District of Arizona
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Woman Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Distributing OxycodoneRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – This week, Ma de Lourdes Casas-Franco, 45, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced to 36 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan. Casas-Franco had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and money laundering conspiracy.
According to the plea agreement, Casas-Franco worked at a Mexican pharmacy, Sonora's Desert Pharmacy, from June 2010 through July 2011. On numerous occasions, Casas-Franco arranged to have oxycodone pills, a Schedule II controlled substance, delivered from the pharmacy in Mexico to a customer in the United States. She also arranged to have the part of the purchase price deposited into a bank account in her name maintained in a bank in the United States and part of the purchase price to be deposited into another's bank account. On at least one occasion, the total value of the order was in excess of $10,000.
The investigation in this case was conducted by agencies participating in the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, which include, but are not limited to, the Mesa Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U. S. Postal Inspection Service. The lead agencies were the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Karen McDonald and Maria Gutierrez, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-00763-PHX-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-034_ Casas-Franco
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Camp Verde Man Sentenced to 46 Months for Assault with a Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On April 19, 2017, Emilio Chato Haddo, 27, of Camp Verde, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Rosenblatt to 46 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Haddo had previously pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon.
On Dec. 10, 2015, Haddo and his co-defendant, both members of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, assaulted the victim, also a member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, by striking him on the head with the butt of a handgun, causing it to discharge. The victim suffered serious bodily injury. In February 2017, Haddo’s co-defendant was killed in a single car accident.
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-16-8012-002-PCT-PGR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-036_Haddo
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Tuba City Man Sentenced to 37 Months Imprisonment for Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, Arlin Hatathlie, 35, of Tuba City, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Rosenblatt to 37 months’ imprisonment. Hatathlie had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
On March 26, 2013 and Nov. 18, 2015, on the Navajo Nation, Hatathlie, a member of the Navajo Indian Tribe, assaulted the victim at the time, also a member of the Navajo Indian Tribe, resulting in serious bodily injury.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety. The prosecution was handled by Dimitra H. Sampson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-8086-PCT-PGR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-035_Hatathlie
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Tonelea Man Sentenced to 4 Years Imprisonment for Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – This week, Jason David Grisham, 39, of Tonelea, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to four years imprisonment. Grisham had previously pleaded guilty to assault on a federal officer.
The investigation revealed that on June 16, 2016, Grisham, a member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted a Navajo Nation Police Officer, delegated to enforce federal law by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, in Kayenta, Ariz., on the Navajo Nation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety. The prosecution was handled by Dimitra H. Sampson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-8175-PCT-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-033_Grisham
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Alien Smuggler Sentenced to over 10 Years in Prison for Rollover Accident that Killed Four PassengersRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yesterday, Hector Salas-Garcia, 40, Michocan, Mexico was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 121 months’ imprisonment. Salas-Garcia had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death.
On April 27, 2008, Salas-Garcia was driving a 1989 pickup truck in a rural area of Eloy with at least 31 passengers when the truck rolled over and four people were killed. His passengers were all undocumented aliens and he was furthering their presence in the United States. Salas-Garcia was removed from the scene of the rollover prior to law enforcement arriving and was taken to Mexico by his brother Agustin Salas-Garcia. Agustin Salas-Garcia previously pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact and was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment in 2009 and subsequently deported.
The investigation in this case was conducted by United States Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations and the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Lisa Jennis, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-01157-PHX-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-032_Salas-Garcia
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Defendants Sentenced to 25 Years for Murder of Sanders ManRead the Press Release
PHOENIX - Earlier this month, Vaughn Paul James, 24, of Sanders, Ariz., was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton to 300 months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release. James had previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder-aid and abet. James’s co-defendant, Nolan Lewis, 30, of Kykotsmovi, Ariz., had also previously pleaded guilty to the same crime and received the same sentence.
On Sept. 10, 2013, James and Lewis assaulted the victim near Sanders, Ariz. While the victim was still alive, he was placed in the trunk of his own car. The victim was later found deceased inside the trunk of the car, which had burn marks near the gas tank. The victim died of blunt force trauma to the neck and head. James and Lewis are both enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, as was the victim.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the 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-15-8187-PCT-SRB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-030_James_Lewis
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Chinle Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Assaulting Police OfficerRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Kevin Ray Yellowman Sr., 34, of Chinle, Ariz., was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton to 240 month of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Yellowman had previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and using a firearm in a crime of violence.
On Sept. 8, 2015, a Navajo Nation Police Officer responded to Yellowman’s residence for a domestic disturbance call. Yellowman assaulted the officer, obtained the officer’s duty weapon, and discharged the firearm. Yellowman then pointed the firearm at the officer and other family members. Yellowman fled the home and later surrendered to law enforcement. Yellowman is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, as is the officer who was assaulted.
