District of Arizona
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Sacaton man Sentenced to Prison for Habitual Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – This week, Lawrence Stanley Coops, 34, of Sacaton, Ariz., a was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to two and a half years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Coops previously pleaded guilty to Domestic Assault by a Habitual Offender.
On August 18, 2018, Coops assaulted the victim after having previously been convicted of assault against a spouse or intimate partner. Coops and the victim are both members of the Gila River Indian Community.
The investigation was conducted by the Gila River Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Raynette Logan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Inscription House Man Sentenced to Prison for AssaultRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – This week, Eric Kinney, of Inscription House, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 24 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Kinney had previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.
On August 9, 2018, Kinney went into the victim’s house with an axe. Once inside, Kinney pushed the victim against a wall while holding the axe in a threatening manner. The assault occurred on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation, and Kinney is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Samuels, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Casa Blanca Man Sentenced to over 6 Years for Possessing Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – This week, Jaysen Reuben Lopez, 26, of Casa Blanca, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dominic W. Lanza to six and a half years in prison followed by four years of supervised release. Lopez previously pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
On December 5, 2018, Gila River Police Officers found Lopez on the Gila River Indian Reservation, asleep in his vehicle with a bag containing 141 grams of methamphetamine. Lopez is a member of the Gila River Indian Community.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Raynette Logan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
San Carlos Woman Sentenced to 46 Months for Possession with the Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On August 5, 2019, Stephanie Miles, 31, of Bylas, Ariz., on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dominic Lanza to 46 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. Miles had previously pleaded guilty to Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
On May 7, 2014, Miles was stopped by San Carlos Police for a minor traffic violation and subsequently arrested because her driver’s license was suspended. During a search of Miles’ property, police discovered 7 grams of pure methamphetamine that Miles possessed for distribution.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the San Carlos Police Department, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the Drug Enforcement Administration Crime Laboratory. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Simon.
San Carlos Man Sentenced to 30 Months for Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On August 1, 2019, Kevin Ryan Upshaw, Jr., 32, of San Carlos, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to 30 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. Upshaw had previously pleaded guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter.
On July 22, 2013, Upshaw, an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, while driving under the influence of alcohol, struck and killed 5 year old Legend Mariah Ramos.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the San Carlos Police Department and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Simon.
Elder Caregiver Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Defrauding a 92-Year-Old Homebound VictimRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Arizona – On August 14, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Rosemary Márquez sentenced Margaret Gastelum to 30 months in prison for defrauding a 92 year-old homebound- victim. The court also ordered Gastelum to pay $184,648 in restitution for the victim’s losses. Gastelum previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
Gastelum and her daughter, co-defendant Mona Lisa Rodriguez, provided home care assistance for the victim. In her plea agreement, Gastelum admitted that she and Rodriguez gained access to the victim’s banking information and fraudulently used funds from the victim’s bank accounts. Gastelum and Rodriquez further fraudulently used the victims’ credit cards and overcharged for elder care services without the victim’s knowledge.
Rodriquez also previously entered a guilty plea for her involvement in the scheme, and is scheduled for sentencing on September 24, 2019.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the United States Secret Service and the Tucson Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wallace Kleindienst for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona.
Tucson Tax Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Filing False Federal Income Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On July 29, 2019, Joseph Michael Vosberg, 59, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Raner C. Collins to 18 months in prison for assisting in the preparation and filing of false federal income tax returns. Vosberg previously pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the filing of false federal tax returns. In his plea agreement, Vosberg admitted that he prepared and filed thirty-three federal tax returns that contained $457,187 in false deductions. As part of his sentence, the court ordered Vosberg to pay $202,243 in restitution to the United States Treasury for the tax loss relating to the offense.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The prosecution was handled by Jane L. Westby, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
Two Men Arrested for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
TUCSON – John Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, Michael Bailey, the United States Attorney for the District of Arizona, Michael McGarrity, Assistant Director of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division, and Sean Kaul, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Phoenix Field Office, announced that on July 26, Ahmed Mahad Mohamed and Abdi Yemani Hussein, were arrested for conspiring to provide material support and resources to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
According to the criminal complaint, the defendants had been in communication with an FBI undercover employee whom they believed was a supporter of ISIS ideology. These communications revealed the defendants’ desire to travel overseas in order to fight on behalf of ISIS or to conduct an attack within the United States if they were unable to travel. Ultimately, the defendants purchased airline tickets to travel to Egypt, with the intention to travel on to Sinai and join ISIS. FBI agents arrested Mohamed and Hussein after they checked in for their flight at the Tucson International Airport in Arizona.
According to court documents, both defendants came to the United States as refugees from Somalia. At the time of their arrest, Mohamed had obtained lawful permanent resident status and Hussein remained a refugee.
The prosecution is being handled by Kevin C. Hakala and Beverly Anderson, Assistant United States Attorneys in the District of Arizona, and Alicia Cook, Trial Attorney with the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Men Arrested for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
John Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, Michael Bailey, the United States Attorney for the District of Arizona, Michael McGarrity, Assistant Director of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division, and Sean Kaul, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Phoenix Field Office, announced that on July 26, Ahmed Mahad Mohamed and Abdi Yemani Hussein, were arrested for conspiring to provide material support and resources to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
According to the criminal complaint, the defendants had been in communication with an FBI undercover employee whom they believed was a supporter of ISIS ideology. These communications revealed the defendants’ desire to travel overseas in order to fight on behalf of ISIS or to conduct an attack within the United States if they were unable to travel. Ultimately, the defendants purchased airline tickets to travel to Egypt, with the intention to travel on to Sinai and join ISIS. FBI agents arrested Mohamed and Hussein after they checked in for their flight at the Tucson International Airport in Arizona.
According to court documents, both defendants came to the United States as refugees from Somalia. At the time of their arrest, Mohamed had obtained lawful permanent resident status and Hussein remained a refugee.
The prosecution is being handled by Kevin C. Hakala and Beverly Anderson, Assistant United States Attorneys in the District of Arizona, and Alicia Cook, Trial Attorney with the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Tucson Man Convicted of Child Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Christopher James Preston, 52, of Tucson, Arizona, was found guilty of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child by a federal jury in Tucson. The case was tried before U.S. District Judge James A. Soto on July 10-16, 2019. The defendant is being held in custody pending sentencing, which is currently set before Judge Soto on September 26, 2019.
