District of Arizona
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Chinle Man Sentenced to Prison for Assault and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Bo Channon Davis, 35, of Chinle, Arizona, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to 63 months in prison, with credit for six months he spent in tribal custody for this offense. He will also be placed on supervised release for three years after his prison term is complete. Davis previously pleaded guilty to one count of Assault on a Federal Officer with a Dangerous Weapon, one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, and one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.
On July 28, 2018, Davis, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, threatened two Navajo Police Department officers with a rifle. Davis is prohibited from possessing a firearm because he is a convicted felon. The offenses occurred on the Navajo Nation in Chinle, Arizona.
The Navajo Nation Police Department and the FBI conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew C. Cassell, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-8234-PHX-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-080_Davis# # #
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.Kingman Man Convicted for Possessing Firearms and Ammunition as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Last week, a federal jury found Todd Gehman Howard, 60, of Kingman, Arizona, guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Sentencing is scheduled for August 1, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Susan Brnovich.
On October 11, 2019, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Howard’s residence in Kingman, Arizona. Inside the residence, agents discovered 23 firearms, including 21 in a safe in Howard’s bedroom closet, and approximately 7,600 rounds of ammunition. Howard’s firearms included various types of revolvers, shotguns, and semi-automatic rifles. One of the guns in the safe was a Privately Made Firearm (PMF), FAL-type .308 caliber semiautomatic rifle, sometimes referred to as a “ghost gun.” Evidence presented at trial showed the receiver of that firearm was forged in Australia, and that the completed firearm had traveled from the State of Washington to Arizona.
“The Department of Justice takes seriously the prohibited possession of firearms. This Office will continue to prosecute such cases vigorously, especially cases such as this that involve federal felons possessing large quantities of firearms and ammunition,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino.
The FBI conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Koehler and William Rubens, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-8033-PCT-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-077_Howard# # #
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 15 Years for Stabbing DeathRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Yesterday, Jose Louise Carpio, III, 25, of Sacaton, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Carpio previously pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder.
On October 7, 2019, Carpio stabbed the victim, killing her. Caprio is an enrolled member of the Gila River Indian Community,
The Gila River Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raynette Logan, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-00182-01-PHX-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-075_Carpio# # #
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.Washington Man Pleads Guilty to Transportation of Child Pornography Depicting Minor Victim in MexicoRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On Monday, Adolfo Aburto-Gonzalez, 24, of Olympia, Washington, pleaded guilty to Transportation of Child Pornography. Sentencing is scheduled for August 24, 2022 before United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez.
A complaint filed in March alleged that Aburto-Gonzalez was arrested after he entered the United States through Nogales, Mexico, and was found to be returning from an encounter with a 12-year-old minor, of whom he had explicit pictures and videos.
Aburto-Gonzalez accepted a plea agreement which requires that he be sentenced to a term of 10 to 12 years in prison, followed by a term of lifetime supervision as a registered sex offender.
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 United States 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Homeland Security Investigations, Nogales, conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carin Duryee, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-01040-TUC-RM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-073_Aburto-Gonzalez# # #
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.Federal Jury Convicts Nevada Man of Impeding and Threatening Federal Officers at the Port of EntryRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On Monday, John Milton Lee, 62, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was found guilty by a federal jury of smuggling goods from the United States and impeding and threatening a federal officer. Lee is scheduled for sentencing on August 3, 2022, before United States District Judge James A. Soto.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Lee traveled from Arizona to Mexico on November 1, 2019, but Mexican authorities returned him to the port almost immediately. When Lee returned to the Lukeville Port of Entry, he refused to provide identification. At secondary inspection, Lee would not exit his vehicle and refused inspection. Instead, Lee told U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers that they could not touch him or anything in his vehicle. Lee then reached into his jacket and threatened the officers that he “didn’t want it to go there.” Although Lee never pulled out a gun, officers could see the handle of the firearm in his jacket. Over the next hour, Lee engaged in an armed standoff with five CBP officers. The officers eventually convinced Lee to exit his vehicle, but he still refused to surrender. After continued unsuccessful negotiation, one of the officers tased Lee. Officers confirmed then that Lee had been holding a loaded handgun with a round in the chamber, the safety off, and the hammer cocked. When officers searched Lee, they also found three loaded 30-round rifle magazines.
In a subsequent search of Lee's vehicle, officers discovered that an AR-type rifle had also been within his reach during the standoff. Officers seized three additional long arms, including an HK 91 and a Tavor (Israeli assault rifle), three additional handguns, nearly 2,000 rounds of ammunition, and 17 loaded magazines. All the firearms were loaded with a round in the chamber. In a post-Miranda statement, Lee admitted that he had planned to take the firearms and ammunition to Guatemala.
Homeland Security Investigations, Sells, conducted the investigation in this case, with the assistance of CBP. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angela Martinez and Serra M. Tsethlikai, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-2946-TUC-JAS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-074_Lee# # #
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.Tucson Man Sentenced to 30 Months for Alien Smuggling Involving Flight from Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Andrew Ryan Lozinski, 30, of Tucson, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 30 months in prison. Lozinski previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens while Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person.
On October 1, 2021, officers from the Nogales Police Department saw five suspected undocumented noncitizens climb into Lozinski’s car. A patrol officer called nearby U.S. Border Patrol agents who attempted to conduct an immigration traffic stop. Instead of stopping, Lozinski led agents on a highspeed chase, reaching speeds close to 100 miles per hour. At one point during the chase, Lozinski told the five passengers to get out, but two became entangled in a seatbelt and were dragged a short distance, resulting in injuries to each of them. Lozinski was eventually apprehended after officers used a spike strip and Lozinski crashed his vehicle into a fence on the side of the road.
Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol and the Nogales Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-2773-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-072_Lozinski# # #
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.21-Year-Old Phoenix Man Sentenced to 75 Months for Alien Smuggling Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Isaiah Lorenzo Brinkley, 21, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Scott H. Rash to 75 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Brinkley previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit, Placing Life in Jeopardy, and Resulting in Death.
On January 26, 2020, Brinkley coordinated for G.J.H. to transport two undocumented noncitizens in exchange for payment. Late that evening, G.J.H. drove to an immigration checkpoint on State Route 85 near Why, Arizona. Border patrol Agents referred G.J.H. to secondary inspection. Instead of handing over the keys to the vehicle, G.J.H. fled from the immigration checkpoint and crashed the vehicle. G.J.H. and the two passengers, both Colombian citizens, were ejected from the vehicle. G.J.H. and one of the passengers died at the scene.
For several weeks after the fatal crash, Brinkley continued to coordinate and engage in alien smuggling for profit, often placing passengers in trunks of vehicles or instructing others to do so.
Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca S. Garvey, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-00470-TUC-SHR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-071_Brinkley# # #
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.U.S. Attorney's Office Honors Law Enforcement During Police WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. — In honor of National Police Week, the United States Attorney’s Office recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Wednesday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said Attorney General Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”
“Law enforcement officers protect and serve their local communities,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “We honor their courage, their commitment to justice, and their lives of public service.”In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 472 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2021. Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19. Thirteen of the 472 officers on NLEOMF’s list are from the District of Arizona, and will be added to the law enforcement memorial in Washington, D.C. Last week, the names of 26 state, local, and federal officers, who died in the line of duty in 2021, were added to the Arizona Peace Officers Memorial. Their names can be found at https://www.azag.gov/outreach/law-enforcement/pomb.
Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts and 56 died in accidents. Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year. In 2021, unprovoked attacks[1] were the cause of 24 deaths significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting. Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program.
The names of the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 8:00 PM EDT. The 619 names being added to the wall include those of officers whose End of Watch was before 2021 but were not previously inscribed. Anyone who wishes to view the vigil live online, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-070_Police Week
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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.
[1] An unprovoked attack is defined as an attack on an officer not prompted by official contact at the time of the incident between the officer and the offender. Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program.
