The Marshall Police Department is investigating a three-vehicle crash that claimed the life of a local woman.

”On Wednesday, November 14 at approximately 5:57 a.m., officers responded to the 4200 block of East End Boulevard South on reports of a multiple-vehicle crash with injuries. Preliminary reports suggest that a passenger car was traveling northbound in the inside lane and rear ended another vehicle. The passenger car then entered the outside northbound lane and was struck by a large truck, ” said MPD Public Information Officer Kelly Colvin.

Both occupants in the passenger car were transported to Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center in Marshall where the passenger later died. No other injuries were reported. The passenger has been identified as 44-year-old April Hayner, of Marshall. Hayner’s next of kin has been notified. The crash remains under investigation.

TYLER, Texas – A 25-year-old Tyler, Texas man has been found guilty of federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.



Heon Jong Yoo, a/k/a “Hank Yoo,” was found guilty today of seven counts of false statements made in connection with firearms transactions and one count of unlawful possession by a prohibited person. The three-day jury trial occurred before U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III.



According to information presented in court, Yoo was an undergraduate student at the University of Texas-Tyler. A lawful permanent resident from South Korea, Yoo falsely represented that he was a United States citizen with respect to seven different firearms transactions, some of which involved semiautomatic weapons. He did so after having been involuntarily committed to a mental institution in the state of New Jersey in 2013 and again in 2015. At the time of his arrest, Yoo was in possession of multiple firearms, ammunition, and firearms accessories. Yoo was indicted by a federal grand jury on Apr. 18, 2018.



“This case was a great example of federal, state, and local law enforcement working together to stop a threat that really could have had tragic results,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown. “Yoo was becoming increasingly aggressive in his behavior, and there were multiple schools where people were extremely concerned about what he was going to do. In addition, he had weapons and a history of mental health problems. These situations often end badly, and it was good that law enforcement worked together to get him off the streets as soon as they did.”



Under federal statutes, Yoo faces a maximum of 5 years in federal prison for each false statement charge and up to 10 years on the unlawful possession count at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.



This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Texas Department of Public Safety-Texas Rangers Division; the Smith County Sheriff’s Office; the Tyler Police Department; and the University of Texas-Tyler Police Department. Assistance was also provided by the Department of Homeland Security, the Dallas Police Department, the Plano Police Department, the Prosper Police Department, the Collin College Police Department, the Dallas County Community College District Police Department, the Rutgers University Police Department, and the University of Connecticut Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Coan, Lucas Machicek, and Ryan Locker.

TYLER, Texas – Two East Texas men have been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.

Keyonta Monquan Johnson, 24, of Reklaw, Texas, pleaded guilty on Mar. 22, 2018, to distribution of methamphetamine near a playground and was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison on Oct. 4, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark.

Devante Lee Johnson, 26, of Jacksonville, Texas, pleaded guilty on May 22, 2018, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on premises where children are present and was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield.

Both defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 18, 2017.



This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Ann Cozby and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Jacksonville Police Department.

A 49-year-old, Hawkins, Texas, woman has been sentenced to federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.



Lina Su, also known as Lina Perkins, pleaded guilty on June 7, 2018, to two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering and was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield. Su was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,815,765.96.



Su, a naturalized citizen from Taiwan, was a financial controller splitting time between living in Hawkins, Texas and Los Angeles. According to information presented in court, in March of 2017, Su made several unauthorized wire transfers from VIG Furniture bank accounts into an account she controlled at City National Bank in Sulphur Springs, Texas. In 2015 and 2016, she also made unauthorized transfers from Airport Van Rental and ACE Medical Transport bank accounts into her personal checking account. In addition, Su used funds from those companies’ accounts to make personal credit card payments, purchase land for herself, and pay contractors constructing her home in Wood County, Texas. Altogether, Su embezzled and transferred over $1.8 million dollars from the California companies she was working for during the time period. Su was indicted by a federal grand jury on Dec. 13, 2017.