The evidence at trial showed that in the summer of 1998, Preston sexually abused the 10-year-old victim at Preston’s home in Tucson, in the San Xavier District of the Tohono O’odham Nation. At the time, Preston was the victim’s coach in the Thornydale Little League. Preston is a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation.
A conviction for aggravated sexual abuse of a child carries a maximum penalty of lifetime incarceration.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Tohono O’odham Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Matthew C. Cassell and Rui Wang, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.
Clarkdale Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Abusive Sexual Contact with a MinorRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On July 15, 2019, Shush Naki Clark Couyancy, 28, of Clarkdale, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 60 months in federal prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release. On April 29, 2019, Couyancy pleaded guilty to one count of Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor.
On April 7, 2018, Couyancy, an enrolled member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, knowingly engaged in sexual contact with the minor victim, who is also an enrolled member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Yavapai-Apache Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Christina Covault, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Department of Justice Enables Direct Tribal Access to FBI National Sex Offender RegistryRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Department of Justice announced today a new tool giving tribal governments the ability to directly input data and gain access to the FBI’s National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) using the Tribe and Territory Sex Offender Registry System (TTSORS). The system connection will be available to all tribal governments already participating in the Tribal Access Program (TAP), which allows information sharing between tribal and federal government criminal information systems.
TTSORS is a no-cost registry system provided by the Justice Department’s Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART). The Department’s Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) developed the connections which allows tribes to seamlessly submit new and updated sex offender information directly from TTSORS to NSOR.
“The Department of Justice is dedicated to addressing the public safety crisis in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, including the high rates of sexual violence against women and children,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Providing a direct connection to the FBI National Sex Offender Registry gives tribal law enforcement the information they need to investigate and prevent these heinous offenses.”
American Indian and Alaska Native people suffer persistently high rates of victimization, including from sexual assault. According to a 2016 study funded by the National Institute of Justice, more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native adults have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime, and more than half of all American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence from an intimate partner. In June, the department extended a deadline for tribes to apply for up to $167 million in federal funds through August 16, 2019, to support crime victims throughout Indian country.
“The direct connection between the National Sex Offender Registry and Tribe and Territory Sex Offender Registry System provides increased resources for identifying, tracking, and sharing information about persons convicted of committing these crimes,” said Gwendena L. Gatewood, Chairwoman of the White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. “It will also allow for further improvements in providing a safer community for all involved to integrate tribal law, custom, tradition and practices in a comprehensive fashion consistent with holding offenders accountable.”
“Standing Rock has always had a priority of ensuring public safety,” said Mike Faith, Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. “Technological advances to our systems ensure that our SORNA staff are able to input offender information and get back in the field while ensuring compliance is maintained.”
The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, requires that, when an offender initially registers or updates his or her information in a jurisdiction, that the state, tribe, territory or District of Columbia must submit immediately the information to NSOR as well as other jurisdictions where the offender has to register. TTSORS is a fully functioning registry system that complies with SORNA requirements. TTSORS was created to assist the Indian tribes that have elected to implement SORNA.
Since 2015, the SMART Office, OCIO, the FBI, the Office of Tribal Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services and the Office for Victims of Crime, have worked together to develop the Tribal Access Program to provide tribes direct access to national crime information systems for both criminal and non-criminal justice purposes. This includes the ability to directly enter NSOR data and enhance the capacity to collect and submit fingerprints and palm prints to the FBI. TAP has been instrumental in assisting tribes with ongoing implementation of SORNA. In fiscal year 2019, the department expanded TAP to 25 more tribes, for a total of 72 participating tribes.
Commerce Bank Robbery Defendants Sentenced to Substantial Prison TermsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On June 25, 2019, Jovante Lamar Fryson II, 20, of Gardena, California and Amauje Jason Ferguson, 23, of Inglewood, California were sentenced by U.S. District Judge James A. Soto to serve nine years and seven years in prison, respectively. A third co-defendant, Tysheere Traymar Ford, 25, of Los Angeles, California was previously sentenced to twelve years for his participation in the same offense. All co-defendants previously pleaded guilty to bank robbery, and Fryson and Ferguson also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank robbery. All three defendants’ terms of imprisonment will be followed by three years of supervised release.
On June 29, 2018, after traveling to Tucson from California, Fryson, Ferguson and Ford planned and executed a robbery of the Commerce Bank of Arizona located on East Broadway Road. All three defendants entered the bank wearing ski masks and gloves, and ordered employees to the floor before physically forcing them to open a teller drawer and the bank vault. Multiple bank employees were injured during the robbery. After robbing the bank, the co-defendants fled in a stolen vehicle, leading a Tucson Police Department officer on a high-speed chase before crashing the getaway vehicle into an SUV. The co-defendants then fled on foot and hid in a nearby neighborhood, where they were ultimately arrested by Tucson Police Department.
The investigation in this case was jointly conducted by the Tucson Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation, Tucson. The prosecution was handled by Christopher J. Curran and Erica L. Seger, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.
Scottsdale Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Domestic AssaultRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – This week, Andrew Orozco, of Scottsdale, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 97 months of imprisonment to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. Orozco had previously pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor and assault of an intimate partner or dating partner by strangulation.
The act of sexual abuse to which Orozco pleaded guilty was one of a series of sexual acts Orozco perpetrated against the same minor victim. The minor victim was a family member of Orozco’s adult dating partner, who eventually discovered evidence of the sexual abuse and confronted Orozco. When she did so, Orozco assaulted her, including by strangling her.
Each of Orozco’s crimes occurred on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. Both victims are enrolled members of the Hopi Tribe, and Orozco is an enrolled member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Samuels, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
San Carlos Man Sentenced to 17.5 Years for Abusive Sexual Contact with a MinorRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On June 20, 2019, Daniel James Salter, 20, of San Carlos, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to prison for 17.5 years followed by lifetime supervised release. Salter had previously pleaded guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor.
On February 24, 2017, Salter, an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, sexually assaulted a minor victim, who is also an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the San Carlos Police Department and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Simon, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Sells Man Sentenced to 31 Months' Federal Prison for Assault with a HammerRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On June 25, 2019, Eli Lawrence Manuel, 30, of Sells, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James A. Soto to 31 months of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. Manuel had previously pleaded guilty on March 6, 2019, to assault with a dangerous weapon.
