District of Arizona
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Operator of Human Smuggling Stash House Sentenced to Combined Term of 67 MonthsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Macario Ulises Barragan-Cisneros, 45, of Michoacán, Mexico, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 57 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release, consecutive to 10 months’ imprisonment for violation of supervised release due to a prior conviction. Barragan-Cisneros pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit. Co-defendant Gustavo Bueno De-Haro was sentenced to 12 months and one day by Judge Rash on May 26, 2022.
On September 21, 2021, after several days of surveillance, special agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) discovered 30 undocumented non-citizens (UNCs) inside a trailer unit located in the Camino Vista Mobile Home Park, in Phoenix, Arizona. A ledger revealing human smuggling operations was located inside the trailer. Barragan-Cisneros was identified as a human smuggler coordinator, in addition to having recruited co-conspirator De-Haro to transport and conceal UNCs.
This prosecution resulted from the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is part of JTFA, which was established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The Task Force focuses on disrupting and dismantling smuggling and trafficking networks that abuse, exploit, or endanger migrants, pose national security threats, and are involved in organized crime.
HSI – Nogales Office conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the United States Border Patrol. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-02672-TUC-SHR-MSA
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-037_Barragan-Cisneros# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Readout of Joint Task Force Alpha Summit on Anti-Human Smuggling and Trafficking EffortsRead the Press Release
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division yesterday convened a meeting of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) in El Paso, Texas, to bring together law enforcement leaders to discuss dismantling human smuggling and trafficking networks operating along the Southwest Border.
Assistant Attorney General Polite was joined by senior leadership from five U.S. Attorneys’ offices from the districts along the Southwest Border: U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas (who hosted the meeting), U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman for the Southern District of California, U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas, Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Savel for the District of Arizona, and U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez for the District of New Mexico. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Deputy Secretary John K. Tien, Homeland Security Investigations Acting Executive Director Steve K. Francis, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Troy A. Miller, also joined, as did other interagency members of JTFA.
Prior to the summit, senior leaders from the Justice Department and DHS components visited the Southwest Border in El Paso. The tour provided an important perspective on challenges presented by transnational criminal organizations involved in human smuggling and other crimes, which all impact border security efforts by land, through waterways, and by air.
“I am proud of the accomplishments of JTFA since its creation nearly two years ago,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. “We are better at dismantling human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras because we are a stronger, more unified law enforcement team with our counterparts in Mexico and Central America. I believe our efforts to work together to combat these crimes will continue to generate immediate results, while also building towards sustained success.”
During the meeting, Assistant Attorney General Polite expressed his appreciation for the broad and continued support of JTFA. In its first two years, this joint law enforcement effort has resulted in substantial and continued disruption through specific and general deterrence, collaborating on numerous high priority investigations and cases of significant organizations and their key leaders and facilitators. These measures have resulted in dozens of arrests, indictments, and convictions both in the United States and with foreign law enforcement partners, along with obtaining substantial jail sentences and asset forfeiture.
The discussion included ways to further advance JTFA’s mission to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. JTFA members also discussed identifying ways to strengthen efforts to disrupt and dismantle those human smuggling and trafficking networks that abuse or exploit those being smuggled, pose national security risks, or have links to transnational organized crime.
Additionally, JTFA leadership identified enhancements made to increase the efficiencies of the task force model at the local and national levels and discussed ways to better foster interagency collaboration to target criminal organizations involved in smuggling and related crimes in and throughout the region.
Mesa Man Sentenced to Nearly 15 Years for Assault on FBI Agent with a FirearmRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Gabriel Manzo, 40, of Mesa, Arizona, was sentenced Monday by United States District Judge Steven P. Logan to 177 months in federal prison. Manzo pleaded guilty to Assault on a Federal Officer and Discharge of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence.
On April 20, 2020, Manzo drove his truck to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) office located in Phoenix, Arizona. He exited his vehicle, approached the north security fence, and fired three rounds from his .380 pistol at the building. He then returned to his truck and drove to the front of the office. He exited his vehicle and fired another 15 rounds, breaking 11 windows, and causing over $98,000 in damages. Manzo returned to his vehicle and started to drive away when he noticed an FBI agent, who was in his government issued vehicle, behind him. Manzo stopped, exited his truck in the middle of the street, and fired three rounds at the agent.
This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The FBI conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the Phoenix Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Keith Vercauteren, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-00540-SPL-PHX
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-036_Manzo# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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TUCSON, Ariz. – Devonte Okeith Mathis, 24, of Mesquite, Texas, pleaded guilty yesterday to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, and Using and Carrying a Firearm During and In Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Sentencing is scheduled for May 24, 2023, before United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez.
On October 4, 2021, Mathis and his co-conspirator were traveling together aboard an Amtrak train in Tucson, Arizona, when his co-conspirator shot and killed Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Michael Garbo aboard the train. His co-conspirator also shot and injured a second DEA Special Agent and a DEA Task Force Officer. The co-conspirator died on the scene. Mathis admitted, in pleading guilty, that he knew that his co-conspirator possessed two handguns. He also admitted that it was reasonably foreseeable that his co-conspirator would possess the firearms in furtherance of their drug trafficking conspiracy, and that he would carry and use the two handguns during and in relation to their drug trafficking conspiracy.
“Yesterday was an important step in securing justice on behalf of a federal law enforcement agent,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “We await the sentencing in this matter. In the meantime, we celebrate Michael Garbo’s life of service, we mourn with his family and his colleagues at the Drug Enforcement Administration, and we remember his end of watch on October 4, 2021.”
A conviction for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana carries a maximum penalty of a term of imprisonment of up to five years, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. A conviction for Using and Carrying a Firearm During and In Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years, to run consecutive to all other counts, a fine of up to $250,000, or both.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-2714-TUC-RM-MSA
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-035_Mathis# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest newsDrug Smuggler Sentenced to 78 Months for Smuggling FentanylRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Jose Antonio Cota, 33, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge James A. Soto to 78 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Cota pleaded guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl in April 2022.
In August 2020, Cota was a passenger in a commercial shuttle van when it stopped for a routine immigration inspection at a Border Patrol checkpoint near Amado, Arizona. During an inspection of the vehicle and its passengers, Border Patrol agents discovered Cota was hiding several small bundles of fentanyl pills taped to his body.
United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-1699-TUC-JAS-JR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-034_Cota# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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TUCSON, Ariz. –On March 2, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment against Victoria Totten, 71, of Green Valley, Arizona, for Mail Fraud.
The indictment alleges that Totten, while working as a licensed insurance agent, defrauded various elderly clients out of approximately $114,000. It asserts that Totten fraudulently represented and advised prospective clients to pay insurance premiums in advance and directly to her company instead of making payments to the insurance companies. Totten falsely represented the actual terms of the premium payment structure offered by the insurance companies, and claimed that payment should be made in advance to lock in a lower rate. After receiving the fraudulently obtained funds, instead of transmitting the victims’ premium payments directly to the insurance companies, Totten misused large portions of the victims’ funds for her own personal use and to pay insurance premiums for her other clients.
A conviction for Mail Fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. If convicted, a restitution judgment will be imposed against the defendant for any losses sustained by the victims.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Financial Crimes Auditor for the United States Attorney’s Office and the United States Secret Service conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-00282-TUC-JGZ-LCK
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-033_Totten# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Two San Xavier Men Charged with Carjacking and Using a Firearm During a Crime of ViolenceRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – James Moreno, 18, and Christopher Rodriguez, 18, both of San Xavier, Arizona, were charged by criminal complaint on Monday with Carjacking, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. Moreno and Rodriguez had been arrested the day before.
