Twenty People in Custody Following New Charges in Houston Violent Crime Initiative

A total of 20 individuals are now in custody following the latest charges brought under the Department of Justice’s Houston Violent Crime Initiative. A federal grand jury issued six separate but related indictments between July 31 and August 22.

Of the 17 individuals arrested this week, all have made their initial court appearances. Detention hearings are scheduled for September 3 and 4 before U.S. Magistrate Judges Christina Bryan and Yvonne Ho. The remaining three suspects, who were already in custody on related charges, are expected to appear before a U.S. magistrate judge soon.

The indictments include charges related to the possession and distribution of over 30 firearms, methamphetamine, and more than 15 kilograms of cocaine. During this week’s arrests, law enforcement executed search warrants resulting in the seizure of 10 firearms, $26,000 in cash, and additional cocaine and crack cocaine.

Fifteen individuals face charges in two indictments for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, alongside multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute. Additional charges include illegal possession of firearms, criminal possession of a machine gun, and maintaining drug premises.

These indictments are part of a broader effort, with 23 indictments charging 77 individuals to date under the Houston Violent Crime Initiative, first announced in September 2022. The initiative, which involves the U.S. Attorney’s Office and various local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, aims to combat violent crime through federal prosecutions of gang members in Houston.

If convicted, the 15 individuals charged in the drug conspiracies face up to life in prison, with varying terms for substantive counts. Charges related to felonious firearm possession carry potential sentences of up to 15 years, while possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime could result in a consecutive term of at least five years to life in prison.

The investigation involved the FBI, Houston Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Office of Inspector General, and multiple other agencies, including police departments in Sugar Land, Missouri City, Pasadena, and Pearland, as well as state and local authorities in Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and other regions.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anh-Khoa Tran is prosecuting the case, supported by Trial Attorneys Amy L. Schwartz, George Meggali, Shriram Harid, John Ganz, and Adam Tisdall from various Justice Department sections.