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine to other members of the conspiracy for further distribution in Ellis County and elsewhere. Arredondo admitted he sold methamphetamine to customers including individuals he later learned were undercover agents or confidential informants. On one occasion, when returning to Ellis County after going to Dallas to pick up a half pound of methamphetamine from his supplier, law enforcement officers observed him commit a traffic violation and attempted to stop him. Arredondo did pull over to the side of the road, but sped away as one of the officers walked toward his vehicle. During the ensuing pursuit, Arredondo threw the methamphetamine out of the window of his vehicle.

At Chaney’s trial, the government presented evidence that on April 12, 2006, Chaney, aided and abetted by other persons, distributed methamphetamine to a confidential source. Later that same month, Chaney, aided and abetted by other persons, negotiated the sale of a quarter-pound of methamphetamine to a confidential source in exchange for $3000.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the DEA, the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, and the Waxahachie and Ennis, Texas, Police Departments. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim McCabe.

BEAUMONT POLICE OFFICER GUILTY OF MAIL FRAUD

BEAUMONT, TX – United States Attorney John L. Ratcliffe announced today that a former Beaumont Police officer has pleaded guilty to mail fraud charges in the Eastern District of Texas.

PAUL PERRITT, 54, of Port Neches, admitted to defrauding the Beaumont Police Officers Association (BPOA) of funds for his own personal use. The plea was heard before United States Magistrate Judge Earl Hines today.

According to information presented in court, an investigation revealed that Perritt was employed as a police officer with the Beaumont Police Department from 1976 until May 2007. Perritt assumed the position of Treasurer of the BPOA around January 1994 and maintained that position until March 2007. As treasurer, Perritt had authority to write checks upon the BPOA bank accounts. Those accounts contained union dues deposited directly from the paychecks of Beaumont Police Officers. Although Perritt knew he was not authorized to use those funds for his personal benefit, he has admitted to issuing a check on a BPOA account in the amount of $3,300.00 as payment for his personal credit card. The check was mailed to the credit card company in June 2003. An Information was filed on October 23, 2007 charging Perrit with mail fraud.

Perritt faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

This case is being investigated by the United States Postal Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph R. Batte.

RUSK MAN SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

TYLER, TX – United States Attorney John L. Ratcliffe announced today that a 42-year-old Rusk man has been sentenced to 97 months in federal prison for possessing material involving the sexual exploitation of minors in the Eastern District of Texas.

GORDON NEAL MATHIS was sentenced today by United States District Judge Leonard Davis.

According to information presented in court, in November 2006, law enforcement authorities were notified that Mathis was in possession of child pornography. Pursuant to a consent to search, officers seized computers and compact disks from Mathis' residence for forensic analysis. This analysis revealed more than 300 digital images and 10 video clips involving minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Department of Justice launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Longview Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gregg A. Marchessault.

KILGORE WOMAN GUILTY OF STRUCTURING

TYLER, TX – United States Attorney John L. Ratcliffe announced today that a 64-year-old Kilgore woman has pleaded guilty to structuring transactions in the Eastern District of Texas. Structuring

MARY ANN BRALY admitted to structuring transactions to avoid reporting requirements today before United States Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie.

According to information presented in court, from 2003 to 2006, Braly devised a scheme to evade federal reporting requirements by structuring a series of transactions with Guaranty Bank in Kilgore for the sole purpose of financial gain. The total value of the structured transactions during this time was $1,056,180.00.

Braly faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $500,000.00 at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gregg A. Marchessault.

ELLIS COUNTY, TEXAS, MEN SENTENCED TO LENGTHY PRISON TERMS IN METHAMPHETAMINE DISTRIBUTION CASE

AMBULANCE COMPANY AND OWNER SENTENCED FOR HEALTH CARE FRAUD

TYLER, TX -- United States Attorney John L. Ratcliffe announced today that a 47-year-old Forney man has been sentenced to 97 months in federal prison for health care fraud in the Eastern District of Texas.

ANURA ANDRADI and his ambulance company, Doctor's Ambulance Service, LLC, aka Doctor's Ambulance Service Corp. were sentenced by United States District Judge Michael Schneider today after previously being found guilty by a jury of 40 counts of health care fraud.

According to information presented in court, from March 2004 to December 2005, Andradi and Doctor's Ambulance Service defrauded Medicare and the Texas Medicaid program by certifying that dialysis patients met the Medicare and Medicaid guidelines for ambulance transports, when in fact, they did not. The jury also found that Andradi and Doctor's Ambulance Service obtained $750,000 from the fraudulent scheme and that five ambulances and over $220,000 seized from various bank accounts were derived from the proceeds fraudulently obtained by the defendants. Andradi was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,710,015. Doctor’s Ambulance Service was placed on probation for 5 years and ordered to pay restitution of $2,710,015.