Las Vegas Duo Indicted for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens and Placing Their Lives in JeopardyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned a two-count indictment against Kevin Michal Bell, 41, and Dara Eve Belic, 38, both of Las Vegas, charging Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person and Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person.
The indictment alleges that on or about April 7, 2022, Bell and Belic conspired to transport and transported undocumented non-citizens (UNCs) and that during the commission of the offense, they placed their lives in jeopardy. The indictment further alleges that both Bell and Belic did so for financial gain.
According to the complaint filed last month, a Border Patrol camera operator observed an individual, suspected to be a UNC, crawling in the grass toward a Dodge Durango near the border with Mexico on April 7, 2022. Bell was driving the Durango and Belic was the front seat passenger. Law enforcement officers attempted to stop the Durango, but the vehicle failed to yield. Instead, the Durango fled from law enforcement at a high rate of speed. At one point during the pursuit, four UNCs exited the vehicle and were apprehended by Border Patrol. The Durango continued its flight, only stopping after spike strips were deployed.
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.
Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol and the Arizona Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-00960-TUC-RM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-069_Bell# # #
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.Tucson Woman Sentenced to over Three Years in Prison for Alien Smuggling and Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Xochil Elizabeth Hernandez, 19, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to two concurrent terms of 36 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. Hernandez previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to smuggle aliens and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. At the time of the offense, Hernandez was serving a term of supervised release for a prior alien smuggling conviction. Her supervised release in the prior case was revoked, and she was sentenced to serve six months in addition to the 36 months for the new charge.
On November 6, 2021, an Arizona Department of Public Safety Officer pulled over Hernandez’s vehicle for a traffic infraction near Amado, Arizona. The DPS officer, assisted by nearby Border Patrol agents, discovered the front seat passenger was an undocumented noncitizen. The DPS officer and agents discovered two more undocumented noncitizens hidden in the trunk of the vehicle. They also discovered a bag of .45 caliber ammunition in Hernandez’s purse and a pellet gun designed to look like a Glock handgun in the glove compartment.
Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol and the Arizona Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-3238-TUC-JGZ; CR-20-1543-02-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-068_Hernandez# # #
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.Tucson Residents Charged with Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned indictments against Bryan Israel Moreno-Aguilar, 23, Alfredo Daniel Mireles, 29, Glen Adam Romero, Jr., 40, and Ana Lizeth Romero, 39, charging them each with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. All four individuals are from Tucson, Arizona.
The indictments allege that from a time unknown and continuing until January 7, 2022, Moreno-Aguilar, Mireles, Glen Romero, and Ana Romero knowingly conspired with each other and with others to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl.
The previously filed complaints alleged that the four charged individuals conspired with each other and others to distribute counterfeit M30 pills containing fentanyl. According to the complaints, the group used Mireles’ residence, the Romeros’ residence, and the Romeros’ recreational vehicle to store counterfeit M30 pills. On October 15, 2021, a vehicle leaving Mireles’ residence was stopped and found to contain approximately 8,000 counterfeit M30 pills that contained fentanyl. On December 11, 2021, the Romeros’ recreational vehicle was at a business in Tucson and the Romeros were seen counting and distributing pills to an individual who was later stopped and found to possess approximately 100 counterfeit M30 pills that contained fentanyl.
A conviction for the crime of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, a $5 million fine, or both.
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 FBI Tucson Resident Agency and the Southern Arizona Violent Crime and Gang Task Force conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam D. Rossi and Brandon M. Bolling, District of Arizona, Tucson, are handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBERS: CR 22-00978-TUC-RCC; CR 22-00979-TUC-RCC; CR 22-00977-TUC-CKJ; CR 22-00975-TUC-JAS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022- 067_Moreno-Aguilar
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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.Tucson Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Fentanyl that Caused DeathRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, Oscar S. Acuna, Jr., 35, of Tucson, Arizona, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl. Sentencing is scheduled for July 12, 2022, before United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps.
Acuna admitted that he sold fentanyl pills and black tar heroin to a young woman and her boyfriend in May 2020 at a hotel in Tucson. Shortly after ingesting part of one of the pills, the young woman began experiencing respiratory distress. Medical personnel were unable to save her. An autopsy confirmed that the cause of her death was fentanyl and heroin toxicity.
A conviction for distribution of fentanyl carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of $1,000,000.00, or both.
Tucson Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stefani Hepford, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-01564-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-064_Acuna# # #
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.Phoenix Man Charged After Seizure of 178,000 Suspected Fentanyl Pills, Guns, and Other DrugsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Marco Antonio Medina, 29, of Phoenix, Arizona, was charged last week via criminal complaint with three counts of possession of controlled substances for distribution and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Medina was arrested on May 2, 2022 and had his initial appearance in federal court last Wednesday.
The complaint alleges three violations of United States law related to Medina’s intended distribution of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin, and one violation of United States law related to Medina’s possession of a handgun. It further alleges that, on May 2, 2022, Medina was observed participating in a suspected drug transaction in Phoenix, Arizona. United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents and Task Force Officers later determined that a car Medina had been driving contained 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately 16,000 pills that are suspected to contain fentanyl. Medina was also in possession of a handgun on his person, and three other firearms were found in the vehicle. A subsequent search of Medina’s apartment led to the seizure of approximately 16.2 kilograms of pills suspected to contain fentanyl (approximately 162,000 pills), over 3.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, over one kilogram of powdered fentanyl, and nearly half a kilogram of heroin. Medina is a convicted felon and, at the time of his arrest, had three outstanding felony warrants for his arrest.
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 DEA is conducting the investigation in this case, with assistance from the Goodyear Police Department. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also assisted by investigating the seized firearms. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 22-8138MJ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-065_Medina# # #
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.Leupp Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Abusive Sexual Contact of a ChildRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Brian James Tsinnijinnie, 26, of Leupp, Arizona, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 180 months in prison. Tsinnijinnie previously pleaded guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child.
In 2019, Tsinnijinnie sexually abused the minor victim while on the Navajo Nation. Tsinnijinnie is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. After he finishes serving his term in federal prison, he will be placed on supervised release for the rest of his life.
The FBI and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Crowley, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-08078-PCT-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022- 066_Tsinnijinnie# # #
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 Mexican Nationals Charged with Hostage Taking, Transportation of Illegal Aliens, and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned an eight-count indictment against Mexican Nationals Olegario Lares-De La Rosa, 29, and Ivan Heriberto Borboa-Ruiz, 28, for Conspiracy to Commit Hostage Taking, Hostage Taking, Conspiracy to Commit Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, and Prohibited Possessors of Firearms and Ammunition.
The indictment alleges that from a date unknown until April 8, 2022, Lares-De La Rosa and Borboa-Ruiz conspired together to detain two undocumented noncitizens in order to compel family members to pay money as a condition for their release. The initial complaint further alleges that a relative of the undocumented noncitizens was contacted by a male who said they would be held until $8,000 per person was paid in cash. The undocumented noncitizens were released after payment was made at a Home Depot parking lot. Lares-De La Rosa and Borboa-Ruiz were later arrested and found in possession of firearms.
A conviction for the crime of Conspiracy to Commit Hostage Taking carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both. The remaining charges each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years, a $250,000 fine, or both.
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.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Serra M. Tsethlikai, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-00974-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-061_Lares-De La Rosa# # #
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.South Carolina Man Charged in Connection with Transporting Minor to Engage in Criminal Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned a two-count indictment against Timothy Mikell Schultheis, aka Jackson Oden, 24, of South Carolina, charging Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity and Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct.
The indictment alleges that on or about March 20, 2022, Schultheis knowingly transported Jane Doe, a 12-year-old minor, in interstate commerce by taking her from the state of Arizona to the state of South Carolina, with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. The indictment further alleges that Schultheis traveled in interstate commerce from Arizona to South Carolina for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with the minor.
