District of Arizona

PHOENIX – This week, Kaleb June, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 33 months of imprisonment.  June, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, had previously pleaded guilty to robbery.

     On Sept. 10, 2016, June and two others burglarized a Hopi tribal administration building.  After leaving the building, they went to a nearby convenience store and robbed it at gunpoint.  Each of these crimes occurred in Moenkopi, Ariz., on the Hopi Indian     Reservation. 

     Earlier this year, June’s co-conspirators were likewise sentenced to prison for their roles in the same crimes.  Jonathan Phillips, 20, was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to robbery.  Morgan Black, 20, was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to burglary.  Both Phillips and Black are enrolled members of the Hopi Tribe.  June, Phillips, and Black were all living in the Moenkopi-Tuba City area at the time of the crimes.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services (Hopi Agency).  The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Samuels, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-16-8256-PCT-DGC; CR-17-8116-PCT-GMS

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-099_June etal

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PHOENIX – On Aug. 1, 2018, Jason Allen Martinez, 37, of Parker, Ariz., and a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 77 months in prison, followed by a term of three years of supervised release.  Martinez had previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.  Martinez was also sentenced to four months’ imprisonment in a 2010 supervised release matter, to run consecutive to the sentence imposed in the 2017 case.  Martinez had previously admitted to violating his supervised release. 

     On Aug. 21, 2017, Martinez assaulted the victim, a former partner of his, by chasing her down in the vehicle he was driving and crashing into the rear end of the victim’s vehicle.  Martinez continued to chase the victim after crashing into her vehicle and tried to force her off the road several times.  The victim is a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes and the assault occurred on the Colorado River Indian Tribes Indian Reservation.  

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Colorado River Indian Tribes Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Christina J. Reid-Moore, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-2017-01509-PHX-DGC and CR-2010-00131-PHX-DGC    

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-098_Martinez

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PHOENIX - On July 30, 2018, Fu Sheng Yang, 39, of Taipei City, Taiwan, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 33 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release.  Yang had previously pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to smuggle goods from the United States.

     On June 20, 2017, Yang legally entered the United States.  During the next two days, he purchased 10,000 rounds of ammunition and took possession of 40 upper receivers with the intention of illegally exporting these items from the United States to Taiwan.  He also attempted to arrange for the purchase of an additional 100 firearms.  On June 22, 2017, Yang was stopped by the Arizona Department of Public Safety for speeding and was found in possession of the aforementioned ammunition and upper receivers. 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the Phoenix Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Lisa E. Jennis and Kristen Brook, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR 17-00981-PHX-GMS 

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-097_ Yang

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PHOENIX - On July 30, 2018, Omar Heriberto Robles-Hernandez, 24, of Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven Paul Logan to 48 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release.  Robles-Hernandez had previously pleaded guilty to one count of transportation of illegal aliens resulting in death.

     On approximately May 13, 2017, Robles-Hernandez guided eight males (two of whom were juveniles) across the desert from Mexico into Arizona in order to enter the United States illegally.  The males were citizens of Mexico and Honduras and were forced to carry backpacks of marijuana, weighing approximately 50 pounds each, during the trip.  On May 23, 2017, after ten days of walking in the desert, Robles-Hernandez and the people he was guiding were located by agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.  Three of them were taken to the hospital where a 16 year old boy died from heat exposure and dehydration caused by the arduous trip through the desert.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.  The prosecution was handled by Lisa E. Jennis and Todd M. Allison, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR 17-00980-PHX-SPL   

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-096_ Robles-Hernandez

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TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, after a two-day trial, the Honorable Cindy K. Jorgenson found Daniel Courville, 42, of Tucson, Ariz., guilty of knowing access with intent to view child pornography depicting pre-pubescent minors.  Courville faces a sentence of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release, with stringent sex offender conditions, including the condition that he register as a sex offender. 

     Courville, who formerly worked as computer programmer and specialist for Pima County Justice Court, was indicted by a federal grand jury after an investigation revealed that Courville had searched for, downloaded, and accessed child pornography images and videos over the internet.  Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 23, 2018.

     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.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by agents from Homeland Security Investigations in Tucson.  The prosecution was handled by Carin C. Duryee and Nathaniel J. Walters, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-17-482-TUC-CKJ    

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-095_Courville

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PHOENIX – On July 30, 2018, Thomas Mario Costanzo, a.k.a. Morpheus Titania, 54, of Mesa, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 41 months’ imprisonment, with credit for time served since his arrest in April 2017. Costanzo was found guilty by a federal jury on March 28, 2018, of money laundering.

     The evidence at trial showed that federal agents initiated an investigation of Costanzo in 2014, after identifying an advertisement he posted on a peer-to-peer bitcoin exchange website.  In the advertisement, Costanzo advertised that he was willing to engage in cash transactions up to $50,000.  When undercover federal agents approached Costanzo and told him that they were drug dealers, Costanzo provided them with bitcoin and told them it was a great way to limit their exposure to law enforcement.  The jury found that over a two-year period, Costanzo took $164,700 in cash-including a final $107,000 transaction in April 2017-from the agents (whom he believed to be heroin and cocaine traffickers) and exchanged it for bitcoin in order to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the drug proceeds.  The evidence at trial also showed that Costanzo used bitcoin to purchase drugs from others and that he provided bitcoin to individuals who were buying drugs via the internet.

     At the sentencing hearing Judge Snow also ruled on the forfeiture of the 80.94512167 bitcoins provided by Costanzo to the undercover agent as part of the final $107,000 money laundering transaction.  The current value of the forfeited bitcoins is more than $600,000.  Costanzo had previously claimed an interest in 49.99363132 of the seized bitcoins, and his interest was forfeited at the sentencing hearing.  Separately, the government has also reached a resolution with a third party to the forfeiture proceedings who had supplied Costanzo with the remaining bitcoins and who had been under investigation for engaging in an unlicensed bitcoin trading business.  In particular, Dr. Peter Steinmetz has agreed to forfeit the remaining 30.95149035 bitcoins, and to also forfeit an additional $54,000 in U.S. currency; the government has agreed not to prosecute Dr. Steinmetz for his prior bitcoin trading activity; and Dr. Steinmetz agrees that going forward, and for the next two years, he will only purchase or sell virtual currency on exchanges registered with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, also known as FinCEN.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, and the Scottsdale Police Department, with assistance from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.

     The prosecution was handled by Matthew Binford, Carolina Escalante, and Gary Restaino, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-17-585-PHX-GMS  

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-094_Costanzo

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PHOENIX – Today, Angel Xavier Catha, 21, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 97 months in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release.  Catha had previously pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography and will be required to register as a sex offender. 

