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April 30, 2015, BEAUMONT, Texas – A 58-year-old Lafayette, LA, man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Christopher Omigie, a Nigerian native and naturalized U.S. citizen, pleaded guilty on Oct. 28, 2014 to conspiracy to distribute cocaine was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone.
According to information presented in court, Omigie presented himself to drug traffickers as a witch doctor and was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to provide supernatural protection from law enforcement. Omigie was consulted by drug traffickers in the Cesar Barrera and David Bazan drug trafficking organizations on a daily basis and before, during and after each drug transaction. The supernatural protections rendered involved card readings, massages (by Omigie) with magic ointments, cutting of the skin with razor blades and the topical application of magic powder, the use of magic amulets, magic belts, magic coconuts and magic rocks (that those being treated were required to talk to).
Drug traffickers were required by Omigie to go without bathing and intercourse for a period of time following magic treatments so as not to diminish the potency of those ministrations. Magic “law stay away” candles were also burned in order to protect drug traffickers from law enforcement detection. Omigie would regularly return to Africa, at drug traffickers’ expense, to re-new his supernatural powers. Omigie was indicted by a federal grand jury on Sep. 5, 2013.
Cesar Barrera and David Bazan have since both pleaded guilty to schemes involving the trafficking of more than 1,000 kilograms of cocaine each.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Craft.
April 30, 2015 - Travelers on Shelbyville Street in Center are urged to use caution as they travel across the railroad crossing located at Martin Luther King Drive on Thursday, April 30, 2015.
One arm of the crossing has been knocked off and the other arm is lowering at frequent intervals regardless of a train approaching or not. This is causing traffic delays and is making it difficult for drivers to know if a train is approaching. It's unknown how the gate reacts when a train does approach.
According to the Center Police Department, the railroad company has been notified as of 9am this morning; however, it is unknown from where a crew is traveling and when they will arrive.
April 29, 2015 - A Shelby County viewer reported receiving a call from the IRS this morning with instructions to call (254) 304-8945 to pay taxes or they would be penalized or sued. Always use caution when receiving phone calls were the caller is threatening and demanding payment of money owed.
According to a consumer alert on irs.gov - Note that the IRS will never: 1) call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill; 2) demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe; 3) require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card; 4) ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone; or 5) threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
Sheriff Willis Blackwell would like the citizens of Shelby County to be aware of several scams going around including an IRS scam.
The people are from the middle east and they call stating you owe the IRS some money and wanting you to send it to them by credit card or bank card and saying if you don't, you will be arrested.
The IRS does not operate this way at all. Do not send them anything. These people are very persistent. If they call; just hang up.
April 24, 2015 - The driver of one vehicle was transported to the hospital following a crash south 
of Shelbyville on Thursday evening, April 23, 2015. According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Dustin Ramos, troopers were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash at 6:31pm on State Highway (SH) 147 at the intersection of County Road 1095. Upon arrival it was discovered that a red 2002 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Ashton Battles, 17, of San Augustine was parked on County Road 1095 at the stop sign and was preparing to enter SH 147.
A 2005 white Toyota Highlander driven by Lakoha Davis, 27, of Center was traveling southbound on State Highway 147 when Battles failed to yield right of way at the stop sign and pulled out in front of the Toyota causing Davis to collide with the rear driver side of the Chevrolet causing damage to both vehicles.
Davis was transported to San Augustine Memorial Hospital by San Augustine County EMS for treatment of her injuries. Battles received a citation for no driver's license and failure to yield right of way stop sign. The owner of the Chevrolet was cited for allowing an unlicensed driver to drive.
Assisting at the scene was Jamie Hagler, Constable Precinct 2.
April 23, 2015 - Two vehicles collided at what has proved over the years to be a dangerous intersection on U.S. 96 North Tuesday.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at 1pm a maroon 2006 Ford Fusion 4-door owned and operated by Dory Alexander Hill, 65, of Tenaha was traveling northbound on U.S. 96 behind a white 2002 Chrysler Town & Country driven by Candy Vianey, 26, of Center.
