Case News

Stephen Ross Dodd, 59, of Lindale, was arrested for allegedly making a terroristic threat with intent to influence government conduct or activities.

An investigation revealed that the suspect verbally threatened an auditor, who is considered a public servant. Dodd had made statements in the past that made the auditor feel threatened and had been verbally abusive during phone conversations which were made to influence the outcome of a pending audit.

Dodd is charged with making a terroristic threat with intent to influence government conduct or activities, a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

The case is pending prosecution in Smith County.

Velma L. Alvarado, 68, of Houston, was indicted for allegedly falsifying information on a title application, signing a false joint statement and tampering with government record with intent to defraud.

Alvarado is charged with falsifying information on a title application and signing a false joint statement, both third-degree felonies punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000, and tampering with government record with intent to defraud, a state jail felony.

An investigation found the defendant, who owns a used car dealership, signed an Application for Title and/or Registration as the seller and representative of her dealership for a vehicle that had already been sold in 2020. The state of Texas was defrauded over $1,200 in sales tax.

The case is pending prosecution in Harris County.

Jose G. Alvarado, 64, of Houston, was indicted for allegedly falsifying information on a title application, signing a false joint statement and tampering with government record with intent to defraud.

Alvarado is charged with falsifying information on a title application and signing a false joint statement, both third-degree felonies punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000, and tampering with government record with intent to defraud, a state jail felony.

An investigation found the defendant, who owns a used car dealership, signed an Application for Title and/or Registration showing his purchase of a 2016 Jaguar. The form showed a trade-in vehicle of a 2017 Corvette, which had already been sold in 2020. Therefore, the defendant could not use the Corvette as a trade-in since he no longer owned it.

The case is pending prosecution in Harris County.

Roberto Ledesma, 38, of Houston, pleaded guilty to evading motor fuel tax.

A Fort Bend County district judge sentenced the defendant to 5 years deferred adjudication, a $500 fine, 50 hours of community service and an anti-theft class.

In August 2022, an investigation revealed the defendant unlawfully appropriated fuel by tampering with the pulsar device, allowing him to pump approximately 91 gallons of diesel fuel for about $14 and not paying tax on approximately 88 gallons of fuel.

Mardiel Sanchez Mantilla, 36, of Odessa, was arrested for allegedly evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax.

An investigation revealed that the suspect intentionally and knowingly evaded or attempted to evade a tax imposed on motor fuel by unlawfully appropriating approximately 150 gallons of dyed-diesel fuel without a permit and operating on a public roadway with dyed-diesel inside the fuel supply tank. In Texas, non-taxable diesel is dyed red to distinguish it from taxable diesel. Red-dyed diesel is authorized almost exclusively for off-road, agricultural use by permit holders only.

Mantilla is charged with evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

The case is pending prosecution in Winkler County.

Antwan Chane Reed, Jr., 28, of Memphis, Tenn., was indicted for allegedly evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax and transporting motor fuel without shipping documents.

Reed, Jr. is charged with evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax, and transporting motor fuel without shipping documents, both second-degree felonies punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

An investigation found the defendant intentionally and knowingly evaded or attempted to evade a tax imposed on motor fuel by failing to pay the backup tax liability on approximately 1,183 gallons of illegally appropriated diesel fuel and transported the motor fuel without shipping documents.

The case is pending prosecution in Cass County.

Louis McClinton, 43, of Cedar Hill, pleaded guilty to providing false name information/forging vehicle registration.

A Dallas County district judge sentenced the defendant to two years deferred adjudication after full payment of restitution to the state of Texas.

In October 2016, an investigation revealed the defendant was providing false or incorrect information on the Application for Texas title on multiple vehicles.

Yanal Irfan Alsharkas, 57, of Midlothian, pleaded guilty to failing to have an e-cigarette permit.

A Johnson County district judge sentenced the defendant to six months deferred adjudication with a $210 fine and 24 hours of community service.

In August 2023, an investigation revealed the defendant did not have an active e-cigarette permit. All e-cigarette products were seized in place.

Lazaro Pablo Ortiz-Ruiz, 56, of Odessa, was indicted for allegedly evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax.

Ortiz-Ruiz is charged with evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

An investigation found the defendant intentionally and knowingly evaded or attempted to evade a tax imposed on motor fuel by failing to pay the backup tax liability on approximately 100 gallons of illegally appropriated diesel fuel.

The case is pending prosecution in Midland County.

Lazaro Pablo Ortiz-Montero, 24, of Odessa, was indicted for allegedly evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax.

