Federal Indictments Returned in Eastern District of Texas

TYLER, TX—U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that indictments have been returned charging several individuals with federal crimes in the Eastern District of Texas.
 
JAMES CLIFORD HENDRIX, 43, of Athens, Texas, was indicted on charges of being in possession of child pornography. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison . 

This case is being brought 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.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan R. Jackson.

JENNIFER MOORE, 35, of Marshall, Texas, was indicted for armed bank robbery and using a firearm during a crime of violence. According to the Indictment, on Oct. 13, 2009, Moore is alleged to have entered the lobby of the Texas National Bank in Bullard, and point a gun at tellers and demand cash. She then fled on foot and was seen leaving the area in a truck. If convicted, Moore faces up to 25 years in federal prison. 
 
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bullard Police Department, the Smith County Sheriff's Office, the Marshall Police Department, and the Harrison County Sheriff's Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Middleton.

JAY SCOTT McEVERS, 33, of Canton, Texas, and CARL RAY DAVIS, 40, of Fruitvale, Texas, were indicted on charges of armed bank robbery. According to the Indictment, on Nov. 2, 2009, Davis is alleged to have entered the lobby of the Mineloa Community Bank in Grand Saline, Texas, and point a gun at the teller and demand cash. He then fled on foot and was seen leaving the area in a truck driven by McEvers. If convicted, they each face up to 25 years in federal prison.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Grand Saline Police Department, the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office, the Van Zandt Police Department, and numerous Van Zandt County Constables' offices and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard L. Moore.

DANIEL ORTIZ, 18, of Fort Worth, Texas, was indicted on charges of burglary involving controlled substances. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison. According to the indictment, on May 10, 2009, Ortiz is alleged to have burglarized the Medicine Chest Pharmacy in Mineola, Texas.

This case is being investigated by the Texas Rangers and the Mineola Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Middleton.

LANCE CLAWSON, 41, of Killeen, Texas, and ROY DALE LEIFESTER, 49, of Austin, Texas, were indicted on charges of conspiracy to transport wildlife in interstate commerce and transportation of wildlife in interstate commerce in violation of state law. According to the Indictment, in September and October of 2008, the Defendants are alleged to have conspired to illegally transport whitetail deer from Oklahoma to Texas, and on Oct. 16, 2008, they actually did transport eight whitetail deer from Oklahoma to Texas in violation of state and federal law. If convicted, they each face up to five years in federal prison. 

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.

RAYFORD LEON CORNELIOUS, 40, of Riverdale, Georgia, was indicted for possession of stolen mail matter. According to the indictment, on Feb. 12, 2009, Cornelious is alleged to have been in possession of stolen mail in Gregg County, Texas. If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison. This case is being investigated by U.S. Postal Inspectors, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and Georgia authorities and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Middleton.

MARTIN RODRIGUEZ-HERNANDEZ, 42, of Longview, Texas, has been indicted for illegal reentry of a deported alien. According to the indictment, on July 28, 2009, Rodriguez-Hernandez is alleged to have been found in Gregg County, Texas after having been previously deported. If convicted, he faces up 20 years in federal prison.

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