Grand Jury Returns Multiple Indictments in the Eastern District of Texas

PLANO, TX—A federal grand jury returned multiple indictments last week charging individuals with separate federal crimes in the Eastern District of Texas announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

Jason Chumley, 36, of McKinney, Texas, was indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. According to the indictment, Chumley is alleged to have been involved in a scheme in which defendants, Ty Howerton and Rick Payne solicited a victim to loan Howerton money to purchase two pieces of real estate. Howerton and Payne assured the victim the funds he would be loaning would be protected from embezzlement because the funds would be placed in escrow accounts with Payne or Jason Chumley. Howerton and Payne, with assistance from Chumley, transferred the loan funds out of the escrow accounts without the consent of the victim and used the funds for their own purposes. Howerton and Payne have already been charged and convicted in this scheme and are awaiting sentencing. If convicted, Chumley faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

This law enforcement action is part of President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force.

President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated, and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.

This case is being investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Texas Department of Insurance and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Williams.

Darrell Love, 49, of Texarkana, Texas was indicted on charges of explosive willfully making a threat, and false information and hoaxes. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

According to the indictment, on Nov. 4, 2010, Love is alleged to have made a telephone call intending to intimidate occupants of the U.S. Federal Post Office Building in Texarkana, Texas, by threatening to kill or injure those occupants by means of an explosive device.

This case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise O. Simpson.

Derek William Renshaw, 34, of Southmayd, Texas, has been indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted, he faces up to life in federal prison. This case is being investigated by the ATF and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard J. Johnson.

Wendy Lynette Hattaway, 37, of Wolfe City, Texas, has been indicted for wire fraud. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in federal prison. This case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin D. Collins.

Carlos Miranda-Estrada, 38, of Mexico, has been indicted for illegally reentering the United States after having been deported. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. This case is being investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Stover.

Rafael Cisneros-Chavez, 27, of Mexico, has been indicted for illegally reentering the United States after having been deported. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. This case is being investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Stover.

Gregorio Segura-Resendez, 53, of Mexico, has been indicted for illegally reentering the United States after having been deported. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. This case is being investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Stover.

Enrique Arias-Idelfonso, 35, of Mexico, has been indicted for illegally reentering the United States after having been deported. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. This case is being investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Stover.

Valentin Flores-Munoz, 39, of Mexico, has been indicted for illegally reentering the United States after having been deported. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. This case is being investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Stover.

Josalin Terrasa-Ramos, 30, of Mexico, has been indicted for illegally reentering the United States after having been deported. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 10 years in federal prison. This case is being investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Stover.

Miguel Arcangel Juarez-Mendez, 36, of Guatemala, has been indicted for illegally reentering the United States after having been deported. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. This case is being investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Stover.

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.