District of Arizona
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Syrian National Convicted for Conspiring to Kill American Soldiers in IraqRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, Ahmed Alahmedalabdaloklah, a Syrian national who had been living in Iraq, was convicted by a jury, following a six-week trial, of conspiring and supporting the 1920s Revolutionary Brigades, an insurgent group that planted road-side bombs to attack and kill American soldiers in Iraq. A jury convicted Alahmedalabdaloklah on Conspiracy to Use a Weapon of Mass Destruction, Conspiring to Maliciously Damage or Destroy United States Property by Means of an Explosive, Aiding and Abetting Other Persons to Possess a Destructive Device in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence, and Conspiracy to Possess a Destructive Device in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. Sentencing is set for June 5, 2018 before District Judge Roslyn O. Silver.
The verdict was announced by Elizabeth A. Strange, First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Arizona and Michael Deleon, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Phoenix Field Office
“Alahmedalabdaloklah conspired with a violent Iraqi insurgent group to kill American soldiers in Iraq,” said First Assistant Strange. “Today’s verdict underscores our commitment to use every available resource to bring justice to American soldiers who were killed or injured by such terrorist acts. I commend the FBI and the prosecution team for their tremendous efforts in securing this conviction.”
"The FBI's highest priority is preventing acts; both in the United States and abroad," said Phoenix FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael DeLeon. "We want to thank the Department of Justice and the Arizona U.S. Attorney's Office, the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, agents, analysts, and both local and foreign partners for working together to bring Ahmed Alahmedalabdaloklah to justice. This is a prime example of the FBI's commitment to pursuing justice even in the most complex and difficult cases. The FBI also wants to voice our sympathy and condolences to the victims, their families and friends. The FBI will continue our mission of preventing terrorist acts and pursuing those who plan to do us harm. "
Between 2006 and 2011, United States soldiers were deployed to Iraq to support the fledgling Iraqi government and to provide security to the Iraqi people. Multiple insurgent groups, including the 1920 Revolution Brigades (“1920s”), opposed the Iraqi government and committed violent acts in an effort to destabilize Iraq and expel American forces from the country. American soldiers faced daily attacks from snipers, small team ambushes, and deadly improvised explosive devices (“IEDs”) planted along major military supply routes.
Alahmedalabdaloklah supported the 1920s by designing, making, and supplying parts for remote-controlled IED initiator switches for roadside bombs. In August 2006, during a search and seizure weapons clearing mission, American soldiers located an apartment in Baghdad that had been converted into an IED switch-making factory. Soldiers seized numerous items used to detonate IEDs, including receivers, transmitters, cell phones, key fobs, modified hands-free headsets, and ready-to-use IED switches. Over a thousand finger and palm prints belonging to Alahmedalabdaloklah were discovered on the items found there, including instructions for making IEDs.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by David Pimsner, Melissa Karlen, and Bill Solomon, Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, and Joseph Kaster, Trial Attorney from the National Security Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
CASE NUMBER: CR-12-01263-PHX-ROS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-027_ Alahmedalabdaloklah
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Tonalea Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for KidnappingRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On March 12, 2018, Roscoe Peter Begay, 37, of Tonalea, Ariz., and a member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 12 years in prison, followed by a term of five years of supervised release. Begay had previously pleaded guilty to kidnapping.
On Feb. 7, 2017, the Navajo Nation Department of Law Enforcement responded to a domestic violence call at Begay’s residence. When officers arrived, Begay ran into the home and locked the door. While inside, Begay kept the victim in the back bedroom of the home and would not answer the door or respond to multiple commands by law enforcement to allow them entry into the home. Begay refused to allow officers into the home until he was told that a Special Response Team and the Federal Bureau of Investigation were being contacted. The victim is also a member of the Navajo Nation and the kidnapping 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-17-08094-PHX-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-025_Begay
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Chinle Man Sentenced to 59 Months for Assaulting GirlfriendRead the Press Release
PHOENIX– On March 12, 2018, Bennie Lee Holtsoi, 27, of Chinle, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 59 months’ imprisonment. Holtsoi had previously pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
In June 2016, Holtsoi assaulted his then girlfriend, a member of the Navajo Nation, resulting in multiple lacerations and abrasions to her scalp and body. Holtsoi 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-16-8266-PCT-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-026_Holtsoi
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United States Customs Officer Charged with Lying About Citizenship Relating to His Federal EmploymentRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On March 7, 2018, the grand jury returned an indictment charging Marco Antonio De La Garza Jr., 37, of Hereford, Ariz., with three counts related to passport fraud and false statements on his federal law enforcement background application. Specifically, it is alleged that De La Garza is a Mexican citizen who knowingly used a fraudulently obtained Texas birth certificate to apply for a United States passport. Additionally, the indictment charges he knowingly and willfully used the same fraudulently obtained birth certificate to assert United States citizenship on his five-year background check to maintain employment as a United States Customs and Border Protection Officer.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Department of State-Diplomatic Security Service and the Department of Homeland Security-Office of Inspector General. The prosecution is being handled by Lori Price and Heather Siegele, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona.
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CASE NUMBER: CR-18-00353-TUC-RCC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-024_Franco
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Salt River Man Sentenced for MurderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – This week, Juan Carlos Burns, 20, of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G Campbell to 34 years in prison. A federal jury had found Burns guilty of second degree murder and discharging a firearm causing death.
On Sept. 25, 2017, at the Auk Mor 2 gas station located on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Burns, a member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Tribe, shot the victim one time in the back of the head with a 9 mm handgun. The victim died within minutes. Evidence showed that Burns shot the victim as a result of a derogatory comment made by the victim toward Burns.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Salt River Police Department and the Mesa Police Department and Crime Lab, to include the Safe Trails Task Force. The prosecution was handled by Thomas Simon and Robert Brooks, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-00445-PHX-DGC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-023_Burns
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Tucson Man Sentenced to 14 Years for Abusive Sexual Contact with ChildRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Today, Emmanuel Ahumada Flores, 32, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 14 years’ imprisonment. Flores had previously pleaded guilty to one count of abusive sexual contact with a child.
Flores admitted to engaging in abusive sexual contact with a child under the age of 12 between January 2013 and August 2015. Both Flores and the victim are members of the Pascua Yaqui Nation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pascua Yaqui Police Department, with assistance provided by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The prosecution was handled by Matthew C. Cassell and Heather N. Siegele, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-0638-TUC-JGZ-LAB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-022_Flores
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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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Hotevilla Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Assaulting a Federal Officer While on Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yesterday, Edgar Louis Rogers, 43, of Hotevilla, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to a total of 21 months in prison for assaulting a federal officer while on supervised release. Rogers had previously pleaded guilty to assault on a federal officer and admitted to violating the terms of his supervised release in a separate case. Judge Snow sentenced Rogers to 18 months in prison for the assault and an additional three months in prison for violating his supervised release.
