Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictments in the Eastern District of Texas

PLANO, TX—U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced that a federal grand jury returned indictments on today charging multiple individuals in separate cases of federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas.

Pedro Hernandez-Martinez, 44, of Honduras, has been indicted for Illegal Reentry of a Removed or Deported Alien.  If convicted, the Defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

This case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard J. Johnson.

Michael Villasana, 26, of McKinney, Texas, has been indicted for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Possession of a Stolen Firearm.  If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. 

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles E. Roy.

Paul Gove, III, 28, of Plano, was indicted for possession of child pornography.  If convicted he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. 

Jacob Leeroy Eckert, 62, of Nevada, Texas, has been indicted on 5 counts of distribution of child pornography.  If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison.  

Grove and Eckert are separate cases being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

These PSC cases are being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Plano Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy Griffith.

Antonio Vasquez-Elizalde, 31, of Mexico, has been indicted for Illegal Reentry of a Removed or Deported Alien.  If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

This case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard J. Johnson.

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.