According to the complaint filed last month, the 12-year-old was reported missing after she left her home on the morning of March 20, 2022 and did not return. The minor’s Facebook account revealed communications with 24-year-old Schultheis, including his plan to travel from South Carolina and pick up the child in Safford, and his intention to engage in sexual conduct with her. When Schultheis was arrested at his apartment in South Carolina on March 30, 2022, Jane Doe was found in the apartment.
A conviction for the crime of Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. A conviction for the crime of Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activity carries a maximum penalty of 30 years imprisonment.
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 FBI in Sierra Vista and the Graham County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carin Duryee and Raquel Arellano, District of Arizona, Tucson, are handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-00973-TUC-RM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-062_Schultheis# # #
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.Phoenix Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Series of Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jonathan Bastida-Delgado, 28, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Dominic W. Lanza to 120 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Bastida-Delgado previously pleaded guilty to two counts of Hobbs Act Robbery and one count of Using, Carrying, and Brandishing a Firearm during and in relation to a Crime of Violence.
In March 2020, authorities became aware of a series of armed robberies targeting businesses in Phoenix, Glendale and Buckeye, Arizona from late February through mid-March 2020. According to witnesses, the suspect in each robbery matched the same general physical description, wore a combination of the same clothing, and made similar types of threats to the victims. In each robbery, the suspect also used the same black and silver semiautomatic handgun. Working together, the FBI and local law enforcement identified and located Bastida-Delgado and took him into custody without incident on March 17, 2020.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The FBI Desert Hawk Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian E. Kasprzyk, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-00589-PHX-DWL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022- 063_Bastida-Delgado# # #
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.Phoenix Man Sentenced to Prison for Threatening Arizona Justice of the Peace on FacebookRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Harry Alexander Knight, 54, of Phoenix, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to 37 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Knight previously pleaded guilty to transmitting an interstate communication containing a threat to injure another person.
In 2018, Knight was ordered by the victim, an Arizona Justice of the Peace, to wear an ankle monitor in connection with pending criminal charges. Knight subsequently cut off his ankle monitor and fled to the State of Washington. Once there, Knight posted a communication on a publicly available Facebook page threatening to physically injure the victim. FBI agents ultimately apprehended Knight in California, at which time he was returned to the District of Arizona to face charges.
“Freedom of speech is a fundamental right,” observed U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino, “but it is not without its limits. Those who weaponize the internet by posting online communications threatening others with physical harm remain subject to prosecution.”
During his period of supervised release, Knight will be prohibited from contacting his victims and will have his internet usage monitored by the probation officer.
The FBI conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine D. Keller and William G. Voit, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-10-00176-PHX-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022- 060_Knight# # #
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.California Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for AssaultRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jesse Michael James, 40, of Santa Maria, California, was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to 37 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. James previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.
On December 7, 2020, James assaulted the victim with a hammer, causing the victim to sustain serious bodily injury. James is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the assault occurred on the Colorado River Indian Tribes (“CRIT”) Indian Reservation.
The FBI and the CRIT PD conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina J. Reid-Moore, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-00549-PHX-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022- 059_James# # #
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.Violent Offenders Sentenced in April for Crimes in and Around Tuba CityRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Several violent offenders, all enrolled members of the Navajo Nation Tribe, were sentenced to prison in April for crimes they committed in and around Tuba City, Arizona.
On April 7, 2022, Joshua June, 40, of Tuba City, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 54 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. June attacked an elderly victim with a metal chair and broke numerous bones in her body. He pleaded guilty to Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.
On April 13, 2022, Deon Manson, 45, of Page, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to 46 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Manson attacked the victim with a shovel, causing several broken bones and two amputated fingers. He pleaded guilty to Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.
On April 18, 2022, Lisa Benally, 42, of Tuba City, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 46 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Benally recruited another person to shoot the victim in retaliation for minor property damage. She pleaded guilty to Aiding and Abetting Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.
On April 26, 2022, Zachary Smith, 27, of Shiprock, New Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 27 months in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release. Smith had repeated sexual contact with the minor victim. He pleaded guilty to Sexual Abuse of a Minor.
The Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety and the FBI conducted the investigations in these cases. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecutions.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-8090-PCT-JJT (June)
CR-21-8037-PCT-SMB (Manson)
CR-21-8038-PCT-SPL-002 (Benally)
CR-20-8121-PCT-DLR (Smith)RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-058_Tuba City
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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 Insurance Agent Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Client of More Than a Million DollarsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Koreasa M. Williams, 49, of Tucson, Arizona, pleaded guilty last week to defrauding an elderly annuity client of more than $1,300,000. Williams, formerly licensed in Arizona to sell life and health insurance, pleaded guilty to two counts of Wire Fraud, each of which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for July 5, 2022, before United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps.
Williams admitted she engaged in two separate schemes to defraud her client. In the first scheme, Williams admitted to inducing her client to cash in several life insurance policies in order to invest the proceeds in annuities to be procured by Williams. Williams admitted that over a period of six months in 2019, she fraudulently convinced her client to give her $1,200,000. Instead of investing that money for her client, Williams used almost $900,000 to pay victims of a prior unrelated annuity fraud scheme in an attempt to avoid criminal charges. Williams subsequently pleaded guilty to wire fraud in that unrelated fraud scheme and was sentenced to 51 months in prison in December 2021. Williams used the remaining $300,000 to pay her attorney’s fees for the unrelated fraud scheme and to settle a civil suit brought by another client.
In the second scheme, Williams admitted to inducing her client to dissolve a charitable foundation and place more than $124,000 in an entity controlled by Williams. Williams was to hold the funds until a new entity could be established to receive the money that would then be used to care for her client’s disabled adult daughter. However, Williams never established the new entity and instead diverted more than $118,00 to her own use and benefit.
The FBI, Tucson Resident Agency, conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wallace H. Kleindienst and Mary Sue Feldmeier, of the Financial Crimes and Public Corruption section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-03136-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-057_Williams# # #
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.Ohio Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Dennis Gilman, 43, of Madison, Ohio, was sentenced this week by U.S. District Judge James A. Soto to 15 years in prison. Gilman previously pleaded guilty to Production of Child Pornography.
Gilman was arrested after an investigation by the FBI revealed he was using an X-Box gaming system to contact minors and request sexually explicit material from them. On May 9, 2018, Gilman was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of producing child pornography involving a child victim. As part of his plea agreement, Gilman also admitted to seeking and obtaining sexually explicit material from a second child victim. Upon release from prison, Gilman will be placed on lifetime supervised release with stringent conditions of supervision. He will be required to register as a sex offender and to complete a sex offender treatment program.
“This case serves as a reminder of the very real threat posed by online predators in the gaming world, a place where our children deserve to feel safe,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to prosecuting these offenders, and we encourage parents to remain vigilant and to remind children that no person should be requesting sexually explicit content from them.”
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.
The Sierra Vista office of the FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carin C. Duryee and Rebecca S. Garvey, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-00809-TUC-JAS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-056_Gilman# # #
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.Phoenix Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Smuggling Firearms and Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Pedro Adan Sevilla, 25, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Judge Scott H. Rash to 12 years in prison for his role in smuggling firearms and munitions from the United States into Mexico and for drug trafficking. Sevilla previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Smuggle Goods from the United States, Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Possession of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime.
Sevilla’s co-defendant, Francisco Dario Mora, 28, of Tucson, Arizona, was previously sentenced on April 29, 2021 to five years in prison for his role in the smuggling activity. On Monday, Judge Rash also issued a Final Order of Forfeiture for the value of the firearms and munitions in the amount of $32,663.48 against both defendants and ordered $12,970 cash forfeited against Sevilla.
In September 2019, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) initiated an investigation into firearms purchased by Mora and Sevilla that were recovered in Mexico by Mexican law enforcement officials. ATF agents discovered that from June 2019 through September 2019, Mora and Sevilla conspired to export 40 firearms to Mexico, including AK-type rifles and AR-type pistols, 25,000 rounds of ammunition, and 760 AK-type and AR-type magazines. During this time frame, Mora purchased at least 19 firearms, one of which was recovered in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico just 27 days after he purchased it. Sevilla purchased at least 21 firearms, two of which were recovered in Mexico a short time after they were purchased. Mora and Sevilla spent approximately $45,000 for the firearms and ammunition and crossed into Mexico from the United States on several dates to the deliver the firearms and munitions.