In the early morning hours of March 5, 2023, in San Xavier, Arizona, on the Tohono O’odham Nation, Moreno and Rodriguez are alleged to have stolen a Jeep Cherokee from an Uber driver by threatening the driver with a firearm. The driver ran for several hours to a gas station on Valencia Road near Interstate 19, where an employee called 911.
That same morning, Moreno and Rodriguez also allegedly stole a Toyota Camry from a second individual at gunpoint, at a Circle K gas station in Marana, Arizona. Rodriguez is alleged to have pointed a gun at the driver’s lower abdomen and legs.
Marana Police Department officers located the Toyota Camry and attempted to stop the vehicle. The vehicle allegedly failed to yield and fled from the officers before crashing near Interstate 10 and Miracle Mile. Moreno and Rodriguez fled from the vehicle on foot before being apprehended. Inside the Camry, officers located a 9mm firearm.
The Uber driver’s Jeep Cherokee was located less than a mile from the Circle K on Sandario Road with a flat tire and its license plate removed.
A conviction for Carjacking carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
A conviction for Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence carries a penalty of no less than 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Marana Police Department, in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Southern Arizona Violent Crime and Gang Task Force, along with assistance from the Tohono O’odham Nation Police Department and the Tucson Police Department, conducted the arrests in this case.
The FBI is conducting the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Adam Rossi, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: MJ-23-08583-N/A-DTF
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-032_Moreno et al.# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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TUCSON, Ariz. – Victor Acosta, 47, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced on Monday by United States District Judge James A. Soto to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Acosta pleaded guilty to one count of Smuggling Goods from the United States.
On March 23, 2022, Acosta attempted to exit the United States and enter Mexico at the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona. During a search of his vehicle, Customs and Border Protection officers found 19,000 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition and 3,000 rounds of .223 caliber ammunition. Acosta admitted that he had the ammunition in his vehicle.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon M. Bolling, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-00680-JAS-EJM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-031_Acosta# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Last week, David Allen Harbour, 49, of Scottsdale, Arizona, was found guilty by a federal jury on six counts of Wire Fraud and 11 counts of Transactional Money Laundering. On Tuesday, Harbour pleaded guilty to one count of Tax Evasion, which resolved two pending trials scheduled for later this month. Sentencing is scheduled for June 5, 2023, before United States District Judge Douglas L. Rayes.
Harbour acted as a self-styled investment advisor who defrauded numerous victims between 2007 and 2021. The total loss to investors exceeded $20 million, which Harbour diverted to fund his lavish lifestyle. Harbour’s extravagant expenditures included: private jet travel; country club memberships in Arizona, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; million-dollar speedboats; stays at luxury hotels; expensive jewelry; and a private 40th birthday concert by the Eagles.
“For his brazen lies that defrauded numerous victims out of more than $20 million, the defendant now justifiably faces the potential of a lengthy prison term,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to deterring investment fraud and holding wrongdoers accountable to help protect our citizens’ financial security and to vindicate the tireless efforts of our law enforcement partners.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin M. Rapp and Coleen Schoch, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-00898-PHX-DLR (DMF)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-030_Harbour# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Last week, Darris Manero Vincent, 44, of Maricopa, Arizona, was sentenced by United States District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to 66 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Vincent pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
Vincent’s co-defendants were sentenced in 2021 by Judge Brnovich. All four co-defendants had also pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
- Cristal Anita Perrin, 53, of Maricopa, Arizona, was sentenced on June 2, 2021, to 36 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Paul Zuccarello, 58, of Maricopa, Arizona, was sentenced on June 4, 2021, to 60 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Carlos Renteria Bustamante, Jr., 47, of Maricopa, Arizona, was sentenced on August 13, 2021, to 120 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
- Carlos Anthony De La Cruz, 36, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced on December 6, 2021, to 72 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
In 2018, Vincent was the subject of an undercover operation involving the sale of methamphetamine on the Ak-Chin Community. During the course of the investigation, Vincent sold methamphetamine to an undercover officer on several occasions in 2018. Vincent then introduced the undercover officer to his co-defendants, who were some of the suppliers. The four co-defendants sold methamphetamine to the same undercover officer in 2018 and 2019.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Ak-Chin Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Christina J. Reid-Moore, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-01367-PHX-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-029_Vincent et al.# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Santa Rosa Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Possession of Child Pornography and Manufacturing Methamphetamine on Tohono O’odham NationRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Stephen Folson, 37, of Santa Rosa, Arizona, was sentenced on Tuesday by United States District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson to 10 years’ incarceration. Folson, an enrolled member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, pleaded guilty to one count of Possession of Child Pornography and one count of Endangering Human Life While Illegally Manufacturing Methamphetamine.
Folson was arrested on March 2, 2021, after an investigation revealed that he was purchasing precursor chemicals from Canada and China to manufacture methamphetamine at his residence. Law enforcement agents served a search warrant at the residence, on the Tohono O’odham Nation Reservation, and discovered a substantial amount of laboratory equipment and precursor chemical that was used to manufacture methamphetamine. Folson shared the residence with another adult and two minor children. Agents also searched Folson’s cellular phone and an external hard drive located in the residence and determined that the devices contained over 1,000 images and several videos of child pornography.
Upon release from prison, Folson will be placed on lifetime supervised release with conditions of supervision. He will be required to register as a sex offender and to complete a sex offender treatment program. He also was ordered to pay restitution to victims depicted in the child sex abuse images he possessed.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Agents from the NATIVE (Native American Targeted Investigations of Violent Enterprises) Task Force, including from Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Border Patrol, and the Tohono O’odham Police Department participated in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Carin C. Duryee and Ryan P. DeJoe, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR 21-00545-TUC-CKJ
CR 21-02664-TUC-CKJRELEASE NUMBER: 2023-028_Folson
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Pinon Man Sentenced to 22 Years for Second Degree Murder in Child Homicide CaseRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Ferin Billy Nez, 36, of Pinon, Arizona, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 22 years in prison. Nez, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder for killing his infant son.
On February 27, 2018, Nez had custody of his infant son, when the child became unresponsive and later died. A medical examination revealed that the victim had injuries consistent with having been shaken and thrown. On March 24, 2021, Nez was charged in a six-count indictment with murder and child abuse. He pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder on October 17, 2022.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer E. LaGrange and Sharon K. Sexton, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-08016-PCT-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-027_Nez# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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TUCSON, Ariz. – Kevin Durazo, 23, of Douglas, Arizona, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker to 24 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. Durazo pleaded guilty to one count of Aiding and Abetting Making False Statements in Connection with Acquisition of a Firearm and one count of Making False Statements in Connection with Acquisition of a Firearm.
On October 5, 2021, Kevin Durazo and co-defendant, Mario Edoardo Ramirez Chavez, 22, of Mexico, traveled to Tucson from Douglas, Arizona, for the purpose of purchasing firearms. Durazo provided money to the co-defendant to purchase a 7.62x51mm (.308 WIN) caliber rifle from a licensed firearms dealer for Durazo. The co-defendant purchased the rifle after filling out required paperwork indicating he was the actual buyer of the rifle, when in fact he was acquiring it at the request and direction of Durazo. Durazo then purchased a 9mm pistol from another licensed firearms dealer. Durazo filled out the required paperwork and stated that he was purchasing the firearm for himself, when in fact he was acquiring it for another individual. The two men were subsequently arrested by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) at the Douglas Port of Entry in their attempt to smuggle the 9mm pistol into Mexico.
