On December 6, 2013, Corpus Christi Police detectives obtained two arrest warrants for Orlando Robles, DOB: 7-16-74, age 39, at his home in Rockport, Texas, for the offenses of Sexual Assault and Att. Sexual Assault. He has been charged in connection with the following:

· The Sexual Assault of a 19-year-old female on September 29, 2013, at 2401 S. Alameda St. at Louisiana Pkwy.
Bond: $1,000,000.
· The Attempted Sexual Assault of a 22-year-old female on September 30, 2013, at Leopard St. and Villa St.
Bond: $500,000.

He was transported to Corpus Christi where he was booked at the City Detention Center.

In light of recent events that have occurred in the 3500 block of Lariat Lane and in the 5300 of Greenbriar, representatives from the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Charlie District (south side) Patrol Division will hold a town hall meeting. The meeting will be this Wednesday (12/4/2013) at the CC Country Club located at 6300 Everhart Road. The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. All residents are invited to attend this meeting.

District Commander John Houston and Captain Ed Shannon along with staff will discuss the latest crime statistics for the areas of concern. In keeping with the mission of “Reducing Crime, Reducing the Fear of Crime and Enhancing Public Safety” this meeting will also include tips for safety of people and also of keeping homes secure.

A short question and answer session will follow.

For those unable to make the meeting, a live stream is available by visiting Corpus Christi Police Department’s LiveStream website. http://new.livestream.com/accounts/5190505/events/2594787

(Courtesy of USATXS-Public Affairs Atty)

25 Sentenced in Operation Prison Cell

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – 14 former Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) correction officers and 11 others have been ordered to federal prison following their convictions related to a large-scale racketeering case involving the McConnell Unit in Beeville, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

With the exception of Juan Ledezma, who was convicted following a two-day trial, 28 others pleaded guilty to varying counts of racketeering or other charges. U.S. District Judge Hayden Head, who accepted the guilty pleas and presided over the trial, handed down the sentences against 25 of those convicted from Tuesday through today. Four others will be sentenced at a later date.

Former McConnell Unit guards Stephanie Deming, 24, Lela Ysolde Hinojosa, 52, and Arturo Salas, 23, all of Beeville, Christy Nesloney, 27, of Cuero, James Randal Standlea, 25, of Mathis, Desiree Silguero, 43, of McAllen, Emmanuel Cotto, 32, of San Antonio, Megan Brook Morales, 24, of Bulverde, Lakeisha Jeanette Reid, 25, of Austin, Jaime Jorge Garza, 38, of Santa Elena, and Oscar Juraidini, 25, of Brownsville, were all convicted of one count of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), as was contract mental health professional Kimberly Koenig, 32, of Victoria. Nesloney was sentenced today to 28 months in federal prison, while Deming received 27 months, while Reid received a sentence of 24 months in federal prison, while Salas and Juraidini will each serve 22 months. Hinojosa and Morales each received 21-month terms of incarceration, while Garza will be in prison for 15 months. Silguero and Cotto will serve five months to be immediately followed by another five months on home confinement. Standlea will be on probation for three years. Just moments ago, Koenig received her sentence – three years of probation.

Other McConnell Unit Guards Jamar Tremayne Green 30, of Refugio, Casey Simmons, 25, of Kenedy, and Justin Leonard, 24, of Cypress, were convicted of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute ecstasy, marijuana and cocaine, respectively. Simmons was sentenced to three years of probation, while Green and Leonard will serve five months in prison plus five months of home confinement.

Seven of the 10 individuals considered “facilitators” in the case were also sentenced today. Yvonne Sandoval, 37, of Corpus Christi, Maria Fernanda Hidalgo, 32, of McAllen, and Lindsey Elaine Savage, 30, of Copperas Cove, were all convicted of RICO and received sentences of 18 months, 12 months plus one day, and 38 months, respectively. Melissa Lozano, 29, of San Antonio, was also convicted on the RICO count and will be sentenced Nov. 25, 2013. The six other facilitators pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering. Juanita Beltran Mendez, 50, of Bishop, will be on probation for five years, while Nancy Star Onega, 27, and Donna Sorise, 57, both of Hialeah, Fla., and Maria Rose Rodriguez, 35, of Alamo, will serve sentences of 60, 71 and 66 months, respectively. Craig Owens, 29, of Kileen, and Karla Sanchez, 26, of Houston, will be sentenced Nov. 25, 2013.