MAULIE HAPPAWANA, 46, of Plano, and RON PYATT, 39, of Grand Prairie, were also sentenced for their roles in the health care fraud scheme. Happawana and Pyatt previously pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. From March 2004 to December 2005, Happawana and Pyatt defrauded Medicare and the Texas Medicaid program by certifying that dialysis patients met the Medicare and Medicaid guidelines for ambulance transports, and, in fact, they did not. Happawana was placed on probation for 5 years and ordered to pay restitution of $54,808.57. Pyatt was placed on probation for 3 years, with 180 days of home confinement, and ordered to pay restitution of $12,553.74.

Special Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, and the Texas Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Terri L. Hagan and Kevin McClendon prosecuted the case.

INTERNET EXECUTIVES SENTENCED FOR FRAUDULENT SECURITIES SCAM

TYLER, TX -- United States Attorney John L. Ratcliffe announced today that two internet executives have been sentenced to federal prison for a fraudulent securities scam in the Eastern District of Texas.

CURTIS SWANSON, 40, of Hamilton, Montana, and R. STEPHEN CAVENDER, 49, of Corsicana, were sentenced in federal court this afternoon by United States District Judge Michael H. Schneider. Swanson was sentenced to 10 years and a $10,000 fine and Cavender was sentenced to 5 years in the federal penitentiary.

In October, 2005, Swanson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud, obstructing justice and money laundering. In November, 2005, Cavender pleaded guilty to money laundering and conspiracy to commit securities fraud. Swanson served as the Chief Financial Officer of RTIN Holdings, Inc. and later became their Chief Executive Officer. Cavender was a consultant with the firm prior to replacing Swanson as Chief Financial Officer.

According to information presented in court, Swanson and Cavender admitted they had intentionally and fraudulently inflated the price of shares of an internet prescription pharmacy company which was headquartered in Longview. Share prices of Safescript Pharmacies, Inc. were fraudulently inflated by misleading press reports and monetary transactions which were reflected on financial statements provided to the Securities and Exchange Commission and which were relied upon by the public. The transactions involved losses of more than $7 million.

RTIN controlled the use of a wireless transmission technology, which enabled independent doctors to transmit prescriptions for their patients directly to franchise pharmacies. The company provided the franchisees with the right to use the software transmission technology, to access ongoing software support resources and to establish pharmacies within a proscribed area. RTIN was a publicly traded company and was required to comply with United States Securities and Exchange Commission regulations.

Swanson released fraudulent and misleading press reports, indicating that RTIN had entered into franchise agreements including future payments the franchisees would make in the future. In one instance in March 2002, RTIN sold a franchise for a reported $500,000 cash and $4.5 million in stock. But in reality, the franchise was sold for $50,000 cash and a promissory note of $450,000, to be paid in periodic installments. Swanson disguised deposits of funds into Safescript accounts to create the appearance that the franchise, RxSystems, was making periodic payments. In December 2002, Swanson reported that RTIN sold a franchise to Mid-America Pharmacies, Inc. for $924,000 cash, when in reality, no money was actually paid.

In court, Swanson admitted that he made the bogus transactions to create the appearance that RTIN’s financial statements that were provided to the SEC and relied upon by the investing public, reflected the company with growing revenues, reliable cash flows, and solid profitability, when in fact, the company was highly speculative and was not generating revenue, earnings or cash flow at the levels recorded. Swanson admitted that he also obstructed justice by hindering the SEC's investigation into the fraudulent recognition of revenue by RTIN. He made numerous misrepresentations to the SEC and altered, destroyed and concealed documents.

The case was investigated by agents from the Internal Revenue Service, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by the late Wes Rivers, Assistant United States Attorney. Assistant United States Attorneys Jim Middleton and Arnold Spencer appeared for the United States at sentencing.

FOUR MORE IN COURT FROM METH ROUNDUP

TYLER, TX – United States Attorney John L. Ratcliffe announced that four additional defendants were in federal court today for initial appearances as a result of methamphetamine drug trafficking criminal enterprise in East Texas.

According to court documents, the defendants were part of a conspiracy to traffic in more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. Since approximately 2005, the defendants had been conspiring to distribute methamphetamine to others in and around East Texas and West Louisiana.

In October 2007, a federal grand jury returned an Indictment charging 14 people with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Those involved in the lengthy investigation and today's arrests include the Texas Department of Public Safety Narcotics Division and Highway Patrol, U.S. Marshals Service, the Panola County Sheriff's Office, the Harrison County District Attorney's Office, the Harrison County Sheriff's Office, the Marshall Police Department, the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office, the DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office, the Louisiana State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Nine defendants appeared in court on November 13, 2007.