Chavez, Durazo’s co-defendant, pleaded guilty to Smuggling Goods from the United States and Making False Statements in Connection with the Purchase of Firearms. Chavez was sentenced by Judge Hinderaker on October 7, 2022, to 16 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
HSI conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Adam D. Rossi, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-02855-TUC-JCH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-026_Durazo# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.35-Year-Old Man Sentenced to 24 Months for Attempted Firearms Trafficking into MexicoRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On Wednesday, Luis Carlos Martinez-Chacon, 35, of Chihuahua, Mexico, was sentenced by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker to 24 months in prison, followed by 12 months of supervised release. Martinez-Chacon pleaded guilty to one count of Smuggling Goods from the United States.
On June 29, 2022, Martinez-Chacon attempted to exit the United States and enter the Republic of Mexico at the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona. During a search of his vehicle, Customs and Border Protection officers found a 9mm Berretta pistol, a 9mm Glock 19 pistol, an FN57 rifle with a filed off serial number, a .45 caliber Colt M 1911, a Smith and Wesson 629 Classic .44 Magnum, a Magpul magazine (17 round capacity), two Berretta magazines (15 round capacity each), two FN57 magazines (20 round capacity each), two Colt 1911 magazines (seven round capacity each), 960 rounds of .223 Wolf ammunition, 880 rounds of .223 TUL ammunition, and six rounds of .45 caliber ammunition. The items were hidden inside the dashboard and center console of the vehicle. Martinez-Chacon admitted he expected to be paid in exchange for delivering the firearms, magazines, and ammunition to an individual in Mexico.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah B. Houston, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-01662-TUC-JCH (DTF)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-024_Martinez-Chacon# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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26-Year-Old Sentenced to 24 Months for Attempted Firearms Trafficking to MexicoRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Adan Gomez-Lopez, 26, of Nogales, Mexico, was sentenced on Wednesday by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker to 24 months in prison, followed by 12 months of supervised release. Gomez-Lopez pleaded guilty to one count of Smuggling Goods from the United States.
On July 1, 2022, Gomez-Lopez attempted to exit the United States and enter the Republic of Mexico at the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona. During a search of the vehicle, Customs and Border Protection officers found 510 rounds of .223 caliber ammunition, 103 rounds of .556 caliber ammunition, 600 rounds of 6.5mm ammunition, 350 rounds of 9mm pistol ammunition, 100 rounds of .30 caliber ammunition, 20 rounds of .308 caliber ammunition, and 50 rounds of 12-gauge shotgun ammunition. The ammunition was concealed within the vehicle’s quarter panels, speaker box, and non-factory compartments. Gomez-Lopez admitted that he expected payment in exchange for delivering the ammunition to an individual in Mexico.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon M. Bolling, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-01544-TUC-JCH (BGM)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-025_Gomez-Lopez# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Jury Convicts 29-Year-Old of Conspiracy to Commit Hostage Taking and Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for ProfitRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, a federal jury found Olegario Lares-De La Rosa, 29, of Mexico, guilty of Conspiracy to Commit Hostage Taking, Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit, and two counts of Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit. Lares-De La Rosa previously pleaded guilty to Felon in Possession of a Firearm on June 9, 2022. Sentencing is scheduled for May 4, 2023, before United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps.
The investigation in this case began on April 6, 2022, when Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received a tip from an individual in New York. The informant told HSI investigators that he had received a call from his cousins, undocumented noncitizens, who said they were being held captive and that their captors demanded $16,000 for their release.
The cousins were detained by three armed men after they crossed illegally into the United States. The armed captors took the victims’ cellphones and transported them to a house where they were held captive for several days. Each evening, the door to their room was screwed shut so they could not escape. On April 8, 2022, Lares-De La Rosa picked up the cousins from the house and brought them to the place where they were to be exchanged for the $16,000 payment.
That same day, Lares-De La Rosa’s co-conspirator, Borboa-Ruiz, met with undercover agents in Tucson to collect the $16,000 payment. After counting the money, Borboa-Ruiz made a call stating that “they were good.” Less than a minute later, the cousins walked single file out of a black Hyundai driven by Lares-De La Rosa. Borboa-Ruiz was immediately arrested.
While the agents were arresting Borboa-Ruiz, Lares-De La Rosa sped away in the Hyundai, leading agents on a high-speed vehicle chase. During the pursuit, Lares-De La Rosa attempted to discard his 9mm pistol by throwing it out of the car. He then bailed out of the Hyundai while it was still in drive, narrowly missing being struck by the vehicle. Lares-De La Rosa then ran into a wash and through a residential neighborhood before he was arrested.
On February 2, 2023, Borboa-Ruiz, 28, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Hostage Taking and Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm. Sentencing for Borboa-Ruiz is scheduled for April 25, 2023, before Judge Zipps.
HSI conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Marana Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Serra M. Tsethlikai and Jennifer Berman, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-0974-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-023_Lares-De_La_Rosa# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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21-Year-Old Man Sentenced to 51 Months for Assaulting a U.S. Customs and Border Protection OfficerRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Cesar Alejandro Avendano-Soto, 21, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced last week, by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 51 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Avendano-Soto pleaded guilty to one count of Assault on a Federal Officer Resulting in Bodily Injury. The court also ordered a restitution hearing scheduled for April 25, 2023.
On March 24, 2020, at a port of entry in Nogales, Arizona, Avendano-Soto attempted to enter the United States. After being asked for proof of citizenship, Avendano-Soto became angry and intentionally slammed a Customs and Border Protection officer to the ground, where her head hit the concrete.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah B. Houston, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-01527-TUC-SHR (DTF)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-022_Avendano-Soto# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Sells Man Sentenced to over 12 Years for Aggravated Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Emmett Miguel, 33, of Sells, Arizona, was sentenced on Monday by United States District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to 151 months in prison for Aggravated Sexual Abuse and a concurrent 120 months’ confinement for Abusive Sexual Contact. On September 22, 2022, Miguel was found guilty by a jury of sexually assaulting the 17-year-old victim at a dance in Sacaton, Arizona, in January 2012.
The Gila River Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Raynette Logan and Alanna Kennedy, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-00301-PHX-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-021_Miguel# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Justice Department Announces over $200 Million in Investments in State Crisis InterventionRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Justice Department announced today 49 awards to states, territories, and the District of Columbia as part of the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program. This investment of over $231 million will fund state crisis intervention court proceedings, including but not limited to, extreme risk protection order (ERPO) programs that work to keep guns out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves or others. The Department awarded $6,111,652 to the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, which carries out various coordinating, monitoring, and reporting functions regarding the administration and management of criminal justice programs in Arizona. This investment in community safety is authorized by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022, historic legislation to address and reduce gun violence.
“The Justice Department is working relentlessly to protect communities from violent crime and the gun violence that often drives it, and the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program is an important part of that effort,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “These awards will support the kinds of crisis intervention programs that we know save lives and help protect children, families, and communities across the country from senseless acts of gun violence.”
“The Department of Justice’s strategy to reduce violent crime and gun violence includes prioritizing support for successful, evidence-based programs,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “The grants announced today invest in and highlight proven state and local violence prevention and intervention programs, that will make our communities safer.”
These awards, administered by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), provide funding to states for the creation and implementation of extreme risk protection order programs, state crisis intervention court proceedings, and related gun violence reduction initiatives. Extreme risk protection order programs empower family members, health care providers, school officials and law enforcement officers to petition a court to temporarily prevent a person from accessing firearms if they are found to be a danger to themselves or others. Funds can also support interventions like drug, mental health and veterans’ treatment courts, gun violence recovery courts, behavior health deflection and outpatient treatment centers.