     Catha admitted to pursuing a sexual relationship with the 13-year-old victim while living on the Gila River Indian Community.  Both the victim and Catha are enrolled members of the Gila River Indian Community.  Over that period, Catha repeatedly requested that the victim provide him with child pornography.  Catha ultimately received one image of child pornography, which was sent via Facebook.  Judge Snow increased Catha’s sentence to account for his subsequent sexual abuse of the victim. 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Christine Ducat Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-18-501-PHX-GMS

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-093_Catha

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PHOENIX – A former government contractor was found guilty today for his role in a scheme to unlawfully convert U.S. government property from the U.S military base at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, shipping items to his home in Arizona for resale. 

     First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange of the District of Arizona, Inspector General Steve A. Linick of the U.S. Department of State, and Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John F. Sopko made the announcement.

     After a three day trial, Michael Dale Gilbert, 38, of Young, Ariz., was convicted of three counts of theft and unauthorized sale of government property and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property.  Gilbert’s sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 9, 2018 before U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow of the District of Arizona, who presided over the trial.

     According to the evidence admitted at trial, Gilbert worked at PAE Government Services, a government contractor that provides logistics and other support to the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and the U.S. Department of Defense around the globe, including Afghanistan.  From 2012 to 2015, Gilbert was deployed to Kandahar Airfield (KAF), where he assisted DOS with the Foreign Excess Personal Property (FEPP) program.  Once equipment, including computer equipment, heavy construction items and work tools, was requested through the FEPP program at KAF, Gilbert was assigned to arrange for its transfer for use or for its destruction, to prevent the items from falling into the hands of insurgents.  While in that role, in or around April and December of 2014, instead of facilitating the transportation or destruction of U.S government property, Gilbert shipped FEPP to the United States and transported the items to his residence in Arizona.  Gilbert stole FEP items worth at least $48,900, including items recovered from his residence in Arizona valued at approximately $16,700, approximately $3,700 in sales through eBay, and goods valued at approximately $28,500 that Gilbert sold through other means, the evidence showed.  

     This case was investigated by the DOS of the Inspector General and the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gary Restaino of the District of Arizona and Trial Attorney Jessee Alexander-Hoeppner of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.

CASE NUMBER:         CR-17-670-PHX-GMS

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-090_Gilbert

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A former government contractor was found guilty today for his role in a scheme to unlawfully convert U.S. government property from the U.S military base at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, shipping items to his home in Arizona for resale. 

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange of the District of Arizona, Inspector General Steve A. Linick of the U.S. Department of State, and Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John F. Sopko made the announcement.

After a three day trial, Michael Dale Gilbert, 38, of Young, Arizona, was convicted of three counts of theft and unauthorized sale of government property and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property.  Gilbert’s sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 9 before U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow of the District of Arizona, who presided over the trial.

According to the evidence admitted at trial, Gilbert worked at PAE Government Services, a government contractor that provides logistics and other support to the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and the U.S. Department of Defense around the globe, including Afghanistan.  From 2012 to 2015, Gilbert was deployed to Kandahar Airfield (KAF), where he assisted DOS with the Foreign Excess Personal Property (FEPP) program.  Once equipment, including computer equipment, heavy construction items and work tools, was requested through the FEPP program at KAF, Gilbert was assigned to arrange for its transfer for use or for its destruction, to prevent the items from falling into the hands of insurgents.  While in that role, in or around April and December of 2014, instead of facilitating the transportation or destruction of U.S government property, Gilbert shipped FEPP to the United States and transported the items to his residence in Arizona.  Gilbert stole FEP items worth at least $48,900, including items recovered from his residence in Arizona valued at approximately $16,700, approximately $3,700 in sales through eBay, and goods valued at approximately $28,500 that Gilbert sold through other means, the evidence showed.   

This case was investigated by the DOS Office of the Inspector General and the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.  This case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Jessee Alexander-Hoeppner of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant United States Attorney Gary Restaino of the District of Arizona.

Tucson, Ariz. – Yesterday, former Border Patrol Agent Alex Pena was sentenced to 20 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson. Pena had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import between 60 and 80 kilograms of marijuana, and had resigned from the Border Patrol following his indictment.

     Pena admitted that while assigned to the Nogales Border Patrol Station, he entered into an agreement with other individuals to smuggle marijuana into the United States from Mexico. In the early morning hours of Aug. 2, 2016, Pena drove from his residence in Tucson to the Border Patrol Station while dressed in his Border Patrol uniform. He took a marked Border Patrol vehicle from the parking lot without permission as cover to retrieve marijuana bundles to be brought into the United States by smugglers on foot in a remote area south of Patagonia. Pena drove to that location, arriving there at about 2:30 a.m.  Although no marijuana was recovered, the subsequent investigation indicated that several individuals met Pena at that location. His guilty plea confirmed his agreement to participate in the smuggling plan.

     First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange stated: “It is a sad day when a sworn law enforcement officer violates his oath. But no one is above the law, and our office will vigorously pursue corruption cases to ensure that those responsible for enforcing the law do not flout it.”

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Inspector General. The prosecution was handled by Wallace H. Kleindienst, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:         CR-17-490-TUC-CKJ

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-089_Pena

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TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, Robert Lad Solfisburg, 34, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson to 150 months’ prison.  Solfisburg had previously pleaded guilty to four counts of bank robbery.  

     From December 2016 until March 2017, Solfisburg robbed four U.S. Banks while wearing disguises.  He robbed three in Tucson and a fourth in Tempe, Ariz.  Solfisburg would approach bank tellers while holding a plastic bag and demanding that money be placed inside the bag.  Anywhere from $2,338 to $4,080 was taken per robbery.  Solfisburg successfully robbed all four banks until further investigation revealed his identity and he was apprehended.  Solfisburg was on federal supervision at the time for having committed two prior bank robberies in Phoenix and California.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, Tucson Police Department, Tempe Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The prosecution was handled by Raquel Arellano, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-00569-TUC-CKJ

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-082_Solfisburg

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PHOENIX – Yesterday, Andre Hinton, 36, of McNary, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to eight years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.  Hinton had previously pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, which carries a maximum punishment of eight years in prison.

     In November 2006, Hinton, who was 25 years old, and a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, assaulted his then 16-year-old girl girlfriend, also a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, on the Ft. Apache Indian Reservation, resulting in the victim’s death.  He did not seek medical attention for her, but rather buried her in a shallow grave with the assistance of one of his friends, who was a juvenile at the time.  Hinton and the other individual then disposed of the shovels they used to bury the victim’s body and burned their clothing.  The young victim had been reported missing by her family since October 2006.  Her body was discovered in December 2006 after the juvenile who helped bury her body led law enforcement to her grave.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with early assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the White Mountain Apache Tribal Police Department and other local agencies.  The prosecution was handled by Dimitra Sampson and Anthony Church, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:          CR-16-8238-PCT-DGC

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-082_Hinton

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PHOENIX – On June 18, 2018, Patricia Calderon-Monarrez, 47, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 60 months in prison. Calderon-Monarrez had previously pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Calderon-Monarrez does not have legal status in the United States and is subject to removal from the United States when she is released from prison.

