Comments on Current Events In Criminal Law from the Federal Criminal Courts in Texas

March 31, 2008

ELEVEN MEN ARRESTED ON FEDERAL CHARGES FOR FAILING TO REGISTER AS SEX OFFENDERS

United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced that federal and state law enforcement officers recently wrapped-up Operation Guardian West, a multi-agency operation targeting registered sex offenders in the El Paso area who were required, but failed to maintain their registration as a sex offender.

Operation Guardian West was designed to investigate offenders’ compliance with registration requirements and for those found to be non-compliant, to secure either federal or state criminal complaints seeking their prosecution. This operation was designed to compliment existing city and county registration compliance initiatives.

“Convicted sex offenders are clearly a danger to our community, so it’s vital that we know if one is living in our neighborhood,” stated United States Attorney Johnny Sutton.

Those who have been charged by either federal complaint or indictment include:

John Charles Fox, failure to register as a sex offender and possession of child pornography

Booker Rogers (recently deceased), failure to register as a sex offender
Raymond Chavez, failure to register as a sex offender

Anthony Kebodeaux, failure to register as a sex offender

Jose Cabral, failure to register as a sex offender

Leroy Byrd, failure to register as a sex offender

Gary Heth, failure to register as a sex offender

Edwin Sanders, failure to register as a sex offender

Steven Santana-Smith, failure to register as a sex offender

James McBroom, failure to register as a sex offender

Mark Martinez, failure to register as a sex offender

This operation is being investigated by the United States Marshals Service with the assistance from the El Paso Police Department and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Brandy Gardes.

A criminal complaint or indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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