Houston

Published on: September 25, 2020

Civil Asset Forfeiture Complaint Filed Against Former Houston School District Official Accused of Kickback Scheme

A federal civil asset forfeiture complaint was filed last Friday against Houston Independent School District’s (HISD) former Chief Operating Officer (COO) Brian Busby, who is accused of receiving cash kickbacks from a landscaping contractor for a series of projects that were never performed.

The forfeiture complaint is seeking to confiscate more than $185,000 that was seized in February 2020 from the residences of Busby and the contractor. Though Busby has not been charged with a crime, the filing alleges that the money is traceable to “the proceeds of federal programs theft and wire fraud.” It is unclear if Busby has acquired legal representation.

Published on: July 20, 2020

Texas Man Charged in $1.1 Million Wire Fraud Scheme Involving COVID-19 Relief Funds

by Brian Silber

The U.S. Department of Justice announced fraud charges against a Texas man accused of fraudulently obtaining $1.1 million in federal loans earmarked for small businesses affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Joshua Thomas Argires, 29, of Houston was charged with making false statements to a financial institution, engaging in unlawful monetary transactions, wire fraud, and bank fraud. It is unclear if he has acquired the services of an attorney.

Published on: July 11, 2019

Houston Police Seized $955 from Ovide Ned During Traffic Stop

by Brian Silber

In January 2016, police officers searched Ovide Ned’s car during a traffic stop in Houston, Texas. After they found a bottle of opioid painkillers, police charged Ned, then aged 40, with drug possession. Ned had $955 on his person at the time. Officers seized this money as well.

Once Ned was able to prove he had a valid prescription for the medication, the criminal charges against him were dropped. The money, however, was never returned.

Angela Beavers, the chief civil asset forfeiture prosecutor at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, said that despite the prescription, Ned was “obviously selling the pills.” She explained that drug dealers would often obtain prescriptions for the meds they were selling from pain clinics.
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Published on: May 9, 2018

Border Patrol Seized $41,000 From Texas Woman, Refuses to Relinquish It

by Brian Silber

In October 2017, a Texas woman had nearly $41,000 seized from her as she tried to board a plane to Nigeria. More than six months later, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has not yet returned her money.

Anthonia Nwaorie, a nurse, had long dreamed of saving up enough money to open a medical clinic in southern Nigeria. She spent years putting money aside for the clinic. Last year she had finally saved up enough money and bought a flight to Nigeria.
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