On November 13, 2019, ATF agents executed search warrants on residences and vehicles tied to Mora and Sevilla in Tucson and Phoenix. During the search of Sevilla’s Phoenix residence, agents located a safe in Sevilla’s bedroom where they found 19 grams of cocaine and 11.9 pounds of fentanyl pills. Agents also located a bag inside Sevilla’s bedroom that contained six bags of fentanyl pills, an AR-type pistol with a loaded magazine, $12,970 cash, and a digital narcotics scale.
ATF conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the United States Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Serra M. Tsethlikai, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution .
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-3289-SHR-MSA
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-055_Sevilla# # #
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.Arizona Man Found Guilty of Bulk Cash SmugglingRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, a federal jury in Tucson found Charles Robert Wright, 61, guilty of attempting to smuggle $204,080 in U.S. currency into Mexico. Sentencing is set for July 6, 2022 before U.S. District Judge Rosemary Márquez.
The facts at trial showed that on April 18, 2021, Charles Robert Wright was the owner, driver, and sole occupant of a Winnebago Adventurer when he attempted to leave the United States through the Lukeville Port of Entry. During outbound inspection, Wright denied transporting over ten thousand dollars in the Winnebago. The vehicle was subjected to an X-ray, which showed abnormalities in the roof. Customs and Border Protection Officers conducted a search of the vehicle and found a non-factory compartment that contained two plastic bags of U.S. currency, which was folded and rubber banded together. Officers also located 10 additional individually wrapped cellophane packages that contained U.S. currency. The total amount of cash found in the vehicle was $204,080.
Customs and Border Protection completed the interdiction. Homeland Security Investigations, Sells, conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew G. Eltringham, District of Arizona, Tucson, OCDETF, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 21-CR-01031-TUC-RM (MSA)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-054_Wright# # #
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.Tucson Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Zachary Zane Stephenson, 45, of Tucson, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson to 10 years in prison. Stephenson previously pleaded guilty to one count of Possession of Child Pornography.
On October 28, 2020, Stephenson, who was on supervision at the time in connection with a similar prior conviction, was charged after he was found to be using his cellphone to access graphic child sexual abuse material. Upon release from prison, Stephenson will be placed on lifetime supervised release with stringent conditions of supervision. He will be required to register as a sex offender and to complete a sex offender treatment program.
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.
Homeland Security Investigations, Tucson, conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carin C. Duryee and Erica L. Seger, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-02257-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-051_Stephenson# # #
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.Phoenix Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Shooting DeathRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Gabriel Quinn Enos, 27, of Phoenix, Arizona, an enrolled member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to 15 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Enos previously pleaded guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter.
On August 23, 2017, Enos shot the victim in the face, killing him. At the time of sentencing, Enos was on supervised release for a separate case and received an additional 6 months in prison for violating the terms of that release.
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-19-00834-02-PHX-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-053_Enos# # #
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.Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 39 Months for Failing to Register and Violating Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Clifton Yazzie, 38, of Fort Defiance, Arizona, was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Chief Judge G. Murray Snow to 30 months in prison for failing to register as a sex offender. Yazzie received an additional 18 months in prison for violating his supervised release in a related case. Yazzie previously pleaded guilty to Failure to Register as a Sex Offender and admitted to violating his supervised release.
At sentencing, Chief Judge Snow ordered that Yazzie serve 9 months for his supervised release violation after completing his sentence for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender, for a total of 39 months in prison. Yazzie was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender for life. In order to protect the public, the conditions of supervision include that Yazzie participate in a sex offender treatment program and live at a residence preapproved by his probation officer, as well as restrictions on his involvement in certain vocational and volunteer activities.
The United States Marshals Service conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine D. Keller, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-00034-GMS; CR-16-01285-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-052_Yazzie# # #
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.Ganado Man Sentenced to 18 Years for MurderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Leon Lee Jones, 38, of Ganado, Arizona, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to 18 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Jones previously pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder.
On July 11, 2018, Jones shot and killed the victim, who was his intimate partner. The murder occurred near Klagetoh, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation. Jones is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, as was the victim.
The FBI and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Samuels and William Voit, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-08369-PCT-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-050_Jones# # #
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 Santa Cruz County Assessor Pleads Guilty to Bribery ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Felipe Fuentes, 62, of Nogales, Arizona, pleaded guilty last week for his role in a long-running bribery conspiracy that spanned much of his tenure as the elected County Assessor for Santa Cruz County. Fuentes pleaded guilty to a felony charge of Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services Wire Fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for August 2, 2022 before the Honorable Raner C. Collins, Senior United States District Judge.
According to Fuentes’ admissions in connection with the plea hearing, Fuentes and other co-conspirators engaged in a multi-year bribery scheme in which Fuentes received cash payments from a large landowner in Santa Cruz County. Fuentes admitted that, in exchange for the cash payments, he took various official acts in his capacity as the County Assessor to benefit the landowner, including reducing assessed values for properties owned by him and his business entities. According to Fuentes’ plea agreement, in addition to the cash payments, the landowner also allowed Fuentes to use a 17-acre ranch owned by one of his business entities free of charge for multiple years during the course of the bribery conspiracy.
“Property taxes pay for critical local government services that support our communities,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “Fuentes abused the public trust when he reduced the assessed value of property, and by doing so diverted money away from Santa Cruz County in order to serve his own self-interest.”
"The citizens of Arizona deserve a government free of corruption. The FBI will not tolerate those who abuse their positions of authority and is committed to rooting out public corruption and civil rights violations at all levels," said Sean Kaul, special agent in charge of the FBI Phoenix Field Office. "The FBI continues to investigate this case and encourages the public to come forward if they have any information."
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Southern Arizona Corruption Task Force investigated the case. The Financial Crimes and Public Corruption section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-00824-TUC-RCC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-049_Fuentes# # #
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 Real Estate Agent Sentenced to Prison for Wire Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Sarah Nicole Kelley, 41, of Coolidge, Arizona, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 46 months in prison and ordered to pay $190,774.64 in restitution. Kelley was found guilty of 24 counts of wire fraud and 8 counts of money laundering by a federal jury in October 2021.
The evidence at trial showed that Kelley defrauded a family friend out of $185,000 in savings. Kelley, a former real estate agent, convinced the victim to invest in a real estate project and send additional money for a short-term loan. Instead of using the money as promised, Kelley used the victim’s savings to pay off her own debts. Kelley then strung the victim along for months with a series of lies and excuses about how the money was spent and when the victim would get it back.
At sentencing, the Court found that Kelley previously defrauded another family friend out of $647,000 using similar tactics. The Court also found that Kelley provided false testimony under oath when seeking to overturn the jury’s guilty verdict.
Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-01143-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022- 048_Kelley# # #
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.NBA Player's Personal Assistant Sentenced to 70 Months for Theft of $4.7 MillionRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Theodore Itsvan Joseph Kritza, 46, of Superior, Colorado (formerly of Chandler, Arizona), was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson to 70 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Kritza was also ordered to pay $4,794,874 in restitution to the victim. Kritza previously pleaded guilty to bank and wire fraud.
In April 2005, the victim, an NBA player, hired Kritza to serve as his personal assistant, taking care of his day-to-day tasks, including paying his bills. Between 2005 and 2012, Kritza fraudulently obtained funds by forging the victim’s signature on more than two dozen documents, including business loans, credit line applications, and a power of attorney. Kritza also forged his employer’s signature to open a bank account in the victim’s name so Kritza could conceal his use of the victim’s personal funds. Kritza stole money from the victim’s salary, endorsement contract, and sale of a condo. Kritza then used the stolen funds to maintain a lavish lifestyle for his family that included expensive luxury cars, homes, vacations, private school tuition for his children, business investments, and the attempted purchase of an airplane.
