Case News

Miguel Cuellar Lopez, 59, of San Antonio, was indicted for allegedly signing a false statement/certificate, a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, and failing to remit tax by dealer in an amount of $1,500 to $20,000, a state jail felony.

An investigation revealed the suspect knowingly failed to pay the motor vehicle sales on food trailers he sold sold for over $8,000 by falsely reporting lower sales figures. Additionally, he made a false entry on a signed Texas Department of Motor Vehicle application for title and registration.

The case is pending prosecution in Bexar County.

Matthew Cantrell, 34, of Cleburne, was convicted of 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.

A Johnson county district judge sentenced the defendant to 10 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, probated to 5 years of community supervision, and imposed a $2,000 fine.

An investigation found the defendant unlawfully used a City of Valley Mills-issued credit or fuel card to acquire fuel for his personal vehicle multiple times, charging nearly $600 and evading the backup motor fuel tax imposed.

Tawni Ledbetter, 59, of Granbury, was convicted of tampering with a governmental record, a state jail felony.

A Montague County district judge placed the defendant on deferred adjudication, sentenced her to three years’ of community supervision and issued a $3,000 fine.

An investigation found the defendant placed a fraudulent date of birth on numerous state applications/government documents for decades.

Manuel Peña Barrera, 37, of Piedras Negras, Mexico, was arrested for transporting motor fuel without shipping documents, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

An investigation revealed the suspect was attempting to export over 900 gallons of diesel fuel to Mexico, for which he did not have shipping documents.

The case is pending prosecution in Maverick County.

Cesar Alejandro Cantu Fernandez, 53, of Santiago, Mexico, was arrested for transporting motor fuel without shipping documents, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

An investigation revealed the suspect was the owner of the company whose trucks were attempting to transport nearly 700 gallons of diesel fuel to Mexico without shipping documents.

The case is pending prosecution in Maverick County.

Shalbi Mathew, 45, of Houston, was indicted for alleged books and records violations, a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

An investigation revealed the suspect was unable to provide invoices for tobacco products he had for sale in his place of business and failed to keep books and records for four years as required

The case is pending prosecution in Harris County.

Victor Hugo Tejeda Rosales, 48, of Piedras Negras, Mexico, was arrested for transporting motor fuel without shipping documents, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

An investigation revealed the suspect was attempting to export approximately 500 gallons of diesel fuel to Mexico, for which he did not have shipping documents.

The case is pending prosecution in Maverick County.

Miguel Roque Acosta, 41, of Tomball, was indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity, a first-degree felony punishable by five to 99 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

An investigation revealed the suspect, along with three other suspects, used stolen credit/debit card information to illegally acquire motor fuel.

The case is pending prosecution in Bowie County.

Jonathan Rosales-Rodriguez, 20, of Houston, was indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity, a first-degree felony punishable by five to 99 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

An investigation revealed the suspect, along with three other suspects, used stolen credit/debit card information to illegally acquire motor fuel.

The case is pending prosecution in Bowie County.

Gustavo Antonio Loredo-Berrones, 28, of Carrollton, was indicted for falsifying entries/failing to enter in tax records, a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, and tampering with a governmental record, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

An investigation revealed the suspect intentionally and knowingly engaged in sales and use tax transactions from his business and failed to enter records as required.

The case is pending prosecution in Somervell County.

Bobby Antweon King, 50, of Fort Worth, was indicted for assault on a peace officer, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000, and unlawful possession of a firearm, a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

An investigation revealed the suspect, with prior felony convictions, was in possession of a handgun during the commission of an offense, striking a police officer in the face with his fist and pushing another officer with his hands and body, causing injury.

The case is pending prosecution in Tarrant County.

Rafael Luis Castello, 61, of Odessa, was convicted of unlawful use of a criminal instrument.

A Denton County district judge sentenced the defendant to four years’ deferred adjudication, 180 hours of community service and a $1,000 fine.

An investigation found the defendant intentionally evaded tax imposed on motor fuel by illegally obtaining 150 gallons of diesel fuel using a vehicle that was modified to receive, transport and dispense large quantities of fuel.

Yazan Ahmad Hassan, 31, of Carrollton, was convicted of attempted cigar and tobacco products tax violation.

A Dallas County district judge sentenced the defendant to three days’ incarceration, gave three days’ credit for time served, and issued a $4,000 fine.

An investigation found the defendant intentionally and knowingly possessed tobacco products for sale on which tax in excess of $9,000 was due but could not provide invoices for the products in his possession.

Juan Zayas-Penalver, 37, of Addison, was indicted for allegedly 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.

An investigation revealed the suspect intentionally and knowingly evaded motor fuel tax by manipulating the fuel dispenser to illegally obtain over 200 gallons of diesel fuel.The defendant used a vehicle that was modified to receive, transport and dispense large quantities of stolen motor fuel.

The case is pending prosecution in Denton County.

Juan Carlos Rodriguez, 30, of Dallas, was convicted of evading motor fuel tax.

An Ellis County district judge sentenced the defendant to three years’ deferred adjudication.

An investigation found the defendant intentionally and knowingly evaded motor fuel tax by illegally obtaining 200 gallons of diesel fuel and using a vehicle that was modified to receive, transport and dispense large quantities of stolen fuel.

Jessica Ayala, 58, , of Angleton, was indicted on four counts of allegedly tampering with a government record with intent to harm or defraud, all state jail felonies.

An investigation revealed the suspect knowingly made a false entry in, or false alteration of, four Texas Department of Motor Vehicle applications for title and registration. She also used false dates on the corresponding Texas Certificate of Titles.

The case is pending prosecution in Brazoria County.

Luis Milo Lezcano, 30, of Houston, was indicted for allegedly 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 of up to $10,000.

An investigation revealed the suspect illegally acquired about 300 gallons of diesel fuel using stolen credit card information. The illegally acquired diesel fuel was dispensed into modified auxiliary fuel tanks mounted to the suspect’s vehicle.

The case is pending prosecution in Colorado County.

Mohamad Fanous, 34, of Garland, was convicted of possessing tobacco with tax due, a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

A Dallas County district judge ordered the defendant to pay $500,000 in restitution and placed the defendant on ten years’ of deferred adjudication community supervision.

An investigation found the defendant failed to keep invoices of tobacco products sold. He also acted as a tobacco distributor without a valid permit and possessed tobacco with tax due by purchasing tobacco products from an unauthorized out-of-state distributor.

Chase Logan Pierre, 29, of Brookshire, was indicted for allegedly 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 revealed the suspect illegally acquired approximately 970 gallons of red-dyed diesel fuel from a construction site. 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.

The case is pending prosecution in Fort Bend County.