On July 6, 2017, Manuel assaulted the victim, a pregnant woman, by striking her on her forehead and stomach with a hammer. The assault happened on the Tohono O’odham Nation Indian Reservation. Both Manuel and the victim are enrolled members of the Tohono O’odham Indian Tribe.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Tohono O’odham Nation Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Raquel Arellano and Christopher J. Curran, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.
Inscription House Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assault on Family MemberRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – This week, Oliver Hurley, of Inscription House, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dominic W. Lanza to 18 months of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. Hurley had previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.
On November 5, 2018, Hurley attacked the victim with a piece of firewood, striking her several times and causing lacerations to her arm and head. The assault happened on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation and Hurley is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Samuels, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Pinon Man Sentenced to 15 Years’ Prison for Illegal Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On June 17, 2019, Mardino Nathaniel George, 33, of Pinon, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 15 years’ imprisonment. George had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal weapons possession in violation of the National Firearms Act.
George has a history of possessing illegal, homemade firearms on the Navajo Nation. On August 5, 2017, he was present at the scene of a violent crime while in possession of a pipe-gun destructive device capable of firing shotgun shells. On February 20, 2018, he was encountered by state and tribal law enforcement while in possession of another weapon, this time an altered rifle. George is a member of the Navajo Nation, and the offenses occurred on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.
Manufacturing or possessing these kinds of firearms is prohibited by federal law, and these crimes can carry very serious penalties. George was sentenced to 10 years’ prison for possessing the pipe-gun destructive device and 5 years’ prison for possessing the altered rifle, with the sentences for the two crimes to be served consecutively.
The investigation was conducted by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney William G. Voit, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Kentucky Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for First Degree MurderRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On June 17, 2019, Dana Louis Mattingly, 58, of Louisville, Kentucky, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James A. Soto to life in prison.
On March 8, 2013, Mattingly, while serving a sentence for armed bank robbery, entered the cell of another inmate in the U.S. Penitentiary in Tucson, bound him, then choked and repeatedly stabbed him to death. Mattingly entered a plea of guilty to first degree murder on February 27, 2019.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in Tucson. The prosecution was handled by Carin C. Duryee and Carmen F. Corbin, District of Arizona, Tucson.
Tuba City Man Sentenced to Prison for Domestic AssaultsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On June 17, 2019, Kristopher Smith, of Tuba City, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 48 months of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. Smith’s 48-month prison term is in addition to the 12 months of prison he previously served in tribal custody. Smith pleaded guilty to two counts of Assault of an Intimate Partner or Dating Partner by Strangulation and one count of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Intimate Partner or Dating Partner on February 27, 2019.
Smith assaulted the victim on August 11, 2015, November 22, 2016, and April 24, 2017. During each assault, Smith inflicted substantial or serious bodily injury, and on two of the three occasions, Smith strangled the victim.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Samuels, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Parker Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for First Degree MurderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On June 18, 2019, Mickey Roy Anderson, Sr., 30, of Parker, Ariz., and a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to life in prison, 10 years in prison to run consecutive to his life sentence, and seven years in prison to run concurrent to his life sentence. Anderson was found guilty by a federal jury on March 5, 2019 of first degree murder, use of a firearm during a crime of violence, and burglary of a residential structure.
The evidence at trial showed that on Jan. 23, 2014, Anderson walked into the victim’s home, stood a few feet from the victim and shot her in the face. The victim died almost instantly. Anderson was angry with the victim for purchasing drugs from another drug dealer in the community. The victim was also a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, and the murder happened on the Colorado River Indian Reservation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Colorado River Indian Tribes Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Christina J. Reid-Moore and Sharon K. Sexton, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Navajo Man Convicted of Seven Counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a ChildRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Bo Lane, 36, of Coppermine, Ariz., was found guilty of seven counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child by a federal jury in Flagstaff, Ariz. on June 14, 2019. The case was tried before Chief U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow. Lane will be sentenced on September 3, 2019.
The evidence at trial showed that between 2013 and 2017, Lane sexually abused two minor victims. The abuse started when the victims were six years old and took place on the Navajo Indian Reservation. Both Lane and the victims are members of the Navajo Nation.
Each conviction for aggravated sexual abuse of a child carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 30 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life in prison, and a $250,000 fine or both.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christina J. Reid-Moore and Dimitra H. Sampson, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Chandler Man Imprisoned FOR SMUGGLING AND SELLING VIETNAMESE CIGARETTESRead the Press Release
PHOENIX –On June 10, 2019, Vien Tang, 49, of Chandler, AZ, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 8 months in prison for Unlawful Importation of Tobacco.
From 2014 through May 2018, Tang and his then-wife, Lien Tang, 47, had Vietnamese cigarettes shipped from Vietnam to their home in Chandler. Approximately 8,000 cartons of cigarettes, which were concealed in packages designed to look like wrapped gifts, were delivered to the Tang home during the scheme. On a daily basis, Tang sold the smuggled cigarettes for cash out of the back of vehicles in parking lots of businesses in Mesa and Chandler. Tang frequently traveled to Vietnam to arrange for the cigarette shipments, and in his absence, Lien Tang handled daily sales.
Lien Tang previously pleaded guilty to the same charge and was sentenced to three years’ probation. The Tangs were ordered to pay more than $275,000 in restitution.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of Homeland Security-Criminal Investigations, and the Department of Treasury, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. The prosecution was handled by Monica B. Edelstein, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Jury Unable to Reach a Verdict in Warren TrialRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On June 11, 2019, a jury was unable to agree upon a verdict in the trial of Scott Warren, 36, of Ajo, Arizona on charges relating to transporting and harboring illegal aliens. The case was tried before Senior U.S. District Judge Raner C. Collins from May 29, 2019 to June 7, 2019, with jury deliberations on June 7, 10, and 11, 2019.
Under the law, when a jury cannot reach a verdict, a mistrial results. The government may elect to retry the case when a jury cannot agree on a verdict.
Judge Collins has set a Status Conference in the case for July 2, 2019 at 9:40 a.m. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will make a decision on retrial prior to that hearing.
Defendant Found Guilty for Making False Statements in Garland Shooting InvestigationRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On June 4, 2019, Abdul Khabir Wahid, 53, of Phoenix, was found guilty by United States District Judge John J. Tuchi of making a false statement to the FBI during an investigation involving international terrorism, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2), and tampering with a witness, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b)(3). Wahid’s trial was held before Judge Tuchi from February 26, 2019 to March 1, 2019, after Wahid waived a trial by jury.