“We see this scenario time and again,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “A confidant abuses a position of trust and embezzles someone else’s assets. Thanks to our partners at the FBI for their hard work on the investigation.”
“For years, Theodore Kritza preyed upon the trust he gained with the victim and defrauded him of his hard-earned money and savings, choosing greed over trust. Today, Kritza found out the cost of his scheme,” said Sean Kaul, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Phoenix Field Office. “This sentencing sends a clear message that fraud is a serious crime, with serious consequences. The FBI remains committed to pursuing justice for all victims of fraud.”
The FBI conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra M. Hansen and Jane L. Westby with the Financial Crimes and Public Corruption section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-00938-CKJ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-047_Kritza# # #
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.Dennehotso Woman Sentenced to over 7 Years for ShootingRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jerryctana Woolboy, 31, of Dennehotso, Arizona, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to 85 months in prison. Woolboy previously pleaded guilty to Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.
On February 14, 2021, Woolboy discharged a rifle at an occupied vehicle on the Navajo Nation. A passenger in that vehicle was struck by the bullet, causing extensive injuries. Woolboy and the victim are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation. Woolboy will be placed on supervised release upon completion of her federal prison sentence.
The FBI and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Crowley, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR 21-08074-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022- 046_Woolboy# # #
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.11 Charged with over $1.3 Million in Social Security Administration Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, announced today that federal criminal charges have been filed against 11 individuals for theft of government property in connection with an investigation into stolen Social Security Administration (SSA) benefit payments.
The SSA Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation to locate and collect SSA benefit payments that were disbursed to individuals later determined to be deceased. In some cases, these payments continued for years, with no one notifying the SSA of the beneficiary’s death. In addition to the criminal cases listed below resulting in the theft of more than $1.3 million, the SSA was able to use its debt collection and reclamation authority to recover $1,195,333 in nine other matters that were resolved without criminal charges.
The investigation also uncovered evidence of fraud and misuse of SSA benefit payments—often by relatives of the deceased beneficiaries—resulting in felony and misdemeanor charges in the following cases:
United States v. Patricia Munson, Case No. CR-21-00622-PHX-JZB
United States v. Douglas Pasley, Case No. CR-21-00683-PHX-MTM
United States v. Tamara Head, Case No. CR-21-00693-PHX-ESW
United States v. Marva Martin, Case No. CR-21-00716-PHX-SMB
United States v. Dennis Diaz, Case No. CR-21-00842-PHX-MTL
United States v. Kristy Schlueter, Case No. CR-21-00843-PHX-MTL
United States v. Freda Hunt, Case No. CR-21-00844-PHX-DLR
United States v. Karen Hardesty, Case No. CR-21-00919-PHX-MTL
United States v. Joseph McCullough, Case No. CR-21-00950-PHX-ESW
United States v. Carol Harmon, Case No. CR-21-01051-PHX-MHB
United States v. Diana Fast, Case No. CR-22-00279-PHX-JJT
A conviction for theft of public money carries a maximum penalty of 10 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both.
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 competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation in this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-045_SSA Fraud
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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.Tuba City Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Arson, First-Degree Felony Murder, and Second-Degree MurderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On Wednesday, Vincent Roy Tsosie, Jr., 28, of Tuba City, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to concurrent life sentences. A jury previously convicted Tsosie of arson, first-degree felony murder, and second-degree murder.
In November 2019, Tsosie entered a home in Tuba City, tried to assault one of the residents, and then set the home on fire. The homeowner woke up during the fire but could not find his way through the flames and smoke and died.
The FBI and Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety, Criminal Investigation Services, 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-20-08014-PCT-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-044_Tsosie# # #
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.Tuba City Man Sentenced to 46 Months for StabbingRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Christopher Mann, 44, of Tuba City, Arizona, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to 46 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Mann previously pleaded guilty to Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.
On November 11, 2019, Mann stabbed a victim in Tuba City, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation. Mann chased the victim after stabbing him and only ceased his pursuit when the victim entered a restaurant to seek help. Mann is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.
The FBI and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ben Goldberg and Alexander Samuels, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-08021-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-043_Mann# # #
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.Tucson Man Sentenced to 46 Months for Prohibited Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On Tuesday, Javier Rafael Haro-Aguilar, 24, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Raner C. Collins to 46 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Haro-Aguilar previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien.
A federal search warrant executed at Haro-Aguilar’s residence revealed multiple firearms and ammunition, as well as evidence of narcotics trafficking and the use of a Snapchat account to traffic drugs and sell firearms. As a citizen of Mexico who lacks legal status in the United States, Haro-Aguilar was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stefani Hepford, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-02592-TUC-RCC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022- 042_Haro-Aguilar# # #
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.Tempe Man Sentenced to 48 Months for Importation of Fentanyl into the U.S.Read the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Charles King Jr., 49, of Tempe, Arizona, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Scott H. Rash to 48 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. King Jr. previously pleaded guilty to importing fentanyl into the United States from Mexico.
On February 20, 2020, King Jr. entered the United States from Mexico through the DeConcini Nogales, Arizona port of entry. A Customs and Border Protection canine alerted to the vehicle that King Jr. was riding in, and officers discovered nearly 11 pounds of fentanyl carefully hidden in the drive shaft of the vehicle.
Customs and Border Protection completed the interdiction and Homeland Security Investigations - Nogales conducted the investigation. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-1559-TUC-SHR (BGM)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-041_King Jr.# # #
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.Army Soldier Sentenced for Possession of Child Pornography and Threatening Pretrial Services OfficerRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Jahara William Byfield, 23, of Sunrise, Florida, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 60 months in prison. Byfield previously pleaded guilty to Possession of Child Pornography and Threatening to Assault or Murder a Federal Employee.
Byfield was a U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona for training when he was arrested on August 28, 2020, after an investigation revealed he had used his cellphones to obtain images and videos depicting children, including pre-pubescent minors, engaging in sexually explicit conduct. After his arrest, Byfield was placed on pretrial release with conditions that included computer monitoring. On December 3, 2020, Byfield pleaded guilty to one count of Possession of Child Pornography.
On April 15, 2021, while on release pending sentencing, Byfield threatened to kill everyone involved with the computer monitoring program. His pretrial release was subsequently revoked, and on June 23, 2021, Byfield was charged in an indictment for the threats he made towards those supervising him. On December 20, 2021, Byfield pleaded guilty to a charge of Threatening to Assault or Murder a Federal Employee.
Upon release from prison, Byfield will be placed on lifetime supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and to complete a sex offender treatment program.
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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Homeland Security Investigations, Sierra Vista Police Department, Army Criminal Investigation Division, and the U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigations in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carin C. Duryee and Brian E. Kasprzyk, District of Arizona, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-02748-TUC-JGZ; CR-21-01461-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022- 040_Byfield# # #
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 newTucson Couple Convicted for Stealing $5 Million from InvestorsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Michael Feinberg, 73, and Betsy Feinberg, 80, both of Tucson, Arizona, were found guilty by a jury of all charges related to a scheme to defraud investors out of approximately $5 million. The charges included one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and five counts of securities fraud. The Feinbergs are scheduled for sentencing on June 15, 2022.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Michael and Betsy Feinberg operated Catharon Software Corporation as husband and wife. The Feinbergs claimed to have produced revolutionary software called VDelta that would generate enormous returns for investors and philanthropists. For almost 15 years, the couple enticed investors with false promises about the software’s completion, release date, and capabilities. Their victims included friends and associates recruited through various community organizations in Sedona, Arizona, where the Feinbergs resided at the time. In addition to paying themselves salaries, the Feinbergs used investor money for a wide variety of personal expenses, including their home mortgage.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the Arizona Corporation Commission. The Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-01786-TUC-JAS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-038_FeinbergsGilbert Man Sentenced to Prison for PPP FraudRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – James Theodore Polzin, 48, of Gilbert, Arizona, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 48 months in prison and ordered to pay over $2.2 million in restitution. Polzin pleaded guilty in October 2021 to fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES”) is a federal law designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, including PPP loans.