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-15-08204-PCT-SRB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-031_Yellowman
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Mishongnovi Man Sentenced to 46 Months for Assaulting Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – This week, Jarvis Cook, 45, of Mishongnovi Village, Second Mesa, Ariz., was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton to 46 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Cook, an enrolled member of the Hopi Tribe, had previously pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
On Feb. 10, 2016, an officer with the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services (Hopi Agency) responded to a call at the Cook residence. When the officer attempted to arrest Cook, who had an active arrest warrant, Cook resisted arrest and assaulted the officer. The officer, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, successfully arrested Cook only after a lengthy struggle, suffering serious injuries during the assault.
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-16-8156-PCT-SRB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-029_Cook
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Brothers Sentenced in Chinle-Area HomicideRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – This week, Mike Haudley, 65, of Logan, Utah, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 98 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Haudley had previously pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
Haudley’s brother, Benjamin Haudley, 63, of Nazlini, Ariz., was previously sentenced by Judge Tuchi to 13 months of imprisonment, to be followed by one year of supervised release, after he previously pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony.
On Oct. 9, 2015, Mike Haudley stabbed and killed the victim at the victim’s home on the Navajo Nation. Afterwards, Benjamin Haudley helped Mike Haudley conceal the victim’s body. Mike Haudley and Benjamin Haudley are both enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, as was the victim.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Samuels, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-8067-PCT-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-028_Haudley
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Supai Village Man Sentenced to 37 Months for Assaulting Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – This week, Victor Grounds, 36, of Supai, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 37 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Grounds, an enrolled member of the Havasupai Tribe, had previously pleaded guilty to assault on a federal officer.
On the morning of July 18, 2016, a female resident of Supai Village, who is also an enrolled member of the Havasupai Tribe, reported that Grounds was intoxicated and had assaulted her that morning in the village. An officer with the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services subsequently located Grounds, who was severely intoxicated and carrying a bottle of whiskey. When the officer attempted to arrest him, Grounds resisted arrest and assaulted the officer.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Samuels, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-8235-PCT-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-026_Grounds
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Former Bureau of Prisons Correctional Officer Sentenced for Sex OffenseRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yesterday, Edward Mendoza, 37, of Surprise, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 16 months in prison. Mendoza had previously pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a ward.
Mendoza worked as a Senior Correctional Officer at the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Phoenix, Ariz. His duties included supervision of the women’s camp. Between Feb. 1, 2015, and April 2, 2015, Mendoza engaged in sexual intercourse with a female inmate who he supervised at the camp.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, Denver office. The prosecution was handled by Gayle L. Helart, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-01325-DJH-1
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-025_Mendoza
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Former U.S. Border Patrol Agent Sentenced to over 13 Years in Prison for Bribery and Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. - On March 17, 2017, Juan Ramon Pimentel, 48, of Rio Rico, Ariz., was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Raner Collins to 160 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Pimentel had previously pleaded guilty to attempted possession with intent to distribute 50 kilograms of cocaine and accepting bribes as a public official.
“Law enforcement officers take an oath to enforce the law, and Mr. Pimentel repeatedly violated that oath by taking bribes and trafficking drugs across the country,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange. “Our office will continue to vigorously prosecute any official who crosses the line to engage in criminal acts.”
The drug charges stem from a traffic stop on Nov. 18, 2015. Pimentel’s vehicle contained 50 kilograms of a white powdery substance, a Glock .40 caliber handgun, and his Border Patrol Badge and credentials. Pimentel admitted he knew there were drugs in the vehicle and he was taking them to Chicago. He also admitted that he agreed to make the trip for a fee of a $1,000 per kilogram.
The bribery charges relate to an occasion on Feb. 13, 2015, where Pimentel received cash for distributing license plate information he had obtained from a law enforcement database. Pimentel had been employed as a U.S. Border Patrol Agent since 2001, with the Nogales Border Patrol Station.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the FBI’s Southern Arizona Corruption Task Force, DHS-OIG, and CBP-OPR. Additionally, the Arizona Department of Public Safety performed the traffic stop on Pimentel that led to his arrest. The prosecution was handled by Gordon E. Davenport, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-02236-TUC-RCC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-024_Pimentel
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Nogales Man Sentenced to 92 Months for Attempting to Export Ammunition into MexicoRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, Gabriel Rivero, 41, of Nogales, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge Frank R. Zapata to 92 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Rivero was convicted by a jury of attempting to smuggle ammunition into Mexico.
The evidence at trial showed that on Feb. 11, 2016, at the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, a spare tire fell from a pickup truck being driven by Rivero when the truck was about 75 yards from the border. Rivero stopped, tried to pick up the spare tire, then abandoned the tire, got back into the truck, and passed through the Port of Entry into Mexico. When United States Customs and Border Protection officers inspected the tire, they discovered 5,517 rounds of pistol and rifle ammunition hidden inside. Rivero was subsequently identified via video from the Port of Entry and arrested.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection, with assistance from 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-16-0713-TUC-FRZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-023_Rivero
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National Park Service Employee Sentenced to Prison for Theft of Park FeesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX– Yesterday, Sharon Baldwin, 47, of Sanders, Ariz., a member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane Humetewa to a year in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Baldwin was also ordered to pay restitution to the National Park Service in the amount of $313,000. Baldwin had previously pleaded guilty to theft of government money.
