The alleged organized criminal activity involved a mail theft, fraud and forgery ring that affected as many as 5,000 victims.
MEDINA COUNTY, Texas — More than a dozen people have been arrested as a result of to “Operation: Blank Check” in Medina County, the district attorney says.
Starting around 6 a.m. Thursday, arrest and search warrants were executed in Hondo and other parts of Medina County. In total, authorities arrested 20 men and women. Law enforcement is still tasked with arrested eight more individuals who were indicted. The round-up was organized after a grand jury in Hondo returned indictments in August charging 17 people with engaging in organized criminal activity.
The alleged activity involved a mail theft, fraud and forgery ring that affected as many as 5,000 victims. There were also indictments for 11 other people for drug offenses and credit/debit card abuse.
Hondo PD initiated a 17-month investigation called “Operation Blank Check” after a prior methamphetamine distribution investigation. This investigation “dove-tailed” into a similar credit and debit card abuse investigation initiated by the Medina County Sheriff’s Office.
“We realized very quickly we may have a little bit more going on then somebody just having somebody’s mail,” said Hondo Police Chief Justin Soza. “We identified people who were printing checks, who were stealing credit card numbers.”
If you live within 40 miles of Hondo or have been enrolled in the Texas Vocational School in Victoria, Texas, you are encouraged to check your credit histories for fraudulent activity.
Warrants were also served during the round-up for other controlled substance offenses and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. This uncovered more illegal activity including counterfeiting, auto theft, unlawful firearms possession and child endangerment.
This investigation remains ongoing, and more state charges will be presented to a grand jury for multiple more suspects in the future.
“Hopefully this sends a strong message to those that think they’re going to prey on the good people of Medina County,” Medina County Sheriff Randy Brown.
“Terminating criminal activity in our community remains a priority, and we will continue to aggressively pursue these cases in accordance with the law,” said Mark Haby, Medina County criminal district attorney.
Here is a list of everyone arrest due to this investigation:
- Laura Lynn Felan, First Degree Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity First Degree Delivery of a Controlled Substance
- Justin Glenn Harrell, First Degree Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity
- Jose Gonzales, III, First Degree Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity
- Heather Maxwell Fernandez, First Degree Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity
- Jessica Haga, First Degree Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity
- Kassandra Monique Gardea, First Degree Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity
- Phillip Joseph Canchola, First Degree Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity Guadalupe
- Vanessa Sanchez, First Degree Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity
- Gino Marcus Sintusek, First Degree Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity
- Ephraim Diaz, First Degree Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity
- William Dennis Heyen, First Degree Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity
- Ricky Joe Deleon, First Degree Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity State Jail Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Jessina Denise Lombrana, First Degree Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity
- Robert James Hammond, Jr., First Degree Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity
- Armondo Hernandez, First Degree Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity
- Felix Villareal, First Degree Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity
- Gladys Ann Samaniego, First Degree Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity
- Trenton Chase Von Scheele, Second Degree Delivery of a Controlled Substance
- Steven Phillip Avila, State Jail Delivery of a Controlled Substance
- Joe Albert Martinez, State Jail Delivery of a Controlled Substance
- Brittany Lynn Rodriguez, Second Degree Delivery of a Controlled Substance
- Alejandro Rodriguez, Jr., Second Degree Delivery of a Controlled Substance
- Bernadette Jacklyn Constante, First Degree Delivery of a Controlled Substance
- Justin Dale Crow, State Jail Credit/Debit Card Abuse
- James Allan Wiggs, State Jail Credit/Debit Card Abuse
- Latrell Adolpho Jayz Rodriguez, State Jail Credit/Debit Card Abuse
- Jeremy Lynn Book, Jr., State Jail Credit/Debit Card Abuse
- Jeremy Lee Flores, State Jail Possession of a Controlled Substance