As Vianey was turning left onto FM 2026 (Folsom Chapel Road) Hill failed to control the speed of her vehicle and collided with the rear of the Town & Country. The 
Fusion remained in the middle of the highway and the Town & Country pulled into the old Williams Propane parking lot.
Center Police officers Bobby Walker and Sgt. Duane Gordon, as well as Center firemen arrived at the scene to assist with traffic control.
ACE EMS responded to the scene. Vianey and her 3-year-old passenger were transported from the scene to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment. Hill refused treatment at the scene.
Hill was issued a citation for failure to control speed and Vianey was issued a citation for no driver's license.
Betty Mooney, a passerby at the scene, has property near the intersection and she has seen many vehicle crashes at the same location, under the same circumstances.
"They're coming so fast down that hill and then when one tries to jump over [from the inside lane] there's nowhere to go. I own this property right here I wish it was closer, I would have given the state the right-of-way for a turning lane," said Mooney.
Mooney explained her son had a crash further up the roadway toward the top of the hill and she believes the problem is travelers are going too fast and the speed is set too high, which at this time is 60mph. The greatest concern for Mooney is young inexperienced drivers who may be unable to make a quick decision to help prevent a crash and more importantly save their lives.
"I would like to say that this intersection is extremely dangerous. Going north toward Tenaha you are leaving the city limit sign [for Center] and going into a 60mph speed zone, where you're accelerating pretty fast coming downhill and making a left-hand turn onto Folsom Chapel (FM 2026) from 96 North, if you have someone behind you most of the time they don't have enough time to slow down due to already accelerating," said Mooney.
Mooney explains the two options available to drivers are not very safe and given the proper formula could cause a serious crash like what she says she has seen before.
"If they're able to stop they're probably going to slam on their brakes and they could hit you, otherwise if there's somebody on the other side of them [in the outside lane] they can't get over, so you could cause an accident that way and I've seen that happen also. I have deemed this intersection as a death trap."
According to information provided to Shelby County Today by the Texas Department of Transportation in relation to reportable motor vehicle traffic crashes related to the intersection of U.S. Highway 96 and FM 2026 from 2010-2015 there have been 16 crashes.
|
Reportable Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes Related
to the Intersection of US 96 and FM 2026 in Shelby County |
|||||||
| Crash Year | Fatal Crashes | Incapacitating Injury Crashes | Non-Incapacitating Injury Crashes | Possible Injury Crashes | Non-Injury Crashes | Unknown Injury Crashes | Total Crashes |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
April 23, 2015 - Sheriff Willis Blackwell reports that on Saturday, April 18, 2015, Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy Kurtes Lawrence, while on routine patrol on FM 417 West, noticed a vehicle parked on County Road 1042 facing oncoming traffic.
Lawrence approached the vehicle and saw a white female in the driver’s seat that appeared to be passed out. Lawrence checked the status of the female and identified her as Gena Cheshire, 36, of Center.
During the course of the investigation, Cheshire was asked to step from the vehicle. In the process of exiting her vehicle, she attempted to conceal an unknown item in her hand, later identified as drug paraphernalia.
Also discovered, was a clear plastic bag containing a white crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine and a plastic bottle containing white oval tablets. A field test was conducted and turned a positive result for methamphetamine and the pills were discovered to be a prescribed narcotic.
Cheshire was arrested for possession of a controlled substance (two counts) and possession of drug paraphernalia. Justice of Peace Pct. 2 Marla Denby set bond at $10,000 and $5,000 for both possession charges.
April 23, 2015 - State Highway 7 West near the intersection of FM 711 was the scene of a two-vehicle crash Wednesday, April 22, 2015.
Emergency personnel with the Texas Department of Public Safety, ACE EMS, Center Fire Department and the Shelby County Sheriff's Department were dispatched to the scene of the crash.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Anthony LaCount, at 5:45pm Gwendolyn Garcia, 49, of Center driving a red Chevrolet Malibu, attempted to pull out from a private driveway 1200 feet from FM 711 making a left-hand turn to the east.
As Garcia exited the driveway she failed to yield right of way to oncoming traffic and caused a collision between herself and a silver Honda Accord driven by David Castro, 48, of Nacogdoches who was traveling west on State Highway 7. Both vehicles received major damage.