Baldwin was formerly employed at the Petrified Forest National Park and was responsible for accounting for park entrance fees paid by Park visitors. From 2010 through 2016, Baldwin used her supervisory position to steal more than $300,000 and altered electronic records and documents to hide her theft.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Department of Interior, Office of Inspector General. The prosecution was handled by Monica Edelstein, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-08295-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-022_Baldwin
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Peridot Man Sentenced to Prison for Assault with A Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yesterday, Jeremiah Johnson, 26, of Peridot, Ariz., a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 45 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for assaulting a victim on the San Carlos Indian Reservation. Johnson had previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.
The evidence showed that in June 2015, Johnson threw a full, 40-ounce bottle of alcohol at the victim, who was holding a child at the time. The bottle hit the child, who suffered serious injury as a result. The victim and child are also members of the San Carlos Apache Tribe.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The prosecution was handled by Christine Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-01409-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-021_Johnson
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Dark Web Defendant SentencedRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, George Cotrel, 23, of London, United Kingdom, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to eight months’ imprisonment, with credit for time served dating back to his arrest on July 22, 2016. Judge Humetewa also imposed restitution in the amount of $30,000. Cotrel had previously pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
“Our office is dedicated to prosecuting illegal activity wherever it occurs, including on the ‘dark web,’ which attempts to provide a platform for concealing criminal activity from law enforcement,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange. “We commend the IRS-CI agents for uncovering Cotrel’s efforts to commit wire fraud.”
“IRS Special Agents are experts in conducting complex financial investigations including those now being committed on the ‘dark web’ with virtual currency,” stated IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Ismael Nevarez Jr.
From March 2014 to September 2014, Cotrel participated in a scheme to advertise money laundering services on a TOR network black-market website. (TOR is an acronym for “The Onion Router,” which is a mechanism to anonymize internet traffic. TOR also enables access to certain “hidden services” websites accessible only through the TOR network.) Beginning in March 2014, Cotrel communicated online with undercover agents posing as criminals seeking to launder proceeds of criminal activity, and he subsequently met with the agents in person in April 2014 in Las Vegas, Nev., to discuss a specific transaction.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. The prosecution was handled by James R. Knapp and Gary M. Restaino, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-879-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-020_Cotrel
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Laveen Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On Feb. 21, 2017, James Flippen Lewis, 28, of Laveen, Ariz., and a member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Neil V. Wake to 84 months in prison, followed by a term of three years of supervised release. Lewis had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
During 2013, 2014, and 2015, within the Gila River Indian Community, Lewis assaulted three different female victims causing them to sustain serious bodily injuries. All three victims were members of the Gila River Indian Community.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Christina J. Reid-Moore, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-1409-PHX-NVW
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-017_Lewis
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Man Sentenced for False Bomb ThreatsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Today, Octavio Acosta De La Torre, 43, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge David C. Bury to 33 months of imprisonment. De La Torre had previously pleaded guilty to false threats to persons and property using or affecting interstate commerce.
Between March 21, 2016 and April 1, 2016, De La Torre made approximately 20 false bomb threats to various businesses and government offices in Tucson and in the Phoenix area, including schools and military recruiting stations, resulting in many closures and evacuations.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tucson Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Beverly K. Anderson and Cory Picton, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-0858-TUC-DCB (JR)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-016_ De La Torre
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Tohono O’odham Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexual Abuse of Two GirlsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Today, Anthony Ray Shirley, 29, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by Chief District Judge Raner C. Collins to 360 months in prison. Shirley, a member of the Tohono O’Odham Nation, was convicted by a federal jury on Oct. 28, 2016 of four counts of aggravated sexual abuse and two counts of abusive sexual contact. Shirley’s imprisonment will be followed by lifetime federal supervised release and he will be required to register as a sex offender.
The evidence at trial was that Shirley had molested two young victims, who are members of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.
The investigation in this case was conducted by both the Pascua Yaqui Tribe Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Micah Schmit and Carolyn Nedder, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-13-0622-TUC-RCC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-015_Shirley
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Tucson Woman Sentenced to 63 Months for Mailing Child Pornography to Imprisoned Husband Who Was Awaiting Trial on Separate Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Today, Breana VanDyck, 28, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Raner C. Collins to 63 months in prison. Following a jury trial in September, VanDyck was found guilty of mailing child pornography. VanDyck’s term of imprisonment will be followed by lifetime supervised release, with stringent sex offender conditions, including the condition that she register as a sex offender.