     On Oct. 5, 2017, federal agents approached Calderon-Monarrez in a parking lot while conducting an investigation into a Phoenix-based drug trafficking organization. A subsequent search of Calderon-Monarrez revealed a loaded firearm and ammunition in her purse. When agents searched the vehicle Calderon-Monarrez arrived in, they located more than 20 pounds of methamphetamine with a street value of more than $500,000, multiple brick-shaped packages containing more than nine pounds of cocaine with a street value of almost $100,000, and a backpack containing more than $64,000 in cash.

     The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Glendale Police Department, with assistance from the Phoenix Police Department, as part an operation supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).  The prosecution was handled by Matthew Binford, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-1353-PHX-DLR 

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-088_Calderon-Monarrez

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PHOENIX – An Arizona man was sentenced yesterday in Phoenix, Ariz., for directing distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks at the computer networks of the City of Madison, Wis., announced Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange for the District of Arizona.

     Randall Charles Tucker, aka “Bitcoin Baron,” 23, of Apache Junction, Ariz., was sentenced to serve 20 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes of the District of Arizona.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of over $ 69,300 to the victims of his computer attacks. Tucker had previously pleaded guilty to one count of intentional damage to a protected computer.

     According to admissions made in connection with his plea, between March 9 and March 14, 2015, Tucker executed a series of DDoS attacks against various city websites, including Madison, Wis. A DDoS attack is a malicious attack where illegitimate network traffic is used to slow down or altogether crash a computer server, thereby denying service to legitimate users of the server.  In addition to disabling the City of Madison’s website, the attack crippled the city’s Internet-connected emergency communication system, causing delays and outages in the ability of emergency responders to connect to the 911 center and degrading the system used to automatically dispatch the closest unit to a medical, fire, or other emergency. Tucker, referring to himself as the “Bitcoin Baron,” boasted about his attacks via social media.

     This case was investigated by FBI’s Milwaukee and Phoenix Field Offices, and Arizona’s Department of Public Safety.  Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Knapp of the District of Arizona and Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin also provided substantial assistance in this manner.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-16-01065-PHX-DLR (BSB)

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-081_Tucker

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An Arizona man was sentenced yesterday in Phoenix, Arizona, for directing distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks at the computer networks of the City of Madison, Wisconsin, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange for the District of Arizona.

Randall Charles Tucker, aka “Bitcoin Baron,” 23, of Apache Junction, Arizona, was sentenced to serve 20 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes of the District of Arizona.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of  $69,331.56 to the victims of his computer attacks. Tucker pleaded guilty on April 17, 2017 to one count of intentional damage to a protected computer.

According to admissions made in connection with his plea, between March 9 and March 14, 2015, Tucker executed a series of DDoS attacks against various city websites, including Madison, Wisconsin. A DDoS attack is a malicious attack where illegitimate network traffic is used to slow down or altogether crash a computer server, thereby denying service to legitimate users of the server.  In addition to disabling the City of Madison’s website, the attack crippled the city’s Internet-connected emergency communication system, causing delays and outages in the ability of emergency responders to connect to the 911 center and degrading the system used to automatically dispatch the closest unit to a medical, fire, or other emergency. Tucker, referring to himself as the “Bitcoin Baron,” boasted about his attacks via social media.

This case was investigated by FBI’s Milwaukee and Phoenix Field Offices and Arizona’s Department of Public Safety.  Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Knapp of the District of Arizona and Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin also provided substantial assistance in this manner.

PHOENIX – Today, Bronston Begay, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 36 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role in a vehicle theft on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.  Begay also received a consecutive eight-month sentence for violating his supervised release.  Earlier this month, Judge Tuchi sentenced 19-year-old co-defendant Zachary Wyatt Bahe to 24 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release for his role in the vehicle theft. 

     On July 27, 2017, the defendants and two others were hitchhiking on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.  After being picked up by the victim, Bahe placed a fake gun to the victim’s head as they ordered the victim out of the vehicle.  Begay then drove the vehicle away from the scene, leading law enforcement on high-speed chases in both Arizona and New Mexico before being apprehended.  Both defendants are enrolled member of the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Navajo Nation Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Christine Ducat Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-8190-PCT-JJT

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-087_Begay_Bahe

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PHOENIX – Last week, Kiana Walker, 29, of Supai Village, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen M. McNamee to 18 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release.  Walker had previously pleaded guilty to assault on a federal officer.

     On Nov. 19, 2016, a Bureau of Indian Affairs Officer arrested Walker, who was pregnant at the time, for public intoxication in violation of the Havasupai Tribal Code.  After being arrested, Walker screamed racial profanities at the officer and assaulted him, including dropping to the ground and kicking the officer.  Later, when the officer took Walker to the nearby clinic for a precautionary medical evaluation, Walker pushed the officer against a wall and kicked him again. The incident occurred on the Havasupai Reservation.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Samuels, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-16-8300-PCT-SMM

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-083_Walker

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PHOENIX – Today, Antwan Raoul Crook, 21, of Peach Springs, Ariz., and a member of the Hualapai Indian Tribe, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 41 months in prison, followed by a term of five years of supervised release.  Crook had previously pleaded guilty to arson.  

     On March 25, 2017, Crook who was intoxicated became angry with the victim and intentionally set fire to her home.  The fire caused extensive fire and water damage and rendered the home uninhabitable.  The victim is also a member of the Hualapai Indian Tribe, and the arson occurred on the Hualapai Indian Reservation.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Hualapai Nation Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution was handled by Christina J. Reid-Moore, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-08204-PCT-DJH 

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-085_Crook

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PHOENIX – Today, Sanjay Nelson, 25, of Chinle, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for recklessly killing a man on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.  Nelson had previously pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. 

     The incident occurred on May 1, 2017, when Nelson’s sawed-off shotgun accidentally discharged as the victim was handing the firearm back to Nelson.  The victim died as a result of injuries sustained from the gunshot wound.  Both Nelson and the victim were enrolled member of the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The prosecution was handled by Christine Ducat Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-8312-PHX-JJT

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-086_Nelson

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PHOENIX – Last week, Jonathan Frank Davis, 38, of Los Angeles, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 78 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a five year term of supervised release.   Davis had previously pleaded guilty to transportation of individuals to engage in prostitution. 

     In Nov. 2014, Davis transported the victims from California to Arizona to have them engage in acts of prostitution.  Davis was previously convicted of attempted pimping of a minor in Los Angeles County Superior Court and is currently serving a six year prison sentence for that crime.  Davis’s federal sentence will run consecutively to his state sentence.  