The incident occurred when the victim, a law enforcement officer with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, approached Rogers while he was present on the Hopi Reservation. Rogers resisted the contact and a scuffle ensued, which resulted in an injury to the officer’s finger. At the time of the incident, Rogers was on supervised release for a violent domestic assault he committed on the Hopi Reservation in 2013.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The prosecution was handled by Christine Ducat Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-08161-PCT-GMS and CR-14-08007-PCT-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-021_Rogers
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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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Camp Verde Man Sentenced to 36 Months for Domestic Violence AssaultRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Earlier this week, Richard Joseph Herrera, 35, of Camp Verde, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 36 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Herrera had previously pleaded guilty to assault resulting in substantial bodily injury.
On March 27, 2017, Herrera assaulted the victim, his domestic partner and a member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, resulting in substantial bodily injury.
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-17-8101-PCT-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-020_Herrera
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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United States Border Patrol Agent Sentenced to Prison for Theft of Firearm Parts and Unlawful Possession of MachinegunRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, Jesus Manuel Franco, a former United States Border Patrol Agent, 39, of Vail, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson, to 18 months’ imprisonment for theft of firearm parts and equipment valued at approximately $100,000 and for the unlawful possession and transfer of two machinegun conversion devices. Franco had been previously found guilty of these offenses after a jury trial.
The evidence at trial demonstrated that in 2014, Franco accepted a temporary assignment to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Armory in Harper’s Ferry, W. Va. During a two-month period, Franco unlawfully transferred 47 boxes of firearm parts and equipment from the Armory to the Wilcox, Ariz. CBP Station without authorization and for personal use. One of the boxes transferred by Franco contained two machine gun conversion devices that qualified under federal law as machineguns. Franco also charged the government for shipping costs.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General. The prosecution was handled by Jane L. Westby and Sarah B. Houston, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-00268-TUC-CKJ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-19_Franco
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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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Mexican Citizen Sentenced to over 6 Years in Prison for Assaulting Federal AgentRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On Feb. 22, 2018, Leopoldo Rubio-Quinonez, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson to 78 months in prison. Rubio-Quinonez had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer and reentry of a removed alien.
On Dec. 24, 2016, Rubio-Quininez assaulted a United States Border Patrol Agent who was arresting him for an immigration violation. In the process, Rubio-Quinonez bit the agent's thumb causing a severe injury. Rubio-Quininez also attempted to grab the agent's firearm. During the assault, Rubio-Quinonez told the agent that he was going to kill him.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the United States Border Patrol. The prosecution was handled by Jesse Figueroa and Karen Rolley, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-0094-TUC-(LAB)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-17_ Rubio-Quinonez
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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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Chinle Man Sentenced to 9 Years for Abusive Sexual Contact with a MinorRead the Press Release
PHOENIX– Yesterday, Earlson Tso, 39, of Chinle, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 108 months’ imprisonment. Tso had previously pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact with a minor.
In June 2016, the victim, a minor and member of the Navajo Nation, reported inappropriately being touched by Tso while sleeping. Tso is also a member 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-16-8227-PCT-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-018_Tso
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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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Blue Gap Man Sentenced to 166 Months in Prison for Assault with a FirearmRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On Friday, Feb. 23, 2018, Edsel Aaron Badoni, 34, of Blue Gap, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 166 months’ imprisonment. Badoni had previously been convicted at trial of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
Badoni had a history of discharging a firearm in the victim’s neighborhood, and when the victim approached him to tell him to stop, Badoni shot the victim in the chest. Officers of the Navajo Nation began an investigation, which led to Badoni’s arrest and prosecution. Badoni is a member of the Navajo Nation, and the crime occurred within the Navajo Nation Reservation.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety. Badoni’s trial was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Dokken, now retired. His sentencing was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney William G. Voit, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-12-08262-PCT-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-16_Badoni
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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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Two-Time Felon Found with Ten Guns Sentenced to 41 MonthsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Last week, Israel Torres, 35, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James A. Teilborg to 41 months followed by three years of supervised release. Torres had previously pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm.
Torres has two felony aggravated DUI convictions in the Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County, making him a prohibited possessor of firearms and ammunition. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) discovered postings made by Torres on a website for a group he founded called BQG. These postings depicted Torres with multiple firearms and as well as engaged in what appeared to be militia training activities. Further investigation revealed that Torres used social media to advocate an armed resistance against the United States government and law enforcement. On Feb. 17, 2017, the FBI executed a federal search warrant at Torres’s residence and located 10 firearms, including assault rifles, and dozens of rounds of ammunition. The firearms, some of which were loaded, were visible and not locked in a gun safe.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa E. Jennis and Jonathan Hornok, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-00265-PHX-JAT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-015_Torres
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Tucson Woman Charged with Causing Fatal Fentanyl Overdose and Other Opioid Trafficking CrimesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Earlier this month, the grand jury returned an indictment charging Lana Leshinsky, 41, of Tucson, Ariz., with several crimes related to fentanyl trafficking, including one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death—a crime that, under federal law, carries a mandatory-minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. Specifically, it is alleged that, in July 2017, Leshinky distributed fentanyl to a man who later died from ingesting it.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution is being handled by Stefani Hepford, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona.
CASE NUMBER: CR-18-00229-RCC-JR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-013_Leshinsky
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California Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, Derek Lamont Terry, 29, of Colton, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson to 240 months’ imprisonment. Terry previously pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of children and to two counts of transportation of minors with intent to engage in prostitution.
The investigation revealed that Terry was managing, coordinating, and receiving the proceeds from a sex trafficking operation. Between January and April 2016, Terry trafficked a minor female between Arizona and California. Advertisements for escort services for the victim were posted online in California and Arizona. The victim was rescued in April 2016 as a result of an undercover operation.
Shortly after, Terry recruited a second victim, another minor, bringing her from California through Arizona to Texas and back to Arizona. The investigation revealed advertisements for escort services for the victim posted in California, Arizona, and Texas. The victim was rescued on June 8, 2016, when she was discovered with Terry during a routine traffic stop by the Arizona Department of Public Safety near Benson, Ariz.
“I see you as a predator of these young teenaged girls,” commented Judge Jorgenson, as she pronounced the sentence.
Upon release from prison, Terry will be on lifetime supervised release. He will have to register as a sex offender.