Wahid committed the offenses during the FBI investigation of the May 3, 2015, ISIS-related attack on the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest in Garland, Texas. Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi drove from Arizona to Texas to conduct the attack, where they stopped their car near the contest location and began firing semiautomatic rifles at security personnel and law enforcement officers. One of their bullets struck and injured a security guard. Police officers shot and killed Simpson and Soofi during the firefight. Wahid did not travel to Texas and was not directly involved in the attack.
On May 1, 2015, just days before the attack, Simpson instructed Wahid to deliver a key and an envelope to a third person. During a May 6, 2015 interview with FBI agents, Wahid made false statements and concealed these facts, despite having delivered the key and envelope, as instructed by Simpson. Also, between May 4 and July 8, 2015, Wahid tried to persuade Soofi's brother not to speak with the FBI, to lie about seeing Simpson and Soofi with guns, and to lie about observing ISIS propaganda videos in Simpson's and Soofi's apartment.
Judge Tuchi found the delay “caused agents to apply scarce investigative resources to hunt for ‘needles in haystacks,’” and that Wahid’s false statement misdirected investigative assets, caused delays, and “in turn resulted in the agent’s failure to recover some evidence which was disposed of in the interim.”
“The guilty verdict for purposefully obstructing a terrorism investigation into an attack on our nation’s homeland in the name of ISIS, sends a strong message to those who support terrorists. Our office has an unwavering commitment to combatting terrorism and prosecuting all perpetrators who impede terrorism investigations and tamper with witnesses,” said U.S. Attorney Bailey. “I want to thank the FBI for the tremendous effort that went into the underlying investigation, as well as the brave law enforcement officials in Garland whose quick action during the attack prevented a much larger tragedy.”
Wahid is scheduled for sentencing on August 26, 2019, before Judge Tuchi. Wahid’s convictions carry a statutory maximum sentence of 28 years in prison.
The case was investigated by the FBI, and the prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen Brook and Joseph Koehler of the District of Arizona.
Violent Leader of Marijuana Trafficking Organization Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. --On June 3, 2019, Carlos Correa, 29, of Hereford, AZ was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Raner C. Collins to 25 years in prison. Correa previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute more than 1,000 Kilograms of Marijuana and received sentencing enhancements for murdering a co-conspirator and for his leadership role in a marijuana trafficking organization. Correa is the last of eight federal defendants to be sentenced in this multi-agency investigation into a large marijuana smuggling enterprise.
The investigation into Correa’s drug smuggling enterprise began on June 18, 2015, after a traffic stop of a vehicle loaded with marijuana that had attempted to circumvent the Willcox Border Patrol checkpoint. A cell phone containing photographs and texts depicting and identifying firearms with obliterated serial numbers, illegal narcotics packaged for distribution, and large sums of U.S. currency was seized from the vehicle and determined to belong to Correa.
Over the next eight months, ATF, Border Patrol, and numerous southern Arizona law enforcement agencies worked together to investigate the drug smuggling enterprise led by Correa and the murder victim. The investigation resulted in the arrest of more than 20 co-conspirators for related offenses. Prosecutions were completed by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Cochise County Attorney’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office. Participating agencies seized over 4,000 pounds of marijuana and several firearms, including an AR-15 and an AK-47 with obliterated serial numbers.
On February 26, 2016, Correa murdered the victim and co-conspirator during a dispute involving marijuana load payments. Correa pled guilty to second-degree murder in Cochise County case number CR201600301, and was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment by Cochise County Superior Court Judge James Conlogue in that case.
The investigation in this case was conducted by ATF and U.S. Border Patrol in conjunction with the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Sierra Vista Police Department. The federal prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam D. Rossi and Rui Wang, District of Arizona, Tucson.
U.S. Attorney Announces Support to Anchorage as Part of the National Public Safety Partnership to Combat Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
Anchorage, Alaska – As the Department of Justice continues its efforts to fulfill President Donald J. Trump’s commitment to reducing violent crime in America, Attorney General William P. Barr today announced that the District of Alaska was selected to join the National Public Safety Partnership (PSP) initiative. PSP provides a framework for enhancing federal support of state, local and tribal law enforcement officials and prosecutors as they aggressively investigate and pursue violent criminals, specifically those involved in gun crime, drug trafficking and gang violence.
“The Public Safety Partnership is a successful program that directs federal law enforcement resources to the cities where they can have the greatest impact,” Attorney General Barr said. “These resources help police departments to diagnose where crime is highest—and why—and to find, arrest and prosecute criminals. Several participating cities have already seen dramatic reductions in violent crime over the past two years. As we expand this program to 10 more cities across America, we are determined to replicate that success.”
The Justice Department created PSP and the Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety in response to President Trump’s Feb. 9, 2017, Executive Order charging the agency with leading a national effort to combat violent crime. In June 2017, the Department of Justice announced the formation of the National Public Safety Partnership initiative.
To be considered for selection, a site must have sustained levels of violence that far exceed the national average and demonstrate a commitment to reducing crime. Cities must also display compliance with federal immigration requirements.
The 10 sites announced today are as follows:
- Anniston, Alabama
- Oxford, Alabama
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Davenport, Iowa
- Wichita, Kansas
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Amarillo, Texas
- Harris County, Texas
“I congratulate Chief Doll and the Anchorage Police Department for their successful application to the PSP program,” said U.S. Attorney Schroder. “APD’s dedication to seeking all available resources to help stem violent crime in Anchorage is impressive. As the Attorney General discovered on his recent trip to Alaska, cooperation between federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies is as strong here as anywhere in the country. Designation as a PSP city will bring additional resources to help us protect the people of Anchorage, and make all Alaskans safer.”
“This new program adds additional horsepower to the strong existing partnership between the Anchorage Police Department and the Department of Justice,” said Chief Justin Doll. “It will be another tool in the ‘tool belt’ as Anchorage combats the increase in violent crime being felt across the country.”
Participating in PSP is consistent with the District of Alaska’s highest priority, which is fighting violent crime.
More than 30 cities have participated in PSP. The primary participating Justice Department components include the Office of Justice Programs, Office on Violence Against Women, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Marshals Service.
More information about PSP can be found at: http://www.nationalpublicsafetypartnership.org.
Chinle Man Sentenced to 10 Years’ Prison for Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On May 28, 2019, Stanley Ray Tsosie, 29, of Chinle, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 10 years’ imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release with sex offender registration, treatment, and testing. Tsosie had previously pleaded guilty to Sexual Abuse by Threat.