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Scottsdale Police Department with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Human Trafficking Task Force.   The prosecution was handled by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Brown and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Brooks and Margaret Perlmeter, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:                 17-CR-841-PHX-DGC

RELEASE NUMBER:          2018-84_Davis

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PHOENIX  – Yesterday, Frank Junior Young, 23, of Page, Ariz., and a member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Stephen M. McNamee to 144 months in prison, followed by a term of 15 years of supervised release.  Young had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual abuse.   

     On Feb. 19, 2016, Young sexually abused the victim by using force and threats. The victim is also a member of the Navajo Nation and the assault occurred on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.

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-17-08033-PCT-SMM 

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-080_Young

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PHOENIX – Today, George Alonzo Renteria, 30, of Sacaton, Ariz., and a member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to life imprisonment for first degree murder, with a consecutive sentence of ten years for committing the murder with a firearm.  Renteria had previously been convicted at a jury trial of first degree murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and discharging a firearm in a crime of violence.

     On Feb. 17, 2014, Renteria shot and killed a fellow member of the Gila River Indian Community.  Renteria encountered the victim in Chandler, Ariz., and convinced him to get into a car Renteria was driving.  Renteria then drove the victim to a deserted field on the Gila River Indian Community and shot him to death with a handgun.  Renteria was in the midst of a violent crime spree, having perpetrated a vehicle theft and an armed home invasion in the hours leading up to the murder.

     During the trial, the victim was described by fellow community members as a gentle, well-liked, and kind-hearted man who went out of his way to help those around him.  Renteria, on the other hand, is a longtime member of a street gang with a violent criminal history.  At the time he murdered the victim, Renteria was on federal supervised release for a prior robbery conviction.

     The investigation was conducted by the Gila River Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine D. Keller and William G. Voit, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-16-00407-GMS

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-079_Renteria

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PHOENIX – Yesterday, Senior U.S. District Judge James A. Teilborg sentenced David Dwight Reynolds, 30, of Glendale, Ariz., to 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release.  The Court also ordered him to pay nearly $2.2 million in restitution. Reynolds had previously pleaded guilty to embezzlement.

     Evidence showed that between 2013 and 2016, Reynolds in his capacity as an Information Technology (IT) network engineer for Swift Transportation Company used his position to embezzle millions of dollars. Reynolds did so by using a corporate credit card to make fraudulent purchases. Reynolds altered invoices to conceal his fraudulent purchases. Reynolds purchased IT equipment for personal use and had it shipped to his office at Swift. Eventually, Reynolds began purchasing personal items like cellphones, office furniture, televisions, cameras, computers, welding and manufacturing equipment, and gun accessories. Reynolds then had items shipped to his home. Reynolds also set up a shell company to fraudulently have payments made to the company. He had a debit card attached to the account and used the fraudulently diverted money to pay his personal credit card bills, his wife’s tuition, among other personal and family expenses. In total, Reynolds embezzled nearly $2.2 million. In addition, he failed to report the embezzled money on his taxes. Based upon unreported taxable income, he owed an income tax in the amount of $355,720.

     “The defendant breached his position of trust to illicitly enrich himself and his family,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange.  “Embezzlement may be a more refined way of stealing, but it is still stealing and a serious crime that our office will vigorously prosecute.  We applaud the efforts of the IRS-Criminal Investigation and FBI in bringing this defendant to justice.”

     “Reynolds orchestrated a sophisticated scheme to embezzle over $2 million from his employer then took steps to conceal his theft,” stated IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Ismael Nevarez Jr. “We hope this investigation is a wake-up call to all businesses, whether large or small, to be sure they have precautions in place to prevent this from happening to them."

     Corporate embezzlement causes serious harm to businesses, investors, and the overall economy.  The FBI will continue to investigate and work with the United States Attorney's Office to prosecute those who steal or divert funds from their intended use," said Michael DeLeon, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Phoenix Field Office.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The prosecution was handled by Kevin M. Rapp Assistant United States Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:                      CR-17-00764- JAT-PHX           

RELEASE NUMBER:              2018-078_ Reynolds

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PHOENIX – Yesterday, Ali Vahdani Pour, 28, an Iranian national, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas Rayes to 137 days in prison. Pour had previously pleaded guilty to false swearing in an immigration matter. 

     In his plea agreement, Pour admitted having lied on his asylum application.  Specifically, Pour admitted he falsely denied having served in the Iranian military and falsely denied having received refugee status in another country.  Pour further admitted to having served in the Iranian military and to having received refugee status in Italy prior to seeking asylum in the United States.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Joseph E. Koehler, Assistant U.S. Attorney, and Ryan Goldstein, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-1598-PHX-DLR 

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-077_Pour

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PHOENIX – Yesterday, Alvaro Sabori, 43, of Santan, Ariz., a member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced by U.S. District Diane J. Humetewa to 18 months in prison. Sabori had previously pleaded guilty to false declaration to the grand jury.   

     On Oct. 23, 2016, a man was found dead on the side of the road in Sacaton, Ariz., from an apparent gunshot wound to the head.  Based on information from a witness, Sabori was subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury regarding the investigation into this killing.  Sabori lied to the grand jury about the shooting, which had occurred at his home earlier in the evening.  One year later, Enrique Bandin was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the killing of that victim at Sabori’s home.  

     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-17-1482-PHX-DJH  

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-076_Sabori

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     TUCSON, Ariz. - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, is hosting the ‘Be Here for Kids’ event on Friday, June 8, 2018 at the University of Arizona’s Student Recreation Center, located at 1400 E. 6th Street.  The event will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

     The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) created the ‘Be Here for Kids’ campaign to promote awareness about all child safety issues.  The campaign is designed to help parents and others teach children to be aware, alert, and cautious to potential threats and to provide steps that children can take to stay safe, both on the Internet and in daily life.

     This year’s event is being presented in partnership with the University of Arizona Youth and Activities Department of Campus Recreation. Agencies participating in the event include, but are not limited to, The Arizona Rangers, Arizona Poison & Drug Information Center, Be Smart Gun Safety, Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona, MADD, Pima County Sheriff’s Office, Red Cross, and UMC Banner Child Life Program and Volunteer Resources, along with several local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

     There will be several special four legged guests attending this year’s event. McGuff the Crime Dog, ATF’s Kira, Border Patrol’s Beny, and Tucson Police Department’s Luna. A few activities of interest include Ko Sho Martial Training Institute’s interactive self-defense demonstration at 1:30. Beginning at 2:30, Tucson Fire Department will have a wet-down for the children. After the event, there will be a presentation for children and parents to discuss the importance of good online citizenship and protecting yourself from online predators.

     For more information on NCMEC, visit www.missingkids.com. For more information about the Be Here for Kids campaign, visit www.missingkids.com/behereforkids. For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. 

