Recognize Detective Sills, Sergeant De La Cerda, and Officer Milling of the Friendswood Police Department for each being awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for their exceptional contributions to the successful investigation of Operation Midas Trap.
Staff Report & Agenda Item Details
Detective Steven Sills, Sergeant Edmundo De La Cerda, and Officer Bradley Milling of the Friendswood Police Department had the honor of each being presented with a Certificate of Appreciation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for their exceptional contributions to the successful investigation of Operation Midas Trap, which was a complex gold scam targeting elderly victims. Through their dedicated efforts, they worked collaboratively with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, as well as prosecutors, to unravel a scheme that preyed upon some of our community’s most vulnerable residents. <br><br>The Friendswood Police Department arrested three suspects in connection with an organized gold scam targeting an elderly Friendswood resident. The Friendswood investigation led investigators into identifying two additional suspects in California. Both were arrested on Galveston County warrants with a combined $15 million in bonds. In August 2026, an elderly Friendswood resident contacted police after becoming suspicious that he was the target of a scam. Investigators learned that individuals posing as federal authorities had been communicating with the victim attempting to convince him to convert a large sum of money into gold.<br><br>However, this is not the first large-scale gold scam investigation conducted by the Friendswood Police Department.<br><br>In March 2026, the department announced the arrests of six individuals in connection with an organized gold scam linked to approximately $2.8 million in losses involving elderly victims across Texas. That investigation began after an 81-year-old Friendswood resident was persuaded to convert approximately $766,000 into 177 one-ounce Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coins. During that investigation, Friendswood detectives recovered all 177 gold coins belonging to the Friendswood victim and identified additional elderly victims in Humble, Cypress, Cleburne, and New Braunfels. Six suspects were ultimately arrested as Friendswood investigators executed multiple search warrants and worked to identify individuals involved in collecting and laundering proceeds from the scheme.<br><br>The Department also recognizes the continued cooperation and assistance of its federal law enforcement partners and the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office in investigating and prosecuting these complex cases.<br><br>Their determination, professionalism, and compassion for victims reflect the very best of the Friendswood Police Department and make them highly deserving of this recognition.