The investigation in this case was a joint effort by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the Tempe Police Department, with the cooperation of Arizona State University. The prosecution was handled by Arturo Aguilar and Karen Rolley, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson, and Margaret Perlmeter, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: 16-CR-1350-TUC-CJK-1; 16-CR-1375-PHX-CJK-1
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-014_Terry
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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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Huachuca City Woman Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Assault on a Federal Officer, Intent to Distribute MarijuanaRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, Katherine Rose Sparks, 23, of Huachuca City, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez to serve 84 months in prison and pay $49,930.73 in restitution. Sparks had previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous or deadly weapon. Sparks’s term of imprisonment will be followed by five years of supervised release.
On Feb. 23, 2017, a United States Border Patrol surveillance vehicle saw an SUV near Bisbee, Ariz. being loaded with bundles. The SUV was then observed traveling west on Highway 92. Border Patrol Agents (BPAs) followed the SUV west, activating their law enforcement lights, until the vehicle stopped at a red traffic light on the east side of Highway 92’s San Pedro River bridge crossing. At the stoplight, the SUV veered off the right side of the road, traveled down a steep embankment, and began driving on the dirt area on the side of the road, maintaining a high rate of speed. At one point, the vehicle was briefly airborne as it drove through a trench. When it landed, the SUV came to a stop, appearing to be stuck in a ditch on the roadside.
Two BPAs exited their vehicles, proceeding to the front doors on either side of the SUV. When the passenger refused to exit the vehicle, the agent opened the door and attempted to remove him. During this altercation, Sparks, who had still not turned off the SUV, slammed the car into reverse, causing the open passenger door to trap and drag one of the agents underneath the door of the SUV. While the agent was trapped under the door, the passenger climbed back into the SUV and, after the agent freed himself, shut the passenger’s door. Afterward, Sparks successfully negotiated the vehicle back onto Highway 92 traveling east. Agents located the SUV the following day, still containing the bundles of marijuana. The driver of the SUV was later identified as Katherine Rose Sparks.
The injured agent was transported to Canyon Vista Medical Center in Sierra Vista, Ariz. for medical treatment. The injuries to his knee were substantial and resulted in significant surgery.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sierra Vista. The prosecution was handled by Erica L. Seger, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-00478-TUC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-012_Sparks
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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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Navajo Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Robbery of Community StoreRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – This week, Antonio Yazzie, 25, of Lukachukai, Ariz., and a member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen M. McNamee to 46 months in prison followed by a term of 3 years of supervised release. Yazzie had previously pleaded guilty to robbery.
On Jan. 18, 2017, Yazzie entered the Totsoh Trading Post on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation and brandished a box cutter. Yazzie threatened a store employee and demanded the employee give him money from the cash register. The victim complied with Yazzie’s demands. The victim is also a member of the Navajo Nation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Police and Criminal Investigations. The prosecution was handled by Tracy Van Buskirk, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-08037-PCT-SMM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-012_Yazzie
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18 Members of Mexican Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced for Smuggling Marijuana Through the Tohono O’odham ReservationRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yesterday, Arturo Tellez-Berrelleza, 32, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James A. Soto to 21 months’ imprisonment. Tellez-Berrelleza, who previously pleaded guilty to a drug trafficking offense, is the final defendant to be sentenced in a multi-agency investigation into a marijuana smuggling network.
“Our office is committed to prosecuting transnational criminal organizations that seek to smuggle drugs through Arizona,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange. “Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Border Patrol deserve particular commendation for their painstaking efforts to apprehend the smugglers who were brought to justice during this investigation.”
“Members of this drug trafficking organization will no longer plague the southern border with their illicit criminal activity and flood our community with large quantities of drugs,” said Scott Brown, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Phoenix. “HSI, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to work tirelessly to target and dismantle organizations who seek to operate in the dessert undetected.”
In October 2015, federal law enforcement officials initiated an investigation into the smuggling activities of a Mexican drug trafficking organization (“DTO”) operating on the Tohono O’odham Nation. This DTO placed heavy reliance on so-called “scouts,” who are individuals who remain on high ground for extended periods of time in order to guide marijuana backpacking groups past law enforcement, and “resuppliers,” who are responsible for providing scouts with food, water, binoculars, cellphones, camping equipment, cold and hot weather clothing, and communications equipment. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement officials seized approximately 5,478 kilograms of marijuana and successfully prosecuted at least 18 members of the DTO, who received sentences ranging up to 37 months’ imprisonment. On one occasion, a DTO member attempted to hide near a cliff with a 15- to 20-foot drop, then assaulted a law enforcement agent who was attempting to arrest him by striking the agent, grabbing the agent’s radio, and damaging the radio so it could not be used to call for backup. During the course of the struggle, the agent was pushed close to the edge of the cliff.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations under the NATIVE Task Force and the U.S. Border Patrol Casa Grande Station. These prosecutions were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Rossi and Susanna Martinez, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBERS: 4:17-CR-00480-JAS-BPV;4:17-CR-00291-RCC-LAB;4:17-CR-00480- JAS-BPV; 4:17-CR-00557-JAS-EJM;4:17-CR-00509-JGZ-BPV;4:17-CR-00508-RCC-BPV
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-011_ Tellez-Berrelleza et al.
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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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Owner of Northern Arizona Commercial Guiding Company Convicted of Crimes, Banned from the Grand CanyonRead the Press Release
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Deborah Hendricks, 44, of Scottsdale, Ariz., and owner of “Just Roughin’ It”, a commercial guiding company, was sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles R. Pyle to three years of probation. The probation terms include a three-year ban for Hendricks and “Just Roughin It” from conducting business or commercial activity in the Grand Canyon National Park. Hendricks had previously pleaded guilty to false report and violation of the terms and conditions of a permit.
The case involved a commercial rim-to-rim guided hike across the Grand Canyon. The permit used to take a group of clients on a guided hike by “Just Roughin It” was falsified. The permit actually issued to the company was for a different location in the Grand Canyon. The permit used by “Just Roughin It” was illegally modified to look like a valid permit for a commercial rim-to-rim hike.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Grand Canyon National Park Service Rangers. The prosecution was handled by Camille Bibles, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Flagstaff.
CASE NUMBER: 17-04339MJ-001-PCT-DMF
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-010_Hendricks
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Tucson Man Sentenced to over 8 Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On January 29, 2018, Taylor Ray Freeman, 28, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James A. Soto to serve 97 months in prison. Freeman had previously pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. Freeman’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.
Until his arrest, Freeman was employed as a live-in “house parent” by a charitable organization that houses at-risk children. An investigation revealed that Freeman had been distributing sexually explicit images of children online, and seeking to trade for new images. After Freeman’s arrest, authorities found more than 440 images and videos depicting child sex abuse from his cellphone, along with non-pornographic images of some of the children in his care.
