U.S. Attorney's Office

A Rowlett Man Illegally Sold 135 Guns from His Print Shop, Insists He's "Too Old to Go to Jail"

Last week a jury found 68-year-old Jackie Don Burke guilty of one count of unlicensed sale of firearms. According to Burke's own records he sold 135 firearms in 14 months, because if you're gonna do it then why not do it big? One of those firearms was a pistol the Rowlett resident sold to an under ... More >>

The Former Cop Who Stole $250,000 from CrimeStoppers Will Spend 42 Months in Prison

Theadora Ross asked for leniency. The former senior corporal with Dallas PD, who pleaded guilty in August to stealing $250,000 in would-be reward money from the Dallas Crime Stoppers program she oversaw, argued in a court filing that prison would be too hard on her daughter, who has Down Syndrome. ... More >>

Feds Charge Colleyville Pharmacist and Wife In Mammoth Tax Fraud Scheme [Updated]

Larry Lake lives comfortably in a red brick McMansion in Colleyville with his wife Kathy, enjoying the fruits of a handful of successful businesses he owns. He's a licensed pharmacist and co-owner of the Grapevine Drug Mart. On the side, he established VIP Finance, an auto-title loan business with b ... More >>

Feds Say Ex-Lover's Boyfriend Called in Bomb Threat That Grounded DFW-Bound Flight

Christopher Shell had a pretty terrible day yesterday. First, his Dallas-bound plane was turned around in midair after someone phoned in a bomb threat. When the plane landed in Philadelphia, he was taken into federal custody because the caller had said he was the one carrying liquid explosives. When ... More >>

The Heroin-Dealing President of Los Homeboys Biker Gang Was Convicted Today

A year ago, John Pena Medellin, aka "Papa John," aka "Uncle John," the founding president of the Los Homeboys motorcycle club, was head of an operation that purchased large quantities of black-tar heroin, meth, and coke (some of it from Dallas' Enchanted Hills apartments, and distributed it througho ... More >>

The Bridge's CEO Explains Shelter's Role in Exposing Alleged $375 Mil Health Care Scam

​When the U.S. Attorney's Office unsealed the indictment yesterday alleging that Dr. Jacques Roy spearheaded the largest healthcare fraud in the nation's history out of his DeSoto office, they revealed that in 2010, he dispatched recruiters to The Bridge downtown. Their mission: pay homeless Medic ... More >>

Feds Allege Local Doctor Behind "Largest Healthcare Fraud Case" in U.S. History

​We received a release this morning from the U.S. Attorney's Office inviting us to a noon-thirty press conference at the Earle Cabell, at which time U.S. Attorney Sarah Saldaña, Deputy Attorney General James Cole and a host of other federal officials would address "a major health care fraud enfor ... More >>

Feds' Complaint Adds More Screenplay Details Leading to "Handsome Guy" Bandit's Arrest

​On Tuesday Mike Byrd provided us with his high-speed, first-hand account of how, along a rural stretch of Mississippi highway, the sheriff there used his .40-cal Sig Sauer to shoot out the tire of a fleeing Steven Milam, the Tyler casket salesmen better known as the "Handsome Guy" Bandit who poli ... More >>

Almost Three Years After FBI Raided Downtown ISP, Its CEO Is Found Guilty of Conspiracy

​Way back in April 2009, you may recall, FBI agents raided Core IP Networks, an enormous Internet service provider HQ'd out of 2323 Bryan Street downtown. It made national news, in part because the feds' raid temporarily disabled some 50 clients' Web sites. At the time, the FBI would only say sear ... More >>

So Close to Getting Away With Armored Truck Robbery, This Is What Finally Did Them In

​The U.S. Attorney's Office sends word that a man named Ennis Harris Jackson will be going to federal prison for more than 17 years for his role in holding up a Loomis armored truck in May 2010 outside a Mesquite Bank of America branch. Jackson was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Barbar ... More >>

First Charged With Misdemeanor, Garland Man Faces Federal Time For Pointing Laser at Planes

​Back in June, you may recall, KXAS-Channel 5 ran an interview with one Sammy Ladymon of Garland, who was busted for shining a green laser into the cockpit of a Southwest plane bound for Love Field -- right before he did the same thing to an FBI pilot on his way to investigate the first complaint, ... More >>

Arlington Man Gets 14 Months in Prison for "Ethnically Motivated" Arson at Mosque

