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Federal Indictments Returned in Tyler
Posted: Thursday, 6th March 2008 2:50AM
TYLER -- A federal grand jury in Tyler has returned several indictments this week on a variety of cases. One was against a former Tyler bank president. Steven Brent Lemons 51, of Arlington, was indicted on charges of bank fraud, wire fraud, misapplication of funds, interstate transportation of stolen funds, and conducting transactions with criminally derived funds. If convicted, he could receive imprisonment of 30 years and a fine of $1 million.
The indictment alleges that from May 2005 through March 2007 Lemons abused his position as the Senior Vice President of Investments and Financial Advisor at Banc of America Investment Services and President of the Tyler Market of Bank of America by misapplying a client's funds without their knowledge or consent.
Other indictments include:
Rigobero Mercado Torres, 47, of Selma, California, was indicted on charges of theft of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. If convicted, he could receive imprisonment of not less than 10 years and a fine of not more than $250,000. The indictment alleges that on January 13, 2008, the Nacogdoches Police Department stopped a tractor trailer for a traffic violation, received consent to search, and discovered approximately 4,000 pounds of marijuana in the trailer.
A long time teacher at Rusk High School, Harold Earl Scallon, 60, of Jacksonville, was indicted on charges of distribution of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors and possession of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors. If convicted, he could receive imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine not to exceed $250,000.00 for each count. The indictment alleges that on July 6, 2007, at his residence in Jacksonville, Texas, Scallon possessed a personal computer that contained visual depictions involving minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. On that date, the computer was seized by law enforcement officers pursuant to a federal search warrant. A forensic analysis of the computer by law enforcement officers revealed visual depictions of more than 150 images involving minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Billy Joe Huff, 36, of Phoenix, Arizona, was indicted on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of more than 100 kilograms of marijuana. If convicted, he could receive imprisonment of up to 40 years and a fine of up to $2 million. The indictment alleges that on January 24, 2008, Huff was stopped by a Smith County Sheriff's Deputy on Interstate 20 near 849 for a traffic violation. A search of Huff's vehicle led to the recovery of approximately 242 pounds of suspected marijuana which was hidden within the legitimate load of lettuce.
Denise Ward, 50, of Overland Park, Kansas, was indicted on charges of sexual exploitation of children. If convicted, she could receive imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000. The indictment alleges that in January and May of 2007, in Upshur and Harrison counties, respectively, Ward provided children for another person to use in the production of sexually explicit videos. The indictment further alleges that she failed to report the sexual exploitation to the minors' parents or federal law enforcement authorities.
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