VanDyck, using the U.S. Postal Service, printed and mailed child pornography to her husband at the Central Arizona Detention Center (CADC). At the time, her husband was in custody at CADC awaiting trial on charges involving the possession and production of child pornography.
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 Tucson Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Tucson. The prosecution was handled by Carmen F. Corbin and Erica L. Seger, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-1388-TUC-RCC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-013_VanDyck
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Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for “Sextortion” OffenseRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Today, Donald Macarthur, 39, of Lehi, Utah, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Raner C. Collins to 20 years in prison. Macarthur had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography in two separate cases. Macarthur’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.
Macarthur used the internet to meet young girls on modeling and pro-anorexia websites. Macarthur then communicated with the girls through email and text messages. Specifically, Macarthur communicated with a thirteen-year-old girl in Tucson and a fourteen-year-old girl in Mississippi. During their communications, Macarthur manipulated them by acting as an anorexia coach, encouraging them to starve themselves, and then requesting that they send him sexually explicit photos. If the girls did not comply with his requests, Macarthur threatened that he would no longer coach them and ridiculed them. It is suspected that Macarthur possibly had 51 other unidentified victims.
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 Tucson Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Tucson. The prosecution was handled by Carmen F. Corbin and Erica L. Seger, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-2005-TUC-RCC / CR-16-0396-TUC-RCC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-012_ Macarthur
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Phoenix Man Sentenced to 30 years in Prison for Conspiracy to Support Isil and other Terrorism-Related OffensesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem, 45, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced today to 360 months in prison. On March 17, 2016, Kareem was found guilty by a federal jury of conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (“ISIL”), a designated foreign terrorist organization; conspiring to transport firearms and ammunition in interstate commerce with the intent to commit murder and aggravated assault; transporting firearms and ammunition in interstate commerce with the intent to commit murder and aggravated assault; making false statements to the FBI; and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
“Today’s sentence, in the country’s first trial involving a homeland terrorist attack committed in the name of ISIL, demonstrates the commitment of the United States to hold accountable any person who participates in or aids in any way acts of terrorism against our citizens,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange. “I would like to recognize the heroic law enforcement officials in Garland whose quick action prevented a much larger tragedy, the FBI for the tremendous work on the underlying investigation, and our dedicated prosecutors who worked tirelessly to seek justice on behalf of the United States.”
“Following the first jury trial in the country involving a homeland attack committed in the name of ISIL, today’s sentence holds Abdul Kareem accountable for conspiring to provide material support to the foreign terrorist organization and other federal offenses,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General McCord. “The defendant conspired with Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi to provide material support to ISIL and to transport firearms in interstate commerce with the intent to commit murder and aggravated assault. Thanks to the response of brave law enforcement officers at the scene, no innocent lives were lost when Simpson and Soofi attacked the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas. The National Security Division will continue to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those who conspire with others to support foreign terrorist organizations and to commit acts of violence in our country.”
“The sentencing of Kareem is significant and sends a strong message to those who support terrorism,” said Michael DeLeon, Special Agent In Charge of the FBI Phoenix Field Office. “Unfortunately, some people who do not believe in the American way of life are plotting to do us harm. The protection of U.S. citizens and our communities remains the FBI's number one priority. This can only be accomplished through the joint and coordinated efforts of our law enforcement, our intelligence community, and our vigilant citizens. I would like to commend our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, to include the Joint Terrorism Task Force, for their role in this case."
The evidence at trial showed that beginning around June 2014, Kareem and two friends, Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi, began conspiring to support ISIL. Their conspiracy focused on supporting ISIL by attacking targets in the United States. Over the course of the conspiracy, Kareem, Simpson, and Soofi considered attacking military bases, individual military service members, shopping malls, the Super Bowl, and the “Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest.” On May 3, 2015, the morning of the contest, Simpson and Soofi drove from Arizona to Texas, stopped their car near the contest, got out, and began firing assault rifles at security personnel and law enforcement officers. A security guard was injured by one of their bullets, and Simpson and Soofi were shot and killed by police officers in the firefight.
Additionally, the evidence at trial showed that Kareem’s role in the conspiracy included assisting the other two men with firearms training, providing money to purchase some of the weapons and ammunition used in the attack, instruction on how to care for and maintain their weapons, taking Simpson and Soofi shooting in the desert, hosting Simpson and Soofi in his home, and providing a meeting location to plan the attack. The evidence also showed that Kareem supported ISIL and knew Simpson and Soofi supported ISIL. Kareem did not travel to Texas and was not injured during the attack. During an interview with FBI agents soon after the attack, Kareem lied about having prior knowledge of the attack and the contest.
