John T. Floyd Law Firm
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Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts of Texas and the U.S.
May 16, 2006
FEDERAL PRETRIAL SERVICES OFFICER INDICTED
FOR MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS TO FEDERAL OFFICERS
HOUSTON, TX – Long-time McAllen Federal Pretrial Services Officer Juan M. Cantu, 51, of Edinburg, Texas, was indicted late Monday, May 15, 2006, by a Houston federal grand jury for making false statements to federal officers, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. Cantu was previously arrested by FBI and IRS agents during the early morning of April 18, 2006, and released on bond. He was subsequently ordered to wear a tracking device with other stringent bond conditions.
The prosecution of Cantu began with the filling of a criminal complaint in April 2006, which, along with the supporting affidavit, led to Cantu’s arrest last month alleging that on April 21, 2005, Cantu, a U.S. Pretrial Services officer assigned to the McAllen office, falsely stated to a deputy United States Marshal and FBI special agent that he had no information in regard to an investigation being conducted by the officers in an attempt to locate a fugitive wanted by the United States Marshals Service. Cantu was asked specific questions, according to the complaint affidavit, in regard to information that could assist to locate the fugitive, but failed to provide any such information.
However, the complaint affidavit also alleges that DEA agents had seen Cantu meet with the fugitive in the McAllen area on at least three occasions prior to the April 21, 2005, meeting with the deputy United States Marshal and FBI special agent. Additionally, Cantu is alleged to have had extensive telephone contact with this fugitive. None of this extensive contact with the fugitive was disclosed by Cantu to the deputy marshal conducting the fugitive investigation, according to the complaint affidavit.
Cantu will appear for an arraignment in the near future in Brownsville, Texas, where the case will be prosecuted. If convicted, he faces a possible sentence of five (5) years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
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