Judgment — U.S. v. Cota

Record facts

U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas (Fort Worth Division) · No. 4:24-cr-00005-Y · Doc. 97 · 2025-10-01 · Docket on CourtListener

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS 
Fort Worth Division 
 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
JUDGMENT IN A CRIMINAL CASE 
 
 
v. 
Case Number:  4:24-CR-005-Y(1) 
 
Jeffrey R. McLaren, assistant U.S. attorney 
MICHAEL COTA 
Jay Ethington, attorney for the defendant 
 
 
 
On January 31, 2024, the defendant, Michael Cota, entered a plea of guilty to count one of the one-count 
information. Accordingly, the defendant is adjudged guilty of such count, which involves the following offense: 
 
TITLE & SECTION  
NATURE OF OFFENSE 
OFFENSE CONCLUDED 
COUNT 
 
 
 
 
18 U.S.C. § 371, 18 U.S.C.  
§ 1343 
 
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud 
May 31, 2021 
1 
The defendant is sentenced as provided in pages two through three of this judgment. The sentence is imposed 
under Title 18, United States Code § 3553(a), taking the guidelines issued by the United States Sentencing 
Commission under Title 28, United States Code § 994(a)(1), as advisory only. 
 
 
The defendant shall pay immediately a special assessment of $100.00 for count one of the one-count 
information.  
 
The defendant shall notify the United States attorney for this district within thirty days of any change of 
name, residence, or mailing address until all fines, restitution, costs, and special assessments imposed by this judgment 
are fully paid. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sentence imposed September 30, 2025. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
________________________________ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TERRY R. MEANS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Signed October 1, 2025. 
 
Case 4:24-cr-00005-Y     Document 97     Filed 10/01/25      Page 1 of 4     PageID 356

Judgment in a Criminal Case 
Defendant: Michael Cota 
Case Number:  4:24-CR-005-Y(1) 
 
Judgment -- Page 2 of 4 
 
                                                       
     PROBATION 
 
The defendant, Michael Cota, is hereby sentenced to a term of probation for a period of 3 years on count 
one of the one-count information.   
 
CONDITIONS OF PROBATION 
 
 
The defendant, while on probation, shall comply with the standard conditions recommended by the U.S. 
Sentencing Commission at §5B1.3(c) of the U.S. Sentencing Commission Guidelines Manual, and shall: 
 
 
not commit another federal, state, or local crime; 
 
 
not possess illegal controlled substances; 
 
not possess a firearm, destructive device, or other dangerous weapon; 
 
cooperate in the collection of DNA as directed by the probation officer, as authorized by the Justice for All 
 
Act of 2004;   
 
notify the Court of any material change in the defendant's economic circumstances that might affect the 
 
defendant's ability to pay restitution, fines or special assessments;  
 
refrain from any unlawful use of a controlled substance. The defendant  must submit to one drug test within 
 
15 days of placement on probation  and at least two periodic drug tests thereafter, as determined by the 
 
Court. 
 
not incur new credit charges, or open additional lines of credit  without the approval of the probation 
 
officer; 
 
provide to the probation officer complete access to all business and personal financial information; 
 
maintain not more than one business and/or one personal checking account, and shall not open, maintain, 
 
be a signatory on, or otherwise use any other financial institution account without the prior approval 
 
of the probation officer; 
 
not transfer, sell, give away, or otherwise convey any asset with a value of $500 or more without the 
 
approval of the probation officer; and 
 
 
pay any remaining balance of restitution in the amount of $1,844,410.40, as set out in the judgment. 
 
FINE/RESTITUTION 
 
 
The Court does not order a fine or costs of incarceration because the defendant does not have the financial 
resources or future earning capacity to pay a fine or costs of incarceration in addition to restitution. 
 
The defendant is ordered to make restitution in the amount of $1,844,410.40 to be paid jointly and severally 
with James Flores, case no. 4:24-CR-306-Y. Of that, $45,617.75 shall be paid jointly and severally with Vivian 
Arriaga, case no. 4:24-CR-006-Y.  Restitution shall be paid to the U.S. District Clerk, 501 West 10th Street, Room 
310, Fort Worth, TX 76102-3673, for disbursement to: 
 
Case 4:24-cr-00005-Y     Document 97     Filed 10/01/25      Page 2 of 4     PageID 357

Judgment in a Criminal Case 
Defendant: Michael Cota 
Case Number:  4:24-CR-005-Y(1) 
 
Judgment -- Page 3 of 4 
 
 
 
U.S. Small Business Administration 
$1,844,410.40  
 
 
If, upon commencement of the term of probation, any part of the $1,844,410.40 restitution ordered by this 
judgment remains unpaid, the defendant shall make payments on such unpaid balance at the rate of at least $500 per 
month, the first such payment to be made no later than 60 days from the date of this judgment with another payment 
to be made on the same day of each month thereafter until the restitution is paid in full. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Case 4:24-cr-00005-Y     Document 97     Filed 10/01/25      Page 3 of 4     PageID 358

Judgment in a Criminal Case 
Defendant: Michael Cota 
Case Number:  4:24-CR-005-Y(1) 
 
Judgment -- Page 4 of 4 
 
 
RETURN 
 
I have executed this judgment as follows: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Defendant delivered on ___________________________ to ____________________________________ 
 
at ____________________________________________________________, with a certified copy of this judgment. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States marshal 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BY ________________________________ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
deputy marshal 
 
 
Case 4:24-cr-00005-Y     Document 97     Filed 10/01/25      Page 4 of 4     PageID 359

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