“Protecting communities from gun crime is an urgent public safety challenge and a critical part of the Justice Department’s work to ensure that everyone in this country can live free from the fear of violence,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “The resources we are announcing today will give communities the tools they need to prevent firearm violence and deliver support to those who are at risk of committing or being victimized by gun crime.”
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act also seeks to ensure that extreme risk protection order laws and programs are implemented in accordance with the Constitution and provide for adequate due process protections. Projects funded under this program will need to demonstrate that they have taken measures to safeguard the constitutional rights of an individual subject to a crisis intervention program or ERPO initiative. The Justice Department has long supported state efforts to increase the use of ERPOs and in 2021 the Department released model legislation to help states create their own extreme risk protection order systems and provide for intervention before warning signs turn into tragedy.
“We have too many firearms and not enough mental health services in America,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “Our state and local social services agencies and law enforcement partners have lots of good ideas to intervene early and reduce gun violence. I look forward to seeing how the best practices developed through this grant can help to protect Arizona’s communities.”
Signed into law by President Biden in June 2022, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is the most significant piece of federal gun safety legislation in almost three decades and comes as a response to recent mass shootings and to the far more common, but no less tragic, incidents of community gun violence. Including the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program, the law allocates a total of $1.4 billion to OJP over five years to develop, implement, and sustain meaningful investments in safer communities.
“These awards will help meet two monumental public safety challenges — the alarming proliferation of gun violence in our country and the clear need for front-end interventions to slow the cycle of violence and victimization in our most underserved communities,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “The Bureau of Justice Assistance is proud to make these resources available to states as a critical part of its mission to reduce and prevent crime and to promote a fair and effective criminal justice system.”
For a full list of awards, please visit: https://data.ojp.usdoj.gov/stories/s/O-BJA-2023-171458/b5xz-as5z/. These awards are the latest effort from the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs to implement this historic legislation.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-020_ACJC-Grant-Recipient
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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United States Attorney’s Office Releases 2022 Fourth Quarter Immigration Enforcement StatisticsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office announced its immigration enforcement statistics for October 2022 to December 2022. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the Tucson and Yuma Sectors of the Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies. In the three-month period ending December 31, 2022, the United States brought criminal charges in Arizona against 1,456 individuals who illegally entered or re-entered the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States also filed 260 cases against individuals responsible for smuggling undocumented noncitizens to and within the District of Arizona.
Reducing migrant smuggling and mitigating the risk to communities impacted by these offenses continues to be a priority for the Office and its law enforcement partners. Some of these prosecutions are directed against leaders and coordinators of non-U.S. citizen smuggling organizations. Other prosecutions are aimed at deterring young adult drivers, often recruited over social media platforms, from engaging in this dangerous activity. Prosecutions against young drivers include three cases brought against juvenile smugglers during this time period.
These statistics represent United States Attorney's Office prosecutions only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-017_2022 Fourth Quarter Immigration Enforcement Statistics
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Tucson Man Arrested for Dealing Firearms Without a License and Possessing Unregistered FirearmsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Brian Jesus Hernandez, 24, of Tucson, Arizona, was arrested and charged Monday, with Dealing Firearms Without a License and Possessing Firearms Not Identified by a Serial Number.
During an investigation, detectives from the Tucson Police Department discovered that Hernandez was using a SnapChat account to advertise and sell firearms. On November 17, 2022, Hernandez sold a fully automatic 9mm pistol with no serial number to an undercover detective from the Tucson Police Department.
On February 6, 2023, Hernandez sold a “drop-in auto sear” to an undercover agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. A drop-in auto sear is a conversion device that allows a semiautomatic AR-15 style assault rifle to fire fully automatic. Hernandez told the agent that he made the device with his 3D printer and showed the agent a video that gave instructions on how to use the device. That same day, agents executed a search warrant at Hernandez’ residence. They seized two 3D printers, four firearms, and various firearms parts and took Hernandez into custody.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tucson Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: MJ-23-05662-BGM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-019_Hernandez# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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MediaMuv L.L.C. Principal Pleads Guilty to Stealing Millions in Music RoyaltiesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jose Teran, 32, of Scottsdale, Arizona, pleaded guilty last week to Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, and Transactional Money Laundering. Sentencing is scheduled for June 26, 2023, before United States District Judge Douglas L. Rayes.
Teran pleaded guilty to charges from a federal indictment issued on November 16, 2021. The indictment charged Teran and Webster Batista with 30 felony counts involving Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, Transactional Money Laundering, and Aggravated Identity Theft. In pleading guilty, Teran admitted to conspiring with Batista to monetize music on Y.T. that he had no lawful rights to monetize or otherwise control. Teran further admitted that the entity, MediaMuv L.L.C., was created for the purpose of falsely claiming ownership over music recordings. He admitted that false claims were made to Y.T. that MediaMuv L.L.C. owned over 50,000 songs. Teran also admitted that he and Batista fraudulently received approximately $23,400,000 from their fraudulent scheme.
Teran faces up to five years in prison for the Conspiracy conviction, up to 20 years for the Wire Fraud conviction, and up to 10 years for the Transactional Money Laundering conviction. He may also be fined up to $250,000 per felony conviction.
Batista pleaded guilty to Conspiracy and Wire Fraud on April 21, 2022.
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Raymond K. Woo and Seth T. Goertz, District of Arizona, Phoenix, are handling the prosecution.
If you believe you were defrauded by the defendants in this case, please contact our Victim Witness Section at [email protected].
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-0955-PHX-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-018_Teran# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Drug Dealer Sentenced to 78 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute Approximately 90,000 Counterfeit Pills Containing FentanylRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, Eduardo Flores-Diaz, 43, of Mexico, was sentenced by United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 78 months in prison. Flores-Diaz pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.
In April 2022, Flores-Diaz, traveled from Tucson, Arizona, with three co-conspirators. The conspirators were subsequently stopped in Scottsdale, Arizona, by federal agents and troopers from the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), during a buy/bust operation. Approximately 90,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl were discovered in their possession.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force operation. The OCDETF Strike Force Initiative identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Assistant United States Attorney David Petermann, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-1094-JGZ-JR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-2016_Flores-Diaz# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Tucson Man Sentenced for Making False Statement to Federal Agents During Investigation into Mass ShootingRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Josue Lopez Quintana, 25, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to a time-served sentence and three years of supervised release. He also was ordered to pay a $3,000 fine for lying to federal agents in connection with an investigation into a mass shooting in Tucson. As a result of Quintana’s felony conviction, he will be prohibited from possessing a firearm.
On August 25, 2022, following a mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) initiated an investigation into the purchase of a firearm used in the shooting that resulted in the deaths of four individuals. An ATF trace of the firearm confirmed that the firearm’s lower receiver was purchased by Quintana at a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) in Tucson, Arizona, in November 2021. According to court records, Quintana filled out an ATF form at the FFL stating that he was the true purchaser of the lower receiver, and that he was not acquiring it on behalf of another person.
On August 26, 2022, federal agents interviewed Quintana about the purchase, at which point Quintana falsely stated that he purchased the lower receiver for himself and not someone else. After agents presented text messages contradicting his story, Quintana admitted he lied and that he purchased the lower receiver on behalf of the individual who later perpetrated the mass shooting. There is no evidence that Quintana knew the intent of the shooter, and Quintana quickly accepted responsibility for his actions.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF with assistance from the Tucson Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. The Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Section of the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-02232-JGZ-EJM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-014_Quintana# # #
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Tes Nez Iah Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Last week, Verdell Yazzie, 31, of Tes Nez Iah, Arizona, was sentenced by United States District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to 120 months in prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. Yazzie pleaded guilty to one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor.