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. Carin C. Duryee, District of Arizona, and Tucson handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-00194-TUC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-009_Freeman
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Kayenta Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Involuntary Manslaughter and Aggravated Assault Related to Drunk DrivingRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yesterday, James Robertson Young, 29, of Kayenta, Ariz., and a member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 240 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Young had previously pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault.
The case involved Young driving his vehicle with a BAC level of between .171 and .20, causing a head-on collision with another vehicle carrying four minor children (aged 8, 9, 10, and 14) and their grandparents. The victims, all of whom are members of the Navajo Nation, had been traveling to the Grand Canyon to vacation and sell hand-made Navajo jewelry. The collision killed five of the family members and seriously injured the sixth (the 14-year-old girl). At sentencing, the surviving victim spoke about the physical and emotional injuries she had sustained as a result of the incident, other family members spoke about the deceased grandparents’ many contributions to their community, and the mother of the deceased children talked about her children, their short lives, and how much they will be missed. Before imposing sentence, Judge Logan told the defendant: “It is now 12:07. The boys that you killed should be at school and in lunch hour, wondering if they are going to get chocolate milk or pizza in their lunches. That’s what they should be thinking right now, but you took all of that away from them when you drove drunk and killed them.”
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Navajo Nation Department of Law Enforcement, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The prosecution was handled by Sharon K. Sexton, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-8132-PCT-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-008_Young
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Parker Man and Woman Each Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for MurderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yesterday, Sharon Marie Clark, 57, of Parker, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 25 years in prison, followed by a term of five years of supervised release. Clark had previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and aiding and abetting. On Dec. 20, 2017, Jeffrey Scott Williams, 56, of Parker, Ariz., was also sentenced to 25 years in prison, followed by a term of five years of supervised release. Williams had previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and aiding and abetting.
On or between March 8 and 9, 2016, Clark and Williams took the victim to Clark’s apartment in Parker, Ariz. At the apartment, Williams zip-tied the victim’s wrists and ankles, Clark duct-taped the victim’s mouth closed and struck the victim in the face with her fists, and Williams wrapped the victim up in plastic. The victim was then dumped in a canal. The medical examiner determined that the victim’s cause of death was asphyxia due to drowning. The victim was a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, and the murder took place 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 and Dimitra H. Sampson, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-01397-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-007_Clark & Williams
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Red Valley Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On Monday, Eric Begay, 44, of Red Valley, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 42 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release with sex offender conditions. Begay had previously pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor.
In January of 2017, the victim, a member of the Navajo Nation, reported that Begay had been inappropriately touching the victim. Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation promptly began an investigation, which led to Begay’s arrest and prosecution. Begay is also a member 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.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-08081-DGC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-006_Begay
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Elderly Florida Man Charged with Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Robert Francis Krebs, 75, of Daytona Beach, FL., was arrested on Jan. 13, 2018 and subsequently charged by complaint with bank robbery with the use of a dangerous weapon.
The complaint alleges that Krebs executed a bank robbery at Pyramid Federal Credit Union in Tucson, Ariz. Krebs approached the teller counter and orally demanded from two bank tellers all of their money and not to use any alarms. He placed a black handgun, later identified as a BB gun, on top of a small black bag with the handgun pointed at the bank tellers’ torso. The tellers gave Krebs money (including bait money) totaling over $8000. Bank tellers described the robber as wearing large brown-rimmed reading glasses and wearing a sport coat. The Tucson Police Department received information the following day of the location of a man who fit the description of the robber, and Krebs was subsequently arrested. A subsequent search of Krebs’ hotel room resulted in the recovery of bait money and a black BB gun, similar to the one used in the bank robbery.
At the initial appearance/detention hearing held today, the court ordered that Krebs remain detained in custody
A conviction for bank robbery with the use of a dangerous weapon carries a maximum penalty of 25 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
A criminal complaint is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Tucson Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution is being handled by Raquel Arellano, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: Mag#-18-MJ-02822M
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-005_Krebs
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Supai Village Man Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Assaulting OfficerRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, Herbert Dini III, 43, of Supai Village, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to one year of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Dini had previously pleaded guilty to assault on a federal officer.
On June 8, 2017, an officer with the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services responded to a report of a disturbance at a home in Supai Village. When he arrived, he found Dini at the home, causing a disturbance and heavily intoxicated. The officer informed Dini he was under arrest for Havasupai Tribal Code offenses relating to his conduct. Dini, a member of the Havasupai Tribe, subsequently ran from the officer, assaulting him during his flight, including grabbing the officer’s vest and swinging his fists at the officer.
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-17-8162-PCT-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-004_Dini
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Arizona U.S. Attorney’s Office collects over $13.7 Million in Fiscal Year 2017Read the Press Release
PHOENIX – First Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona collected $13,751,877 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2017. Of this amount, $5,903,640 was collected in criminal actions and $7,848,237 was collected in civil actions.
The District of Arizona also worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $3,464,078 in cases pursued jointly with those offices. Of this amount, $16,301 was collected in criminal actions and $3,447,777 was collected in civil actions.
Overall, the Justice Department collected just over $15 billion in civil and criminal actions in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2017.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Justice Department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims.
Federal law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. Criminal restitution is paid directly to the victims and criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds to state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
The largest civil collections were from affirmative civil enforcement cases, in which the United States recovered government money lost to fraud and other misconduct or collected fines imposed on individuals and/or corporations for violations of federal health, safety, civil rights, or environmental laws. In addition, civil debts were collected on behalf of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Internal Revenue Service, Small Business Administration, and Department of Education.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $3,100,141 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2017. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-003_FY2017Collections
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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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Chinle Man Sentenced to 13 Years for Abusive Sexual Contact with a MinorRead the Press Release
FLAGSTAFF – Last week, Gary Cody Francis, 55, of Chinle, Ariz., was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Stephen M. McNamee to 156 months in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release. Francis had previously pleaded guilty to one count of abusive sexual contact with a minor.
On Sept. 8, 2016, Francis, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, knowingly engaged in sexual contact with the minor victim, who is also an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Division of Public Safety Criminal Investigations. The prosecution was handled by Christina Covault, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-8267-PCT-SMM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-002_Francis
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Navajo Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assault with a Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On Jan. 8, 2018, Sergio Charley, 37, of Tonalea, Ariz., and a member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 46 months in prison followed by a term of 3 years of supervised release. Charley had previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.