The victim reported to a family member that Tsosie had perpetrated the sexual abuse by placing the victim in fear for the victim’s own safety. Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation began an investigation, which led to Tsosie’s arrest and prosecution. Both Tsosie and the victim are members of the Navajo Nation, and the abuse occurred within the Navajo Nation Reservation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney William G. Voit, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Amado Man Sentenced to 6 Years for Planting Explosive Device That Activated, Causing InjuriesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On May 22, 2019, Constantino Varela, 64, of Amado, Arizona was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James Soto to 72 months’ imprisonment. Varela pleaded guilty on August 1, 2018 to two counts of Unlawful Possession of an Unregistered Destructive Device, and one count of Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon.
Varela, suspecting vandals were breaking into a building on the property where he lived, built and planted an explosive device in the structure. The explosive device, containing metal balls and nails as added fragmentation, was connected to a pressure-activated switch mounted on the floor close to the building’s entrance. On September 17, 2017, an associate of Varela entered the building and stepped on the pressure-activated switch. The device exploded and sprayed the victim with shrapnel. A further search of the property uncovered three additional explosive devices.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Border Patrol, and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Beverly K. Anderson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
Podiatrist Sentenced to Prison for Medicare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On May 17, 2019, Loren Wessel, 55, a resident of Tucson, was sentenced by United States District Judge James A. Soto for his role in a Medicare fraud scheme. Wessel had previously pleaded guilty to Health Care Fraud.
From 2008 through June 2016, Wessel, a licensed podiatrist, engaged in a scheme to defraud Medicare out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. In his plea agreement, Wessel admitted he submitted false claims to Medicare. As part of his practice, Wessel regularly provided routine podiatry care for patients at assisted living facilities in and around Tucson, but fraudulently billed Medicare for more complex and significantly more expensive services that he had not performed. To further his scheme and conceal the fraud, Wessel also falsely documented patients’ medical records with alleged ailments they did not have and with care Wessel did not provide.
In addition to serving a 24-month term of imprisonment, the Court ordered Wessel to pay $965,985 in restitution to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-00978-TUC-JAS (LCK)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-065_Wessel
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Inscription House Man Sentenced to over 8 Years’ Prison and Lifetime Supervised Release for Sexual Conduct with a Minor and Domestic Violence AssaultRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On May 20, 2019, Justin Mannheimer, 31, of Inscription House, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas Rayes to eight years’ imprisonment. Mannheimer had previously pleaded guilty to sexual conduct with a minor and domestic assault by strangling, a domestic violence offense.
Between Aug. 1, 2017 and Dec. 14, 2017, Mannheimer kept the victim, a minor, at his home -- at times without her consent. During this time frame he sexually assaulted and strangled the victim. Both Mannheimer and the victim were members of the Navajo Nation, and the offense occurred in Inscription House, on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sharon K. Sexton, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-8037-PCT-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-067_ Mannheimer
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Oak Springs Man Sentenced to Seven Years’ Prison for Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, May 20, 2019, Shaun Gui Hale, 33, of Oak Springs, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to seven years’ imprisonment. Hale had previously pleaded guilty to domestic assault by strangling or suffocation, a domestic violence offense.
During the night of April 29-30, 2017, Hale perpetrated a prolonged assault against the victim while they were alone together in Hale’s residence. Hale repeatedly punched the victim, and also strangled her into unconsciousness, inflicting serious injuries. Both Hale and the victim were members of the Navajo Nation, and the offense occurred in Oak Springs, on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.
The investigation was conducted by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys William G. Voit and Krista J. Wood, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR 17-08127-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-066_Hale
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Owners of Tucson Home Health Care Business Sentenced to Prison for Medicare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On May 15, 2019, Stephen Allen Lamont, 61, and Elvia Lorena Lamont, 51, were sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson for their involvement in a Medicare fraud scheme. Lamont previously pled guilty to Health Care Fraud and his wife, Elvia Lamont, previously pled guilty to Misprision of a Felony.
Lamont received a sentence of 30 months in prison, and Elvia Lamont was sentenced to 13 months in prison.
From 2012 to 2015, the Lamonts owned and operated Ascension In Home Medical Care NP’s Group, Inc., a home health care business that provided services to the elderly. In his plea agreement, Lamont admitted that he knowingly submitted false claims for services to Medicare. Lamont fraudulently billed for services that were provided by nurses, medical assistants and a phlebotomist as if they had been performed by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner. Lamont also fraudulently billed at the highest complexity level in order to further pad the billings. On some occasions, Lamont forged the signature of a medical doctor or other Medicare-approved provider before the claims were submitted for reimbursement. Elvia Lamont admitted that she knowingly shared in the proceeds from the Medicare fraud scheme and concealed the scheme from authorities.
In addition to imprisonment, the Court ordered both defendants to pay $1,054,839 in restitution to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tucson.
Woman Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Murdering Six-Year-Old BoyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Yesterday, Latoya Leonardine Johnson, 25, of Ajo, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 35 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for murdering a six-year-old boy on the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation. Johnson previously pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder.
On September 24, 2017, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Border Patrol, and members of the Tohono O’odham Police Department began to search for the missing six-year-old victim. They ultimately located foot sign indicating an adult and a child had walked from the remote village into the desert. While following the foot sign, law enforcement came across the victim’s t-shirt and found a long wooden object. From there, the adult footprints continued along with what appeared to be drag marks. Ultimately, the footprints led law enforcement to discover the victim’s body.
Johnson, a member of Tohono O’odham, admitted to walking the victim, who lived nearby, into the desert and beating him with the wooden object, resulting in his death. The victim was also a Tribal member of Tohono O’odham.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tohono O’odham Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Christine D. Keller and Anthony W. Church, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Terrorist Sympathizer from Iraq Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
PHOENIX Ariz. – On May 7, 2019, Duraid Hussein, 25, of Glendale, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 54 months in prison. Hussein is a citizen of Iraq who entered the United States as a refugee. On December 6, 2018, Hussein was convicted by a federal jury of being a felon in possession of a firearm. In July 2017, Hussein sold a stolen firearm to another individual. As a convicted felon, Hussein is not allowed to possess firearms or ammunition.
During the investigation, Hussein was observed watching extremist propaganda videos on the Internet, and heard making statements about being called to fight the Jihad. Since entering the United States, Hussein has had multiple contacts with law enforcement for violent acts, including a May 2017 conviction for aggravated assault.