Yazzie admitted that sometime between 2011 and 2012, he knowingly engaged in a sexual act with a 12-year-old minor. The sexual abuse took place on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation where Yazzie is an enrolled tribal member.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Division of Public Safety conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Chang and Sharon Sexton, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-08102-PCT-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-013_Yazzie# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Indian Wells-Based Drug Dealer Who Distributed Methamphetamine on the Hopi Reservation Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Last week, Vanessa Rene Dundon (a.k.a. Sioux Z, a.k.a. Suzie Q), 38, of Indian Wells, Arizona pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Sentencing is scheduled for April 18, 2023 before United States District Judge Diane J. Humetewa.
Dundon was stopped in her vehicle on the Hopi Reservation in April 2021, March 2022, and April 2022. On each occasion she had controlled substances in her vehicle. At the change of plea hearing, Dundon admitted that on April 17, 2022, she possessed 58.4 grams of pure methamphetamine and that she intended to deliver it to other individuals in exchange for payment.
A conviction for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000, or both.
The Phoenix Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Hopi Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys in the Violent Crime Section, District of Arizona, Phoenix, are handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-08043-PCT-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-015_Dundon# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Tucson Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Possession of a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Ramon Otero Jr., 39, of Tucson, was sentenced on January 27, 2023, by United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 60 months in prison. Otero Jr. pleaded guilty to Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense.
In April 2021, Otero Jr. was stopped by federal agents at an immigration checkpoint in Arizona. At the time of the stop, Otero Jr. was in possession of fentanyl and two loaded firearms. He told agents that he intended to distribute the fentanyl to another individual and that the firearms were for his protection in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), which is comprised of agents and investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Culver and David Petermann, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-2360-JGZ-BGM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-012_Otero Jr.# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Nigerian Nationals Victimize U.S. Persons Through Cyber-Enabled Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – In December 2022, Solomon Ekunke Okpe and Johnson Uke Obogo, both Nigerian nationals, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire, bank, and mail fraud. Okpe and Obogo were involved in a variety of cyber-enabled fraud schemes between December 2011 and January 2017. Okpe also pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft.
At the request of the United States, Okpe and Obogo were previously arrested in Malaysia and the United Kingdom, respectively, and were extradited to the District of Arizona in 2022.
According to court documents, Okpe and his co-conspirators’ fraud scheme included business email compromise (BEC), work-from-home, romance, check-fraud, and credit-card scams that targeted unsuspecting victims around the world, and attempted to cause more than a million dollars in losses. The victims of the scheme included individuals and local businesses in the District of Arizona, including a regional branch of First American Bank.
In the BEC schemes, Okpe and co-conspirators hacked into victims’ email accounts. After gaining access to a victim’s account, they would send emails to employees of companies doing business with the victim, directing those employees to transfer money to conspirator-controlled bank accounts. These emails looked like they were coming from the victim, but they were actually unauthorized wiring instructions from Okpe and co-conspirators. To get access to victims’ accounts, Okpe and co-conspirators launched email phishing attacks over the Internet that collected thousands of email addresses, passwords, credit card information, and personal identifiable information of unsuspecting individuals.
In the “work-from-home” scams, Okpe, Obogo, and others falsely posed as online employers on job websites and forums under fictitious online personas, and pretended to “hire” large numbers of individuals around the United States to the positions, including in Arizona. Although the positions were marketed as legitimate, work-from-home jobs, "employees" were actually directed to perform tasks that facilitated other fraud scams, including creating bank and payment processing accounts, transferring or withdrawing money from accounts, and cashing or depositing counterfeit checks.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, Gary M. Restaino, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Joseph E. Carrico, Special Agent in Charge at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Goertz of the District of Arizona and Senior Counsel Aarash Haghighat of the Criminal Division's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) are prosecuting the cases against Okpe and Obogo. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance throughout the criminal investigation.
A number of victims have been identified by the FBI. However, there is evidence of many more victims that remain unidentified. Anyone who believes they were defrauded by the defendants in this case should contact the Victim Witness Section at the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona at [email protected]
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-0146-PHX-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-011_Okpe# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Sacaton Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Shooting DeathRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Last week, Jordan Antonio Sullivan, 24, of Sacaton, Arizona, an enrolled member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced by United States District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to a total of 25 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Sullivan previously pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder and Using a Firearm During a Crime of Violence.
On March 23, 2020, Sullivan shot the victim in the neck with a shotgun before hitting the victim in the back of the head with the gun. Sullivan then stole the victim’s car and ran over the victim to ensure he was dead.
Sullivan will serve his 25 years in federal prison after completing a state sentence for Second Degree Murder. In the state case, CR-2020-116748-001, he was sentenced to 18 years for a murder he committed in April 2020.
The Gila River Police Department and the FBI conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raynette Logan, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-00652-PHX-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-010 _SullivanTucson Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On Monday, Orlando Miguel Valenzuela, 28, of Tucson, Arizona, pleaded guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact. Sentencing is scheduled for April 10, 2023, before United States District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson.
Valenzuela, an enrolled member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, admitted that when he was 18 or 19 years old and living on the Pascua Yaqui reservation, he engaged in sexual acts with a minor who was 11 or younger.
The plea agreement requires Valenzuela to serve 5-10 years in federal prison. After completing his prison sentence, Valenzuela will be placed on lifetime supervised release and be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
The Pascua Yaqui Police Department and the FBI conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Micah Schmit, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-0682-TUC-CKJ (DTF)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-009_Valenzuela# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Former Homeland Security Investigations Agent Sentenced for Theft from AgencyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Sean M. Nelson, 44, of Mesa, Arizona, was sentenced last week, by United States District Judge Susan R. Bolton to two years of federal probation and ordered to pay $133,999 in restitution to the Department of Homeland Security. Nelson pleaded guilty to Theft of Government Property in October 2022 and agreed to resign from the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) as part of his plea agreement with the government.
Between November 2019 and October 2021, Nelson, then a Special Agent with HSI, worked without permission or authorization for several private companies while on duty for HSI, and used his government owned vehicle (GOV) for such unauthorized outside work. Nelson drove the GOV, that he agreed to use only for HSI duty purposes, while working for Amazon, Uber, and Lyft during time periods he was supposed to be working for HSI. Nelson’s actions in working for these companies while on duty for HSI resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in losses to the government.
“As a result of the conviction, Mr. Nelson has forfeited much of his salary during the time period of his on-the-job criminal activity, and as a federal felon he’ll never lawfully possess or use a firearm ever again,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “His dereliction of duty was a grave disservice to his hard-working law enforcement colleagues and the taxpayers alike.”
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Professional Responsibility conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Sean K. Lokey, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-01307-PHX-SRB-1
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-008_Nelson# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Surprise Man Convicted of Numerous Crimes, Including False Claims to the IRSRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Anthony Henry Williams, 52, of Surprise, Arizona, was found guilty on January 11, 2023, by a federal jury of one count of Conspiracy, seven counts of False Claims to the IRS, eight counts of Money Laundering, and one count of Mail Fraud. Sentencing is scheduled for March 27, 2023, before United States District Judge Michael T. Liburdi.
Evidence introduced at trial established that, in 2018 and 2019, Williams submitted seven false tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) claiming over $3 million in owed refunds. The IRS processed one of these returns that resulted in an unwarranted $600,000 refund to Williams. The IRS advised him that the return was fraudulent, and that Williams needed to return the money. Williams failed to do so; instead, he purchased two luxury vehicles and a home, among other expenditures.
