Former DOJ Trial Attorney and Civilian Criminal Defense Attorney Pleaded Guilty to Unauthorized Disposal of Government Records and Aiding and Abetting Unauthorized Disposal of Government Records

On October 22, 2025, Carlos A. Lopez, a former DOJ Trial Attorney previously assigned to the Criminal Division - Health Care Fraud Unit, Dallas, Texas, pleaded guilty in the Northern District of Texas to one misdemeanor count of unauthorized disposal of government records; Barrett Howell, a non-DOJ criminal defense attorney, also pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of aiding and abetting the unauthorized disposal of government records. According to the factual resume in support of the guilty pleas, on or about April 11, 2023, Lopez knowingly deleted text messages with Howell from his government issued cellphone, and on or about April 20, 2023, Howell knowingly aided and abetted Lopez by also deleting his text messages with Lopez. The investigation is being conducted by the OIG’s Dallas Office with assistance from the OIG’s Cyber Investigations Office.