The case was investigated by the FBI, and the prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Koehler and Kristen Brook of the District of Arizona, with assistance provided by Trial Attorney Rebecca Magnone and Deputy Chief Matthew Blue of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-707-PHX-SRB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-011_Kareem
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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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Arizona Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Conspiracy to Support ISIL and Other Federal OffensesRead the Press Release
Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem, 45, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced today to 30 years in prison, and lifetime supervised release following his conviction on numerous offenses. On March 17, 2016, Kareem was found guilty by a federal jury of conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (“ISIL”), a designated foreign terrorist organization; conspiring to transport firearms and ammunition in interstate commerce with the intent to commit murder and aggravated assault; transporting firearms and ammunition in interstate commerce with the intent to commit murder and aggravated assault; making false statements to the FBI; and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The announcement was made by Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Mary B. McCord, Acting U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange for the District of Arizona and Special Agent in Charge Michael DeLeon of the FBI’s Phoenix Field Office. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton.
“Following the first jury trial in the country involving a homeland attack committed in the name of ISIL, today’s sentence holds Abdul Kareem accountable for conspiring to provide material support to the foreign terrorist organization and other federal offenses,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General McCord. “The defendant conspired with Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi to provide material support to ISIL and to transport firearms in interstate commerce with the intent to commit murder and aggravated assault. Thanks to the response of brave law enforcement officers at the scene, no innocent lives were lost when Simpson and Soofi attacked the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas. The National Security Division will continue to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those who conspire with others to support foreign terrorist organizations and to commit acts of violence in our country.”
“Today’s sentence, in the country’s first trial involving a homeland terrorist attack committed in the name of ISIL, demonstrates the commitment of the United States to hold accountable any person who participates in or aids in any way acts of terrorism against our citizens,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Strange. “I want to thank the FBI for the tremendous effort that went into the underlying investigation, as well as the brave law enforcement officials in Garland whose quick action during the attack prevented a much larger tragedy.”
“The sentencing of Kareem is significant and sends a strong message to those who support terrorism,” said Special Agent in Charge DeLeon. “Unfortunately, some people who do not believe in the American way of life are plotting to do us harm. The protection of U.S. citizens and our communities remains the FBI's number one priority. This can only be accomplished through the joint and coordinated efforts of our law enforcement, our intelligence community, and our vigilant citizens. I would like to commend our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, to include the Joint Terrorism Task Force, for their role in this case."
The evidence at trial showed that beginning around June 2014, Kareem and two friends, Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi, began conspiring to support ISIL. Their conspiracy focused on supporting ISIL by attacking targets in the U.S. Over the course of the conspiracy, Kareem, Simpson and Soofi considered attacking military bases, individual military service members, shopping malls, the Super Bowl and the “Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest.”
On May 3, 2015, the morning of the contest, Simpson and Soofi drove from Arizona to Texas, stopped their car near the contest, got out and began firing assault rifles at security personnel and law enforcement officers. A security guard was injured by one of their bullets, and Simpson and Soofi were shot and killed by police officers in the firefight.
Additionally, the evidence at trial showed that Kareem’s role in the conspiracy included assisting the other two men with firearms training, providing money to purchase some of the weapons and ammunition used in the attack, instruction on how to care for and maintain their weapons, taking Simpson and Soofi shooting in the desert, hosting Simpson and Soofi in his home and providing a meeting location to plan the attack. The evidence also showed that Kareem supported ISIL and knew that Simpson and Soofi supported ISIL. Kareem did not travel to Texas and was not injured during the attack. During an interview with FBI agents soon after the attack, Kareem lied about having prior knowledge of the attack and the contest.
This case was investigated by the FBI, and the prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Koehler and Kristen Brook of the District of Arizona, with assistance provided by Trial Attorney Rebecca Magnone and Deputy Chief Matthew Blue of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Violent Offender Sentenced to 30 Years’ Imprisonment for KidnappingRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, – On February 6, 2017, Al Shonnie Ben, 40, of Tuba City, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 30 years’ imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release. Ben had previously pleaded guilty kidnapping.
The investigation revealed that on Sept. 7, 2014, Ben, a member of the Navajo Nation, using a knife, kidnapped and assaulted three victims, also members of the Navajo Nation, resulting in serious and substantial bodily injuries to the respective victims.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety. The prosecution was handled by Dimitra H. Sampson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-8028-PCT-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-009_Ben
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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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30 Year Sentence for Production and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On February 6, 2017, Nathaniel Tejeda, 29, of Reno, Nev. (and formerly Ruidoso, N.M.) was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 360 months in prison. A federal grand jury issued an indictment charging Tejeda with distribution of graphic and sadistic child pornography involving infants and toddlers. Thereafter, investigation revealed that Tejeda also had produced and shared child pornography depicting a 14-year-old child he met online. Tejada then pleaded guilty to the distribution and production charges. Tejada’s imprisonment will be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, with stringent sex offender conditions and the requirement that he register as a sex offender.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, in Nogales, Ariz. and Reno, Nev. The prosecution was handled by Carin Duryee, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR 16-0851-JGZ (JR)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-008_Tejeda
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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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Drug-Related Shootout in the Arizona Desert Results in Lengthy Prison Sentences for Six Traffickers and BanditsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, Pedro Ojeda-Ramirez, 24, and Ulises Alaim Saijas-Zamorano, 22, both of Mexico, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson to prison terms of 140 months and 60 months, respectively. Both had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, and Ojeda-Ramirez also had pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. In addition, four other defendants had previously pleaded guilty to related drug and firearm offenses and received prison terms ranging from 60 to 140 months.