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin M. Rapp and Kristen Brook, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-00722-PHX-MLT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-007_Williams# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Tucson Man Sentenced to Nine Years for Conspiracy to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, Francisco Pantoja, 25, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker to nine years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Pantoja pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl in connection with the overdose death of a young person in July 2020.
On the afternoon of July 1, 2020, Pantoja provided three pills to the victim. Approximately three hours later, the victim was discovered unresponsive. The Pima County Medical Examiner concluded that the cause of death was fentanyl intoxication. During the investigation, agents executed a search warrant at Pantoja’s residence where they located over 5,500 fentanyl pills and approximately $21,000 in cash.
The Drug Enforcement Administration recently announced, as part of its One Pill Can Kill public service campaign, that six out of every 10 fentanyl-laced pills tested in 2022 contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl: https://www.dea.gov/alert/dea-laboratory-testing-reveals-6-out-10-fentanyl-laced-fake-prescription-pills-now-contain.
The DEA and the Tucson Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca Garvey and Stefani Hepford, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-02096-TUC-JCH (BGM)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-006_Pantoja# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Arizona Man Indicted for Smuggling 173 Pounds of Methamphetamine Across U.S.-Mexico BorderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On January 3, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Isrrael Millan, 19, of San Luis, Arizona, for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Importation of Methamphetamine.
The indictment alleges that, on December 9, 2022, Millan applied for entry into the United States from Mexico, at the San Luis Port of Entry near Yuma, Arizona. At the Port, Customs and Border Protection officers conducted a search of Millan’s vehicle and discovered 170 cellophane-wrapped packages concealed in the quarter panels, doors, rocker panels, firewall, and dashboard. In total, the officers found over 175 pounds of methamphetamine in Millan’s vehicle.
A conviction on each charged offense carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Courchaine, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-00006-PHX-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-005_Millan# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Chandler Man Sentenced to 30 Months for Alien Smuggling in Southern ArizonaRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Michael Andrew Nelson, 30, of Chandler, Arizona, was sentenced Tuesday, January 10, 2023, by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 30 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. Nelson was convicted of Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit and Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit following a bench trial held on August 10, 2022.
On November 14, 2021, U.S. Border Patrol agents, near Naco, Arizona, observed a heavily weighted down Jeep Patriot driving suspiciously in and out of a national park area. During a subsequent stop, five undocumented noncitizens were removed from the backseat and cargo areas of the SUV. Nelson was the front seat passenger, and co-defendant, Michelle Wilson, was the driver. The five undocumented noncitizens each indicated they paid substantial sums of money to smugglers in Mexico in exchange for transportation to various cities within the United States.
Co-defendant Michelle Wilson pleaded guilty in December 2021. She is scheduled for sentencing on April 10, 2023, before Judge Rash.
United States Border Patrol agents from Bisbee, Arizona, conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Micah Schmit and Kevin Schiff, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-3127-TUC-SHR (BGM)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-003_Nelson et al.# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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23-Year-Old Man Sentenced to over 7 Years for Attempted Murder of a U.S. Border Patrol AgentRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Rey David Marquez-Jimenez, 23, of Mexico, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 85 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Marquez-Jimenez pleaded guilty to one count of Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer. The Court also ordered Marquez-Jimenez to pay $99.57 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Labor for expenses related to the agent’s medical care.
On January 26, 2022, near Hereford, Arizona, Marquez-Jimenez - without provocation - attacked a United States Border Patrol (USBP) agent. Marquez-Jimenez tackled the agent as he attempted to handcuff another individual. Marquez-Jimenez punched the agent several times and tried to pull the agent’s firearm from his holster. When the firearm came out of the holster, Marquez-Jimenez tried to point it at the agent. He then got on top of the agent and attempted to slash and stab him with a knife. The agent gained control of the knife, and Marquez-Jimenez fled on foot before being apprehended by other USBP agents.
“Our colleagues in the United States Border Patrol have a difficult and sometimes dangerous job,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “Most noncitizens who enter the United States do so peacefully, and with the intention of seeking a better life for their families. To the small number of undocumented aliens who ignore law enforcement commands and engage in aggressive behavior, be warned: We will vindicate the rights of Border Patrol agents by prosecuting violent offenders commensurate with their unlawful actions.”
“This agent fought for his life while working to protect the American people and safeguard our borders. Assaults on law enforcement officials continue to occur and this is just one of the thousands that happened in 2022,” said Akil Davis, special agent in charge of the FBI Phoenix Field Office. “The FBI remains committed to ensure that those who commit acts of violence against law enforcement officials will be brought to justice.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Houston, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-00175-TUC-JGZ-LCK
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-004_Marquez-Jimenez# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Bylas Man Sentenced to 293 Months for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Marvin Tona, 48, of Bylas, Arizona, was sentenced on December 19, 2022, by United States District Judge Steven P. Logan to 293 months in prison. Tona pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder.
On September 5, 2021, while on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, Tona argued with the adult victim, a one-time friend, at a residence in Bylas, Arizona. Armed with a handgun, Tona shot into a bedroom of the residence where the victim was located. The bullet struck and killed the victim. Both the victim and Tona are enrolled members of the San Carlos Apache Indian community.
Agents from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Officers of the San Carlos Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Thomas C. Simon, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-00830-PHX-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-002_Tona# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Michigan man indicted for setting fire to nine commercial trailers in New MexicoRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), announced that a federal grand jury on Dec. 20 indicted Viorel Pricop on nine counts of arson.
Pricop, 64, of Allen Park, Michigan, is currently in custody in the Central District of California, where Pricop is charged with arson.
According to a criminal complaint, Pricop allegedly set fire to 25 semi-truck trailers owned by Swift Transportation, a trucking company based in Phoenix, Arizona. In addition to the nine fires in New Mexico, Pricop allegedly is responsible for fires in California, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas and Alabama. On Dec. 21, Pricop was indicted in the District of Arizona on three counts of arson.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Pricop faces up to 10 years in prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Jack E. Burkhead is prosecuting the case for the District of New Mexico.
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Chinle Man Sentenced to More Than 30 Years for Murder and ArsonRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. –Alberto Toddy, 35, of Chinle, Arizona, was sentenced on December 19, 2022, by United States District Judge Dominic W. Lanza to 365 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Toddy pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder and Arson.
On April 17, 2020, Toddy brutally assaulted two victims with a baseball bat inside one of the victim’s homes. Toddy then intentionally set fire to the home, resulting in the death of one of the victims who had been rendered unconscious by the assault. The offense occurred in Chinle, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation, where both the victims and Toddy are enrolled members.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Division of Public Safety conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander Samuels and Emma Mark, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-08058-PCT-DWL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-001_Toddy# # #
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Phoenix Man Sentenced for Importing Counterfeit N95 Masks from AsiaRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Mark Forrest Cohn, 68, of Chandler, Arizona, was sentenced on December 21, 2022, by United States District Judge David G. Campbell to one year of probation and ordered to pay restitution, to include $8,028 in unpaid taxes and tariffs to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Cohn pleaded guilty to one felony count of Entry of Goods by Means of False Statements.