Hussein is subject to removal from the United States upon his release from prison.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Lacy Cooper and Matthew Binford, Assistant United States Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Mississippi Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Assisting Producer of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On May 8, 2019, Rico Wilbert, 38, of Purvis, Mississippi, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James A. Soto to 17 years in prison. Wilbert’s term of imprisonment will be followed by lifetime supervised release requiring him to register and abide by sex offender conditions. Wilbert had previously pleaded guilty on August 27, 2018, to aiding and abetting the production of child pornography.
Agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigating Josue Cota arrested Wilbert after discovering chats in which Wilbert encouraged and requested videos of Cota sexually abusing children. Wilbert and Cota communicated and exchanged child pornography online over at least a nine-month period during 2016 and 2017. Evidence showed that Wilbert repeatedly asked Cota for “new” material, and encouraged Cota as he sexually assaulted his victims. In February 2019, Cota was sentenced in federal court to 60 years’ incarceration for production of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Douglas Office. The prosecution was handled by Carin C. Duryee and Carmen F. Corbin, District of Arizona, Tucson.
Jury Convicts Pinon Man for Rape of 11 Year-Old VictimRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, Murphy Alex Begay, 41, of Pinon, Ariz., was convicted by a jury of aggravated sexual abuse of a child. Begay will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan in July.
In March 2012, Begay lured the 11 year-old victim outside the mother’s house during the night, where he forcibly raped the victim in a dirt field. Both Begay and the victim are members of the Navajo Nation, and the crime was committed on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.
Begay is a convicted felon. At the time he raped the victim, he was serving a term of supervised release for previously shooting an unarmed man.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys William G. Voit and Dimitra H. Sampson, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-08107-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-059_Begay
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Mesa Man Sentenced to 15 Years for ManslaughterRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On April 30, 2019, Robert Lee Jose, 30, of Mesa, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Neil V. Wake to 15 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Jose had previously pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. On March 28, 2018, Jose shot the victim in the head following a short, heated argument, killing the victim. Both Jose and the victim are members of the Gila River Indian Community.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Raynette Logan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-497-PHX-NVW
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-058_Jose
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Meadview Man Sentenced to Prison for Drug Sales, Theft of Government Property, and International Smuggling of Federally- Protected CactiRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On April 29, 2019, William Starr Schwartz, 54, of Meadview, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 24 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Schwartz was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $22,655 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a charitable and nonprofit corporation established to further the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, plants, and other natural resources. Schwartz had previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, theft of government property, smuggling cacti from the United States, and Lacey Act false labeling charges.
Between approximately Oct. 1, 2014 and Aug. 22, 2018, Schwartz stole, and directed others to steal for him, in excess of 500 federally-protected cactus plants from the Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Arizona. Schwartz sold the stolen cacti through the Internet, and illegally shipped the cacti from Meadview to more than 20 countries throughout the world. During a search warrant conducted on Schwartz’s residence in August 2018, numerous stolen cacti were recovered by law enforcement agents. Additionally, methamphetamine and related drug paraphernalia were found.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service, with assistance from the National Park Service and the United States Postal Inspection Service, conducted the investigation. The prosecution was handled by Paul Stearns, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-08333-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-057_Schwartz
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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.
Safford Man Convicted for Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On April 19, 2019, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Lawrence James Halamek, 36, of Safford, Ariz., after a four-day trial before District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps. Halamek was convicted of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Halamek faces a sentence of up to lifetime imprisonment, followed by up to lifetime supervised release, stringent sex offender conditions, and sex offender registration.
The evidence at trial showed that in December 2016, Halamek picked up a minor child from her bus stop and transported her to a remote area in New Mexico, with the intent of sexually assaulting her. With the help of an Amber Alert, the two were located the following day.
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 Attorney’s 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.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sierra Vista Office, Grant County Sheriff’s Department, and Graham County Sheriff’s Department. The prosecution was handled by Carin C. Duryee and Erica L. Seger, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-0477-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-056_Halamek
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Fort Defiance Man Sentenced to 46 Months for Assaulting VictimRead the Press Release
PHOENIX– On April 15, 2019, Corey Slinkey, 42 of Fort Defiance, Ariz., was sentenced by District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to 46 months’ imprisonment. Slinkey had previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.
In August 2017, Slinkey intentionally struck and wounded the victim of the assault with a tent pole. The victim was pregnant at the time. Both Slinkey and the victim are members of the Navajo Nation.
Navajo Nation Criminal Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigations conducted the investigation. The prosecution was handled by Kiyoko Patterson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-8240-PCT-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-055_Slinkey
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Man Sentenced to Prison for Casino RobberyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On April 15, 2019, Ryan Pearson, 32, of Payson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Pearson had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Pearson admitted to using a firearm, along with co-defendant Armando Pablo Ochoa, to rob the Mazatal Casino, in Payson, Ariz., on the Tonto Apache Indian Reservation. Ochoa and Pearson entered the casino armed with handguns and demanded employees open a vault. When they did not receive immediate compliance, Ochoa and Pearson each fired a round from their weapons. Both Ochoa and Pearson were employees of the casino at the time.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Anthony W. Church, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR 18-01169-002-PHX-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-054_Pearson
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Justice Department Awards $8.4 Million to Support Native American Crime Victims in Ten States-Arizona Receives over $1.5 MillionRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – This week, the Office of Justice Programs’ Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) awarded more than $8.4 million to support crime victims in Native American communities in 10 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah and Washington. The group of 17 awards is the fifth in a series of grants being made by OVC to American Indian and Alaska Native communities. OVC has now awarded more than $34 million of nearly $100 million to support tribal victim service programs.
The awards - 63 in total so far - will fund critical crime victim services, such as counseling, transitional housing, emergency services and transportation. The grants are supported by the Crime Victims Fund, a repository of federal criminal fines, fees and special assessments. The fund includes zero tax dollars.
“American Indian and Alaska Native communities face extensive public safety challenges, but through creative approaches that combine traditional methods with innovative solutions, they are demonstrating their determination to meet the needs of victims in their communities,” said OJP’s Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Matt M. Dummermuth. “These grants, part of historic levels of funding awarded by the Department of Justice to American Indian and Alaska Native communities, will provide significant resources to bring critical services to those who suffer the effects of crime and violence.”