Garcia was transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of her injuries. Her passenger Pamela Reed, 61, of Center was not reported to have received injuries.
Garcia was issued a citation for failure to yield right of way private drive.
April 23, 2015 - Shelby County Today has been 
receiving reports for of all things a "garlicky" odor in Center on Wednesday, April 22, 2015. The Center Fire Department confirms a gas leak was reported Tuesday evening, April 21, 2015 from the Shelby County Sheriff's Department and the fire department investigated a possible gas leak, which was not located.
CenterPoint Energy in the area investigating the possibility of a gas leak on Wednesday, and did confirm smelling the odor; however, it was not gas. The odor remains a mystery, but its origin was identified Wednesday evening, .
At the suggestion of viewer Karol Bogle and a post by Shawna Walker indicating a strong odor emanating from the area of U.S. 96 (Hurst Street) and State Highway 7 (San Augustine Street), Shelby County Today investigated the area.
Upon following the odor a substance was observed on the pavement. After scraping the substance from the road it was confirmed by another individual and it is the opinion of Shelby County Today the odor matches that which has been described in the area.
Anyone observing the odor in their area should confirm if the substance is visible on the roadway as it appears it spilled from some sort of transport vehicle.
One possible theory at this time is a vehicle traveling from as far as Lufkin to Logansport was leaking the substance. Reports from viewers who have traveled in these areas confirm having smelled the same odor in these locations.
The odor continues to remain an issue for some travelers a Shelby County Today has received more reports on Thursday morning of the odor.
April 22, 2015 - The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) attempted to stop a driver for a speeding violation on Monday, April 20, 2015 in Tenaha; however, the driver instead sped up and tried to evade the officer.
According to Texas DPS State Trooper Jade LaVergne, at 10:20pm she was traveling U.S. Highway 59 through Tenaha heading toward Timpson when a black 2013 Ford Expedition passed by exceeding the speed limit.
Trooper LaVergne turned on the Expedition attempting to pull the vehicle over with lights and sirens when the driver accelerated and turned down South Center Street (Spur 157). The pursuit began and Trooper LaVergne, with Tenaha City Marshal Jimmy Wagstaff providing back up, followed the Expedition onto U.S. Highway 96 heading south toward Center at a high rate of speed, topping out at around 100mph.
The pursuit continued down County Road 4360 off U.S. 96 and then onto County Road 4293 where the vehicle left the roadway to the left colliding with a tree. The driver escaped the vehicle and ran. Center Police officers and Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies, and DPS State Troopers from Panola County assisted in searching the scene for the suspect.
It was discovered the vehicle was stolen out of Carthage and a passenger remained in the vehicle. During interview, the passenger told authorities he had been hitchhiking when the driver picked him up. He did not know the driver's identity, and only identified him as wearing a white shirt.
Once it was determined the passenger had nothing to do with the theft, he was released at the scene. According to the Panola County Sheriff's Department, the Expedition was stolen on or about April 12th or 13th from the Yellow Dog area on County Road 455.
April 22, 2015 - Huxley firemen, Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies, a Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper, and nearby residents responded to a single-vehicle rollover with five young adults Saturday, April 18, 2015 at 5:40pm in Huxley.
A white 2008 Toyota Solara driven by Khu Doh, 20 of Houston, was southbound on CR 2700 at an unsafe speed and failed to negotiate a sharp turn. The vehicle left the roadway on the right, over corrected crossing back across the roadway and a bridge, and exited the roadway on the left narrowly missing a large creek. The vehicle rolled onto its top coming to rest in the edge of the woods.
First to arrive on scene were nearby residents who called 9-1-1 after hearing the crash. The Huxley Volunteer Fire Department firemen were dispatched as first responders along with ACE EMS. The vehicle had five occupants including the driver none of which required transport by EMS. The four passengers ranged in age from 16 to 18 years.
Shelby County Sheriff Deputy Bradley Horton and Adam Renfro arrived on scene and collected information until Texas DPS State Trooper Brent Murray could arrive to investigate the crash. Doh was cited for driving at an unsafe speed.
Good Samaritans at the scene assisted transporting the youth to a nearby telephone to arrange for family to come and pickup those involved in the crash.
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