Federal Grand Jury Returns Multiple Indictments in the Eastern District of Texas

TYLER, TX—A federal grand jury has returned multiple indictments this week on cases involving federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

A superseding indictment was returned against Mohammad Moosa Yahya, a/k/a Muhammad Moosa Yahya, a 36-year-old Tyler, Texas man, charging him with multiple counts of wire fraud and engaging in monetary transactions with criminally derived property in connection with an investment scheme. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, and supervised release of not more than three years.

The superseding indictment alleges that beginning no later than May 2011, Yahya devised a fraud scheme related to investments made in EMN Global Trading, a Texas corporation that operated a used car dealership located in Tyler, Texas, under the name Tyler Automax. Yahya, who has served as president of the company since approximately 2004, solicited individuals to invest in the business by representing that their funds would be used to purchase vehicles that would then be sold by the dealership. Yahya further represented that the investors would be paid profits from those vehicle sales. Instead, Yahya misappropriated the wired investment funds for his own personal use and benefit.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Coan.

Allen Ray Curtis, 37, of Malakoff, Texas, was indicted on charges of failure to register as a sex offender. If convicted, he could receive imprisonment of not more than 10 years and a fine of not more than $250,000, or both. In addition to the term of imprisonment, if convicted, Curtis will receive a term of supervised release of not less than five years or up to life and a mandatory special assessment of $100.

The indictment alleges that between October 2, 2011 and September 18, 2012, the defendant, an individual required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, traveled in interstate commerce and knowingly failed to register and update his registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

This case is being investigated by the United States Marshal Service. Assistant United States Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld is prosecuting the case.

Victor Vasquez, 34, of Fairfield, Texas, was indicted on charges of possession of an unregistered firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, and felon in possession of ammunition. If convicted, he could receive imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of not more than $250,000, or both for each charge. In addition, the defendant will receive a term of supervised release of not more than three years and a mandatory special assessment of $100 for each charge.

The indictment alleges that on April 4, 2012, Vasquez was stopped by a Rusk Police Department Officer for speeding in the 1600 block of Highway 84, in Rusk, Texas. Vasquez was arrested for DWI, and a search warrant resulted in the seizure of a prohibited firearm (sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun.) In addition, he was found to be in possession of a rifle, shotgun shells, and rifle cartridges. Possession of firearms and ammunition are prohibited for Vasquez since he was convicted of attempted aggravated burglary, in Bourbon County, Kansas on October 17, 2001.

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Jim Noble is prosecuting the case.

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.