The final four charged in the case – Aaron Trevino, 37, of Lockhart, Christopher Karl Owens, 33, of Killeen, Christopher Smith, 28, of Chester, and Ledezma, 40, of Brownsville – were considered “inmates” in the overall scheme and were at one time or another in TDCJ custody during the conspiracy. Trevino pleaded guilty to the RICO count and received a total of 198 months in federal prison, while Smith entered a plea to money laundering and received time served, approximately 10 months of incarceration. Ledezma, who was found guilty by a Corpus Christi federal jury of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana, will serve a total of 360 months in federal prison for the three counts of conviction. Christopher Owens will be sentenced in January 2014.

There are still two fugitives in the case and warrants remain outstanding for their arrests.

The arrests came as a result of a joint effort between TDCJ-Office of Inspector General and federal authorities to attempt to break the “culture of corruption” that permeated the McConnell Unit Prison during a period between 2005 to the present. State and federal authorities worked together in a determined effort to disrupt and dismantle the violent criminal gangs who were profiting through the corruption of guards at the prison.

Correction officers assisted prisoners incarcerated in the TDCJ McConnell Unit Prison in Beeville by smuggling cellular telephones and drugs into the prison system. The drugs and phones were then sold inside the prison to other inmates. The phones were used by inmates to assist in their coordination of criminal activities outside the prison.

During Ledezma’s trial, the jury heard testimony that Ledezma acted as an intermediary between drug traffickers in south Texas and Mexico. He had connections to drug suppliers and, utilizing the illegally smuggled cell phones, coordinated with other prisoners to organize drug deals inside and outside the prison. Jurors heard that prisoners had made phone calls to Ledezma while in the McConnell Unit. In these calls, Ledezma agreed to help arrange for six pounds of methamphetamine to be purchased in Corpus Christi and distributed in Arkansas. The buyers of the methamphetamine were to pay more than $20,000 per pound of the drug.

The overall investigation was initiated in 2009 when several Aryan Circle Gang Members were apprehended attempting to transport stolen vehicles from Corpus Christi to Brownsville. The vehicles were destined to be smuggled across the border and sold to Mexico Cartel members. The operation was coordinated by inmates incarcerated at the McConnell Unit through the use of the illegal cell phones.

A subsequent investigation led to a December 2010 federal indictment charging 14 alleged members and associates of the Raza Unida Street and Prison Gang with committing violent acts to support racketeering (VICAR). These violent acts included home invasions, shootings and conspiracy to commit murder. During the course of the investigation, agents and officers seized approximately 13 pounds of crystal methamphetamine with an estimated street value of more than $300,000. Additionally, seven assault rifles, 14 pistols, five shotguns, five bullet proof vests and approximately 1,000 rounds of ammunition were seized from the gang. All were subsequently convicted, two of whom were sentenced to life imprisonment.

The overall case is the result of a four-year investigation conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, TDCJ-Office of Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Corpus Christi Police Department Gang and Organized Crime Units, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Bee County District Attorney’s office.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Patterson and Michael Hess.

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Angela Dodge
Public Affairs Officer

Effective 1 November 2013, in accordance with City Ordinance 3 1/2, Officers will not respond to any alarm notification from an alarm site that does not have a valid permit unless the alarm notification was a duress alarm, a hold-up alarm, a panic alarm, or reported to a 9-1-1 emergency telephone number by a person other than an alarm company.

The Corpus Christi City Ordinance Sec. 3½-2 states that an alarm permit is required. Annual alarm fees are $35 dollars for a residential alarm and $60 dollars for a commercial property. The alarm program contact number is 1-877-413-8308. You can visit the City of Corpus Christi Alarm Program online by clicking here. 

As Halloween is upon us we hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable day. Here are a few tips from the CDC website:

Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.

Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Always WALK and don’t run from house to house.

Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible.

Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.

Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.

Enter homes only if you’re with a trusted adult. Only visit well-lit houses. Don’t stop at dark houses. Never accept rides from strangers.

As for those who would rather plays tricks than receive treats, remember that damaging a person’s property can be considered “Criminal Mischief”. Don’t ruin your night by having to meet one of our Uniformed Officers. The costume they are wearing is real and so are the consequences.

Let’s hope everyone can enjoy the night.