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-075_Be Here for Kids_Tsn

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PHOENIX – Attorney General Jeff Sessions and First Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange for the District of Arizona announced that the Department of Justice is taking a dramatic step to increase resources to combat violent crime, enforce our immigration laws, and help roll back the devastating opioid crisis.

     In the largest increase in decades, the Department of Justice is allocating 311 new Assistant United States Attorneys to assist in priority areas. Those allocations are as follows: 190 violent crime prosecutors, 86 civil enforcement prosecutors, and 35 additional immigration prosecutors. Many of the civil enforcement AUSAs will support the newly created Prescription Interdiction & Litigation Task Force which targets the opioid crisis at every level of the distribution system.

     "Under President Trump's strong leadership, the Department of Justice is going on offense against violent crime, illegal immigration, and the opioid crisis—and today we are sending in reinforcements," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. "We have a saying in my office that a new federal prosecutor is 'the coin of the realm.'  When we can eliminate wasteful spending, one of my first questions to my staff is if we can deploy more prosecutors to where they are needed. I have personally worked to re-purpose existing funds to support this critical mission, and as a former federal prosecutor myself, my expectations could not be higher. These exceptional and talented prosecutors are key leaders in our crime fighting partnership. This addition of new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions represents the largest increase in decades."

     The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona will receive 10 of the newly-created positions.  “We are very grateful to be receiving such a dramatic infusion of prosecutorial and enforcement resources,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Strange.  “Our office is dedicated to securing the border, combatting the violent crime that plagues our cities and tribal communities, and addressing the opioid crisis in Arizona.  These additional attorneys will allow us to make even greater strides in these important areas to enhance the safety of our communities.”

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-074_ AUSAs

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TUCSON, Ariz. – On May 29, 2018, Osmar Bustamante-Figueroa, 21, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 65 months’ imprisonment.  Bustamante was the third of three defendants convicted of crimes involving producing and passing counterfeit U.S. currency and unlawfully possessing firearms.  Bustamante’s co-defendants, Clinton Young, 43, of Irving, Texas, and Jose Manuel Valenzuela, 19, of Tucson, Ariz., had previously pleaded guilty and been sentenced to 15 and 16 months in prison, respectively, for conspiracy to pass or possess counterfeit currency.

     Beginning in early 2016, Bustamante and Young began counterfeiting Federal Reserve Notes, which Bustamante and Valenzuela used to purchase firearms from private individuals selling firearms via online advertisements.  Between March and June of 2016, Bustamante and his co-conspirators passed more than $50,000 worth of counterfeit currency to at least sixteen identified victims in exchange for various firearms. At the time of these transactions, Bustamante was under indictment on State (Arizona) felony drug charges. 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the United States Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Tucson Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Rosaleen O’Gara and Angela W. Woolridge, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:                   CR-17-00486-TUC

RELEASE NUMBER:           2018-073_Bustamante-Figueroa etal

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TUCSON, Ariz. – On May 25, 2018, Miguel Ochoa-Ruiz, 39, of Concord, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge Frank R. Zapata to 48 months’ (4 years) imprisonment.  Ochoa-Ruiz had been previously been found guilty following a trial of smuggling goods from the United States and conspiracy.  Ochoa-Ruiz’s co-defendant, Ana Guadalupe Carillo-Villa, 23, of Tucson, Ariz., had also previously been sentenced to a total of 48 months’ imprisonment by U.S. Chief District Court Judge Raner C. Collins, after pleading guilty to smuggling goods from the United States, conspiracy, and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

     On July 7, 2016, Ochoa-Ruiz purchased 2,000 rounds of rifle ammunition and 248 high-capacity rifle magazines in Phoenix.  He and Carillo-Villa transported these items to Nogales, Ariz., where Carillo-Villa attempted to smuggle them across the border into Mexico.  Customs and Border Protection officers stopped Carillo-Villa at the Port of Entry and intercepted the ammunition and magazines in her vehicle.  Ochoa-Ruiz returned to Phoenix the next day and purchased an additional 11,000 rounds of ammunition, which he again drove to Nogales in attempt to smuggle it into Mexico.  Law enforcement agents stopped Ochoa-Ruiz before he attempted to leave the United States and seized the ammunition.  Evidence obtained in the subsequent investigation established that Ochoa-Ruiz and Carillo-Villa had conspired to smuggle ammunition into Mexico on at least four prior occasions. 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from Customs and Border Protection, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  The prosecution was handled by Angela W. Woolridge, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:                   CR-16-1475-TUC-FRZ

RELEASE NUMBER:           2018-072_Ochoa-Ruiz

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TUCSON, Ariz. – On May 22, 2018, Ryan Bono, 37, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James A. Soto to 87 months in prison. Bono previously pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of knowing access of child pornography. Bono’s term of imprisonment will be followed by lifetime supervised release, with stringent sex offender conditions, including the condition that he register as a sex offender.

     A 2017 investigation by HSI revealed that Bono had been distributing sexually explicit images of children online using file-sharing software.  A search of Bono’s computers and media storage devices revealed that he had downloaded hundreds of images and videos depicting sexual abuse of pre-pubescent children.  In handing down the sentence, the Court found that Bono posed a danger, in part because he had placed himself around children by working as a middle school teacher and soccer coach.

     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.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Tucson Office. The prosecution was handled by Carin C. Duryee, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-0686-TUC-JAS   

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-070_Bono

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PHOENIX – Yesterday, Jose Manuel Lara, Jr., 20, of Camp Verde, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 36 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.  The original sentence of 45 months was reduced by nine months to reflect credit for time Lara Jr., served in tribal custody for the same offense.  Lara, Jr. had previously pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon.

     On June 25, 2017, Lara, Jr., an enrolled member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, assaulted the victim, also a member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, by running him over with a vehicle.  The victim suffered serious bodily injury and required multiple surgeries.   

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Yavapai-Apache Nation Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Christina Covault, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-8203-PCT-DGC  

RELEASE NUMBER:    2017-069_Lara

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TUCSON, Ariz. – On May 16, 2018, Wayne Montierth, 54, of Safford, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James A. Soto to serve 210 months in prison.  After a trial, a jury found Montierth guilty of four counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.  Montierth’s term of imprisonment will be followed by lifetime supervised release with stringent sex offender conditions, including the requirement that he register as a sex offender.

     A 2015 investigation by the FBI revealed that Montierth had been distributing sexually explicit images of children online using file-sharing software.  A search of Montierth’s computer revealed thousands of images and videos depicting child sex abuse.  In handing down the sentence, the Court found that the evidence showed Montierth had engaged in an on-going pattern of activity involving sexual abuse of children.