Ortiz-Montero is charged with evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

An investigation found the defendant intentionally and knowingly evaded or attempted to evade a tax imposed on motor fuel by failing to pay the backup tax liability on approximately 100 gallons of illegally appropriated diesel fuel.

The case is pending prosecution in Midland County.

Felix Labrada Carralero, 41, of Odessa was arrested for allegedly evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax.

An investigation revealed that the suspect intentionally and knowingly evaded or attempted to evade a tax imposed on motor fuel by unlawfully appropriating approximately 150 gallons of dyed-diesel fuel without a permit and operating on a public roadway with dyed-diesel inside the fuel supply tank. In Texas, non-taxable diesel is dyed red to distinguish it from taxable diesel. Red-dyed diesel is authorized almost exclusively for off-road, agricultural use by permit holders only.

Carralero is charged with evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

The case is pending prosecution in Ector County.

Omar Alejandro Machado-Morell, 36, of Fort Worth, was indicted for allegedly evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax and unlawful use of a criminal instrument.

Machado-Morell is charged with evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000 and unlawful use of a criminal instrument, a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

An investigation found the defendant intentionally and knowingly evaded or attempted to evade a tax imposed on motor fuel by failing to pay the backup tax liability on 123 gallons of illegally appropriated diesel fuel. He used re-encoded cards to manipulate the fuel dispenser pumps and a truck that was modified to receive, transport and dispense large quantities of motor fuel.

The case is pending prosecution in Ellis County.

Lahiyan Coste-Hernandez, 40, of Hialeah, Fl., was indicted for allegedly evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax and unlawful use of a criminal instrument.

Coste-Hernandez is charged with evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000, and unlawful use of a criminal instrument, a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

An investigation found the defendant intentionally and knowingly evaded or attempted to evade a tax imposed on motor fuel by failing to pay the backup tax liability on 123 gallons of illegally appropriated diesel fuel. He used re-encoded cards to manipulate the fuel dispenser pumps and a truck that was modified to receive, transport and dispense large quantities of motor fuel.

The case is pending prosecution in Ellis County.

Adrian Ramos Leiva, 37, of Midland, was arrested for allegedly evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax.

An investigation revealed that the suspect intentionally and knowingly evaded or attempted to evade a tax imposed on motor fuel by unlawfully appropriating approximately 110 gallons using cloned debit/credit cards.

Leiva is charged with evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

The case is pending prosecution in Ector County.

Salvador Habib Hepo, 27, of El Paso, was arrested for allegedly evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax.

An investigation revealed that the suspect intentionally and knowingly evaded or attempted to evade a tax imposed on motor fuel by unlawfully appropriating approximately 200 gallons of red dyed-diesel fuel without a permit. In Texas, non-taxable diesel is dyed red to distinguish it from taxable diesel. Red-dyed diesel is authorized almost exclusively for off-road, agricultural use by permit holders only.

Hepo is charged with evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

The case is pending prosecution in Winkler County.

Norman Dustin Reedy, 38, of Lubbock, pleaded guilty to Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

A Lubbock County district judge sentenced the defendant to 10 years in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) facility, suspended to 7 years’ probation. The evading arrest with vehicle charge was dismissed as part of the plea deal. Felon in Possession of a Firearm is a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000, but this offense was enhanced to second-degree felony due to a previous felony conviction.

In October 2022, an investigation revealed the defendant was acting as a security officer and was carrying a firearm during an amusement tax compliance inspection. While officers were attempting to verify the information the defendant provided, he fled the scene in a vehicle after multiple orders to stop. The investigation revealed Mr. Reedy previously had been convicted of aggravated assault and could not possess a firearm outside of his residence.

Sadiel Sosa Soriano, 45, of Odessa, pleaded guilty to evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax, transporting motor fuel without shipping documents, and unlawful use of a criminal instrument.

An Ellis County district judge sentenced the defendant to three years’ deferred adjudication for both motor fuel tax violations, and three years’ deferred adjudication for the charge of unlawful use of a criminal instrument, a $3,000 fine and 480 hours of community service.

In August 2022, an investigation revealed the defendant intentionally and knowingly manipulated the fuel dispenser’s pulsar device to unlawfully appropriate approximately 200 gallons of diesel fuel to evade motor fuel tax, and transported the fuel without shipping documents.

Yolday Feria Gomez, 40, of Irving, pleaded guilty to evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax and unlawful use of a criminal instrument.

