Verdict . News

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 9, 2026•4 min read

5th Circuit Affirms $4M Fraud Judgment Against Texas Oil Executive

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a $4 million fraud judgment against Juan Fernando Pastrana, who defrauded investors in a Texas oil recycling facility scheme. The appeals court upheld both the bankruptcy court's damages award and the district court's affirmance in the multi-million dollar case.

•Fifth Circuit affirmed $4 million fraud judgment against Juan Fernando Pastrana

•Case involved fraudulent oil recycling facility scheme in Harris County, Texas

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 8, 2026•4 min read

3rd Circuit Upholds 24-Year Sentence in Major Drug Conspiracy Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed the conviction and 24-year prison sentence of Christopher Texidor, who led a drug trafficking organization that moved nearly 3,000 kilograms of marijuana from California to Pennsylvania. The court rejected all of Texidor's sentencing challenges in a decision issued Jan. 8.

•Christopher Texidor received 292 months for drug trafficking and firearm offenses, plus 240 months concurrent for wire fraud

•Third Circuit rejected all appeals challenging leadership enhancement and sentence length

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 8, 2026•4 min read

11th Circuit Affirms 96-Month Bank Fraud Sentence for Alabama Attorney

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 96-month federal sentence for Anna Michelle La Rue, who pleaded guilty to bank fraud while working as an office manager at an Alabama law firm. La Rue had challenged the upward variance from sentencing guidelines as substantively unreasonable.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed 96-month sentence for bank fraud committed while working at Alabama law firm

•Defendant challenged upward variance from guidelines as substantively unreasonable under federal law

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 8, 2026•4 min read

Fifth Circuit Affirms Money Laundering Conviction in Cross-Border Drug Case

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentencing calculation for Liza Garcia, who pleaded guilty to drug-related money laundering charges in connection with a cross-border narcotics smuggling operation. The court rejected Garcia's challenge to the district court's base offense level calculation in a per curiam decision filed January 8, 2026.

•Fifth Circuit affirmed Garcia's money laundering conviction and sentencing calculation

•Garcia recruited David Apaseo to transport narcotics from Mexico to the United States

•Seven defendants sentenced by U.S. District Judge Carol Bagley Amon in Brooklyn federal court

Jan 7, 2026•4 min read

Seven Sentenced in $12M Transnational Telemarketing Fraud Targeting Elderly

Seven defendants were sentenced in Brooklyn federal court for participating in a transnational telemarketing scheme that defrauded victims of more than $12 million. Many victims were elderly, and the defendants laundered fraudulent proceeds shared with international co-conspirators.

•Scheme defrauded victims of over $12 million through transnational telemarketing operations

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 7, 2026•4 min read

11th Circuit Upholds Conviction in Federal Racketeering Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has issued an unpublished opinion addressing Phillip Timothy Howard's appeal of his federal racketeering conviction and 168-month prison sentence. Howard challenged both his guilty plea and the sentence imposed by the Northern District of Florida.

•Eleventh Circuit reviewed Howard's appeal challenging racketeering conviction and 168-month sentence

•Howard argued his guilty plea lacked factual basis and was not knowing and voluntary

•Former TD Bank employee Wilfredo Aquino pleaded guilty to facilitating money laundering involving hundreds of millions of dollars

Former TD Bank Employee Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Scheme

Wilfredo Aquino, a former New York-based TD Bank employee, pleaded guilty to facilitating a money laundering network that moved hundreds of millions of dollars through bank accounts. The case highlights significant vulnerabilities in banking compliance systems at major financial institutions.

•The scheme involved criminal networks using TD Bank accounts to move illicit funds through the banking system

•Charlotte resident receives federal prison sentence for Ponzi scheme operation

Charlotte Man Sentenced to Prison for Operating Ponzi Scheme

A Charlotte man has been sentenced to federal prison for operating a Ponzi scheme, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina. The case represents another federal prosecution targeting investment fraud that defrauds victims through false promises of returns.

•Case prosecuted by U.S. Attorney's Office for Western District of North Carolina

•Federal sentencing completed for Lufkin resident in $9 million fraud scheme

Lufkin Man Sentenced in $9 Million Federal Fraud Scheme

A Lufkin man has been sentenced for federal violations related to a $9 million fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas. U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs announced the successful prosecution, marking a significant white-collar crime conviction in the region.

•Eastern District of Texas prosecutors secured conviction under U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs

•Nine South Bay men indicted for racketeering conspiracy as SAP Norteños gang members

Nine Salinas Gang Members Indicted on Federal Racketeering Charges

A federal grand jury has indicted nine South Bay men for racketeering conspiracy as members of the Salinas Acosta Plaza Norteños street gang. The charges include 11 murders, 14 attempted murders, and extensive drug and weapons trafficking operations.

•Charges include 11 murders and 14 attempted murders linked to gang activities