On October 29, 2020, Cohn fraudulently imported counterfeit 3M manufactured N95 masks into the United States from China using shipping labels and papers that falsely represented the merchandise. The false representations disguised the merchandise as goods not subject to duties and inspection by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Once the shipment arrived at a Phoenix mail facility, a box imported by Custom Glass and Synthetic was targeted for inspection as part of an enforcement operation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and CBP’s Office of Field Operations officers. When the box was opened, HSI and CBP officers found masks branded as 3M with pixelated photos on the packaging. Working together, HSI and CBP officers scanned and transmitted images of the shipment of purported N95 masks to 3M. On November 3, 2020, 3M advised the N95 masks were in fact counterfeit. Counterfeits create risks to the user because the seals can be ill-fitting and the masks less effective.
On November 23, 2020, Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General agents and a 3M representative inspected the masks located at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) warehouse in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The counterfeit masks were identified and seized before they made their way to front line workers.
The N95 mask is designed for health care workers as the fit and seal minimize the transference of COVID. Cohn sold over 20,000 masks to a third-party vendor that supplied equipment to the VAMC warehouse in Minnesota. The third-party vendor did not know that the masks were counterfeit.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from CBP’s Office of Field Operations and the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen Brook and Peter Sexton, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-01308-PHX-DGC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-232_Cohn# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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South Dakota Man Sentenced to 18 Months for Indecent ExposureRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Shaun Rudy Knox, 33, of St. Francis, South Dakota, was sentenced December 20, 2022, by United States District Court Judge Raner C. Collins to 18 months in prison. Knox earlier pleaded guilty to four counts of Indecent Exposure.
While incarcerated on sexual abuse charges at the United States Penitentiary Tucson, Knox exposed his genitals to four different employees of the United States Bureau of Prisons. Judge Collins ordered Knox’s 18 month sentence for indecent exposure be served consecutive to his sentence for sexual abuse.
The United States Bureau of Prisons conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-2195-RCC-DTF
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-230_Knox# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Former Kayenta Man Charged with Making False Statements, Cyberstalking, and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – James Thomas Andrew McCarty, 22, of Charlotte, North Carolina, and formerly of Kayenta, Arizona, was arrested on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, following a federal grand jury indictment of 26 counts including Making False Statements, Cyberstalking, and Aggravated Identity Theft. A detention hearing was held on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, in Charlotte, North Carolina, at which point he was detained and remanded to the District of Arizona for further proceedings. McCarty is also pending federal charges in the Central District of California https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/grand-jury-indicts-2-swatting-scheme-took-over-ring-doorbells-across-us-livestream.
The indictment alleges that McCarty made 13 phone calls from Kayenta, Arizona, to police departments and schools in Georgia, New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, and Oklahoma between January 17, 2021, and June 30, 2021, containing varying threats that he possessed bombs, propane bottles and tanks, and that he would shoot police if they responded. Two of the calls specifically threatened school shootings in Westfield, Indiana, and Vinita, Oklahoma. Seven calls involved identity theft because McCarty allegedly used the names of actual individuals purportedly making the phone calls associated with the locations of the false emergencies.
A conviction for False Statements about bombs and other explosives carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, or both.
A conviction for Cyberstalking, False Information and Hoaxes carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, or both.
Each count of Aggravated Identity Theft carries a maximum penalty of a mandatory two years’ consecutive imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both.
A criminal indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is conducting the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-08133-PCT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-231_McCarty# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Former Border Patrol Agent Sentenced to More Than 12 Years on Bribery, Firearms, and Narcotics ChargesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Ramon Antonio Monreal-Rodriguez, 36, of Vail, Arizona, was sentenced on December 14, by United States District Judge James A. Soto, to 152 months in prison and ordered to pay $151,000 in restitution to the U.S. Border Patrol for salary drawn while engaged in criminal activity. Monreal-Rodriguez previously pleaded guilty to Bribery, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana, Conspiracy to Make False Statements in Connection with the Acquisition of Firearms, and Conspiracy to Provide Firearms to a Convicted Felon, for his role in three separate conspiracies in two federal criminal cases.
“The men and women of the United States Border Patrol safeguard our frontier with compassion and dignity,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “Most Border Patrol Agents are excellent public servants who diligently interdict contraband like guns and drugs. For those who aren’t and don’t, the Bureau of Prisons has plenty of room. Many thanks to our law enforcement partners on the Southern Arizona Corruption Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for their hard work in putting this case together.”
Between July and August 2018, Monreal-Rodriguez, a former U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agent, was involved in two firearm-related conspiracies wherein he both unlawfully purchased firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers on behalf of other individuals and provided firearms to felons, who are prohibited from possessing firearms.
While the investigations into the firearms conspiracies were ongoing, Monreal-Rodriguez also conspired to import narcotics into the United States from Mexico, from January 8, 2018, until his arrest on September 25, 2018. During this time, a drug trafficking organization he worked with smuggled narcotics across the border. Monreal-Rodriguez would retrieve the narcotics and take them past the checkpoint several miles from the border — often in his USBP vehicle — and then transport the drugs to the Tucson area. He admitted to distributing 116 kilograms of cocaine and 107 kilograms of marijuana as part of the conspiracy.
Additionally, Monreal-Rodriguez admitted to receiving cash proceeds from narcotics sales totaling at least $1.2 million, which he transported to the United States-Mexico border and then handed off to other individuals so the cash could be smuggled into Mexico. In exchange for his role in the narcotics conspiracy, Monreal-Rodriguez received cash payments.
In violation of his duties as a USBP agent, Monreal-Rodriguez used his border patrol vehicle and its radio to securely transport the smuggled narcotics and cash proceeds. Further, he was in possession of his service weapon when he picked up the narcotics and dropped off the drug proceeds.
This case was investigated by the Southern Arizona Corruption Task Force (SACTF) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The SACTF is comprised of members from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General, Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Office of Professional Responsibility, Customs and Border Protection - Office of Professional Responsibility, the Tucson Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-02215-TUC-JAS-1
CR-18-01905-TUC-JAS-1
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-133_Monreal-Rodriguez
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Multi-Agency Investigation Leads to Charges Against 13 Alleged Members of a Tucson-Area Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – A federal grand jury in Tucson, Arizona, returned a 19-count indictment on November 10, 2022, against 10 current or former southern Arizona residents, including:
- Alberto Gabriel Aranda-Ramon, 31, of Tucson, Arizona
- Michele Oller, 54, of Tucson, Arizona
- Larry William Nelson, Jr., 51, of Arizona
- Ashley Yvonne Maxwell, 35, of Tucson, Arizona
- Leah Jean Holmes, 28, of Tucson, Arizona
- Alexander Anthony Ruiz, 34, of Tucson, Arizona
Aranda-Ramon, Oller, Nelson, Maxwell, and Holmes were indicted on charges of Conspiracy to Distribute Drugs and Drug Distribution. Ruiz was indicted on charges of Conspiracy to Distribute Drugs, Conspiracy to Launder Money, and Money Laundering. The remaining four defendants’ names are presently under seal by court order.
The indictment alleges that, beginning in September 2021, the 10 defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, or 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. The indictment further alleges that all of the 10 defendants except for Ruiz engaged in Drug Distribution. Finally, the indictment alleges that Ruiz also was involved in a conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and that he engaged in money laundering.
Three additional individuals with alleged ties to the above-described conspiracy to distribute drugs were arrested in a multi-agency law enforcement operation on December 7, 2022, in Tucson, Arizona. They are:
- Andrew Grijalva, 19, of Las Vegas, Nevada
- Rodrigo Lopez-Lozoya, 36, of Mexico
- Jesus Ramon Lozoya-Portillo, 41, of Mexico
On December 8, 2022, United States Magistrate Judge Eric J. Markovich authorized a complaint charging Grijalva, Lopez-Lozoya, and Lozoya-Portillo with drug trafficking (22-MJ-00777-N/A-LCK).