The following defendants are in custody and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith Guthrie today for an initial appearance:

DAVID MICHAEL ANDERSON, 41, of Shreveport LA

JEREMY CHAD GUILLIAMS, 34, of Marshall

CLIFTON MICHAEL WOODS, 44, of Shreveport LA

RAY EDWARD COX, 48, of Shreveport LA

If convicted, the defendants face up to life in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Ann Cozby is prosecuting the case.

A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

SAN ANGELO, TEXAS, MAN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CONVICTION

LUBBOCK, Texas — San Angelo, Texas, resident, David Allen Crawford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to 20 years in prison, following his guilty plea in August to one count of interstate receipt of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. In addition, Judge Cummings ordered that Crawford, 43, pay a $25,000 fine and register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Crawford has been in custody since his arrest in June on charges outlined in an 11-count federal indictment.

Crawford admitted that in 2006, he collected images of child pornography, using his computer to access various sites on the Internet that enabled him to locate and download numerous images and videos of child pornography. Some of the images downloaded by Crawford were obtained from the Internet by using Limewire, a "peer-to-peer" software that allowed Crawford to search for available files to download from other persons' computers, and allowed other persons to search his Limewire shared files to download images and videos of child pornography from his computer.

Crawford further admitted in Court documents that he engaged in a pattern of activity involving the sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor, by engaging in two or more separate instances of the sexual abuse or sexual exploitation of a minor.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov

U.S. Attorney Roper commended the investigative efforts of Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Sucsy of the Lubbock, Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office.

MAN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE, FOR MAKING THREATS TO A FEDERAL JUDGE AND A NEWSPAPER EDITOR

LUBBOCK, Texas — Alan Van DeLaughter, who was convicted at trial in August of mailing threats to damage or destroy property and mailing a threatening communication, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to a total of 240 months (20 years) in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper, of the Northern District of Texas. Van DeLaughter, 36, was an inmate at the Allred Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Iowa Park, Texas, when he made the threats.

The government presented evidence at trial that on March 26, 2007, Van DeLaughter mailed a threat to Robert W. Mong, Jr., the editor of the Dallas Morning News, that threatened a historical disaster at the Eldon B. Mahon U.S. Courthouse was going to take place. The government also presented evidence to the jury that on June 7, 2005, Van DeLaughter mailed a letter addressed to: United States District Court, Honorable Judge McBride, 501 West 10 Street, Ft. Worth, Texas 76102, 3643, which contained a threat to end the life of U.S. District Judge McBryde and his family.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christy Drake and Vicki Lamberson of the Amarillo, Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office.

WOMAN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE, FOR KIDNAPPING NEWBORN BABY FROM HOSPITAL

LUBBOCK, Texas — Rayshaun Parson, 22, who pled guilty in August to one count of kidnapping, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to 20 years in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Parson, of Clovis, New Mexico, has been in custody since her arrest in March 2007 by federal agents on charges outlined in a federal criminal complaint. A federal grand jury in Lubbock returned an indictment later that month charging her with one count of kidnapping.

On March 9, 2007, Rayshaun Parson, who was then age 21, traveled from Clovis, New Mexico, to Lubbock, Texas, and while in Lubbock, visited maternity wards at University Medical Center and Covenant Lakeside Hospital, observing the newborn babies.

At approximately 12:32 a.m. on March 10, 2007, Parson, wearing medical scrubs, entered Covenant Lakeside Hospital. After taking baby Mychael, Parson twice attempted to use the elevator to leave the hospital, however, on both occasions, an alarm sounded and the elevator failed to operate because the baby was wearing a security sensor on her leg. Parson then went to a vacant room and removed the security sensor and identification band from the baby so that she could leave the hospital with the baby. She then left the hospital, concealing the three-day-old infant under her coat. She placed the baby, who was suffering from jaundice, in her car and drove back to her home in Clovis, New Mexico, approximately 100 miles from Lubbock.

Parson was not related to the victim in any way, and did not know the victim or her family. She admitted that she understood the nature and consequences of her act in kidnapping the baby, the wrongfulness of her act, and that kidnapping a baby is against the law, in that she pulled the hood of her coat over her face when leaving the hospital with the baby, concealed the baby under her coat, and discarded incriminating evidence of the crime in a dumpster more than a block away from her residence upon arriving back in Clovis.

After an Amber Alert was issued, a lead was received by the Lubbock Police Department which resulted in the infant being located, the day after the kidnapping, at a residence in Clovis, New Mexico by the Clovis Police Department.

U.S. Attorney Roper commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Lubbock Police Department, and the Clovis, New Mexico, Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven M. Sucsy and Dick Baker of the Lubbock, Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office.