On April 12, 2016, Charley assaulted the victim with a knife, causing the victim to sustain serious bodily injury. 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-17-08144-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2018-001_Charley
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Tucson Man Charged with Alien Smuggling, High Speed Flight, Assaults on Federal Officers, and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Roberto Ramirez, 21, of Tucson, Ariz., was arrested on Dec. 24, 2017 and subsequently charged by complaint with multiple offenses, including transportation of illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury, high-speed flight from a border patrol checkpoint, assault on a federal officer, and use of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime.
The complaint alleges that Ramirez arrived at the Border Patrol checkpoint on I-19 near Amado while transporting two suspected illegal aliens. When agents referred Ramirez for further inspection, Ramirez fled from the checkpoint and drove northbound on I-19 at a high rate of speed. Several border patrol agents pursued Ramirez in their vehicles. During the pursuit, Ramirez fired several gunshots at the agents and attempted to ram their vehicles. Ramirez eventually lost control of his vehicle and crashed. One of Ramirez’s passengers was ejected during the crash and suffered serious injuries.
At the initial appearance/detention hearing held today, the court ordered that Ramirez remain detained in custody.
Several of the charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
A criminal complaint is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Border Patrol. The prosecution is being handled by Liza M. Granoff and Matthew C. Cassell, Assistant United States Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: Mag#-17-MJ-06045M
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-126_Ramirez
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Phoenix Woman Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Local CharitiesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – This week, U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow sentenced Mary Bauer (aka Mary Almassy) to 33 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Bauer was also ordered to pay more than $1 million in restitution. Bauer had previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
Bauer defrauded nearly two dozen local and national charities out of more than a million dollars in consulting fees. Bauer held herself out as an experienced fundraiser who could help charities get large donations from wealthy philanthropists. Bauer falsely claimed that she and her employees and associates had special access to certain out-of-state donors who wanted to make large charitable gifts. Those donors did not exist. Bauer made up the fictitious donors, as well as fictitious employees and associates, and fabricated numerous documents to conceal her fraud and lull her victims into continuing to pay her large monthly fees. Bauer’s victims include charities dedicated to curing debilitating diseases, educating Arizona’s schoolchildren, and rehabilitating injured wildlife.
“Frauds against charities are far-reaching, because they hurt not only the organizations, but the people the charities seek to serve, and the persons who have given to support the cause,” stated Elizabeth A. Strange, First Assistant U.S. Attorney. “Our office will continue to aggressively prosecute anyone who targets charitable organizations.”
“A prison sentence is very appropriate for someone who defrauded organizations dedicated to charitable causes and especially someone that took numerous steps to try to conceal her fraudulent activity,” said Ismael Nevarez Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Office of IRS-Criminal Investigation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Bridget Minder, Frank Galati, and Monica Klapper, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-001157-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-125_Bauer
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Leupp Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact of a ChildRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On Dec. 18, 2017, Marvin Benally, 47, of Leupp, Ariz., and a member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 264 months in prison followed by lifetime supervised release and sex offender conditions. Benally had previously pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact of a child.
The case involved Benally repeatedly sexually abusing a child, who was then between the ages of 11 and 12 and also a member of the Navajo Nation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Sharon K. Sexton, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-8130-PCT-DGC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-123_ Benally
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Leader of International Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Scheme Sentenced to More Than 24 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yesterday, Jason Todd Mogler, 49, formerly of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 24 years and 4 months in prison. Mogler had previously pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering stemming from his role as one of the leaders in an $18 million investment fraud affecting 225 victims.
“Mogler’s crimes were particularly heinous, and deserving of a lengthy prison sentence, because he stole the life savings of everyday citizens, many of whom were near the end of their earning years,” stated Elizabeth A. Strange, First Assistant United States Attorney. “Our district will continue to work closely with the FBI to catch and prosecute financial predators like Mogler.”
"This sentence sends a strong message to criminals committing financial crimes. A single scam can destroy a company, devastate families by wiping out their life savings, or cost investors millions of dollars," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael DeLeon. “The FBI would like to remind investors to be diligent and gather as much information as possible before making any investment. The FBI will continue to work aggressively with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who break the law and violate public trust."
From 2006 to 2012, Mogler and several others solicited millions of dollars from victims for purported investment in a variety of projects and companies, including land development in Mexico, recycling companies in Las Vegas and Chicago, and distressed real estate ventures in Phoenix. Mogler and his co-conspirators promoted their fraudulent investment schemes in legitimate-appearing seminars, magazine articles, and radio broadcasts, and they issued private offering documents that gave the fraudulent investments the appearance of legitimacy.
In reality, the solicitations and offering documents were riddled with false statements about the education and experience of Mogler and his co-conspirators, the ownership of property to be used in the projects and to serve as collateral, the feasibility of the projects and guaranteed returns, and other important matters. Ultimately, Mogler and his co-conspirators used the investor funds not only to line their own pockets, but also to make Ponzi payments to certain investors and to create the façade of a legitimate business. Mogler was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims for losses they incurred.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Phoenix Division of the FBI. The prosecution was handled by Monica Klapper and Peter Sexton, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-01118-PHX-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-124_ Mogler
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Former Real Estate Investor Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Multiple Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, Yomtov Scott Menaged, 40, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 17 years in prison for orchestrating multiple fraud schemes resulting in more than $30 million in losses. Menaged had previously pleaded guilty to bank fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft. The Court also ordered Menaged to pay the various victims $33,558,407.76 in restitution.
Menaged, who operated a real estate investment business as well as retail furniture stores, embezzled millions in loans meant for real estate purchases and provided fake real estate purchase documents to conceal the fraud. Menaged used the embezzled money to support his lavish lifestyle that included travel, million dollar homes, and luxury vehicles.
When Menaged no longer had access to the embezzled funds, he orchestrated an elaborate identity theft scheme involving purported customers of his various retail furniture stores. Menaged obtained the names and personal identification information of recently deceased individuals and used their information to submit fake credit applications from his furniture stores to various banks. In fact, no real furniture purchases ever took place. The ID theft scheme resulted in more than $2 million losses to the banks.
“Menaged engaged in a multi-year fraud scheme and brazenly stole from his victims -- their money, their identities, and ultimately their trust,” stated First Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange. “Today’s lengthy sentence is a fitting punishment for his egregious crimes.”
“While the harm and damage the defendant caused by swindling more than $33 million from innocent investors can never be repaired, the 200 plus victims can now take some small measure of satisfaction that he is now looking at 17 years in federal prison and a substantial forfeiture as repayment for his crimes.” said Scott Brown, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Phoenix. “HSI special agents dedicated to uncovering financial fraud will continue to aggressively investigate those who seek to profit by taking advantage of others.”