A Tarrant County district judge sentenced the defendant to 4 years’ deferred adjudication for both criminal charges and a $500 fine.

In September 2022, an investigation revealed the defendant intentionally and knowingly manipulated the fuel dispenser to unlawfully appropriate 248 gallons of diesel fuel to evade motor fuel tax. The defendant was driving a truck modified to receive, transport and dispense large quantities of motor fuel.

Orestes Rodriguez Alpizar, 46, of Austin, was indicted for allegedly evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax.

Alpizar is charged with evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

An investigation found the defendant intentionally and knowingly evaded or attempted to evade a tax imposed on motor fuel by illegally appropriating 167 gallons of diesel fuel using 43 re-encoded cards.

The case is pending prosecution in Williamson County.

Rhandy Caballero, 35, of Austin, was indicted for allegedly evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax.

Caballero is charged with evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

An investigation found the defendant intentionally and knowingly evaded or attempted to evade a tax imposed on motor fuel by illegally appropriating 167 gallons of diesel fuel using 43 re-encoded cards.

The case is pending prosecution in Williamson County.

Jeremiah Augustus Lucio, 35, of San Antonio, was arrested for allegedly attempting to commit theft of property valued from $30,000 to $150,000.

An investigation revealed that the suspect reserved the entity name “Accel Fund John McStay Investment” with the Texas Secretary of State, then submitted a fraudulent unclaimed property claim to unlawfully obtain approximately $84,080.

Lucio is charged with attempting to commit theft of property valued from $30,000 to $150,000. In this case, the criminal attempt reduces the original third-degree felony to a state jail felony offense.

The case is pending prosecution in Travis County.

Adrian Hernandez Pelaez, 30, of Houston, was indicted for allegedly evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax.

Pelaez is charged with evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

An investigation found the defendant illegally appropriated approximately 298 gallons of diesel fuel by using a pulsar manipulation device. The diesel fuel was pumped into an external fuel tank in the bed of a pickup truck.

The case is pending prosecution in Harris County.

Adolfo Manuel Rodriguez Villafane, 24, of Converse, was arrested for allegedly evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax, transporting motor fuel without shipping documents, and fraudulent use/possession of credit/debit card information.

An investigation revealed that the suspect intentionally and knowingly evaded or attempted to evade a tax imposed on motor fuel by failing to pay the backup diesel tax liability on approximately 190 gallons of illegally appropriated fuel, valued at approximately $723. The suspect used a re-encoded gift card to illegally acquire the diesel fuel and then delivered the fuel to the supply tank and auxiliary fuel tank in the bed of a pickup truck.

Villafane is charged with evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax and transporting motor fuel without cargo manifest or shipping documents, both second-degree felonies punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000, and fraudulent use/possession of credit/debit card information, a state jail felony.

The case is pending prosecution in Bexar County.

Miguel Parra Viamontes, 35, of San Antonio, was arrested for allegedly evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax, transporting motor fuel without shipping documents and fraudulent use/possession of credit/debit card information.

An investigation revealed that the suspect intentionally and knowingly evaded or attempted to evade a tax imposed on motor fuel by failing to pay the backup diesel tax liability on approximately 80 gallons of illegally appropriated fuel, valued at approximately $299. The suspect used a re-encoded gift card to illegally acquire the diesel fuel and then delivered the fuel to an auxiliary fuel tank in the bed of a pickup truck.

Viamontes is charged with evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax and transporting motor fuel without cargo manifest or shipping documents, both second-degree felonies punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000, and fraudulent use/possession of credit/debit card information, a state jail felony.

The case is pending prosecution in Bexar County.

Durbis Luis Machado Feria, 41, of San Antonio, was arrested for allegedly evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax and transporting motor fuel without shipping documents.

An investigation revealed that the suspect intentionally and knowingly evaded or attempted to evade a tax imposed on motor fuel by failing to pay the backup diesel tax liability on approximately 88 gallons of illegally appropriated fuel, valued at approximately $300. The suspect used a re-encoded gift card to illegally acquire the diesel fuel and then delivered the fuel to an auxiliary fuel tank in the bed of a pickup truck.

Feria is charged with evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax and transporting motor fuel without cargo manifest or shipping documents, both second-degree felonies punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

The case is pending prosecution in Bexar County.

Ramon Torres, 40, of Midland, was arrested for allegedly evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax.

