Federal Indictments Returned in the Eastern District of Texas

TYLER, TX—U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced that indictments were returned on Feb. 2, 2010, charging individuals with federal crimes in the Eastern District of Texas.

JIM BOB SHIPP, 60, of Mount Pleasant, Texas, was indicted and charged with health care fraud; false statement relating to health care matters; felon in possession of a firearm; and false statement during the purchase of a firearm. If convicted, Shipp faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the health care and firearms charges and up to five years for the false statement during the purchase of a firearms charge.

According to the indictment, from March 1987 to December 2009, Shipp is alleged to have committed health care fraud and made false statements in relation to obtaining health care services from the Veterans Disability Program. It is alleged that Shipp falsely represented to doctors that he had extreme loss of vision in both eyes. As a result of these false claims, the Veterans' Affairs Disability Compensation Program awarded the Defendant special monthly compensation during the time period alleged. Also, the indictment alleges that on Sep. 11, 2006, in Titus County, Shipp, possessed a firearm after having been previously convicted of a felony. The Indictment also alleges that on Feb. 7, 2006, in Titus County, Shipp attempted to purchase a firearm from a licensed dealer, during which time, Shipp made false statements by representing that he had not been convicted of a felony or a crime which would prohibit him from legally purchasing a firearm.

This case is being investigated by the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Denise O. Simpson is prosecuting the case.

VICTORIA LYNN FIELDS, 39, of Texarkana, Texas, was indicted on charges of possessing a firearm in a federal court facility. According to the indictment, on Jan. 28, 2010, Fields entered the federal courthouse in Texarkana, Texas, with a pistol in a duffle bag. If convicted, Fields faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol K. Wheeler.

MARK ANTHONY MERRYMAN, 44, of San Antonio, was indicted for possession, uttering, and manufacturing of counterfeit currency. According to the indictment, on Dec. 12, 2009, Merryman is alleged to have manufactured and passed several counterfeit $20 bills in Hopkins County, Texas. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison. The government also intends to seek forfeiture of the equipment Merryman used to make the counterfeit currency.

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.

ANSAN SUMAN-AMIR MEADOWS, 33, SHAKIA LASHA MEADOWS, 33, and CLARENCE LEE WILLIAMS, JR., 30, all of Texarkana, Texas, and RICHARD LYNE YOUNG, 34, of Texarkana, Arkansas, were indicted on charges of conspiracy with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana. Williams and Shakia Meadows were also charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine. According to the indictment, the defendants are alleged to have conspired to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 1000 kilograms or more of marijuana in the Eastern District of Texas. If convicted, the defendants could each receive up to life in federal prison.

This case is being investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise O. Simpson.

FREDDIE ESPINO, 39, of Texarkana, Texas, has been indicted for possession of a prohibited object in a federal correctional institution. According to the indictment, Espino, a federal inmate serving time in FCI Texarkana for drug trafficking, was found to be in possession of 16 individually wrapped bags of marijuana in a gym bag. If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol K. Wheeler.

RICHARD LEE BENNETT, 52, of Chandler, Texas, has been indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to the indictment, in December 2009, Bennett was found to be in possession of a rifle and ammunition. Further investigation revealed the defendant is a convicted felon, having been convicted of murder in Texas in 1991, and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg A. Marchessault.

VINCENT TREVINO HERRERA, 33, of Lufkin, has been charged in a 12-count indictment with being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. According to the indictment, Lufkin police made undercover buys from the defendant on 10 different occasions. They also purchased a firearm during one of the buys. Further investigation revealed the defendant is a convicted felon and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the drug charges and up to 10 years for the firearms charges.

This case is being investigated by the Lufkin Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Flournoy.

JORGE GILBERTO DOMINGUEZ, 31, of Lufkin, has been charged in a three-count indictment with being a felon in possession of a firearm, an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and illegal reentry of a deported alien. According to the indictment, Lufkin police located a firearm in the defendant's possession. Further investigation revealed the defendant has a prior felony conviction and he was in the United States illegally after having been previously deported. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison for the firearms charges and up to 20 years and deportation for the illegal re-entry charge.

This case is being investigated by the Lufkin Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Flournoy.

EDGAR TORRES SOLIS, 28, of Haskell, Texas, has been indicted for illegal reentry of a deported alien. According to the indictment, on Oct. 11, 2009, Solis was found in Gregg County, Texas after having been previously deported from the United States. If convicted, he faces up 20 years in federal prison and deportation.

This case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg A. Marchessault.

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.