“The criminal conduct by defendant Menaged was extensive. His actions caused personal and financial harm to many individuals, including his former business partner,” stated IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Ismael Nevarez Jr. “The sentence is very appropriate based on the $33 million loss from his fraud scheme and the tragic human suffering he caused.”
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Monica B. Edelstein and Kevin M. Rapp, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, and Jennifer A. Giaimo, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-000680-PHX-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-122_Menaged
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Kayenta Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Federal Prison for Involuntary Manslaughter Related to Drunk DrivingRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On Dec. 12, 2017, Morris Singer, 54, of Kayenta, Ariz., and a member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge Stephen M. McNamee to 37 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Singer had previously pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
The case involved Singer driving his vehicle while intoxicated. The victim, also a member of the Navajo Nation, was the passenger in Singer’s vehicle. Singer lost control of the vehicle and it rolled several times, ejecting the victim. The victim died from injuries sustained from the crash, which occurred within the Navajo reservation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Sharon Sexton and Alex Samuels, Assistant United State Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-8049-PCT-SMM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-121_Singer
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Tuba City Man Sentenced to Prison for Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, Brennan Lee Sumatzkuku, 23, of Tuba City, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 36 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Sumatzkuku had previously pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter.
On Jan. 22, 2017, Sumatzkuku, an enrolled member of the Hopi Nation, was driving a vehicle with two passengers on the Navajo Nation reservation. In dark and snowy conditions, Sumatzkuku, whose blood alcohol content was later determined to be .188, drove at a high rate of speed and lost control of the vehicle, causing all three occupants to be ejected. One victim, 29, an enrolled member of the Hopi Nation, was pronounced dead at the scene, and another victim, 20, also an enrolled member of the Hopi Nation, was seriously injured.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations. The prosecution was handled by Christina Covault, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-1824-PCT-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-119_ Sumatzkuku
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Canadian Man Sentenced to 46 Months for International Travel to Have Sex with a MinorRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, Dilbagh Singh, 57, of Ontario, Canada, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 46 months of incarceration. Singh had previously pleaded guilty to international travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
Court documents show that in January 2017, Singh began an online relationship with an individual he believed to be a 15-year old girl. Over the course of nearly four months, Singh told the girl that he wanted to engage in various sex acts with her. In May 2017, Singh travelled from Canada to Flagstaff, Ariz., to meet with the girl in person and to have sex with her.
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. The prosecution was handled by Robert I. Brooks, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-8108-PCT-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-118_ Singh
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Tucson Man Returned to Prison for Failing to Complete Sex-Offender TreatmentRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last month, Juan Valentino Coronado, 46, of Tucson, Ariz., and enrolled member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James A. Soto to over 7 months in prison for failing to participate in sex-offender treatment, which he had been ordered to do as part of a previous conviction for sexually abusing a minor.
Coronado was originally convicted and sentenced on Oct. 24, 2014, for abusive sexual contact of a minor for an offense committed while he was on the Pascua Yaqui Reservation in 2013. His supervised release was first revoked in March 2015 because he had contact with a minor. He was imprisoned for an additional five months and, after serving that prison term, placed back on federal supervision. In February 2017, Coronado was charged with another violation, this time for unsatisfactory participation in sex offender treatment. He challenged those allegations, but after a two-day evidentiary hearing, both the federal magistrate judge and district judge found that Coronado had failed to complete his sex-offender treatment.
“Our compliments and thanks go to the U.S. Probation Department for closely monitoring the defendant after his release from prison,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange. “It is not enough to simply punish, through a term of imprisonment, those who commit sexual crimes against minors. Sex-offender treatment is an important tool in ensuring that offenders don’t revert to their old ways, and our office will be vigilant in demanding that such offenders meet all of their court-ordered responsibilities even after they are released from prison.”
Upon release from prison, Coronado will be returned to federal supervised release, for the third time, for an additional 60 months. His special conditions once again include that he participate in and complete sex offender treatment.
The investigation in the underlying case was conducted by the Pascua Yaqui Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Micah Schmit, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBERS: CR-14-0350-TUC-JAS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-116_Coronado
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Arizona United States Attorney’s Office Establishes Task Force to Combat Heroin and Opioid TraffickingRead the Press Release
PHOENIX - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona has formed an Opioid Task Force to combat the serious opioid, heroin, and fentanyl crisis in Arizona. The Task Force includes include federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers and prosecutors and will be managed by Phoenix Criminal Division Chief Raymond K. Woo, who has been designated as the District’s Opioid Coordinator. Criminal Chief Woo will be responsible for developing, implementing, and coordinating a robust prosecution response to this crisis. He has already assembled committees of experienced federal and state prosecutors to assist law enforcement with the prosecution of transnational criminal organizations that smuggle heroin and opioids into the United States, medical professionals who unlawfully prescribe or divert highly addictive opioids, cyber criminals who distribute heroin and illicit opioids through the darknet, and drug traffickers or persons who are criminally responsible for opioid overdose deaths.
Elizabeth A. Strange, First Assistant U.S. Attorney, stated, “It is critical that we also support our smaller law enforcement agencies and communities when addressing this horrific crisis. This epidemic affects every corner of our state, and we must join forces with our tribal and local law enforcement partners to successfully combat this crisis.”
The USAO’s Opioid Task Force was created in response to President Donald J. Trump’s designation of the opioid epidemic as a “national health emergency” and to directives from Attorney General Jefferson B. Sessions, who has made combating the opioid epidemic a top priority for the Department of Justice. Earlier this year, Attorney General Sessions formed an Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit to focus on identifying and prosecuting health care fraud related to prescription opioids and funded twelve experienced federal prosecutors to focus on these types of fraud. As Attorney General Sessions stated, “[t]he Department is determined to attack this opioid epidemic,” and this Task Force is on the forefront of that effort for Arizona.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-117_ Opioid_TF
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Chui Chu Man Sentenced to 108 Months in Prison for AssaultRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, Donnie Ray Jose, 46, of Chui Chu, Ariz., a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James A. Soto to 108 months in prison. Jose was convicted after a jury trial of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
The evidence at trial demonstrated that Jose, during an act of domestic violence, stabbed the victim sixteen times in her shoulder area while she and her minor son were asleep in bed. The victim is also a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, and the assault occurred on the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation. The Court enhanced Jose’s sentence based on a finding that the victim was vulnerable, as she had been sleeping just prior to the stabbing and that there were minor children present during the assault.
Upon release from prison, Jose will be on supervised release for three years. The terms of his supervision include no contact with the victim, the victim’s family, or any of the witnesses who testified at trial.
