Latest news with #ChadE.Meacham
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Yahoo
DOJ documents reveal names of 20 people arrested, charged in FBI Lubbock drug bust
The U.S. Department of Justice has released more details about the drug ring bust in Lubbock that FBI director Kash Patel touted on social media earlier in the week. Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham announced that there were 20 arrests of alleged methamphetamine and fentanyl traffickers in Lubbock with suspected ties to Mexican Cartels. Dig Deeper: FBI announces 22 arrests in drug bust in Lubbock, Arrington praises law enforcement efforts The arrests were the result of a two-year long investigation that began March 2023, during which law enforcement seized more than 43 kilograms of methamphetamine, 285.4 grams of fentanyl (approximately 1,902 pills), 335.5 grams of cocaine, 2,296.7 grams of marijuana, and six firearms. The 285.4 grams of seized fentanyl equals potentially 21,662 lethal doses of fentanyl, according to a U.S. Attorney's Office news release. On Friday, 15 people appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Lubbock for initial appearances after they were indicted for their alleged roles in the drug trafficking operation, according to court records. Those people include: Vida Tamor Overstreet, 49, who was arrested on March 26, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, unlawful use of a communications facility and distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Patrick Wayne Frazier, 38, who was arrested on Oct. 22, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Juantay Dewayne Foster, 44, who was arrested on March 26, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, unlawful use of a communications facility and distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. David Wayne Frazier Jr., 44, who was arrested March 26, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, unlawful use of a communications facility and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Santiago Daniel Baltazar, 26, who was arrested on March 26, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Walter Wood, 48, who was arrested on March 4, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Santos Moncada, 30, who was arrested on March 26, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Jessie Franco, 41, who was arrested on March 27, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Shondra Christine Walker, 40, who was arrested on March 26, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Orian Emanuel Garcia, 35, who was arrested on March 17, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine. Rudolfo Luna, 43, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Adam Lee Arredondo, 37, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine. Justin Lee Dominguez, 37, who was arrested on March 26, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution and possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine. Anthony James Lockett, 44, who was arrested on Sept. 12, 2023, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution and possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine and distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Rita Adelita Castillo, 44, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Paul Wayne Frazier, 38, who was arrested Feb. 28, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Charles Andre Sykes, 42, who was arrested on Feb. 28, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Heather Jane Whitehead, 40, who was arrested on March 26 is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Henry Tienda, Jr., 35, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Gary Dewayne Bolton, aka Bay Bay, 36, is charged with distribution of fentanyl. Arhmad Rashad Fountain aka Ra Ra, 47, is charged with distribution of methamphetamine. Rubith Diaz Rodriguez, 24, who was arrested on Feb. 7, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine Tyler Kristian Piseno, 37, who was arrested on Sept. 8, is charged with distribution of fentanyl. The arrest were part of a joint collaboration between FBI's Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency, the Texas DPS, the DEA's Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Office, the Caprock High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, the U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Lubbock Police Department, the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office, the Texas Anti-Gang Center, the Levelland Police Department and the Hockley County Sheriff's Office. According to the DOJ, the investigation is part of Operation Take Back America — a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the DOJ to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: FBI drug bust operations leads to 20 arrested, 17 charged in Lubbock
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tarrant Co. concrete company agrees to pay $1.8M in COVID fund settlement
The Brief Tarrant County-based Speed Fab Crete agreed to pay the U.S. government $1.8 million to settle a lawsuit accusing them of fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 loans. The government claimed the company took out a $1.17 million loan while the company's owners were facing criminal charges, a violation of the Paycheck Protection Program. In 2020, the company's three owners and its chief financial officer pleaded guilty to hiring undocumented migrant workers. A Tarrant County concrete company has agreed to pay back more than $1.8 million in fraudulently obtained COVID-19 funds, the U.S. District Attorney's Office said. The backstory Speed Fab Crete Corporation, a precast manufacturer in Kennedale, Texas, agreed to pay back more than $1.8 million to settle a lawsuit claiming it fraudulently received loans through the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program. Prosecutors claimed the company applied for, and received $1.17 million in loans, while the company's owners were facing criminal charges in violation of the program's rules. What they're saying "This office is committed to finding and recovering PPP funds that were obtained by ineligible recipients during the pandemic," Acting United States Attorney Chad E. Meacham said. "We will continue to investigate and take action as necessary to reclaim those funds on behalf of the American taxpayer." The lawsuit was filed in the District Court of Northern Texas under the whistleblower clause of the False Claims Act. The False Claims Act allows the government to go after persons that make false claims to the government for up to three times the amount of damages caused to the government. "This settlement highlights the enhanced efforts of the SBA, working with the Department of Justice, SBA's Office of Inspector General, and other Federal law enforcement agencies, as well as private individuals who have information about possible fraud in connection with PPP loans, to pursue those who violated PPP program requirements and holding them accountable," SBA General Counsel Wendell Davis said. In 2020, Speed Fab Crete agreed to pay the federal government $3 million in connection with a scheme to hire undocumented migrants illegally. The company's three owners, its chief financial officer and the owner of a staffing company all pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme. The company's CFO was later sentenced to three months in prison and fined $69,000. The Source Information in this article comes from the U.S. District Attorney's Office of Northern Texas. Information on the False Claims Act comes from the U.S. Department of Justice. Information about the 2020 hiring scheme comes from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Information on the 2020 sentencing and fine of Speed Fab Crete comes from the Department of Justice.