Polzin submitted materially false loan applications that claimed non-existent employees and revenues for business entities he owned and operated. From April 2020 to August 2020, Polzin applied for loans totaling over $3.5 million. Polzin then used a portion of the proceeds for his own personal benefit, which included purchasing a Porsche, a home, and stashing money offshore.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin M. Rapp, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-00264-PHX-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-039_Polzin# # #
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.Phoenix Man Charged After 150,000 Suspected Fentanyl Pills and Other Drugs Seized from ApartmentRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jesus Osvaldo Aguilar Rosas, 20, of Phoenix, Arizona, was charged by criminal complaint with four counts of possession of controlled substances for distribution. Aguilar was arrested on April 5 and had his initial appearance in federal court today.
The complaint alleges four violations of United States law related to Aguilar’s possession and intended distribution of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin. It further alleges that, on April 5, 2022, Aguilar was observed participating in a suspected drug transaction in Phoenix, Arizona. United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents and Task Force Officers later determined that a bag Aguilar had been carrying contained methamphetamine and blue pills that are suspected to contain fentanyl. Aguilar was also in possession of a handgun. A subsequent search of Aguilar’s apartment led to the seizure of approximately 150,000 blue pills of suspected fentanyl, over 20 kilograms of methamphetamine, over three kilograms of cocaine, over one kilogram of powdered fentanyl, approximately one kilogram of heroin, a second firearm, and over $30,000 in cash.
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 Drug Enforcement Administration is conducting the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 22-3103MB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-037_Aguilar# # #
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.Inscription House Man Sentenced to 13 Years for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Oliver Lee Hurley, 48, of Inscription House, AZ, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Dominic W. Lanza to 156 months in prison. Hurley previously pleaded guilty to Sexual Abuse of a Minor.
In 2018, Hurley sexually abused the minor victim while she visited his residence on the Navajo Nation. Hurley is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. After Hurley finishes serving his term in federal prison, he will be placed on supervised release for the rest of his life.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Crowley and Sharon Sexton, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-08085-PHX-DWL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-036_Hurley# # #
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.U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris Appointed to Serve on Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s Advisory CommitteeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the appointment of 12 U.S. Attorneys to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys (AGAC). Created in 1973, the AGAC advises the Attorney General on matters of policy, procedure, and management impacting the Offices of the U.S. Attorneys and elevates the voices of U.S. Attorneys in Department policies. The first meeting of the AGAC will take place later this spring.
The appointees include U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York; U.S. Attorney Cindy K. Chung for the Western District of Pennsylvania; U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee for the District of Maine; U.S. Attorney Trini Ross for the Western District of New York; U.S. Attorney Sandra Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina; U.S. Attorney Brandon Brown for the Western District of Louisiana; U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan; U.S. Attorney Gregory Harris for the Central District of Illinois; U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger for the District of Minnesota; U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona; U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan for the District of Colorado; and U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves for the District of Columbia. An appointee from a district within the jurisdiction of the Eleventh Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals will be announced at a later date, once the Senate has confirmed nominees.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams will serve as the Chair of the AGAC, and U.S. Attorney Cindy Chung will serve as the Vice Chair.
“These United States Attorneys will represent the views of dedicated federal prosecutors across the country, and provide advice and insight into essential matters facing the Department,” said Attorney General Garland. “I look forward to working alongside them in carrying out the Department’s core priorities of upholding the rule of law, keeping our country safe, and protecting civil rights.”
“I am extremely honored and humbled by my appointment to the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee,” said U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois Gregory Harris. “I will do my best to represent the United States Attorneys’ community, and I look forward to working with Attorney General Merrick Garland and the other members of the AGAC.”
A brief bio on each appointee is below:
Damian Williams (Chair)
The Senate confirmed Damian Williams’ appointment as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York in October 2021. Williams began his legal career as a law clerk to then-Judge Merrick Garland when he served in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 2007 to 2008. Williams then served as a law clerk for Justice John Paul Stevens of the U.S. Supreme Court from 2008 to 2009. From 2009 to 2012, he was a litigation associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. From 2012 to 2021, he served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. In the role, he served as a chief of the securities and commodities fraud task force from 2018 to 2021. He received his Bachelor of Arts in economics from Harvard University in 2002, a Master of Philosophy in international relations from Emmanuel College at the University of Cambridge in 2003, and a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 2007, where he was also an editor of the Yale Law Journal.
Cindy K. Chung (Vice Chair)
The Senate confirmed Cindy K. Chung’s appointment as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania in November 2021. In 2002 and 2003, Chung served as a law clerk for Judge Myron H. Thompson in the Middle District of Alabama. She then joined the New York County District Attorney’s Office in 2003, serving as an assistant district attorney until 2007 and as investigation counsel in the Official Corruption Unit from 2007 to 2009. From 2009 to 2014, Chung served as a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. She later joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, serving as deputy chief of the major crimes division. From 2014 to 2021, she served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. Chung earned a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University in 1997 and a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School in 2002.
Darcie McElwee
The Senate confirmed Darcie McElwee’s appointment as U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine in October 2021. McElwee began her legal career as an assistant district attorney for the Penobscot and Piscataquis counties in Maine from 1998 to 2002. Between 2005 and 2008, McElwee was an adjunct professor of advanced trial advocacy at the University of Maine School of Law. From 2002 to 2021, she served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine. Since 2005, she has been the coordinator of Project Safe Neighborhoods. McElwee received her Bachelor of Arts from Bowdoin College in 1995 and her Juris Doctor from the University of Maine School of Law in 1998.
Trini Ross
The Senate confirmed Trini Ross’s appointment as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York in September 2021. Ross began her career as an appellate attorney for the New York Supreme Court. She was an associate at Hiscock & Barclay LLC before joining the Office of Professional Responsibility as assistant counsel. From 1995 to 2018, Ross served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York. She has also been an adjunct professor of law at Buffalo Law School. She has also served as director of the investigations for the National Science Foundation Office of Inspector General since 2018. Ross earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York at Fredonia in 1988, a Master of Arts from Rutgers University in 1990, and a Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo Law School in 1992.
Sandra Hairston
The Senate confirmed Sandra Hairston as U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina in November 2021. Hairston previously served as an assistant district attorney in Columbus County, North Carolina, from 1987 to 1989 and as a special assistant district attorney in Guilford County, North Carolina from 1989 to 1990. From 1994 to 1996, she served as Chief of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina before returning to the Middle District of North Carolina in 1996. She joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina in 1990 as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. Hairston previously held the position of First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina from 2014 to 2021. From March 1, 2021, until her Senate confirmation, she served as the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina. Hairston received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1981 and her Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University School of Law in 1987.
Brandon Brown
The Senate confirmed Brandon Brown as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana in December 2021. From 2007 to 2012, Brown served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in the Ouachita Parish District Attorney’s Office. He was also an associate at Hammonds, Sills, Adkins & Guice LLP in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Since 2012, he has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana. Brown earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2002 and a Master of Business Administration in 2004 from Louisiana Tech University, followed by a Juris Doctor in 2007 from the Southern University Law Center.
Dawn Ison
The Senate confirmed Dawn Ison as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan in December 2021. In 1989 and 1990, Ison was a prehearing attorney for the Michigan Court of Appeals. In 2002, Ison began serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. She also served as chief of the Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit. Ison earned a Bachelor of Arts from Spelman College and a Juris Doctor from the Wayne State University Law School.