​In February, you may recall, 34-year-old Henry Clay Glaspell walked into federal court in Fort Worth and admitted: He was the man who, on July 25, 2010, set fire to the playground equipment and spray-painted "explicit images" and "obscene anti-Muslim graffiti" in the parking lot at the Dar El-Ema ... More >>

From Dallas ISD Teacher to Don Hill Prosecutor to North Texas's New U.S. Attorney

​Friends of Unfair Park who followed the federal City Hall corruption trial in 2009 may recall the name Sarah Saldaña; she was among the more prominent prosecutors on that team. But till I glanced at her U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary questionnaire, I had no idea, for instance, that from ... More >>

Following Arrests, Feds Outline Vast Cocaine, Heroin Ring Operating Out of Dallas, Fort Worth

​The U.S. Attorney's Office sends word: Federal authorities have rounded up dozens suspected of trafficking heroin and cocaine from Dallas to Atlanta to Baltimore to Philadelphia to Nashville and all points in between. Those arrested yesterday come from all over, including Dallas and Fort Worth an ... More >>

Eight is More Than Enough? Avalon Group Homes Square Off Against Dallas (Again).

An Avalon home in Fort Worth.​As we've mentioned before, Dallas has been grappling for some time with how to regulate the city's nearly 280 group homes, those halfway houses and assisted-living facilities that are protected by federal housing laws. But the operator of 14 North Texas group hom ... More >>

One Irving Man's Art of Pleading Guilty to Defrauding the I.R.S. Out of $400,000

This Chucho Reyes piece is available right here, right now, for $765.​Mexican folk artist Jesús "Chucho" Reyes Ferreira died in 1979, leaving behind an estimable collection of works -- some of which, over the years, have turned up at auction at places like Sotheby's and New York's Swann Gallerie ... More >>

The Genius Who Robbed Wells Fargo on Lemmon Avenue Gets (More) Time in Prison

One man's gub is another man's bom.​For those who've forgotten the now-legendary tale of Nathan Wayne Pugh, a 49-year-old Sachse man, allow me to recap. On July 26, Pugh went into the Wells Fargo at 4332 Lemon Avenue carrying a bag from a fast-food restaurant. He walked up to the teller and told h ... More >>

FBI Arrests Mesquite PD Officer in Charge of Narcotics Unit for Stealing $2,000

​The U.S. Attorney's Office just sent word: This morning, FBI agents arrested John David McAllister, a sergeant with the Mesquite Police Department -- and the head of its four-man Narcotics Unit. Says the release, back in December the feds got a tip that McAllister was skimming off the top during ... More >>

As If You Needed Another Reminder: Beware Who You Friend on the Facebook

​This just in from the U.S. Attorney's Office: A federal grand jury in Dallas has indicted a 35-year-old Ennis man named Jerry Wayne Valek on three counts of production of child pornography. He's been in custody for about a month, and according to the indictment, Valek spent more than two years -- ... More >>

Four Months After DEA's "Operation Greedy Grove" Drugs and Gang Sweep, a Guilty Plea

​Back in September, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced that it had arrested several alleged members of "violent local street gangs," which included the Highland Hills Posse and the NFL Boyz. Among those snapped up during "Operation Greedy Grove" was 31-year-old Ronald Alexander, otherwi ... More >>

Just How Did "Frank Sullivan" of Plano Get 247 People To Give Him Money, Anyhow?

​This just in from the U.S. Attorney's Office: A 29-year-old man from Plano, Edward Louis Molz III, pleaded guilty in Dallas federal court this morning to a single count of wire fraud, for which he faces up 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. On top of that, he could have to pay back the more ... More >>

Back in Federal Court, Awaiting Sentencing for the Brian and Cheryl Potashnik (A Live Blog)

Sam MertenBrian Potashnik back in July 2009​[Update: Cheryl Potashnik was given two years probation and has to pay $50,000 to the U.S. Attorney's Office within seven days.] It's sentencing day for Brian and Cheryl Potashnik this morning at the Earle Cabell Federal Building, as U.S. District J ... More >>

When Local Government Officials Admit to Breaking the Law: The Latest from U.S. Attorney

