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TYLER — Local and federal officials say they’re making big headway in a sweeping fraud case. On July 13, the Tyler PD initiated a joint investigation with assistance from numerous agencies. Those include the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Attorney’s Office-Eastern District, Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, Athens PD, Caney City PD, Longview PD, Mesquite PD, Terrell PD, Waco PD, Corsicana PD, Waxahachie PD, Van Zandt County Prect. 4 Constable, Wal-Mart Stores Asset Protection, and Southside Bank.

According to police, the results of this investigation show that beginning on or about March 1 until August 18, four people committed access device fraud in Henderson and Smith Counties. Three are named as 30-year-old Nathan Paul Michael; his 24-year-old brother, Christopher Scott Michael; and 39-year-old Corey Lee Davis, all of Malakoff. Also named is Elizabeth Anne Pickrell, 24, of Chandler. Authorities say the four obtained goods and services by using fraudulently obtained credit card account numbers to produce counterfeit cards. Victim account numbers were fraudulently obtained from Internet sources or from access devices without knowledge or consent of the account holders. Authorities say this is Identity Theft.

According to a summary from a joint news conference, Elizabeth Pickrell, while employed at Chicken Express, fraudulently obtained hundreds of victims’ card account numbers with an access device located on Old Jacksonville Hwy. This was perpetrated without the knowledge of the account holder or her former employers. Officials say approximately 500 accounts were compromised in Tyler alone by Pickrell.

These individual cardholders also represent several Tyler area banks that officials say would incur loss due to the theft and fraud on the accounts. Nathan and Christopher Michael allegedly obtained the stolen card numbers and reportedly used them to manufacture counterfeit cards for use at merchant locations. Corey Davis allegedly used or facilitated the use of fraudulent cards provided by Nathan and Christopher Michael at the various merchant victims. Property including cash value cards was fraudulently purchased. The merchants were located throughout East Texas and the D/FW Metroplex area.

Police say on August 18, a search warrant served at the Michael residence resulted in the seizure of computers, counterfeit card making equipment, hundreds of counterfeit cards, as well as recovered property, cash value cards, cash from criminal proceeds and drugs. According to authorities, forensic inspection of the equipment revealed that over 6,500 victim entries were fraudulently obtained by the Michael brothers, either by access device or Internet sources.

There are over 100 Financial Institution victims identified, and police say for Tyler area banks alone, fraud loss due to the counterfeit card use is over $100,000. Recovery in property and cash value cards is pending.

A federal grand jury indicted each suspect on eight counts, including access device fraud and conspiracy, and federal arrest warrants were issued. At this time Christopher Michael, Elizabeth Pickrell and Corey Davis have been arrested and placed in federal holding, with the exception of Pickrell, who was able to bond out. Nathan Paul Michael’s federal warrant is still outstanding, and he is believed to be in the Kaufman County/ Dallas County Area, possibly driving a black 2000 Cadillac Escalade, Texas license plate FKS-582. Further indictments are pending in the conspiracy investigation. Anyone with information regarding Nathan Michael’s location is asked to contact Tyler-Smith County Crime Stoppers, Tyler Police Department, United States Secret Service or the United States Marshal’s Service.

JACKSONVILLE — A well-known East Texas piano tuner is in good condition in a Tyler hospital after being shot over the weekend on his property near Jacksonville. Saturday, David Thomason, 73, says he was left for dead on his Cherokee County property after two men stole from him and shot him at least twice. According to law enforcement reports, Thomason was on his land when he noticed two men trying to leave the property. He confronted the pair, and after shots were fired, he was left on the side of the road.

TYLER — After meeting in executive session Wednesday morning to discuss the performance of City Manager Mark McDaniel, the Tyler City Council voted unanimously to rate his performance as “exemplary.” “We are very blessed to have the caliber of leader and municipal manager that we have with Mark,” said Mayor Barbara Bass. “The City Council gave him an exemplary rating for his overall performance and for leading us through the tough economic times we have faced.”

McDaniel’s performance was also recognized by his professional peers when the Texas City Management Association (TCMA) named him Texas Administrator of the Year in June of this year. The TCMA Administrator of the Year Award specifically recognizes the city management professional who has made significant contributions to the field of local government management in the past 18 months. “The City Council is honoring Mark’s request to forgo a salary adjustment despite his tremendous performance,” added Mayor Bass.

According to city staff, key organizational successes in the last year under his leadership include:

• The City ended the year in a positive financial position despite a major shortfall in sales tax collections and produced a balanced 2010-11 budget during a major recession without layoffs or major service reductions.

• The continued implementation of the Tyler 21 Plan including completing utility infrastructure improvements north along Broadway and along the north Loop 323, opening the new Grande Boulevard segments and launching the construction of the new Earl Campbell Parkway.

• Development of a Parks Master Plan, two college area development plans, a transit route study and the Lake Tyler and Lake Bellwood Master Plans.

• Completion of the development of the Industry Growth Initiative using significant outside funding.