Gregory Harris
The Senate confirmed Gregory Harris as U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois in December 2021. Harris began his career as a lawyer for the Office of the State Appellate Defender in 1976 where he represented indigent criminal defendants on appeal. From 1979 to 1980, he served as legal counsel for the Illinois Governor’s Office of Manpower and Human Development and later as a staff attorney for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Development. From 1980 to 1988, he served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois. From 1988 to 2001, he was a lawyer for Giffin, Winning, Cohen & Bodewes in Springfield, Illinois. He later rejoined the Central District of Illinois in 2001, where he served as chief of the Criminal Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney. Harris was born in Washington, D.C. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Howard University in 1971 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law in 1976.
Andrew Luger
The Senate confirmed Andrew Luger as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota in March 2022. He previously served in that role during the Obama administration and briefly during the Trump administration from 2014 to 2017. Prior to his appointment, Luger was a partner in the Minneapolis office of Jones Day from 2017 – 2022. Luger has also served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, from 1989 to 1992, and for the District of Minnesota from 1992 to 1995, where he prosecuted a wide variety of narcotics and violent crimes, as well as complex white collar frauds. In 1995, Luger joined the law firm of Greene Espel in Minneapolis, where he was a partner until 2014. Luger earned a Bachelor’s degree from Amherst College and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.
Gary Restaino
The Senate confirmed Gary Restaino as U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona in November 2021. From 1991 to 1993, Restaino served in Paraguay with the Peace Corps. From 1996 to 1999, he provided legal services to seasonal farm workers as a lawyer with Community Legal Services. From 1999 to 2003, he served as a civil rights lawyer in the Arizona Attorney General's Office. He then served as a trial attorney in the Public Integrity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. Restaino joined the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona in 2003. He was nominated to serve as U.S. Attorney in October 2021. Restaino earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Haverford College in 1990 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1996.
Cole Finegan
The Senate confirmed Cole Finegan as U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado in November 2021. From 1991 to 1993, Finegan served both as Chief Legal Counsel and Director of Policy and Initiatives for Colorado Governor Roy Romer. From 1993 to 2003, Finegan was a partner for Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck’s Denver office. Finegan joined Hogan Lovells (then Hogan & Hartson) in 2007 as a partner. Finegan acted as an adviser to Governor Hickenlooper and U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. Finegan attended the University of Notre Dame from 1974 to 1978, earning a degree in English. Finegan earned a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center in 1986.
Matthew Graves
The Senate confirmed Matthew Graves as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia in October 2021. After graduating law school, Graves began his legal career as a law clerk for Judge Richard W. Roberts of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. From 2002 to 2007, he was an associate at WilmerHale. From 2007 to 2016, Graves worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia, where he served in the office’s fraud and public corruption section, ultimately serving as the acting chief of the section. Since 2016, he has been a partner at DLA Piper. Graves earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington and Lee University in 1998 and a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 2001.
U.S. Attorney Gary M. Restaino Appointed to Serve on Attorney General Merrick B. Garland's Advisory CommitteeRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the appointment of 12 U.S. Attorneys to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys (AGAC). Created in 1973, the AGAC advises the Attorney General on matters of policy, procedure, and management impacting the Offices of the U.S. Attorneys and elevates the voices of U.S. Attorneys in Department policies. The first meeting of the AGAC will take place later this spring.
The appointees include U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York; U.S. Attorney Cindy K. Chung for the Western District of Pennsylvania; U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee for the District of Maine; U.S. Attorney Trini Ross for the Western District of New York; U.S. Attorney Sandra Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina; U.S. Attorney Brandon Brown for the Western District of Louisiana; U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan; U.S. Attorney Gregory Harris for the Central District of Illinois; U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger for the District of Minnesota; U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona; U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan for the District of Colorado; and U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves for the District of Columbia. An appointee from a district within the jurisdiction of the Eleventh Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals will be announced at a later date, once the Senate has confirmed nominees.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams will serve as the Chair of the AGAC, and U.S. Attorney Cindy Chung will serve as the Vice Chair.
“These United States Attorneys will represent the views of dedicated federal prosecutors across the country, and provide advice and insight into essential matters facing the Department,” said Attorney General Garland. “I look forward to working alongside them in carrying out the Department’s core priorities of upholding the rule of law, keeping our country safe, and protecting civil rights.”
“I am honored to have been selected by Attorney General Garland for this role and I am excited for the opportunity to work collaboratively with other U.S. Attorneys across the country, and to lend my voice to prosecution policy and the rule of law,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “I appreciate the ability to amplify the excellent work of our team here in the District in engaging with our sovereign tribal partners, in interdicting contraband on the border, and in addressing the other unique issues we face in Arizona.”
A brief bio on each appointee is below:
Damian Williams (Chair)
The Senate confirmed Damian Williams’ appointment as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York in October 2021. Williams began his legal career as a law clerk to then-Judge Merrick Garland when he served in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 2007 to 2008. Williams then served as a law clerk for Justice John Paul Stevens of the U.S. Supreme Court from 2008 to 2009. From 2009 to 2012, he was a litigation associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. From 2012 to 2021, he served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. In the role, he served as a chief of the securities and commodities fraud task force from 2018 to 2021. He received his Bachelor of Arts in economics from Harvard University in 2002, a Master of Philosophy in international relations from Emmanuel College at the University of Cambridge in 2003, and a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 2007, where he was also an editor of the Yale Law Journal.
Cindy K. Chung (Vice Chair)
The Senate confirmed Cindy K. Chung’s appointment as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania in November 2021. In 2002 and 2003, Chung served as a law clerk for Judge Myron H. Thompson in the Middle District of Alabama. She then joined the New York County District Attorney’s Office in 2003, serving as an assistant district attorney until 2007 and as investigation counsel in the Official Corruption Unit from 2007 to 2009. From 2009 to 2014, Chung served as a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. She later joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, serving as deputy chief of the major crimes division. From 2014 to 2021, she served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. Chung earned a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University in 1997 and a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School in 2002.
Darcie McElwee
The Senate confirmed Darcie McElwee’s appointment as U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine in October 2021. McElwee began her legal career as an assistant district attorney for the Penobscot and Piscataquis counties in Maine from 1998 to 2002. Between 2005 and 2008, McElwee was an adjunct professor of advanced trial advocacy at the University of Maine School of Law. From 2002 to 2021, she served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine. Since 2005, she has been the coordinator of Project Safe Neighborhoods. McElwee received her Bachelor of Arts from Bowdoin College in 1995 and her Juris Doctor from the University of Maine School of Law in 1998.
Trini Ross
The Senate confirmed Trini Ross’s appointment as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York in September 2021. Ross began her career as an appellate attorney for the New York Supreme Court. She was an associate at Hiscock & Barclay LLC before joining the Office of Professional Responsibility as assistant counsel. From 1995 to 2018, Ross served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York. She has also been an adjunct professor of law at Buffalo Law School. She has also served as director of the investigations for the National Science Foundation Office of Inspector General since 2018. Ross earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York at Fredonia in 1988, a Master of Arts from Rutgers University in 1990, and a Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo Law School in 1992.
Sandra Hairston
The Senate confirmed Sandra Hairston as U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina in November 2021. Hairston previously served as an assistant district attorney in Columbus County, North Carolina, from 1987 to 1989 and as a special assistant district attorney in Guilford County, North Carolina from 1989 to 1990. From 1994 to 1996, she served as Chief of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina before returning to the Middle District of North Carolina in 1996. She joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina in 1990 as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. Hairston previously held the position of First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina from 2014 to 2021. From March 1, 2021, until her Senate confirmation, she served as the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina. Hairston received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1981 and her Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University School of Law in 1987.
Brandon Brown
The Senate confirmed Brandon Brown as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana in December 2021. From 2007 to 2012, Brown served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in the Ouachita Parish District Attorney’s Office. He was also an associate at Hammonds, Sills, Adkins & Guice LLP in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Since 2012, he has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana. Brown earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2002 and a Master of Business Administration in 2004 from Louisiana Tech University, followed by a Juris Doctor in 2007 from the Southern University Law Center.
