Posted 9:46 pm Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Man Gets 8 Years For Child Pornography
By CASEY KNAUPP
Staff Writer
Several people were sentenced in federal court Tuesday, including a 42-year-old Rusk man who pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography.
Gordon Neal Mathis was sentenced to eight years in prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. In November 2006, authorities were notified that the defendant possessed sexually explicit material, and a search of his Cherokee County residence unearthed more than 300 digital images and 10 video clips involving child pornography on computers and compact discs.
From 2001 through 2004, Mathis was in the U.S. Army Reserve and served in Afghanistan and Iraq, defense attorney Don Killingsworth said. He asked the judge to consider his military experience and his post-traumatic stress disorder.
Mathis said that while in the Smith County Jail, he has been diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, which may have something to do with his uncontrollable behavior for the last 10 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Marchessault said there was a child who was sexually assaulted in the case.
Killingsworth said Mathis has a pending charge in Cherokee County.
The judge also ordered that he register as a sex offender and undergo sex offender treatment.
Staff Writer
Several people were sentenced in federal court Tuesday, including a 42-year-old Rusk man who pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography.
Gordon Neal Mathis was sentenced to eight years in prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. In November 2006, authorities were notified that the defendant possessed sexually explicit material, and a search of his Cherokee County residence unearthed more than 300 digital images and 10 video clips involving child pornography on computers and compact discs.
From 2001 through 2004, Mathis was in the U.S. Army Reserve and served in Afghanistan and Iraq, defense attorney Don Killingsworth said. He asked the judge to consider his military experience and his post-traumatic stress disorder.
Mathis said that while in the Smith County Jail, he has been diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, which may have something to do with his uncontrollable behavior for the last 10 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Marchessault said there was a child who was sexually assaulted in the case.
Killingsworth said Mathis has a pending charge in Cherokee County.
The judge also ordered that he register as a sex offender and undergo sex offender treatment.
METH CONSPIRACIES
Victor Johnson, 27, was sentenced by Davis to 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess and distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, from January 2003 through September 2006.
Killingsworth, Johnson's attorney, said his client had psychological and mental problems before he began using drugs, but Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Moore said any mental problems Johnson may have were caused by his self-induced drug use.
The judge recommended Johnson undergo drug treatment in prison.
Ramon Pena, Heidi Collard and Marcus Henderson earlier pleaded guilty in the case and have been sentenced for their involvement.
Sandra Faulkner, 26, Tyler, was sentenced to two years of probation for her involvement in a meth-distribution conspiracy.
After a years-long investigation dubbed "Operation Icebox," 19 people were charged in March 2006 with conspiracy to possess and distribute more than 10 kilograms of meth in Tyler, Shreveport and Miami. They have all been convicted and sentenced.
In February 2007, eight more people, including Ms. Faulkner, were indicted in the Tyler-based meth ring conspiracy.
Ms. Faulkner pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony, admitting that she rented cars and delivered packages she believed assisted in distributing meth. She admitted to concealing the illegal activity and failing to report it.
Ms. Faulkner apologized to her family and friends for the pain she caused them and said she hoped to one day make up lost time with her four children.
Defense attorney Matt Flanery said his client realized she made a serious mistake and she was lucky to be given the chance she received Tuesday.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Baldwin said the government recommended probation.
In February 2007, 16 people from Dallas and East Texas were indicted for conspiracy to distribute meth in the Longview branch of "Operation Icebox."
Killingsworth, Johnson's attorney, said his client had psychological and mental problems before he began using drugs, but Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Moore said any mental problems Johnson may have were caused by his self-induced drug use.
The judge recommended Johnson undergo drug treatment in prison.
Ramon Pena, Heidi Collard and Marcus Henderson earlier pleaded guilty in the case and have been sentenced for their involvement.
Sandra Faulkner, 26, Tyler, was sentenced to two years of probation for her involvement in a meth-distribution conspiracy.
After a years-long investigation dubbed "Operation Icebox," 19 people were charged in March 2006 with conspiracy to possess and distribute more than 10 kilograms of meth in Tyler, Shreveport and Miami. They have all been convicted and sentenced.
In February 2007, eight more people, including Ms. Faulkner, were indicted in the Tyler-based meth ring conspiracy.
Ms. Faulkner pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony, admitting that she rented cars and delivered packages she believed assisted in distributing meth. She admitted to concealing the illegal activity and failing to report it.
Ms. Faulkner apologized to her family and friends for the pain she caused them and said she hoped to one day make up lost time with her four children.
Defense attorney Matt Flanery said his client realized she made a serious mistake and she was lucky to be given the chance she received Tuesday.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Baldwin said the government recommended probation.
In February 2007, 16 people from Dallas and East Texas were indicted for conspiracy to distribute meth in the Longview branch of "Operation Icebox."
THEFT
Lisa DeForrest, also known as Lisa Kiper, 32, Carthage, was sentenced by Davis to five years of probation and ordered to pay nearly $30,000 she stole from the government in Social Security Administration benefits she wasn't entitled to receiving.
Ms. DeForrest pleaded guilty to theft of governmental property. From Dec. 18, 1997, through Dec. 14, 2006, in Panola County, she stole Young Wife Survivor Benefit payments totaling $79,489, concealing that she was married on Dec. 18, 1997, her indictment stated. She made false statements to federal authorities on Dec. 6 in Gregg County when she was questioned about her marriage.
U.S. Public Defender Wayne Dickey said he and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble entered into an agreement for the probated sentence.
Ms. DeForrest pleaded guilty to theft of governmental property. From Dec. 18, 1997, through Dec. 14, 2006, in Panola County, she stole Young Wife Survivor Benefit payments totaling $79,489, concealing that she was married on Dec. 18, 1997, her indictment stated. She made false statements to federal authorities on Dec. 6 in Gregg County when she was questioned about her marriage.
U.S. Public Defender Wayne Dickey said he and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble entered into an agreement for the probated sentence.
GUILTY PLEA
In U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith Guthrie's court Tuesday, Mary Ann Braly pleaded guilty to structuring transactions to avoid reporting requirements.
The 64-year-old Kilgore woman devised a scheme to evade federal reporting requirements by structuring a series of transactions with Guaranty Bank in Kilgore for financial gain.
The 113 deposits, made between Oct. 29, 2003, and Nov. 17, 2006, were structured so she would not trigger the filing of a currency transaction report by depositing more than $10,000 on a single day, the indictment states.
Ms. Braly owns and operates a liquor store in Kilgore. The deposits total more than $1 million, an amount Ms. Braly could have to forfeit to the government. She faces up to 10 years in prison.
Marchessault prosecuted the case, while Tonda Curry represented Ms. Braly.
The 64-year-old Kilgore woman devised a scheme to evade federal reporting requirements by structuring a series of transactions with Guaranty Bank in Kilgore for financial gain.
The 113 deposits, made between Oct. 29, 2003, and Nov. 17, 2006, were structured so she would not trigger the filing of a currency transaction report by depositing more than $10,000 on a single day, the indictment states.
Ms. Braly owns and operates a liquor store in Kilgore. The deposits total more than $1 million, an amount Ms. Braly could have to forfeit to the government. She faces up to 10 years in prison.
Marchessault prosecuted the case, while Tonda Curry represented Ms. Braly.