“This outcome is a testament to the dedicated and collaborative work of our partner law enforcement agencies,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange. “The convictions and sentences should serve as a warning to both smugglers and bajadores alike.”
“This sentence is yet another example of the vital work being conducted by HSI and its law enforcement partners to target and ultimately dismantle dangerous transnational drug trafficking organizations that are spreading crime and violence in our communities,” said Louie Garcia, acting special agent in charge of HSI Phoenix. “HSI’s collaborative efforts to combat this threat will continue. For those who are still out there committing these types of crimes, we have a warning, “wherever you are, we’ll reach you and you’ll be brought to justice for your insidious actions.”
On May 2, 2016, U.S. Border Patrol agents responded to a 911 call from a male subject who claimed he had been shot near a known drug-smuggling corridor within the Tohono O’odham reservation in Arizona. Agents in helicopters, vehicles, and on foot responded to the remote scene and found two men, one of whom had sustained gunshot wounds to his legs. Agents also found ten bundles of marijuana weighing approximately 224 kilograms, two AK-47-style firearms, a pistol, ammunition, a tactical vest, and a black ski mask.
After determining the two men were bajadores, or bandits, who had stolen the drugs from a rival group of drug traffickers, agents began searching for members of the other group. That night, agents located Ojeda-Ramirez less than three miles from the scene of the shooting. Ojeda-Ramirez admitted that he and others had shot at the bajadores in an effort to retrieve the stolen drugs but had fled once they heard the approaching Border Patrol helicopters. A few days later, a Pinal County Sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop near Arizona City, Ariz., of a Ford pickup truck containing thirteen men. Agents determined that all thirteen occupants were unauthorized aliens and further determined that three of the occupants (including Saijas-Zamorano) had been involved in various ways in the robbery and retaliatory shooting.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Border Patrol, and the Tohono O’odham Police Department. The prosecutions arising from the investigation were handled by Serra M. Tsethlikai, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-1111-TUC-CKJ and CR 16-1112-TUC-CKJ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-008_ Pedro Ojeda-Ramirez 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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Former Federal Air Marshal SentencedRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yesterday, Kristopher Gale Hanks, 40, of Ashburn, Va., was sentenced by United States Senior District Judge Roslyn O. Silver to three years’ probation. Hanks had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to deliver misbranded drugs into interstate commerce.
Hanks is a former law enforcement officer who helped make and sell illicit designer drugs commonly known as “spice” and “bath salts.” “Spice” and “bath salts” are drugs that look like marijuana or cocaine but are falsely labeled and sold as innocuous household products like “incense,” “potpourri,” or “bath treatments” in an effort to circumvent federal drug and consumer laws.
Through this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation, agents determined that Hanks assisted co-conspirators make and sell “spice” products. Later, Hanks made and sold a “bath salt” product called “Flash Bang” that was redistributed in Arizona and elsewhere. “Flash Bang” contained the chemical 4-MEC, which is a stimulant compound that Hanks ordered from China.
Hanks’ involvement in this conspiracy ended in the summer of 2011 when he joined the Federal Air Marshal Service. Prior to his involvement in this case, Hanks was employed as a police officer with the Salt Lake City, Utah, and Gilbert, Ariz., police departments and as a security contractor with the Department of Defense in Iraq.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations. The prosecution was handled by D. J. Pashayan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-0989-PHX-ROS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-007_Hanks
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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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Woman Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Money from Gila River Scholarship FundRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On Jan. 30, 2017, U.S. District Judge David C. Campbell sentenced Betty Nora Anderson, 56, a member of the Gila River Indian Community, to 15 months in prison and three years of supervised release for stealing approximately $200,000 from the Gila River Indian Community Scholarship Fund. Anderson had previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft from an Indian Tribal Organization.
Anderson stole money from the Gila River Indian Community Scholarship Fund by submitting altered and forged transcripts that made it appear she had completed certain course work and thus remained eligible for financial support. The scheme continued from 2007 through 2010.
“Through deceit, Anderson stole money that would otherwise have gone to deserving members of the Gila River Indian Community. We will vigorously pursue and bring to justice those who would defraud the public,” stated Acting United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Indian Community Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Kevin M. Rapp, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-01411-DGC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-004_Anderson
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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 240 Months in Federal Prison for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yesterday, Derrick Haskan, of Kayenta, Ariz. and a member of the Navajo Indian Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 240 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Haskan had previously pleaded guilty to second degree murder.