The investigation in this case was conducted by both the Tohono O’odham Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Serra M. Tsethlikai and Charisse Arce, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-01387-TUC-JAS-BGM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-115_Jose
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California Man Sentenced to Two Years for Identity TheftRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Earlier this month, Kevin Matthew Bianchi, 47 of Petaluma, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David L. Rayes to two years’ imprisonment for aggravated identity theft and credit card fraud. Bianchi had previously pleaded guilty to both charges.
Bianchi was involved with others, in perpetrating fraudulent schemes in California and Arizona. Bianchi possessed and used counterfeit credit cards and driver’s licenses to defraud the United States Postal Service in an amount exceeding $19,000 in Arizona.
The investigation in this case was conducted by by the United States Postal Inspection Service. The prosecution was handled by Charles F. Hyder, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-00323-PHX-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-114_Bianchi
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Nationwide Methamphetamine and Marijuana Traffickers SentencedRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Earlier this month, the last of 17 defendants in a nationwide drug trafficking and money laundering cell, Ramon Llamas, 55, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by United States District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 168 months’ imprisonment after he previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.
Llamas’s sentencing followed other recent hearings in which Judge Humetewa imposed sentences of 97 months’ imprisonment for Donald Hamilton, 50, of Philadelphia, Pa., who was convicted at trial of conspiracy to distribute marijuana, conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, and other offenses, and Orencio Ruelas, 55, of Phoenix, Ariz., who was sentenced to 235 months’ imprisonment after being convicted at trial of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and other offenses. Fourteen other defendants convicted in the case for various drug trafficking and money laundering crimes received sentences ranging from probation to 121 months’ imprisonment.
At trial, the United States proved that Llamas and his son, co-defendant Juan Llamas, obtained large quantities of marijuana and methamphetamine from Mexico and shipped it to customers throughout the United States. As part of t hese activities, Hamilton, a gate agent for a major domestic airline at the Philadelphia International Airport, met and introduced Juan Llamas to marijuana customers on the east coast in exchange for a portion of the proceeds from drug sales. Hamilton also used his position with the airlines to obtain “buddy passes” for Juan Llamas and others to fly to and from Phoenix and the east coast in aid of their drug trafficking activities. Hamilton himself used his position with the airlines to smuggle hundreds of thousands of dollars of drug money through airport security from Philadelphia to Phoenix.
Evidence at trial also showed that Ruelas, a family friend of Ramon Llamas, assisted customers in obtaining kilogram-quantities of methamphetamine from Mexico through the Llamas family on multiple occasions.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, who were assisted by the Glendale Police Department, the Peoria Police Department, the Phoenix Police Department, and the La Paz County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by D.J. Pashayan, Todd Allison, and Krissa Lanham, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-0865-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-112_Llamas etal
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Man Sentenced to 21 Months for Child Abuse on Navajo ReservationRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, Nathan Joe, 36, of Nazlini, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 21 months in prison for physically abusing a child on the Navajo Indian Reservation.
In February 2014, Joe physically assaulted the minor victim, including slapping him with enough force to leave a handprint-sized bruise on the victim’s face. Both Joe and the victim were living on the Navajo Indian Reservation at the time the assault occurred. Joe is an enrolled member of that tribe.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Christine D. Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-08037-PCT-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-113_Joe
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Sonoyta Man Sentenced to 200 Months in Prison for Fourth Trafficking ConvictionRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, Bernardo Romo-Ramos, 35, of Sonoyta, Sonora, Mexico, and a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Raner C. Collins to 200 months of imprisonment. Bernardo Romo-Ramos had previously pleaded guilty to importation of more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. This was Romo-Ramos’s fourth drug trafficking conviction.
On Aug. 23, 2016, Romo-Ramos entered the United States from Mexico through the Papago Gate on the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation. He was driving a 2001 Chevrolet truck that was later found to be loaded with 22 kilograms of methamphetamine and 1.2 kilograms of heroin. The forty-seven packages of narcotics were located in after-market compartments under the floorboards of the truck.
The investigation was conducted by the Homeland Securities Investigations’ Native American Targeted Investigation of Violent Enterprises Task Force. The prosecution was handled by Sarah B. Houston and Susanna Martinez, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-432-TUC-RCC-BGM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-111_ Romo_Ramos
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Phoenix Man Sentenced to 260 Years in Prison for Violent Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yesterday, U.S. District Judge John. J. Tuchi sentenced Anthony Wayne Hamilton, 27, of Phoenix, Ariz., to 260 years in prison for a series of violent gas station robberies committed throughout the Phoenix area. Hamilton was found guilty by a federal jury on June 12, 2017, of 11 counts of Hobbs Act Robbery and 11 counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to vigorously prosecuting all violent offenders,” said Acting United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange. “We commend the federal and local law enforcement agencies for their collaboration in investigating and apprehending this violent criminal.”
“Anthony Hamilton was convicted of committing violent armed robberies throughout Arizona which impacted countless victims. The FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to keeping our communities safe through shared information, collaboration, and investigative initiatives,” said Michael DeLeon, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Phoenix Field Office. “This case was worked jointly with almost a dozen Arizona law enforcement agencies and is yet another example of law enforcement agencies coming together to combat violent crime and ensure the safety of our citizens.”
Evidence at trial showed that during a seven-week period from Dec. 20, 2015 through Feb. 9, 2016, Hamilton robbed eleven different gas stations and convenience stores at gunpoint. During the course of the robberies, Hamilton stole money from the gas stations and from gas station employees while displaying and threatening to use a handgun. Hamilton robbed stores in nearly every city in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
The investigation in this case was a product of significant collaboration between the FBI’s Robbery Task Force, the Phoenix Police Department, the Glendale Police Department, the Tempe Police Department, the Peoria Police Department, the Scottsdale Police Department, the Mesa Police Department, the Chandler Police Department, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The prosecution was handled by Robert I. Brooks and Anthony W. Church, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-0268-PHX-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-109_Hamilton
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Members of International Bank Fraud Ring Sentenced to Prison for Role in SchemeRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Four members of an international fraud syndicate have been sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with their scheme to manufacture and use fraudulent credit cards using the personally identifiable information of US-based individuals.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange for the District of Arizona, and Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) Phoenix Field Office made the announcement.
“Our office is dedicated to combatting transnational fraud and identity theft,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Strange. “The scope of the fraud scheme in this case was staggering, and we commend our law enforcement partners for apprehending the perpetrators and bringing them to justice.”
“This appalling international scheme illustrates the lengths to which fraudsters will go to game the system for financial gain,” said HSI Special Agent Brown. “We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to hold shameless, brazen fraudsters accountable for their crimes.”
