Houston Field Division
Photo used under Creative Commons from flickr user Adam Baker
Welcome to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Houston Field Division website. The Houston Division includes all of Southern Texas from Del Rio, San Antonio, Waco and Austin over to Beaumont and down to Corpus Christi, McAllen and Laredo. Our dedicated employees are special agents, investigators, auditors, technicians and support staff.
ATF Houston is committed to reducing violent crime in our neighborhoods. We accomplish this by targeting specific criminal organizations, gun traffickers and violent offenders under Project Safe Neighborhoods, Project Gunrunner and the Violent Crime Impact Teams.
Explosives and arson enforcement is an integral part of ATF’s overall violent crime reduction strategy. ATF Houston special agents combat arson and explosives-related crimes by conducting independent investigations and by working in partnership with local and state fire investigators and police bomb squads.
ATF also has the duty of regulating the firearms and explosives industries. Our industry operations investigators work to ensure that all firearms and explosives are stored, handled and sold in a safe manner according to law.
Since Houston is the number one origination point of firearms recovered in crimes in Mexico, firearms trafficking is an investigative priority. Recently we detailed 100 agents, investigators and support staff for 120 days to Houston and the border with Mexico to combat firearms trafficking. The initiative, called Gunrunner Impact Teams (GRIT) was very successful resulting in hundreds of criminal investigations and over 1000 firearms dealer inspections.
We encourage all residents to get involved and assist us in our goal of reducing crime in our communities. Give us a call and let us know what we can do for you.
Dewey Webb
Division Management Team
- J. Dewey Webb
- Special Agent In Charge (SAC)
- Armando Salas
- Assistant Special Agent In Charge (ASAC)
- Robert Elder
- Assistant Special Agent In Charge (ASAC)
- Russel Vander Werf
- Director of Industry Operations (DIO)
- Franceska Perot
- Public Information Officer (PIO)
Division Contact Information
Receive Houston Press Release Updates
Veteran Police Officer Indicted on Federal Gun Charges
August 5, 2010
A 55-year-old veteran peace officer has been indicted and charged with federal firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today. More »
ATF and Fire Marshal Rule Fatal Egg Farm Fire as Accidental
July 9, 2010
The National Response Team (NRT) of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office announced today that they have finished the scene investigation at the Maxim Egg Farm in Boling, Texas. Investigators have determined that the fire was accidental. More »
ATF National Response Team Activated to Investigate Fatal Egg Farm Fire
July 5, 2010
The National Response Team (NRT) of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with ATF Special Agents from the Houston Field Division have been activated by a request from the Wharton County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office to investigate a fire at the Maxim Egg Farm on 3307 FM 442, Boling, Texas. More »
Fire at Clothes Warehouse Intentionally Set
June 27, 2010
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Houston Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dewey Webb and Laredo Fire Chief Steve Landin announced today the completion of the on-scene investigation of the June 20, 2010 fire that completely destroyed Jerry’s Ropa Usada. More »
Three Individuals With Alleged Ties to Aryan Brotherhood Charged With a 2008 Murder That Occurred in Atascosa County, Texas
June 24, 2010
Three alleged members or associates of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT) have been indicted for their alleged roles in a 2008 murder in Atascosa County, Texas, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney John E. Murphy of the Western District of Texas. More »
ATF National Response Team Activated to Investigate Clothes Warehouse Fire
June 23, 2010
The National Response Team (NRT) of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with ATF special agents from the Laredo Field Office have been activated by a request from the Laredo Fire Department to investigate a fire at Jerry’s Ropa Usada (Jerry’s Used Clothes). More »
Three 20-Year-Olds Sentenced to Prison for Lying to Buy Firearms
June 22, 2010
Three 20-year-old Brownsville residents who lied to buy firearms for another are now convicted felons and will be serving prison terms, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today. More »
Leader of Texas Prison/Street Gang Sentenced to Prison for Firearms Conviction
June 18, 2010
Steven Walter Cooke, 47, a reputed high ranking member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT) prison/street gang and a previously convicted felon, has been sentenced to prison for possessing firearms, U.S. Attorney José Angel Moreno and Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer for the Department of Justice Criminal Division announced today. More »
Mission, Texas Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of a Machine Gun
May 14, 2010
United States Attorney John E. Murphy announced that in San Antonio this morning, 25-year old Jesse Eduardo Patlan of Mission, Texas, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a machine gun. More »
Hardin County Man Sentenced for Firearms Violation
April 28, 2010
U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that a 39-year-old Silsbee, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for federal firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas. More »
San Juan Man Sentenced for Lying and Buying 18 Firearms
March 30, 2010
Bernardo Garza, 44, of San Juan, Texas, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for lying to buy firearms, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today. Chief United States District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa handed down the prison term at a hearing today. The prison term is to be followed by a two-year-term of supervised release. More »
The Last of Three Charged in Scheme to Export Firearms to Mexico Sentenced to Federal Prison
March 30, 2010
The last of three defendants charged for their role in a scheme to purchase firearms and sell them at inflated prices knowing the firearms were to be smuggled into Mexico has been sentenced to prison, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Agent in Charge Jerry Robinette and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Dewey Webb announced today. More »
Attempt to Smuggle Semi-Automatic Firearms and Ammunition Thwarted at Anzalduas Port of Entry
March 23, 2010
A 48-year-old Mexican national has been arrested and charged with attempting to export semi-automatic weapons and ammunition into Mexico without a license or authorization, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today. More »
Joint ATF–ICE Investigation Leads to Arrest of Three
March 16, 2010
An 18-month joint Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigation has resulted in the arrest of three people in Houston as a result of the filing under seal of two separate complaints charging two with felony drug trafficking offenses and a third with felony gun violations, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today. More »
Two Charged With Conspiracy to Receive or Possess Machine Gun
March 15, 2010
Two men arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to receive or possess a machine gun not registered to them will remain in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Wednesday, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today. More »
Laredo Police Officer and Co-Conspirator Plead Guilty to Cocaine Conspiracy
February 17, 2010
A Laredo Police Department (LPD) officer and a local man have pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today. More »
Operation Time Machine Nets Three in Port Arthur, Texas
February 10, 2010
U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that three Port Arthur, Texas men have pleaded guilty to firearms violations as a result of Operation Time Machine in the Eastern District of Texas. More »
Houston, Texas Explosives Detection Canine Helps Miami Prepare for Super Bowl XLIV
February 5, 2010
Not everyone participating in this year’s Super Bowl is a football player. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have fielded their best players to help prepare for a safe and secure Super Bowl XLIV. These pros include ATF K-9 explosives detection teams that have been deployed to Miami from around the country. The K-9 teams are working side-by-side with other federal, state and local law-enforcement officers to keep the football teams and fans safe throughout this event. More »
Ten Starr County Residents Indicted for Lying to Buy Firearms
February 2, 2010
A 12-month investigation by special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has resulted in the indictment of 10 persons accused of lying to buy more than 60 firearms over a five-month period beginning in December 2008, United States Attorney Tim Johnson announced today. More »
Silsbee Man Sentenced For Federal Gun Crimes
January 26, 2010
U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that a 38-year-old Silsbee, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm in the Eastern District of Texas. More »
ATF National Response Team Activated to Investigate First Baptist Church Fire in Temple
January 21, 2010
The National Response Team (NRT) of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with ATF special agents from the Austin Field Office have been activated by a request from the Temple Fire Department to investigate a fire at the First Baptist Church. The fire at the church, located at 102 West Barton, Temple, occurred on Jan. 19. More »