The case involved Hasken crashing his truck into a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. Hasken had a blood alcohol content of over .20 and was driving in excess of 85 MPH, without any braking action, 2 seconds prior to impact. Hasken killed two people in the vehicle as a result of his conduct, both victims were also members of the Navajo Indian Nation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Department of Law Enforcement. The prosecution was handled by Sharon K. Sexton, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-8092-PCT-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-005_Hasken
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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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District of Arizona, Acting U.s. Attorney AnnouncedRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Elizabeth A. Strange, the current First Assistant United States Attorney, has been named as Acting United States Attorney for the District of Arizona effective upon the announced resignation of United States Attorney John S. Leonardo, on Jan. 20, 2017. Ms. Strange will maintain that position pending the appointment of a new United States Attorney by the new administration.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-003_USA_Acting
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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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Statement by Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch on the Departure of John Leonardo, U.S. Attorney for the District of ArizonaRead the Press Release
Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch released the following statement on the departure of Judge John Leonardo, U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona:
“During his four and a half years as United States Attorney for the District of Arizona, Judge John Leonardo has worked tirelessly to uphold our laws and defend our values,” said Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch.
“During his tenure, he oversaw a number of significant cases, including the first jury trial involving a domestic attack committed in the name of ISIL and the government’s successful prosecution of the perpetrator of the 2011 mass shooting in Tucson. He was also a steadfast partner to Arizona’s 22 federally recognized Indian tribes, working closely with tribal officials to combat violent crime in Indian Country. John has served the people of Arizona – and all of the American people – with integrity and distinction. I want to thank him for his exceptional contributions, and I wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
Minnesota Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Extortion Scheme That Spanned over Twenty YearsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX– Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan sentenced Steven Dale Audette, 59, of Duluth, MN, to 240 months in prison and three years of supervised release for stealing approximately $3.5 million through an elaborate extortion scheme. Audette was found guilty by a federal jury on March 24, 2016, of one count of conspiracy and ninety counts of wire fraud. His co-defendant and wife, Mary Roach, had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced to 33 months in prison.
Evidence at trial showed that Audette stole nearly $3.5 million from three victims in Scottsdale, Ariz., by falsely representing that Audette was on the run from the mafia and needed funds to pay the CIA and FBI for protection. Audette tormented the victims by threatening that if they did not provide money their family members, including children, would be murdered. The victims’ money was spent by Audette on cars, travel, homes, gifts to family and friends, and other personal items.
The scheme continued for over twenty years, with Audette escalating the threats and harm to the victims if they did not comply with his demands for money. Audette operated the scheme from Arizona, Minnesota, Texas, and Alabama, among other states.
“Through lies, deceit, and threats Audette took advantage of the generosity and vulnerability of the victims. We will vigorously pursue and bring to justice those who would defraud the public,” stated United States Attorney John S. Leonardo.
The investigation in this case was conducted by ATF, IRS and the Marion Country Sherriff’s Office in Chattanooga, Tenn. The prosecution was handled by Kevin M. Rapp and Andrew C. Stone, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-00858-PHX-STL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-002_ Audette etal
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Second Mesa Man Sentenced to Total of 90 Months for Domestic Violence OffensesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – This week, Donovan Chaca, 38, of Second Mesa, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 67 months of imprisonment, in addition to 23 months already served on related prosecutions in the Hopi Tribal Court. Chaca had previously pleaded guilty to assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to a dating partner and assault by strangling or suffocating a dating partner.
In August 2014 and January 2015, Chaca, who is a member of the Hopi Tribe, assaulted another member of the Hopi Tribe. The offenses occurred on the Hopi Indian Reservation in Hotevilla, Ariz.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the 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-16-8005-PCT-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-001_Chaca
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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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Armed Bank Robber Sentenced to 155 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On Dec. 19, 2016, Robert Mark Baron, 54, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson to a total of 155 months in prison. Baron had previously pleaded guilty to armed bank robbery.
On Feb. 23, 2015, Baron entered a Bank of America in Tucson, Ariz., brandishing what was later determined to be a fake Uzi-style assault gun. He made off with an undisclosed amount of cash, but was captured the next day by Tucson police officers.
At the time of the robbery, Baron was also on federal supervised release for unlawfully carrying a shotgun in Utah. Baron received an additional 30 months’ imprisonment for violating his Utah supervision and the two sentences were ordered to be served consecutively, resulting in a total term of 155 months of imprisonment.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Tucson Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Micah Schmit, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-0491-TUC-CKJ and CR-13-50156-001-TUC-CKJ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-103_BARON
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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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Arizona U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects over $9 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions on Behalf of U.S. Taxpayers in Fiscal Year 2016Read the Press Release
PHOENIX - U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona collected $9,008,747 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2016. Of this amount, $7,225,134 was collected in criminal actions and $1,783,613 was collected in civil actions.