​Moments ago, the U.S. Attorney's Office sent word in two back-to-back e-mails that two former government employees -- one, an agent in the Dallas FBI office; the other, a city of Garland risk management adjuster -- have copped to breaking the law. Let's begin with the FBI agent.Her name is Ann Co ... More >>

Alan Todd May Admits to Mail Fraud and Ripping Off Investors to Tune of $7 Million

Alan Todd May's sham company's website is still up and running, unlike Alan Todd May​Back in June, you may recall, downtown oil man (coughnotreallycough) Alan Todd May was caught in San Francisco, to which he'd fled following a filing by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that said his Pr ... More >>

Threaten the President's Life on Craigslist, And You're Going to Federal Prison for Two Years

​You remember Brian Dean Miller, right? Sure you do. He's the 43-year-old Northeast Dallas man who, back in March, posted to Craigslist's "Rants & Raves" section an item titled "Obama must die." Among its highlights, reminds the U.S. Attorney's Office today, he wrote: "People the time has come ... More >>

For Trying to Blow Up Fountain Place, Hosam Smadi's Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison

​It was late on September 24, 2009, that the U.S. Attorney's Office sent word that FBI agents had arrested then-19-year-old Hosam Maher Husein Smadi for plotting to blow up Fountain Place on Ross Avenue -- a plot intercepted by federal agents, who ultimately provided the Jordanian-born Smadi with ... More >>

A Bank Robbery, With a Baby on Board, Lands Getaway Driver a 22-Year Prison Sentence

Bandit TrackerUnrelated, but while we're on the subject, Austin PD's looking for a man who last week robbed a bank wearing a George Bush mask.​Surely you recall the tale of Inequa Rushing and Waylon McDonald? No? Then a refresher: In late January, the twosome robbed a bank at East R.L. Thornton Fr ... More >>

Woodrow Wilson English Teacher Charged With Possessing Child Porn Pleads Guilty

​Back in June, the U.S. Attorney's Office sent word: Jon Leslie Lyons, a 44-year-old who'd been teaching English at Woodrow Wilson High School for three years, had been arrested and charged with keeping child pornography, some involving children under the age of 5, on his home computer and iPhone. ... More >>

Federal Alphabet Soup Reviewing Yesterday's Love Field Gate-Crashing Before Filing Charges

​So now we know what the Dallas Police Department is charging Michael Laurence Browne with following yesterday's slow ride that landed on the Love Field runway: evading arrest in a vehicle, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, criminal mischief, aggravated robbery and an outstanding traffic ticket ... More >>

Porsches, Drugs and Money: A Look Into ICE Investigation of Drug-Running Used Car Lot

​U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and Dallas County constables had been watching Star Auto Sales, a North Dallas used car dealer, for nearly 10 months before they made their move on February 18; bearing a search warrant, officers from both agencies flipped through the dealership's ... More >>

Woodrow Wilson English Teacher Arrested, Charged For Possessing Child Pornography

​The U.S. Attorney's Office just sent word that 44-year-old Jon Leslie Lyons, who has been teaching English at Woodrow Wilson High School for three years, was arrested and charged yesterday with possessing child pornography, some involving children under the age of 5. According to an affidavit fil ... More >>

In Crime and Punishment News, An Ex-HP Cop and a Former Taxman Are Going to Prison

​A couple of notable press releases from the U.S. Attorney's Office just landed in the Unfair Park in-box, the most recent of which has to do with a former Internal Revenue Service employee sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay to 16 months in the federal hoosegow for taking a brib ... More >>

FDA Warning: Tons of Contaminated Cheese Sold in Florida, Texas, California, New York

Picture from Truesake.com​Yesterday Chuck Strouse over at our sister paper, Miami New Times reported on what may be one of the largest cheese busts in history: 85 tons of staph infected cheese were found festering in Miami's Lacteos Factory. The feds ordered the return of the cheese, and the U.S. ... More >>

Plano Man Arrested for Threatening "Deadly Force" at Dallas Abortion Clinic

​The U.S. Attorney's Office just sent word: On Saturday afternoon, a 27-year-old Plano man named Erlyndon J. Lo, was arrested by FBI agents at his home on charges that he threatened to use deadly force to stop an abortion at the Southwestern Women's Surgery Center on Greenville Avenue and Lovers L ... More >>

U.S. Attorney's Office: State Rep. Terri Hodge Has Taken a Guilty Plea, Is Stepping Down

Sam Merten State Rep. Terri Hodge, a state representative no more​The story's circulating this morning that Terri Hodge is this close to pleading guilty in her involvement in the Dallas City Hall federal corruption case and is stepping down from the Texas House of Representatives. Unfair Pa ... More >>

How Much Did You Pay to Defend Don Hill?