The complaint alleges that, beginning in September 2021, Grijalva, Lopez-Lozoya, and Lozoya-Portillo conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, or 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
A conviction for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine, as charged in the indictment, carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, a fine of $10,000,000, or both, and up to a lifetime of post-conviction supervision.
A conviction for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, as alleged in the complaint, carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, a fine of $10,000,000, or both, and up to a lifetime of post-conviction supervision.
A conviction for Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments, as charged in the indictment, carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater, or both imprisonment and a fine, and up to three years of post-conviction supervision.
An indictment and a complaint are simply methods by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raise no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General are conducting the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 22-CR-02454-TUC-RCC-MSA
22-MJ-00777-N/A-LCK
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-229_Aranda-Ramon, et al.# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Michigan Man Indicted for Allegedly Setting Commercial Trailers AblazeRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On Wednesday, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Viorel Pricop, 64, of Allen Park, Michigan, for Arson of Property in Interstate Commerce.
The indictment alleges that Pricop set two commercial semi-truck trailers ablaze near Willcox, Arizona, on February 7, 2022, and one commercial semi-truck trailer near Holbrook, Arizona, on March 1, 2022, damaging the trailers and cargo. All three trailers were owned by Swift Transportation.
Pricop is currently in federal custody in the Central District of California. He was indicted there on November 9, 2022, on six counts of Arson of Property in Interstate Commerce after allegedly setting fire to Swift Transportation trailers in San Bernadino and Riverside Counties.
A conviction for Arson of Property in Interstate Commerce carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah B. Houston and Benjamin Goldberg, District of Arizona, are handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-02747-TUC-JCH-EJM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-228_Pricop# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Safford Man Sentenced to 60 months for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, Richard Lee Molinar, 44, of Safford, Arizona, was sentenced by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 60 months in prison for child exploitation offenses. Molinar earlier pleaded guilty to Possession of Child Pornography. Upon release, Molinar will be placed on lifetime supervised release with sex offender conditions and will be required to register as a sex offender.
On July 7, 2021, Molinar was charged by a six-count indictment that alleged he received, possessed, and distributed child pornography between March 1, 2020, and April 1, 2021. Molinar pleaded guilty to count one of the indictment on June 23, 2022, which charged that on or about April 1, 2021, he possessed child pornography. Molinar admitted to possessing a phone which he used to access, download, save, and view images and 13 videos depicting minor children, many under the age of 12, who were engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Molinar received and distributed these images and videos using Facebook Messenger.
“Project Safe Childhood aims to protect the public long-term from the actions of defendants who seek to exploit children,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “Because of this conviction, and the diligence of our partners at Homeland Security Investigations, the defendant will be subject to stringent conditions for the rest of his life with respect to the use of the internet and participation in chat rooms and other forms of social networking.”
“HSI will not tolerate the exploitation of children and will continue to use our unique investigative authorities to bring to justice anyone who attempts to violate our children,” said Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown, HSI Arizona.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca S. Garvey and Carin C. Duryee, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-01599-SHR-BGM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-227_Molinar# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Three Human Smuggling Organizers Sentenced to a Combined 100 Months of IncarcerationRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Ramon Villalobos-Lopez, 45, of Mexico, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 46 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Márquez previously sentenced co-defendants Javier Garcia-Mondragon, 37, of Mexico, and Daniel Lopez-Guerra, 24, of Mexico, each to a term of 27 months in prison. All three previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit.
In April 2021, special agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Nogales began surveilling vehicles identified as being used for human smuggling and subsequently identified a stash house. On May 14, 2021, a search warrant was executed at the residence where agents found 54 undocumented noncitizens inside. Agents also found notebooks containing written entries indicating hundreds of undocumented noncitizens had been brought to the residence after illegally crossing into the United States. Garcia-Mondragon and Lopez-Guerra were identified as individuals in charge of the stash house, while Villalobos-Lopez was identified as a leader and organizer of the operation.
This prosecution resulted from the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is part of JTFA, which was established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The Task Force focuses on disrupting and dismantling smuggling and trafficking networks that abuse, exploit, or endanger migrants, pose national security threats, and are involved in organized crime.
HSI – Nogales Office conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR 21-1323-TUC-RM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-226_Villalobos-Lopez et al.# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Yuma Contractor Convicted of Insurance FraudRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On Tuesday, Isrrael Millan, III, 40, of Yuma, Arizona, was found guilty by a federal jury on one count of Conspiracy to Commit Fraud, eight counts of Wire Fraud, two counts of Mail Fraud, and four counts of Money Laundering. Sentencing is scheduled for February 21, 2023, before Senior United States District Judge Roslyn O. Silver.
Millan’s charges were related to several insurance fraud schemes that occurred in Yuma, Arizona, between 2018 and 2020. The schemes included staging vehicle accidents, as well as deliberately flooding residences and then submitting fraudulent claims to insurance companies related to those incidents. One of the incidents occurred in the early morning of June 2, 2019, when two individuals recruited by Millan purposefully crashed a U-Haul moving truck into the Sunshine Market and Liquor Convenience Store in Yuma.
The evidence at trial revealed that Millan worked as a general contractor and made fraudulent claims related to the damage caused by the incidents in an effort to collect insurance proceeds.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Raymond K. Woo and Aron Ketchel, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-00713-PHX-ROS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-225_Millan# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Chandler Man Sentenced to 33 Months for Defrauding InvestorsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On December 12, 2022, Jeffrey D. McHatton, 68, of Chandler, Arizona, was sentenced by United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 33 months in prison. McHatton was previously found guilty by a jury on 10 counts of Securities Fraud.
One of McHatton’s co-defendants at trial, Robert Sproat, 60, of Mesa, Arizona, was previously sentenced to 30 months in prison. Prior to trial, a third co-defendant, Robert Moss, 56, of Gilbert, Arizona, pleaded guilty to his involvement in the scheme and was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
Evidence presented at trial demonstrated that, between 2012 and 2014, McHatton, Sproat, and Moss used a religious charitable organization as a front to entice victims to invest over $1.2 million. Several of the victims targeted in the scheme were elderly. McHatton, Sproat, and Moss fraudulently promoted investments in the recovery of low alpha lead from Central America, gold from the Philippines, and diamonds from Africa, though none of the items were ever produced. McHatton, Sproat, and Moss used large portions of the investment funds for their own personal use. The victims never received a return on investments other than minimal “interest” payments derived from other victims’ money.
The FBI and the Arizona Corporation Commission conducted the investigation in this case. The Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Section of the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-2220-TUC-RM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-224_McHatton et al.# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Iowa Man Sentenced to 41 Months for Threatening United States District JudgeRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Ted Earl Severeid, III, 40, of Des Moines, Iowa, was sentenced on December 5, 2022, by United States District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 41 months in prison, to run consecutively with previously imposed prison terms in other criminal cases. Severeid previously pleaded guilty to Threatening to Assault a United States Judge.
While incarcerated on other charges, Severeid mailed a threatening letter to a United States Judge, wherein he threatened to violently assault the victim. In sentencing Severeid, Judge Rayes noted that Severeid’s communication was “not an empty threat” and that Severeid’s history, combined with his decision to commit new offenses while incarcerated, required the imposition of a consecutive prison sentence in order to protect the public from future crimes.
Upon completion of his sentence, Severeid will be placed on supervised release for three years. During his term of supervision, Severeid will be prohibited from contacting the victim.
The United States Marshals Service conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph E. Koehler and Christine D. Keller, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-02308-PHX-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-223_Severeid# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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