“We congratulate Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, and San Carlos Apache Tribe on being selected for these awards from DOJ’s Office for Victims of Crime,” stated Elizabeth A. Strange, First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Arizona. “The $1.5 million in OVC funding will help these communities to expand their services for crime victims and help to prevent victims from suffering further harm.”
According to OJP’s Bureau of Justice Statistics, American Indians and Alaska Natives experience violent crime at rates far greater than the general population.
The following tribes (or tribal organizations) are the 17 receiving grant awards this week. More than 150 tribes are expected to receive funding this spring to help their communities support crime victims over the next three years:
- The Pascua Yaqui Tribe (Arizona) received $491,450 to enhance existing services to victims by providing crisis intervention and response, resources, referrals, accompaniment to forensic interviews and hospitals, and court advocacy. Funding will support a victim advocate, staff training, transportation for victims, program and office supplies, and emergency assistance.
- The Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community (Arizona) received $336,031 to enhance its existing victim services program by creating a multi-disciplinary team, which will expand services to victims of violent crimes. Funding will support a victim services liaison, staff training, program and office supplies, staff training and emergency assistance.
- The San Carlos Apache Tribe (Arizona) received $716,117 to expand its existing victim services programs by supporting a victim advocate, case manager, program manager, staff training, transportation for victims, program and office supplies, a consultant to serve as a forensic interviewer, and a consultant to provide training on a trauma-informed approach to victim services.
- The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe (South Dakota) received $315,000 to provide victim services on and around the Flandreau reservation. Funding will expand victim assistance and establish new services for unemployed battered women and their children in remote rural areas on and off the reservation.
- The Akiak Native Community (Alaska) received $450,932 to develop a comprehensive victim services program to assist all victims in the community. Funding will support staff training, program and office supplies, travel to Anchorage for victims to access counseling and other services not available in the community, and emergency assistance.
- The Seneca Cayuga Nation (Oklahoma) received $720,000 to enhance and expand its existing victim services program by funding long-term support and other victim services that are not currently available. Funding will support staff training, program and office supplies, transportation and emergency assistance.
- The Taos Pueblo Administration (New Mexico) received $694,002 to enhance existing victim services and build program capacity, with a focus on victims of elder abuse and domestic violence. Funding will support the establishment of a case management system, a financial counselor to assist elder victims of financial fraud and abuse, and emergency assistance.
- The New Stuyahok Village (Alaska) received $382,750 to conduct a community needs assessment and prepare a strategic plan to develop a victim services program, with a focus on shelters, advocacy, crisis counseling and other services to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking and other violent crimes.
- The Coeur d’Alene Tribe (Idaho) received $478,504 to expand victim-centered services through a tribal healing and recovery program. Funding will support staff training, program and office supplies, transportation for victims, outreach and emergency assistance.
- The Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation (California) received $40,000 to enhance local transportation for victims within the tribe’s five-county service area.
- The Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians of Washington (Washington) received $381,933 to expand and enhance the existing victim assistance program by increasing services to children and elders who are victims of crime. Funding will support the hiring of a social worker, staff training, program and office supplies, and transportation for victims.
- The Suquamish Tribe (Washington) received $356,621 to enhance existing services by conducting a needs assessment and developing a comprehensive strategic plan for coordinating and integrating the delivery of services to crime victims. Funding will support travel for victims to access specialized services not available locally, program and office supplies, a forensic interviewer, a strategic planning consultant, and trauma response training for staff.
- The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes (Idaho) received $649,244 to address four critical needs in existing programming, including shelter renovations to ensure safety and accessibility, trauma-informed case management, satellite victim service offices and expansion of services to vulnerable adults. Funding will support a case manager, domestic violence shelter and office space, program and office supplies, and emergency assistance.
- The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (Oklahoma) received $541,872 to expand its existing victim services program by identifying victims in need of additional services and developing resources to meet those needs. Funding will support a senior victim advocate, staff training, program and office supplies, transportation for victims and emergency assistance.
- The Chugachmiut, Inc. (Alaska) received $625,094 to develop the Aprun Aswigmen: Pathway Toward Healing program that will expand and enhance its domestic violence and sexual assault program to serve a broader population of victims. Funding will support a tribal victim services coordinator, forensic medical examination equipment, program and office supplies, and training for staff on serving victims of traumatic brain injury as a result of their victimization.
- The Pokagon Band of Potawtomi Indians (Michigan) received $602,470 to expand its existing victim services program to include services for all victims of crime. Funding will support a project coordinator, adult protective services worker, staff training, outreach materials, legal assistance to victims, staff to conduct a needs assessment and develop a strategic plan, and emergency assistance.
- The Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah (Utah) received $699,000 to expand its existing victim services program by creating a crime victim services program that is more accessible to tribal members. Funding will support a family services manager; staff training; transport for victims; program and office supplies; and subcontracts with the Family Support Center of Southwestern Utah, Family Support Center of Washington County, Canyon Creek Services, Dove Center and New Horizons. The grant will provide shelter and advocacy services for adult and child victims, and subcontracts with the Iron County Children’s Justice Center and Washington County Children’s Justice Center to provide forensic interviews and exams for child victims.
“American Indian and Alaska Native crime victims continue to face challenges in accessing vital services and resources needed to help survivors address their trauma and navigate a complex system,” said OVC Director Darlene Hutchinson. “The Justice Department has made it a priority to partner with tribes to help victims and their families rebuild their lives in the aftermath of violence.”
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Matt M. Dummermuth, provides federal leadership, grants and resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal justice system. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-051_Crime Victim Grants
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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- The Pascua Yaqui Tribe (Arizona) received $491,450 to enhance existing services to victims by providing crisis intervention and response, resources, referrals, accompaniment to forensic interviews and hospitals, and court advocacy. Funding will support a victim advocate, staff training, transportation for victims, program and office supplies, and emergency assistance.
Tonalea Man Sentenced to Prison for Assault on Family MemberRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On April 15, 2019, Shane Tyreke Mann, 21, of Tonalea, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to 33 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Mann had previously pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
On May 15, 2018, Mann assaulted a family member, including by kicking the victim in the face and back. As a result, the victim suffered serious injuries that required hospitalization. The assault occurred on the Navajo Nation. Both Mann and the victim are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Samuels, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-8221-PCT-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-052_Mann
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Kayenta Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assault with a Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On April 15, 2019, Kelsey Dale Benally, 27, of Kayenta, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 63 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Benally had previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Benally was also sentenced to five months in prison for violating a term of supervised release imposed for a prior criminal conviction in 2017. These sentences were ordered to run consecutively.