Sam MertenFormer Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill outside the Earle Cabell, moments after the guilty verdicts were handed down​Schutze and Merten are off in darkened corners finishing their City Hall corruption trial wrap-up (as in, What does it all mean?), so I'll refer you to KXAS-Channel 5's piece ... More >>

Hacked! Dallas Federal Grand Jury Indicts Electronik Tribulation Army's GhostExodus

 Back at the end of June, the U.S. Attorney's Office sent word that it has arrested 25-year-old Jesse William McGraw -- otherwise known as "GhostExodus," founder and ostensibly the leader of the Electronik Tribulation Army -- for threatening to cause serious damage to the computer systems at th ... More >>

What Gag Order? Yet Again, Don Hill Claims He's the Victim of a Witch Hunt.

Clearly, Don Hill will no longer take this prosecution sitting down.We're still waiting on the preachers' letter to U.S. Attorney Eric Holder, but in an interview with Gromer Jeffers Jr. just posted to The Dallas Morning News Web site, Don Hill yet again claims he's being subjected to federal prosec ... More >>

Dallas Federal Judge Sentences Weatherford Cattle-Ranchin' Swindler to Six Years, $10 Mil

I just bought this poster on etsy. At least, I hope I did.Oscar Black, a 58-year-old cattle rancher outta Weatherford, offered folks a pretty good deal: If you were to give him some of yer money, well, he'd invest it for ya -- to the tune of 12 percent in annual returns, hot damn. Only, there was on ... More >>

Dallas DPS Officer Arrested by Feds in Complex Phony ID Scam for Illegal Immigrants

The U.S. Attorney's Office has just sent word that Alvaro Ivan Adame -- a 40-year-old lieutenant with the Texas Department of Public Safety who's worked in the Drivers License Division as a supervisor at offices on Northwest Highway in Dallas and in Wichita Falls -- was arrested this morning at DPS ... More >>

U.S. Attorney Set to Announce Arrest in "Amarillo White Powder Letters" Investigation

Last night, the U.S. Attorney's Office sent word that at 11 a.m. today there would a media conference at the Earle Cabell Federal Building downtown "to announce developments in a pending investigation." This morning, a second missive arrived with further details: Acting U.S. Attorney James Jacks; Ro ... More >>

Child Porn Lands Prominent Southlake Doc in Prison For Three Years

A little more than one year ago, Dr. James Shin was a Southlake resident and a family man and the Chair of the Internal Medicine Department at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. Then, on September 17, 2007, officials with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement cybercrime unit discovered "nume ... More >>

The Unique Story of Unique Performance's Unique Way of Not Selling Unique Cars

Back in November, we brought you the sordid saga of Farmers Branch-based Unique Performance, which had a deal with Carroll Shelby to manufacture "official" knock-offs of his immortal 1967 Shelby GT500E, pictured above. In short: Folks paid upwards of $200,000 for the cars, which they never received; ... More >>

Phony Car Accidents Will Land You Real Prison Time

In May, Tuan "Andy" Nguyen was among 22 folks arrested and indicted on charges of staging car accidents with salvaged vehicles in order to collect the insurance money -- to the tune of some $1 million in fraudulent claims. Well, today Nguyen -- singled out by the U.S. Attorney's Office as the operat ... More >>

Feds Set to Announce Public Corruption Indictment in Moments...

The first sentence of the press release we just received got us very, very excited: "U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper and FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert E. Casey will hold a press conference TODAY, Tuesday, May 29, at 11:00 a.m. to announce an indictment in a public corruption case." Could it be.. ... More >>

House of Death

A dozen men were tortured, killed and buried in a small house in Juarez. Three years later, the U.S. government is still trying to cover up what happened.

Here's a Tip: When You Rob a Bank, Always Check for the Tracking Device

The Re-Up Men and The Traps

Ever watch HBO's The Wire? No need now; just read this, a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office about nine alleged South Dallas gang members arrested on conspiracy, drug and firearms charges; 16 of their, ah, colleagues remain at large. Among the gangsters arrested by Dallas police and feder ... More >>