Dawn Ison
The Senate confirmed Dawn Ison as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan in December 2021. In 1989 and 1990, Ison was a prehearing attorney for the Michigan Court of Appeals. In 2002, Ison began serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. She also served as chief of the Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit. Ison earned a Bachelor of Arts from Spelman College and a Juris Doctor from the Wayne State University Law School.
Gregory Harris
The Senate confirmed Gregory Harris as U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois in December 2021. Harris began his career as a lawyer for the Office of the State Appellate Defender in 1976 where he represented indigent criminal defendants on appeal. From 1979 to 1980, he served as legal counsel for the Illinois Governor’s Office of Manpower and Human Development and later as a staff attorney for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Development. From 1980 to 1988, he served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois. From 1988 to 2001, he was a lawyer for Giffin, Winning, Cohen & Bodewes in Springfield, Illinois. He later rejoined the Central District of Illinois in 2001, where he served as chief of the Criminal Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney. Harris was born in Washington, D.C. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Howard University in 1971 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law in 1976.
Andrew Luger
The Senate confirmed Andrew Luger as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota in March 2022. He previously served in that role during the Obama administration and briefly during the Trump administration from 2014 to 2017. Prior to his appointment, Luger was a partner in the Minneapolis office of Jones Day from 2017 – 2022. Luger has also served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, from 1989 to 1992, and for the District of Minnesota from 1992 to 1995, where he prosecuted a wide variety of narcotics and violent crimes, as well as complex white collar frauds. In 1995, Luger joined the law firm of Greene Espel in Minneapolis, where he was a partner until 2014. Luger earned a Bachelor’s degree from Amherst College and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.
Gary Restaino
The Senate confirmed Gary Restaino as U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona in November 2021. From 1991 to 1993, Restaino served in Paraguay with the Peace Corps. From 1996 to 1999, he provided legal services to seasonal farm workers as a lawyer with Community Legal Services. From 1999 to 2003, he served as a civil rights lawyer in the Arizona Attorney General's Office. He then served as a trial attorney in the Public Integrity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. Restaino joined the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona in 2003. He was nominated to serve as U.S. Attorney in October 2021. Restaino earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Haverford College in 1990 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1996.
Cole Finegan
The Senate confirmed Cole Finegan as U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado in November 2021. From 1991 to 1993, Finegan served both as Chief Legal Counsel and Director of Policy and Initiatives for Colorado Governor Roy Romer. From 1993 to 2003, Finegan was a partner for Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck’s Denver office. Finegan joined Hogan Lovells (then Hogan & Hartson) in 2007 as a partner. Finegan acted as an adviser to Governor Hickenlooper and U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. Finegan attended the University of Notre Dame from 1974 to 1978, earning a degree in English. Finegan earned a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center in 1986.
Matthew Graves
The Senate confirmed Matthew Graves as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia in October 2021. After graduating law school, Graves began his legal career as a law clerk for Judge Richard W. Roberts of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. From 2002 to 2007, he was an associate at WilmerHale. From 2007 to 2016, Graves worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia, where he served in the office’s fraud and public corruption section, ultimately serving as the acting chief of the section. Since 2016, he has been a partner at DLA Piper. Graves earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington and Lee University in 1998 and a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 2001.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-035_Advisory Committee Appointment
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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.Phoenix Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Bludgeoning DeathRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jesse Don Moquino, 39, of Phoenix, Arizona, an enrolled member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to 15 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
On September 11, 2019, Moquino stabbed the victim with a sharp object and then hit her on the back of the head with a blunt object multiple times, killing her. Moquino pleaded guilty on February 26, 2020 to Voluntary Manslaughter.
The Salt River Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raynette Logan, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-01199-PHX-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-034_Moquino# # #
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.Surprise Man Sentenced for Illegal VotingRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Joseph John Marak, 62, of Surprise, Arizona, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to 30 months of supervised probation and fined $2,400. Marak previously pleaded guilty to one count of Submission of a Materially False Voter Registration Application, a felony offense.
Johnson pleaded guilty in January 2022 to submitting a voter registration application in which he falsely certified that “I am not a convicted felon.” Marak’s certification was false because in August 2011, he was convicted of 18 felony counts in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of North Carolina and was sentenced to 72 months in prison. Marak further admitted that based upon his fraudulent registration, he voted in six federal elections from 2016 to 2020.
“This is the second voter fraud case we’ve charged in the last year, and the first arising out of the 2020 election cycle,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “Voting is a crucial civil right, and exercising one’s voice is a key part of a felon’s reentry to society. But there are rules: If you wish to vote in Arizona following a felony conviction, please speak first with your local County Recorder to fully understand the process for restoring your voting rights.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank T. Galati handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-00021-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-032_MarakCredit Union President Sentenced to Prison for EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Susan Irene Romero, 64, of Gilbert, Arizona, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 26 months in prison and ordered to pay $2,360,000 in restitution. Romero pleaded guilty in May 2021 to embezzlement of credit union funds.
Romero worked for the Winslow Santa Fe Credit Union for more than 30 years, mostly in leadership roles, including as manager, president, and chief executive officer. During a routine audit, the credit union found discrepancies in the financial records. A subsequent investigation showed that, over the course of many years, Romero embezzled more than $2.2 million from the credit union. In her plea agreement, Romero admitted that she stole the money through unauthorized cash withdrawals, checks issued with forged signatures of other employees, and transfers from the credit union account to her family members’ accounts. She covered her tracks through false entries in the financial statements, such as falsifying the amount of cash stored in the vault and offsetting the stolen money with fictitious assets.
The U.S. Secret Service conducted the investigation in this case. The Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Section of the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-08057-PCT-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022- 033_Romero# # #
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.Phoenix Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Selling Fentanyl that Led to Woman's DeathRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Reyes Luis Holguin, 29, of Phoenix, Arizona, agreed this week to pay $6,103 in restitution to the family of a young mother whose life was taken by fentanyl she bought from Holguin in August 2019. In December 2021, U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich sentenced Holguin to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Holguin previously pleaded guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl for selling the pills that led to the young woman’s death.
The victim communicated with Holguin via an online messaging application about the purchase of three “blues,” a common street term for fake prescription oxycodone pills that contain fentanyl. After consuming the pills, the victim overdosed and died. The victim was discovered the next morning by her mother. Holguin also sold 67 fentanyl pills to law enforcement and negotiated the future sale of an additional 100. At the time of his arrest, Holguin had a loaded firearm, more fake pills, and $2,285 in cash.
“These dangerous pills are flooding Arizona communities, and studies show that 40% contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino. “This sentence should serve as a warning message to sellers, and as a reminder of the need for compassion and creative solutions in protecting Arizonans from these pills. We are grateful to our partners at DEA and Phoenix PD for their vigilance in fentanyl investigations and prosecutions.”
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Phoenix Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-01077-PHX-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-031_Holguin# # #
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.Phoenix Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Possessing Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Angel Joe Valenzuela, 50, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to eight years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release.
On February 4, 2021, Valenzuela was found in possession of more than five grams of actual methamphetamine, several small baggies, multiple scales, cell phones, and a Ruger pistol. This was the first of three occasions in 2021 where Valenzuela was caught on the Gila River Indian Community with illegal drugs in quantities consistent with distribution. On December 21, 2021, Valenzuela pleaded guilty to possession of five grams or more of actual methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
The Gila River Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raynette Logan, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-00682-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-029_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.Kayenta Man Sentenced to 17.5 Years for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Joshua John Todecheene, 30, of Kayenta, Arizona, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 17.5 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Todecheene previously pleaded guilty to second degree murder.
In February 2020, after an argument with the victim, Todecheene left the scene of the argument, returned with a rifle, and shot the victim in the chest, killing him. Todecheene and the victim are members of the Navajo Nation.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kiyoko Patterson, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-20-8038-PCT-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-030_Todecheene# # #
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.