Grand Jury Returns Multiple Indictments

TYLER � A federal grand jury has returned multiple indictments charging individuals with separate federal crimes in the Eastern District of Texas.

Howard Wayne Collins, 66, of Greenville, was indicted for failing to register as a sex offender. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. According to the indictment, from Sep. 21, 2010, to Apr. 7, 2011, Collins, a convicted sex offender, is alleged to have traveled in interstate commerce while failing to register as required by the Sex Offender Notification Act.

Kevin Davis Locklear, 25, of Jefferson — another convicted sex offender — was also indicted for failing to register as a sex offender and faces up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted. According to the indictment, from July 29, 2010, to May 2, 2011, Locklear is also alleged to have traveled in interstate commerce while failing to register as required by the Sex Offender Notification Act.

Edward Charles Lee, 45, of Gladewater, was indicted on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to the indictment, on Apr. 7, 2011, Lee is alleged to have been found in possession of a stolen firearm. Lee was previously convicted of felony offense battery in Texarkana, Arkansas, in 1993. It is a violation of federal law for a convicted felon to possess or own firearms or ammunition. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

Benito Salazar, Jr., 30, of Dallas; Jose Raul Perez, 23, of Dallas; and Celophis Williams, 28, of Irving, were indicted on charges of conspiracy with intent to distribute cocaine. If convicted, they each face a minimum of 10 years, but not more than life, in federal prison. According to the indictment, the defendants are alleged to have been involved in a conspiracy with others to possess and distribute cocaine and money from Dallas to Little Rock, Arkansas, by way of Interstate Highway 30, through the Eastern District of Texas.

Humberto Oliveros-Contreras, 34, a Mexican national, was indicted for being an alien unlawfully present in the United States after having been deported. According to the indictment, on Apr. 7, 2011, Oliveros-Contreras was located at the Rusk County Probation Office. An investigation revealed he had been deported to Mexico on several occasions. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and deportation.