An investigation revealed that the suspect intentionally and knowingly evaded or attempted to evade a tax imposed on motor fuel by unlawfully appropriating approximately 10 gallons of red-dyed diesel fuel. In Texas, non-taxable diesel is dyed red to distinguish it from taxable diesel. Red-dyed diesel is authorized almost exclusively for off-road, agricultural use by permit holders only.

Torres is charged with evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

The case is pending prosecution in Midland County.

Danysbel Lopez Mantilla, 38, of Midland, was arrested for allegedly evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax.

An investigation revealed that the suspect intentionally and knowingly evaded or attempted to evade a tax imposed on motor fuel by unlawfully appropriating approximately 302 gallons of red-dyed diesel fuel. In Texas, non-taxable diesel is dyed red to distinguish it from taxable diesel. Red-dyed diesel is authorized almost exclusively for off-road, agricultural use by permit holders only.

Mantilla is charged with evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

The case is pending prosecution in Midland County.

Javier Reyes Gonzalez, 51, of Midland, was arrested for allegedly evading motor fuel tax and unlawful use of a criminal instrument.

An investigation revealed that the suspect unlawfully appropriated approximately 2,056 gallons of diesel fuel. The fuel was delivered into a pickup truck that was modified to receive, transport and dispense large quantities of motor fuel.

Gonzalez is charged with evading motor fuel tax, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000, and unlawful use of a criminal instrument, a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

The case is pending in Midland County.

Alexis Tito Carvajal, 50, of Odessa, was indicted for allegedly evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax and transporting motor fuel without shipping documents.

Carvajal is charged with evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax, and transporting motor fuel without shipping documents, both second-degree felonies punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

An investigation found the defendant unlawfully appropriated approximately 500 gallons of dyed diesel and transported it without shipping documents and evaded or attempted to evade motor vehicle fuel tax by failing to pay the backup motor fuel tax liability on the unlawfully acquired motor fuel.

The case is pending prosecution in Ector County.

Danny Gabriel Ruiz-Diaz, 36, of Irving, was indicted for allegedly evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax and transporting motor fuel without shipping documents.

Ruiz-Diaz is charged with evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax, and transporting motor fuel without shipping documents, both second-degree felonies punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

An investigation found the defendant intentionally and knowingly evaded or attempted to evade a tax imposed on motor fuel by failing to pay the backup tax liability on approximately 599 gallons of illegally appropriated diesel fuel and transported the motor fuel without shipping documents.

The case is pending prosecution in Hill County.

Gunter Joan Gomez Heredia, 33, of Odessa, pleaded guilty to transporting motor fuel without shipping documents.

A Martin County district judge sentenced the defendant to 4 years’ deferred adjudication on the transporting motor fuel without shipping documents charge. A second felony count of the indictment for evading motor fuel tax was dismissed in the plea deal.

Heredia accepted the deferred adjudication with community supervision.

In February 2022, an investigation revealed the defendant unlawfully appropriated fuel by tampering with the fuel pump’s pulsar device, allowing him to free flow the diesel fuel at a slower per gallon calculation and misappropriate the fuel at a much cheaper price than normal – pennies on the dollar.

Daniel Heredia Herrera, 22, of Austin, was indicted for allegedly evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax.

Herrera is charged with evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

An investigation found the defendant intentionally and knowingly evaded or attempted to evade a tax imposed on motor fuel by failing to pay the backup tax liability on approximately 1,848 gallons of illegally appropriated diesel fuel valued at about $6,060.

The case is pending prosecution in Gonzales County.

Marlon Cargallea-Prieto, 22, of Austin, was indicted for allegedly evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax.

Cargallea-Prieto is charged with evading or attempting to evade motor fuel tax, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

An investigation found the defendant intentionally and knowingly evaded or attempted to evade a tax imposed on motor fuel by failing to pay the backup tax liability on approximately 1,848 gallons of illegally appropriated diesel fuel valued at about $6,060.

The case is pending prosecution in Gonzales County.

Rafael Luis Castello, 59, of Odessa, pleaded guilty to evading motor fuel tax.

A Martin County district judge sentenced the defendant to 5 years’ deferred adjudication on the evading motor fuel tax charge, and the second count of the indictment for transporting motor fuel without shipping documents was dismissed as part of the plea deal.

Castello accepted the deferred adjudication with community supervision.

In February 2022, an investigation revealed the defendant unlawfully appropriated fuel by tampering with the fuel pump’s pulsar device, allowing him to free flow the diesel fuel at a slower per gallon calculation and misappropriate the fuel at a much cheaper price than normal – pennies on the dollar.