Su ultimately cooperated with investigators and entered into an Asset Preservation Agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office which required her to begin paying restitution to her victims by liquidating her assets and turning over those proceeds for restitution for the victims. As part of her plea agreement, Su agreed to forfeit all of her right, title and interest to real property and vehicles.



This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Wells.

Harrison County authorities have confirmed April Hayner, a resident of the county, was killed in a terrible car wreck yesterday morning on Highway 59 South. More details will be available later today.

The Marshall Police Department is investigating a crash that claimed the life of a Winnsboro, Texas man.
On Sunday, November 11, at approximately 6:23 p.m., officers responded to the 1500 block of East End Boulevard South on reports of a two-vehicle crash. When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered that the two occupants in one of the vehicles were injured. Both were transported to Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center in Marshall where the driver later died. The deceased has been identified as 86-year-old Joe Wann, of Winnsboro. Wann’s next of kin has been notified. The driver of the other vehicle was not injured. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Harrison County Sheriff's Office is receiving calls from citizens inquiring about warrants that are supposed to be issued for their arrest. This is another twist on the bogus telephone call using official sounding circumstances. The scammer sets up the caller as an official of the Harrison County Sheriff's Office or District Attorney's office and they want to have the person settle a case prior to being taken to court, or to post a bond for a bogus offense that has been filed against the person. The caller gives the person a "case number", which is bogus. The caller will then ask the person to get a Wal-Mart, CVS, or loadable credit card, for an amount of money to settle the case. They are then given a telephone number to call. That number has been an area code of 844, which is a toll free number, recently. After the person has obtained the card, they are instructed to call another telephone number and give the PIN number on the back of the card. This money is then accessed by that PIN number. This is not a legitimate phone call. The District Attorney or Sheriff's Office will not call anyone and ask for a payment.

Once this person has taken the money from the card, there is no method to retrieve the money. The caller is most often in a foreign country and using cell phones that they manipulate to appear that they are legitimate callers from Harrison County.

As the holiday season is under-way, please be mindful that there are people that are preying on citizens and using scare tactics to take money from unsuspecting citizens.

Over the past 8 years, Leadership Tomorrow Marshall has offered up to 16 Marshall High School juniors the opportunity to develop and strengthen leadership skills through interaction with community leaders. The students will attend educational sessions on local business, health care, tourism, and government in Marshall from February to May 2019. In 2019, up to 24 students will have the opportunity to participate due to the generous transportation by Mrs. Tina Brown and Marshall High School.

Students can expect to begin their program Itinerary with a Business and Industry emphasis in February of their Spring Semester.

Thank you to our local businesses for this opportunity to expose our youth to the various economic environments of our community, and the importance of investing in that community as future leaders.

Leadership Tomorrow is an annual partnership between our generous financial sponsor Richard Traweek of Patterson Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Marshall High School, Greater Marshall Chamber of Commerce, Marshall City Council PTA and MISD. The deadline for application to the 2019 class is December 7, 2018, in the Marshall High School Principal's office.

TEXARKANA, Texas – A 32-year-old Red River Army Depot contractor has pleaded guilty to assaulting a Red River Army Depot Police Officer in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.

Dontrell McChester, of Hooks, Texas, pleaded guilty to assault on a federal officer today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline M. Craven.

According to information presented in court, on Sep. 11, 2018, McChester attempted to enter the Red River Army Depot in his vehicle when Red River Army Depot Police Officers at the main gate smelled the odor of marijuana coming from his vehicle. Officers directed McChester to exit the vehicle for further inspection. While officers were conducting that inspection, McChester ran from officers, re-entered the vehicle, and attempted to drive away. McChester began kicking an officer, who was struggling with him to stop the vehicle. While attempting to flee, McChester drove the vehicle in a manner that could have easily killed or seriously injured the officers at the scene. Officers were finally able to restrain McChester by using pepper spray. The assaulted officer received injuries and was also pepper sprayed during the altercation.

Under federal statutes, McChester faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was investigated by the Red River Army Depot Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan R. Hornok and Allen Hurst and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ivor Jorgensen.