• The launch of the next phase of the Blueprint in the form of Tyler Lean Sigma to implement long term cost and time savings, with year two of this program underway.

• Installation and implementation of various traffic congestion improvements throughout the City.

TYLER — The state comptroller’s office has issued a report on how well school districts are using funds to produce high academic performance. Tyler’s rating was unfavorable. The report, issued yesterday, said Tyler was showing little academic progress relative to its spending. According to the state comptroller’s website, scoring from one to five stars, the highest number “reflects the strongest relative progress combined with the lowest relative spending.” The Tyler school district rated only two stars.

TISD officials said the study is intended as an effort to help school districts identify areas of efficiency in operations. According to the district statement, “While we have not had an opportunity to closely study the results, we are thankful that the state is attempting to provide us with help in this analysis. The results that are published are based on data that is two to three years old; however, we do believe that we will find the section summarizing smart practices for minimizing costs helpful as we continue to work through these difficult financial times. As we further evaluate the findings of this report and details related to the ratings assigned to our district, we hope to collect additional information that will help us attain our ultimate goals of academic excellence and operational efficiency.”

TYLER — During their regular meeting on Wednesday, the Tyler City Council awarded a group of bids that officials say will help provide decent housing for low- to moderate-income families through various programs offered by the City’s Neighborhood Services Department. Four bids were awarded to the Anderco Group and Lee’s Construction for the development of four single-family homes in the Hunter’s Glen Revitalization Area. The three-bedroom, two-bath homes will each have an attached two-car garage, and will all be built on lots owned by the City. These homes are being built as part of the City’s initiative to assist eligible low-income homebuyers with the purchase of modest, affordable single family dwellings.

The New Construction and Homebuyer’s Assistance Programs are sponsored by the City and funded with CDBG and HOME funds. The primary purpose of the program is to construct new affordable housing units and to assist low-income homebuyers with down payment and closing costs necessary to purchase a home.

The City Council also awarded bids to Roger’s Construction, Rider Homes and Lee’s Construction for the rehabilitation of two single family homes and the reconstruction of five single family homes. The City’s Owner Occupied Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program allows for the removal of code violations in homes owned by low- to moderate-income families through rehabilitation efforts. Homes where the cost for the necessary repairs exceeds the project budget or if the structure has been deemed unsound are considered for reconstruction rather than rehabilitation. Reconstruction involves the demolition of the existing substandard home and then rebuilding the home on the same location.

Officials say the rehab and reconstruction of these homes is part of a City initiative to assist eligible low-income homeowners in bringing their existing homes into compliance with local housing and building codes. The Owner Occupied Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program is sponsored by the City and funded with CDBG and HOME funds.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council voted Wednesday to adopt an ordinance amending Tyler City Code Chapter 4 to standardize the hours for home solicitation and handbill distribution, and prohibiting solicitation when the occupant provides notice. “We have had feedback from the community that they wanted to see this ordinance strengthened and clarified,” said Tyler Police Chief Gary Swindle. “We feel that the revisions made will help clarify the ordinance and also afford residents the privacy they are seeking when in their own homes.”

The amended ordinance will allow for solicitation Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until sunset. However, solicitation is prohibited all day on Sunday and New Year’s Day, Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The ordinance defines sunset as the time of day identified by the National Weather Service as the time for sunset for that day for the City of Tyler. Previously solicitation was allowed starting at 9 a.m. and precluded on all federal and state holidays. Additionally, the new ordinance will make it unlawful for solicitors to visit a home that has posted a “No Solicitation” notice.

“Homeowners must simply post a small sign on their home that is visible to the solicitor that says No Solicitation,” added Chief Swindle. “In the event that the solicitor still rings the bell or knocks on the door, residents can call the Police Department for enforcement.”

Specifically, the ordinance states:

“It is unlawful for any person to go upon any residential premises and ring the doorbell, rap or knock upon the door, or create any sound in a manner calculated to attract the attention of the occupant of the residence, for the purpose of a charitable solicitation or a home solicitation transaction, if there is placed on such premises in a conspicuous place upon or near the main entrance to the residence or main entrance to a residential gated community, apartment complex or other residential living facility, a sign indicating in any manner the occupants’ desire not to have their privacy disturbed or otherwise prohibiting solicitation, peddling or trespassing.”

The solicitation guidelines also apply to handbill distribution.

LUFKIN — An 18-year-old is arrested in Lufkin on a pair of charges at approximately 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Lufkin Police Department officers arrested Marqueiz Jermaine Jackson on the 1000 block of Turner Street in Lufkin for the Class A misdemeanor offenses of evading arrest or detention and unlawful carry of a weapon.

According to a police report, officers were dispatched to the 1000 block of Idylwood in reference to a report of gunshots. The officers located a person matching the caller-provided description of the suspect, but police say the suspect, later identified Jackson, fled on foot. According to police, the officers pursued Jackson for approximately four blocks through yards and over fences before apprehending him in the 1000 block of Turner Street. Once Jackson was in custody, officers retraced his path and recovered a Ruger brand P90 .45 caliber handgun allegedly discarded by Jackson. Jackson was booked into Angelina County Jail.