     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.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sierra Vista Office. The prosecution was handled by Carin C. Duryee, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-15-02103-TUC-JAS 

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-066_Montierth

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PHOENIX – Today, Larrissa Helen Smith, 29, of Kayenta, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for a car accident that resulted in injuries to four minor children.  Smith had previously pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. 

     During the early morning hours of March 20, 2017, Smith was driving on Highway 163 on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation when she caused her Chevy Tahoe to go airborne and then crash into a dirt embankment.  The vehicle contained four unrestrained children, all of whom suffered injury as a result of the crash.  Laboratory testing revealed both alcohol and methamphetamine in Smith’s system at the time of the accident.  Smith is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The prosecution was handled by Christine Ducat Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-08153-PCT-DLR

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-068_Smith

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TUCSON, Ariz. – Today, Jason Matthew Wells, 50, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez to 51 months’ imprisonment.  Wells had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of armed bank robbery and aiding and abetting.  

     During Oct. 2017, while wearing a disguise, Wells robbed a credit union and a Wells Fargo Bank with the use of a simulated handgun.  He fled the banks and entered a waiting vehicle driven by his accomplice, Richard Dennis Langlois.  After the robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank, a lengthy car chase by local law enforcement ensued.  Langlois eventually stopped the stolen vehicle he was driving and abandoned the vehicle.  Wells was caught after a foot chase in which he ran through neighborhoods and dropped a bag containing over $10,000 in cash, his wallet, and his cellular telephone.  Cash from the robbery was strewn all over a backyard he fled through during the foot chase.  Officers found more cash, disguises, and an air pistol in the abandoned vehicle.  Langlois got away, but was apprehended a few weeks later.  Both confessed to their involvement in the robberies.

     Langlois, 55, also of Tucson, Ariz., also previously pleaded guilty to two counts of armed bank robbery, aiding and abetting, and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez on Feb. 9, 2018, to 80 months’ imprisonment.  Langlois had a more extensive criminal history. 

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pima County Sheriff Department, and Tucson Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Raquel Arellano, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-16-2237-TUC-RM (BGM)     

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-067_Wells

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PHOENIX - On May 11, 2018, Tara Kathleen Valencia, 38, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 51 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Valencia had previously pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return with the Internal Revenue Service, wire fraud, and failure to appear in court (bail jumping). Valencia was also ordered to pay $852,253 in restitution.

     Between 2006 and 2012, Valencia had been employed in Phoenix by Arizona Exterminating Company (AEC) as the HR Administrator. During this time, she embezzled $852,253 from the company by using business credit cards and checks for her own personal use. Some of her unlawful personal expenses included a home, medical and insurance expenses, food, maid services, salon and fitness expenses, home renovations, and a swimming pool and spa for her personal residence. Valencia concealed her scheme to defraud by doctoring credit card and checking account records to make it appear as if these expenses were legitimate expenses incurred by the company.

     In addition, Valencia filed false federal income tax returns for the 2008 through 2011 tax years wherein she failed to report her proceeds from the scheme to defraud.

     Following her arrest on the indictment on July 20, 2015, Valencia was released on her own personal recognizance to reappear in Court, as required. In the Fall of 2015, Valencia fled to Mexico where she remained a fugitive from justice. The U.S. Marshals Service eventually located Valencia in Mexico where she was arrested by the Mexican authorities on Nov. 5, 2017, and was returned to the United States.

     Valencia was ordered to pay $852,253 in restitution to AEC and $252,806 to the Internal Revenue Service in back income taxes plus penalties and interest.

     This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation in Tucson, the United States Postal Inspection Service in Tucson, and the U.S. Marshals Service in Phoenix. The prosecution was handled by Wallace H. Kleindienst and Carolyn Nedder, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBERS:         CR 15-0314-PHX-DJH/CR 16-1097-PHX-DJH  

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-065_Valencia

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PHOENIX – On May 14, 2017, Robert Wayne Long, 24, of Sacaton, Ariz., a member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced by U.S. District Douglas L. Rayes to over 22 years in prison. Long had previously pleaded guilty to second degree murder.  At the time of the offense, Long was on Federal Supervised Release for assault resulting in serious bodily injury. 

     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-17-487-PHX-DLR   

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-064_Long

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TUCSON, Ariz. - Today, Alberto M. Michel, 41, of Casa Grande, Ariz., was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge David C. Bury. Michel had previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic marijuana and one count of accepting a bribe as a public official. He received a sentence of 90 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release and a $24,000 forfeiture judgment.

     In his plea agreement, Michel admitted that while employed as a United States Border Patrol Agent, with the Tucson Sector Border Patrol Intelligence Unit, he participated in a drug conspiracy by providing surveillance during drug smuggling efforts. Additionally, Michel provided assistance regarding law enforcement interdiction efforts. He also agreed to receive cash payments equal to $40 per pound of marijuana smuggled and received a total of $24,000 during the course of the conspiracy.

     On Aug. 3, 2017 and Aug. 7, 2017, Michel received cash payments totaling $12,000 for agreeing, as a sworn public official, to violate his sworn duty to investigate and interdict narcotics smugglers.

     Michel had been employed with United States Border Patrol since 2009. By 2016, he had been promoted to an enhanced role with the Tucson Sector Border Patrol Intelligence Unit, where he had a higher security clearance and had access to information regarding high-level law enforcement and national security operations and techniques.

     Co-defendants Eunice M. Lopez and Marco Antonio L. Bustamante are scheduled for Change of Plea Hearings on May 15, 2018. 

     The investigation was conducted by members of the Southern Arizona Corruption Task Force that consists of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security - Office of the Inspector General, Customs and Border Protection – Office of Professional Responsibility, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Office of Professional Responsibility, and Tucson Police Department. Prosecution was handled by Sarah B. Houston and Gordon E. Davenport III, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:            4:17-CR-01733-DCB-JR  

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-063_ Michel_etal

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PHOENIX – On May 14, 2017, Bernard Joseph Lee Marrietta, 25, of Coolidge, Ariz., a member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 60 months in prison. Marrietta had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  At the time of the offense, Marrietta possessed a DPMS, model A-15, 5.56/.223 rifle, and methamphetamine. 

     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-17-1675-PHX-JJT    

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-062_Marrietta

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PHOENIX – Yesterday afternoon, Devan Edward Leonard, 28, Kyle Filbert Gray, 26, and Lucille Jean Leonard, 48, members of the Navajo Nation, of Lukachukai, Ariz., were sentenced by United States District Judge David G. Campbell following their respective guilty pleas to RICO conspiracy for their participation in the violent Red Skin Kingz (“RSK”) criminal gang.  Devan Leonard, the leader of RSK, was sentenced to 50 years’ imprisonment; Kyle Gray was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment; and Lucille Leonard was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. 

            Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Elizabeth A. Strange, First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Arizona, FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael DeLeon, District of Arizona, and Colonel Frank Milstead, Arizona Department of Public Safety announced the sentencings.  FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael DeLeon also expressed his appreciation to the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety and the Arizona Department for Public Safety for their partnership and significant assistance during the investigation.

“The investigation and prosecution of these RSK gang members required tremendous work by FBI, Arizona DPS, Navajo Nation DPS, and the prosecution team,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange. “I applaud their dedication and perseverance in obtaining the sentences imposed today.  This case is a testament to our office’s commitment to use every available resource to combat gang violence in Arizona and to bring justice to the victims of violent crime.”   

            As detailed in the Second Superseding Indictment, Devan Leonard, Kyle Gray, and Lucille Leonard are members of the RSK.  RSK operated on the eastern side of the Navajo Nation in the District of Arizona.  RSK was responsible for at least three murders, attempted murder, aggravated assaults, carjacking, kidnappings, sexual assaults, and drug trafficking, amongst other crimes. 

            On or between Dec. 12 and Dec. 13, 2014, Devan Leonard and another RSK member shot and killed two men and then transported their bodies to a remote “wash” in Lukachukai, Ariz., on the Navajo Indian Reservation, where the bodies were dismembered, burned, and buried to conceal the killings.

            On Dec. 16, 2014, Kyle Gray and Devan Leonard shot and killed another victim immediately following a drug trafficking transaction.  Later, Devan Leonard and Kyle Gray transported the victim’s body to a remote sheep camp on the reservation, where they dismembered and burned the victim’s body as they forced the victim’s girlfriend to watch.

            Lucille Leonard held a leadership role in RSK, mostly participating in and overseeing RSK’s drug trafficking activities, including the collection of debts owed to RSK.

           The Second Superseding Indictment in this matter was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, and the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dimitra Sampson and Tracy Van Buskirk of the District of Arizona, and Trial Attorneys Kelly Pearson and Hans Miller of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, prosecuted the case.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-15-8076-PCT-DGC (JZB)     

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-061_ RSK

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On May 9, three members of Red Skin Kingz, also known as RSK, were sentenced to prison following their respective guilty pleas to RICO conspiracy for their participation in the violent RSK criminal street gang. 

Devan Edward Leonard, 28, of Lukachukai, Arizona, the leader of RSK, was sentenced to 50 years in prison; Kyle Filbert Gray, 26, of Lukachukai, Arizona, was sentenced to 30 years in prison; and Lucille Jean Leonard, 48, of Lukachukai, Arizona, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.  All defendants were sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell in the District of Arizona 

Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange for the District of Arizona, Special Agent in Charge Michael DeLeon of FBI’s Phoenix Field Office and Colonel Frank Milstead of the Arizona Department of Public Safety announced the sentencings.  The Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety also provided significant assistance during the investigation.

As detailed in their three plea agreements, Devan Leonard, Kyle Gray, and Lucille Leonard are members of the RSK.  RSK operated on the eastern side of the Navajo Nation in the District of Arizona.  RSK was responsible for at least three murders, attempted murder, aggravated assaults, kidnappings, and drug trafficking, amongst other crimes. 

On or between Dec. 12 and Dec. 13, 2014, Devan Leonard and another RSK member shot and killed two men, in Lukachukai, Arizona on the Navajo Indian Reservation, where the bodies were dismembered, burned and buried, to conceal the killings.

On Dec. 16, 2014, Kyle Gray and Devan Leonard shot and killed another victim immediately following a drug trafficking transaction.  Later, Devan Leonard and Kyle Gray transported the victim’s body to a remote sheep camp on the reservation, where they dismembered, and burned the victim’s body.

Lucille Leonard held a leadership role in RSK, mostly participating in and overseeing RSK’s drug trafficking organization, including the collection of debts owed to RSK.

The second superseding indictment in this matter was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, and the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dimitra Sampson and Tracy Van Buskirk of the District of Arizona, and Trial Attorneys Kelly Pearson and Hans Miller of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section prosecuted the case.

PHOENIX – This week, Thane Epefanio, 45, of Avondale, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to two years in prison for embezzling money from the Hopi Mission School located on the Hopi Reservation in Kykotsmovi, Ariz.  Epefanio had previously pleaded guilty to money laundering and wire fraud. 

     Epefanio served as the Superintendent and Administrator of the Hopi Mission School, a private, charitable school funded primarily with donations and through participation in government programs.  Beginning in 2012, Epefanio used his position and influence to embezzle school funds and also directed staff to provide him money to create the appearance that the funds were being used to operate the school.  Epefanio obtained almost $1 million to support his gambling habit and to pay for personal expenses. 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Social Security Administration, Inspector General Office of Investigation.  The prosecution was handled by Monica B. Edelstein and Natalie Huddleston, Assistant U.S. Attorneys.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-16-08241-PCT-SPL 

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-060_Epefanio

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PHOENIX– Yesterday, Daniel Sherman Lejero, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 33 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.  Lejero had previously pleaded guilty to two accounts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. 

     On March 26, 2015, an intoxicated Lejero crashed a speeding vehicle that contained two minor children. The children, who are both members of the Gila River Indian Community, were ejected from the vehicle and suffered serious injuries.  At the time of the car accident, Lejero had two prior DUI convictions and was driving on a suspended license.  Lejero is an enrolled member of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and the accident took place within the Gila River Indian Community.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Christine Ducat Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-00711-PHX-JJT

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-059_Lejero

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PHOENIX – This week, Juan Mark Sayegh, 44, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 48 months’ imprisonment and ordered to forfeit approximately $1.7 million in cash, real property, and other assets.  Sayegh had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance analogue and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

     A controlled substance analogue is a substance that is intended for human consumption and is substantially similar in chemical structure and pharmacological effect, or intended effect, to any drug scheduled under the federal Controlled Substances Act, like cocaine, methamphetamine, JWH-018, Methcathinone, or Methylone.

     Sayegh owned and operated Greenlight Distribution in Phoenix, Ariz., from July 2010 through July 2012.  Greenlight manufactured and distributed designer synthetic drugs.  Specifically, Greenlight manufactured and distributed synthetic cannabinoid products (commonly referred to as “spice”) under the brand names Mary Jane’s Potpourri and Mary Jane’s Private Reserve.  Greenlight also manufactured and distributed synthetic cathinone products (commonly referred to as “bath salts”) under the brand names Go Fast Carpet Deodorizer and Quick Clean Carpet Deodorizer.  These synthetic drugs were manufactured with chemicals imported from China and were designed to be smoked or ingested in order to get users high.  These designer drugs were intentionally and falsely mislabeled as innocuous household products that were “not for human consumption” in order to circumvent federal consumer and drug laws.  The products were sold to stores and individuals across the United States for great profit.

