Elizabeth Zavala

2 weeks ago | expressnews.com | Elizabeth Zavala

More than $18 million in cash, 31 pieces of real estate, 35 vehicles, 42 motorcycles - and even a boat. That stunning list of assets is just part of what federal officials seized from Janet Yamanaka Mello, the former San Antonio civilian defense worker who stole nearly $109 million from the U.S. military. Mello, who became known as the "Gucci Goddess," last year was sentenced to 15 years in prison after her fraud was uncovered.

2 weeks ago | expressnews.com | Elizabeth Zavala

If someone calls you, claims to represent the U.S. attorney's office and asks for money, you can be sure it's a scam, federal officials say. Scammers are calling, providing false badge numbers and telling their intended victims that their phone number was found in the contacts list of a rescued human trafficking victim, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas. The scammers then request that funds be sent through a mobile payment application.

2 weeks ago | expressnews.com | Elizabeth Zavala

A federal judge has sentenced a San Antonio man to 21 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to import methamphetamine into the United States, according to federal officials. A criminal complaint accused Juan Antonio Lucha, 27, along with two women, of being part of a drug smuggling organization and trafficking five kilograms of methamphetamine and 1,627 grams of fentanyl from Mexico into the United States.

2 weeks ago | expressnews.com | Elizabeth Zavala

A Laredo man who used a hand-written note to demand cash from a bank teller faces up to 20 years in federal prison in a June robbery, authorities said. Adrian Hernandez, 42, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal robbery charge, according to a statement from Nicholas J. Ganjei, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas.

3 weeks ago | expressnews.com | Elizabeth Zavala

A task force of federal, state and local authorities has arrested more than 40 people in Hays County who are accused of being members of the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Hays County sheriff's deputies, working with agents from the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations, made the arrests Tuesday morning.