LUFKIN – A Lufkin man is arrested Tuesday night after allegedly pulling a knife on a convenience store employee. Lufkin police say it happened in the 600 block of North Raguet Street. The employee tells officers a customer got mad when he was told his lottery tickets weren’t winning tickets. He says that’s when the man left without paying for soft drinks, pulled a knife, and threatened to kill the employee. Police say when they got to the store, they found the man with the knife still in his hand. They add that after asking him numerous times to drop it, officers finally used a TASER to control the man without seriously hurting him.

The man was booked into the Angelina County Jail on charges of aggravated robbery and resisting arrest with a deadly weapon. According to authorities, the man also refused to identify himself to police. Officers say his fingerprints will be entered into their system in the meantime. When he is identified, police say he will be charged with failure to identify.

TYLER — A Tyler man has been found guilty of failing to register with the Smith County Sheriff’s Department as a sex offender. Officials with the 7th District Court in Tyler confirm that Timothy Allen Means, 23, was found guilty of the offense on Tuesday. Failing to register is a third degree felony. Means was originally found guilty of indecency with a child, and officials say he failed to register once before. He could face up to 10 years in prison and could be hit with a $10,000 fine when sentenced on January 3rd.

JACKSONVILLE – Warrants have been issued for two men suspected to be involved in a Cherokee County shooting over the weekend. According to KETK, officials with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department confirm there is a Crimestoppers reward for information leading to the arrests of Hugo Rincon, 19 and his brother, Ruben Rincon, 22. Both men are wanted for aggravated robbery.

Over the weekend, a 73-year-old man reportedly witnessed the men burglarizing his tool shed. The man says his truck blocked the men from leaving his driveway. According to the victim, that’s when one them walked up to his truck window and shot him twice. The man says he was then pulled from his truck and put on the ground before they moved his vehicle and drove away. The man is now recovering and has been released from the hospital. Sheriff’s officials say both brothers are considered armed and dangerous. If you have any information about their whereabouts, you’re asked to call Cherokee County Crimestoppers.

LONGVIEW — Longview Police say a Gilmer man reportedly broke into a couple of trailers at a local retailer and is now in custody. A tip led authorities to John Harris, 21, who stands accused of trying to break into several trailers at the Academy Store in Longview Sunday morning and set them on fire. Harris was arrested in Upshur County Monday on an unrelated drug charge. Authorities say he’ll be extradited back to Gregg County. He faces burglary charges with arson charges pending.

TYLER – Jail records show Charles Robinson Jr., a Tyler dentist charged with possession of child pornography and improper visual recording, has been released from the Smith County Jail. Robinson was released on a $50,000 bond Monday night around 5:45 p.m. Robinson is accused of taping two tenants, a 40-year-old woman and her 15-year-old daughter, for the past three years. Cameras were found inside the woman’s attic, focused on both the bedrooms and bathrooms.

HENDERSON — A Rusk County Sheriff’s deputy discovers a load of marijuana during a routine traffic stop this week. Officials say the deputy stopped an SUV on Highway 59 in the southeast region of the county after he noticed the SUV had a defective license plate lamp. Officials say during the traffic stop, he noticed several things indicative of criminal activity. The deputy asked the driver for consent to search the vehicle. Authorities say the driver denied the consent, but the deputy used his certified narcotics dog, Caro, to do a “free air” sniff of the vehicle.

Officials say Caro alerted on the vehicle, so the lawman conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle based on the alert. According to authorities, the deputy discovered two large duffel bags in the rear cargo area of the SUV. Authorities say numerous bricks of marijuana were inside the bags. Authorities report that the lawman seized the marijuana and charged the suspect with possession of marijuana. Officials say the total weight of the marijuana was 204.6 lbs, with an estimated street value of $100,000. The suspect was placed in Rusk County Jail.

LONGVIEW (AP) – An East Texas county has halted electronic fund transfers after cyber hackers believed to be in Russia allegedly stole $200,000 in tax-related funds. The Longview News-Journal reported Tuesday that Gregg County, state and federal authorities are investigating. Tax assessor/collector Kirk Shields said Monday that local tax payments destined for schools and cities were hijacked. Shields says confirmation of Nov. 23 theft, discovered in progress and traced to a website in Moscow, has led to changes in the county’s method for moving funds. Thieves use malicious software, known as malware, to infect the computers of unsuspecting users by e-mail. Shields says a county employee who mistakenly unleashed the virus has been suspended for violating cyber-security policy. Efforts continue to retrieve the funds and identify the hackers.

GILMER — A Honduran national is sentenced to life without parole Monday. Miguel Espinal-Gomez, 26, pleaded guilty to stabbing a Gilmer couple to death on New Year’s Day. He admitted to killing the victim and his paraplegic wife. Gomez claims the man inappropriately touched his wife.