On Oct. 31, 2015, Benally stabbed the victim multiple times with a knife, causing the victim to sustain serious bodily injuries. After seriously injuring the victim, Benally also stole a truck the victim had been driving. Officers from the Navajo Nation Police Department apprehended Benally shortly after the assault. The assault happened on the Navajo Indian Reservation. Both Benally and the victim are members of the Navajo Nation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Department of Law Enforcement. The prosecution was handled by Christina J. Reid-Moore, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-08019-PCT-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-053_Benally
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Gallup Woman Sentenced to 78 Months for Assaulting VictimRead the Press Release
PHOENIX– On April 8, 2019, Seraphina Charley, 30, of Church Rock, NM, a member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by District Judge Steven P. Logan to 78 months’ imprisonment. After a four-day trial, Charley was found guilty by a jury of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury and making false statements to a government agency.
In March 2018, Charley intentionally struck her then boyfriend, also a member of the Navajo Nation, in the back of the head with a piece of metal rebar. During the investigation, Charley lied about her identity and created a false story that unknown males assaulted the victim. Due to the assault, the victim suffered permanent brain damage affecting his ability to walk and remember.
The Navajo Nation Criminal Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. The prosecution was handled by Kiyoko Patterson and Dimitra Sampson, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-8135-PCT-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-050_Charley
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Justice Department Observes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week with Events throughout the Country, Including ArizonaRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – In observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 7-13, 2019, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona hosted its annual Service Award Ceremony today to recognize individuals who have performed exceptional service on behalf of crime victims. This year’s theme for National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is “Honoring Our Past. Creating Hope for the Future.”
The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, within the Office of Justice Programs, leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in 1981 to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and rights of victims of crime. Since then, every year in April, the Department of Justice and United States Attorney’s Offices observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week nationwide by organizing events to highlight the rights of victims in our legal system and to honor those who advocate on their behalf.
The U.S. Department of Justice will host the Office for Victims of Crime’s annual National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C. on April 12, 2019, to honor outstanding individuals and programs that serve victims of crime.
“Victims of crime deserve justice. This Department works every day to help them recover and to find, prosecute, and convict those who have done them harm,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “During this National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, we pause to remember the millions of Americans who have been victims of crime and we thank public servants who have served them in especially heroic ways. This week the men and women of the Department recommit ourselves once again to ensuring that crime victims continue to have a voice in our legal system, to securing justice for them, and to preventing other Americans from suffering what they have endured."
“Our office is deeply committed to ensuring that all crime victims are accorded their rights under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act, they are protected from further harm, and they receive the support and assistance necessary for recovery,” stated First Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange. “We honor all of our law enforcement partners who work with us every day to protect our communities and, today, we specifically recognize outstanding individuals who went above and beyond the call of duty to serve victims of crime or to advocate on their behalf.”
The Office of Justice Programs provides innovative leadership to federal, state, local, and tribal justice systems, by disseminating state-of-the art knowledge and practices across America, and providing grants for the implementation of these crime-fighting strategies. Because most of the responsibility for crime control and prevention falls to law enforcement officers in states, cities, and neighborhoods, the federal government can be effective in these areas only to the extent that it can enter into partnerships with these officers. More information about the Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov. More information about Crime Victims’ Rights Week can be found at https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/. You may also contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona Victim Witness Program at 602-514-7500.
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RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-043_NVRW
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az
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Tucson Bank Robber Sentenced to over 18 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On April 8, 2019, Shad Richard Thompson, 43, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to serve 222 months (18.5 years) in prison and pay $4,784 in restitution. Thompson was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank robbery and bank robbery following a jury trial. Thompson’s term of imprisonment will be followed by three years of supervised release.
On Oct. 5, 2017, Thompson and a co-defendant planned and executed the robbery of Pyramid Federal Credit Union located on East Grant Road, in Tucson. The pair used a demand note to commit the bank robbery, which the co-defendant wrote on a napkin while Thompson told her what to write. Thompson drove the co-defendant to the Credit Union, parked in a space hidden by bushes, and waited while the co-defendant went in to present the note demanding the Credit Union’s money. The co-defendant entered the Credit Union wearing Thompson’s t-shirt and hat while carrying a brown purse that Thompson had instructed her to use to carry out the Credit Union’s money. After presenting the demand note and receiving $4,784 from the teller, the co-defendant departed the Credit Union, got back in the car with Thompson, and the pair drove off. Thompson and the co-defendant fled Arizona, but were later arrested in Wyoming. Further investigation revealed that Thompson had been involved in multiple prior bank robberies.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Federal Bureau of Investigation, Tucson. The prosecution was handled by Lori L. Price and Erica L. Seger, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-01732-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-049_Thompson
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Mayor of Bacum, Mexico Sentenced for False Statement in Application and Use of a United States PassportRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On April 8, 2019, Rogelio Aboyte Limon, 47, of Bacum, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge Raner C. Collins to 15 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Aboyte Limon had previously pleaded guilty to false statement in application and use of a passport.
On Dec. 27, 2018, Aboyte Limon was arrested using a fraudulently obtained United States passport in an attempt to enter the United States through the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Ariz. Aboyte Limon originally obtained the passport in 2005, renewed it in 2015, and used it on multiple occasions. The false statements in the renewal application included using another person’s identity, claiming United States citizenship, omitting other names he had previously used, and failing to disclose his conviction for a federal felony drug offense. Aboyte Limon is a citizen of Mexico and was the mayor of Bacum, Mexico at the time of his arrest.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Department of State-Diplomatic Security Service, the Department of Homeland Security-Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of Homeland Security-U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The prosecution was handled by Heather Siegele, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-19-00193-RCC-EJM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-047_Aboyte Limon
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Laveen Woman Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Selling MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On April 8, 2019, Maria Dawn Goldtooth, 44, of Laveen, Ariz. was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 60 months in prison, followed by a term of three years of supervised release. Goldtooth had previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute less than 50 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine.
On two separate occasions in September 2017, Goldtooth sold methamphetamine to an undercover officer from her home located on the Gila River Indian Community. An additional quantity of methamphetamine was seized from Goldtooth’s home during a search in June 2018.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The prosecution was handled by Christina J. Reid-Moore, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-2018-00730-PHX-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-048_Goldtooth
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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