According to admissions made in connection with their guilty pleas, the defendants participated in a conspiracy that bought stolen personally identifiable information, credit card account information, and other financial information over the Internet from individuals located in Ukraine, Tajikistan, and Russia, among other countries. The stolen personally identifiable information and stolen credit card account information were then used to unlawfully manufacture fraudulent credit cards.
Participants in the fraud scheme traveled on multiple occasions from Mexico into the United States and used the fraudulent credit cards to purchase gift cards and high end merchandise, such as iPhones, laptop computers, and designer clothing, from retailers throughout Arizona and elsewhere in the United States. After purchasing merchandise and gift cards, the co-conspirators transported the unlawfully purchased merchandise and gift cards to Mexico for future sale and profit for scheme participants. The defendants admitted in their guilty pleas that they collectively possessed at least 5,684 fraudulent credit cards resulting in the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The defendants each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Today, Rey Martinez-Lopez, 33, of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced to four years and six months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez of the District of Arizona.
Judge Marquez sentenced the other three defendants to the following prison terms:
- On Sept. 29, Anwar Barragan Flores, 39, of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced to seven years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release.
- On Sept. 12, Jorge Williams-Araiza, 38, of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced to three years and two months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release.
- On Aug. 23, Javier Ramirez-Villegas, 36, of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced to four years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.
The defendants’ restitution will be determined by the Court at a later hearing, which has not been scheduled yet.
The investigation in this case was conducted by HSI Nogales. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew G. Eltringham, Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force, District of Arizona, Tucson and Trial Attorney Rebecca A. Staton of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.
CASE NUMBER: CR-0184-TUC JGZ (LAB)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-110_Martinez_Lopez_etal
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- On Sept. 29, Anwar Barragan Flores, 39, of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced to seven years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release.
Members of International Bank Fraud Ring Sentenced to Prison for Role in SchemeRead the Press Release
Four members of an international fraud syndicate have been sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with their scheme to manufacture and use fraudulent credit cards using the personally identifiable information of US-based individuals.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange for the District of Arizona, and Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) Phoenix Field Office made the announcement.
According to admissions made in connection with their guilty pleas, the defendants participated in a conspiracy that bought stolen personally identifiable information, credit card account information, and other financial information over the Internet from individuals located in Ukraine, Tajikistan, and Russia, among other countries. The stolen personally identifiable information and stolen credit card account information were then used to unlawfully manufacture fraudulent credit cards.
Participants in the fraud scheme traveled on multiple occasions from Mexico into the United States and used the fraudulent credit cards to purchase gift cards and high end merchandise, such as iPhones, laptop computers, and designer clothing, from retailers throughout Arizona and elsewhere in the United States. After purchasing merchandise and gift cards, the co-conspirators transported the unlawfully purchased merchandise and gift cards to Mexico for future sale and profit for scheme participants. The defendants admitted in their guilty pleas that they collectively possessed at least 5,684 fraudulent credit cards resulting in the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The defendants each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Today, Rey Martinez-Lopez, 33, of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced to four years and six months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez of the District of Arizona.
Judge Marquez sentenced the other three defendants to the following prison terms:
- On Sept. 29, Anwar Barragan Flores, 39, of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced to seven years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release.
- On Sept. 12, Jorge Williams-Araiza, 38, of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced to three years and two months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release.
- On Aug. 23, Javier Ramirez-Villegas, 36, of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced to four years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.
The defendants’ restitution will be determined by the Court at a later hearing, which has not been scheduled yet.
HSI Nogales investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew G. Eltringham, Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force of the District of Arizona and Trial Attorney Rebecca A. Staton of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section prosecuted the case.
Peach Springs Man Sentenced to Prison for AssaultRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On Oct. 30, 2017, Edward Susanyatame, 39, of Peach Springs, Ariz., and a member of the Hualapai Indian Tribe, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 54 months’ imprisonment, followed by a term of three years of supervised release. Susanyatame had previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.
On May 2, 2015, Susanyatame assaulted two victims with a deadly weapon, causing them to sustain serious bodily injury. The victims are also members of the Hualapai Indian Tribe, and the assault occurred within the Hualapai Indian Reservation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hualapai Nation Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Christina J. Reid-Moore, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-2016-8061-PCT-DGC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-108_Susanyatame
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Member of Foreign Military Sentenced to 10 Months in Prison for U.S. Passport FraudRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – This week, Jared Mark Caros, 32, of Elizabethtown, Ky., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge Neil V. Wake to ten months in prison with one year of supervised release to follow. Caros was previously found guilty after a jury trial in June. Then in September, Caros admitted his guilt in open court. In 2010, Caros made false statements in an application for a U.S. Passport. In that application, he falsely claimed the identity of a man from Payson, Ariz. The U.S. Department of State discovered Caros’s fraud in 2016 when the Payson man applied for a U.S. Passport. Caros, a U.S. citizen, was arrested by Diplomatic Security agents upon his return to the U.S. from service in a foreign military.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security. The prosecution was handled by Brandon Brown and Jonathan R. Hornok, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-984-PHX-NVW
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-107_Caros
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Whippoorwill and Pinon Duo Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Terms for Assault, Carjacking, and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX– This week, Victoria Lynn Buckinghorse, 25, of Whippoorwill, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 198 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Buckinghorse had previously pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and carjacking. Additionally, Avram Cook, 30, of Pinon, Ariz., was sentenced to 130 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after previously pleading guilty to brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and assault with a dangerous weapon.
On March 16, 2015, Buckinghorse and Cook assaulted the victim with a shotgun, resulting in the victim’s two fingers being amputated.
On March 29, 2015, Buckinghorse and an unknown male pointed a shotgun at the victim and threatened to shoot her.
On April 15, 2015, Buckinghorse and Cook blocked a road with their vehicle while Cook brandished and pointed a firearm at a family traveling to a family event. As the family was leaving, shots were fired at the vehicle.
Buckinghorse and Cook are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, as well as the victims.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Navajo Nation Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Kiyoko Patterson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-8206-PCT-JJT; CR-15-8237-PCT-JJT; CR-15-8065-PCT-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-106_ Buckinghorse_Cook
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Sacaton Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, Enrique Xavier Bandin, 21, of Sacaton, Ariz., a member of the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC), was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 15 years in prison. Bandin had previously pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. A year ago, on Oct. 23, 2016, Bandin pistol-whipped the victim, also a GRIC member, in the head. The gun discharged, shooting the victim in the head. Bandin left the victim’s body on the side of the road in the center of Sacaton, Ariz., a half a mile from the local hospital.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The prosecution was handled by Raynette Logan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-01360-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-105_Bandin
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