     The operations at Greenlight ceased on July 25, 2012, when the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant at several locations associated with Greenlight and its employees as part of Operation Logjam.  Operation Logjam was a U.S. Department of Justice -coordinated investigation of synthetic drug manufacturers and distributors across the United States.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Phoenix, Milwaukee, and Kansas City field offices, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Phoenix field office, and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office in Kansas under the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program. The prosecution was handled by Lacy Cooper, D.J. Pashayan, and Mark Wenker, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:                   CR-16-00506-PHX-DGC (DKD)

RELEASE NUMBER:           2018-057_ Sayegh

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PHOENIX – This week, U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell sentenced William “Larry” Dorsey, 56, of Chandler, Ariz., to 36 months in prison and three years of supervised release. The Court also ordered Dorsey to pay $7.3 million in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. Dorsey had previously pleaded guilty to tax evasion.

     Dorsey owned and operated several professional employment organizations, including Pinnacle Employee Group, Inc. (PEG) and Pinnacle Planning Group, Inc. (PPG), which contracted with small business owners to provide payroll services.  Dorsey, through PEG and PPG, collected federal employment taxes from his clients but, instead of paying the taxes over to the IRS as he contracted to do, kept a significant portion of the taxes for his own personal use and to fund other business ventures.  To conceal his theft, Dorsey filed false employment tax returns with the IRS, which underreported the taxes due from PEG and PPG.  From 2011 through 2014, Dorsey underreported and underpaid approximately $7.3 million in federal employment taxes due and owing by PEG and PPG.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Bridget Minder and Peter Sexton, Assistant United States Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:                   CR-18-00128-DGC-PHX

RELEASE NUMBER:           2018-058_Dorsey

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TUCSON, Ariz. – On May 2, 2018, Marc Ryan Shipley, 34, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge David C. Bury to 96 months’ imprisonment.  Shipley had been previously found guilty following trial of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon.

     Shipley had been convicted in 2007 of the felony offenses of conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official and interference with commerce by extortion, and as a result was prohibited by law from possessing firearms and ammunition.  However, in March of 2016, Shipley entered Benson Justice Court with a handgun and was removed by courthouse security.  Later that same month, Shipley was in an automobile accident and was armed with a pistol in a holster on his hip and another firearm in his vehicle.  In April of 2016, ATF agents questioned Shipley about his possession of firearms.  At that time Shipley had another loaded pistol in his vehicle.  Agents obtained a search warrant for Shipley’s house, where they found eight more firearms, 1,754 rounds of ammunition, and several high capacity firearm magazines. 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Tucson Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Angela W. Woolridge, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:                   CR-16-01061-TUC-DCB

RELEASE NUMBER:           2018-056_Shipley

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TUCSON, Ariz. – On Tuesday, May 1, 2018, Anthony James Lane, 51, of Tucson, Ariz., originally from Missouri, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson to 120 months’ imprisonment.  Lane had previously pleaded guilty to eleven counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery.  

     During a six-month crime spree involving six states, Lane robbed and attempted to rob twelve banks with the use of a simulated handgun.  He was dubbed the “Barrel Chested Bandit” due to descriptions provided by witnesses.  He stole over $74,000 from the banks.  The guilty plea resolves the investigations conducted by six law enforcement agencies.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and various state law enforcement agencies in six different states.  The prosecution was handled by Carmen F. Corbin and Raquel Arellano, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-17-00483-TUC-CKJ

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-054_Lane

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PHOENIX– On April 30, 2018, Adrian Dann, 41, of Pinon, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 37 months’ imprisonment. Dann had previously pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.  

     In June 2017, Dann drove a truck in a reckless manner and struck the victim, a member of the Navajo Nation, resulting in multiple fractures to his ankle, foot, and leg. Dann is also a member of the Navajo Nation.

     Navajo Nation Criminal Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. The prosecution was handled by Kiyoko Patterson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-17-8174-PCT-DGC 

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-055_Dann

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PHOENIX – Yesterday, Lambert Ten Hosteen, 30, of Pinon, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 6 years’ imprisonment.  Hosteen had previously pleaded guilty to assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.

     On May 17, 2017, officers of the Navajo Nation Police Department were contacted with reports that Hosteen was firing a shotgun and fighting with another person in the area of Pinon, Ariz.  When officers arrived, Hosteen pointed the loaded weapon at them and threatened several times to shoot them.  In response, one officer fired at Hosteen, striking him in the hand.  After Hosteen was taken into custody, officers discovered that the shotgun was a homemade destructive device, which is illegal to possess under the National Firearms Act.  Hosteen and the officers are all members of the Navajo Nation, and the offense occurred on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.

     The investigation was conducted by agents of both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).  The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney William G. Voit, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR 17-08195-GMS

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-053_ Hosteen

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TUCSON, Ariz. – This week, Dwight Phillip Bivens, 29, of Fresno, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Raner C. Collins to 63 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release.  Bivens had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of Hobbs Act Robbery.

     On May 28, 2016, Bivens and three other persons entered a Tiffany & Co. jewelry store in Tucson, Ariz., stole a diamond solitaire ring, and assaulted a security guard before getting away.  Later that day, Bivens and the three men entered a Nordstrom department store in Scottsdale, Ariz., and stole several designer handbags after verbally threatening a store manager.  On the same day, Bivens and the three men entered a Helzberg Diamond Outlet store in Glendale, Ariz., and stole several high-end watches after pepper-spraying the store employees.  Bivens later pawned the watches in Fresno, Calif.  The victims’ financial losses totaled more than $130,000.

     A co-defendant, Mitchell Ray Finley, is pending sentencing after pleading guilty to two counts of Hobbs Act Robbery.  His sentencing is set for Aug. 6, 2018.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, the Scottsdale Police Department, the Glendale Police Department, and the Fresno Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Lauren G. LaBuff, Fred A. Cocio, and Rui Wang, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:            CR 17-01145-TUC-RCC (DTF)  

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-052_ Bivens_etal

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PHOENIX – This week, Omar Dixon, 37, of Tuba City, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen M. McNamee to 84 months’ imprisonment. Dixon had previously pleaded guilty to robbery. 

     On Sept. 20, 2015, Dixon and two codefendants entered the Tuba City Shell gas station wearing disguises.  Dixon forcibly restrained the gas station attendant with a knife, while his codefendants seized the cash register, cigarette packs, and a security monitor.  Dixon and his two codefendants then fled the scene in a waiting vehicle.  Dixon was apprehended shortly after the robbery, in possession of two pocket knives, $130, and two unopened cigarette packs.  All defendants are members of the Navajo Nation.

     The investigation in this case was conducted the Tuba City Police Department, the Tuba City Criminal Investigators’ Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Jonathan R. Hornok, Cassie Bray Woo, and Roger Dokken, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-16-8247-PHX-SMM

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-050_Dixon

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