Additionally, the District of Arizona worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $5,020,530 in cases pursued jointly with those offices. Of this amount, $12,013 was collected in criminal actions and $5,008,516 was collected in civil actions.
Last week, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch announced that the Justice Department collected nearly $15.4 billion in civil and criminal actions in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2016. The $15,380,130,434 in collections in FY 2016 represents more than five times the appropriated $2.93 billion budget for the 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices and the main litigating divisions of the Justice Department combined in that same period.
“Every day, the men and women of the Department of Justice work tirelessly to enforce our laws, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used properly and that the American people are protected from exploitation and abuse,” said Attorney General Lynch. “Today’s announcement is a testament to that work, and it makes clear that our actions deliver a significant return on public investment. I want to thank the prosecutors and trial attorneys who made this year's collections possible, and I want to emphasize that the department remains committed to the well-being of our people and our nation.”
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the 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. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, 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 or 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 $9,132,320 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2016. 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: 2016-102_FY2016Collections
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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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Supai Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for RobberyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX– Yesterday, Taylor Nardo Paya, 20, a member of the Havasupai Tribe, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Paya had previously pleaded guilty to robbery.
The robbery occurred on the Havasupai Indian Reservation in December 2015. Paya assaulted the victim in the front yard of a residence before stealing a number of her personal effects.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The prosecution was handled by Christine Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-8233-PCT-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-101_Paya
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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 37 Months for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – This week, Nicholas Cooper, 32, of Hotevilla, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 37 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Cooper, an enrolled member of the Hopi Tribe, had previously pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms.
Because he had previously been convicted of a felony, Cooper was prohibited from possessing firearms. In December 2014 and January 2015, Cooper possessed two firearms in violation of this prohibition. One of the firearms he possessed had been stolen from another enrolled member of the Hopi Tribe.
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-16-8004-PCT-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-100_Cooper
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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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Clarkdale Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yesterday, Derek Anson Beecher, 33, of Clarkdale, Ariz., a member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 87 months in federal prison, followed by a term of lifetime supervised release. Beecher had previously pleaded guilty to sexual abuse.
In early 2016, Beecher caused a minor victim to engage in a sexual act. The incident occurred on the Yavapai-Apache Nation Indian Reservation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Yavapai-Apache Nation Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Christina Covault, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-8106-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-099_Beecher
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Fort Defiance Couple Sentenced to Prison for Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – This week, Sylvia Begay, 50, of Fort Defiance, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 28 months in federal prison, followed by a three-year term of supervised release, and ordered to pay more than $2.1 million in restitution. Additionally, Virgil Begay, 53, of Fort Defiance, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 21 months in federal prison, followed by a three-year term of supervised release, and ordered to pay more than $1.3 million in restitution. The Begays had previously pleaded guilty to health care fraud.
The Begays generated millions of dollars in fraudulent payments to themselves by falsely billing Arizona’s Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) for tens of thousands of medical transports that never occurred. AHCCCS is Arizona’s Medicaid agency that offers health care programs to Arizona residents who meet certain income and other requirements. The Begays owned and operated companies that provided non-emergency medical transportation for AHCCCS recipients on the Navajo reservation. From December 2010 through May 2013, Ms. Begay’s company, Hozho Nahasdlii Health Care at Home, submitted more than 24,000 false claims to AHCCCS for medical transports that never occurred, generating approximately $2,174,207 in fraudulent payments from AHCCCS to Ms. Begay. From May 2012 through May 2013, Mr. Begay’s company, Beauty Way Transport, submitted more than 16,000 false claims to AHCCCS for medical transports that never occurred, generating approximately $1,367,588 in fraudulent payments from AHCCCS to Mr. Begay.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Bridget Minder and Peter Sexton, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-08252-GMS-PHX
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-098_Begay
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Arizona Cocaine Suppliers SentencedRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – This week, Pedro Rafael Gonzalez-Zazueta, 39, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 88 months’ imprisonment. Gonzalez-Zazueta had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
On Oct. 16, 2016, Eduardo Robles Luzania, 41, of Avondale, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 108 months’ imprisonment. Luzania had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.
On Sept. 19, 2016, David Lee Richardson, 53, of Gilbert, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton to 36 months’ imprisonment. Richardson had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine.
Beginning in 2013, Gonzalez-Zazueta supplied kilograms of cocaine to California and Arizona. One of his customers was arrested in California in December of 2013.
After the California customer was arrested, Gonzalez-Zazueta began to distribute cocaine to Phoenix area residents, including Richardson and Luzania, between the spring of 2014 and the summer of 2015. Richardson and Luzania then used a courier to transport this cocaine from Arizona to Alabama. After this cocaine was transported to Alabama, Gonzalez-Zazueta received payment for it in Arizona.
As part of this investigation, agents determined that Luzania laundered more than $145,000 in drug proceeds and also attempted to ship methamphetamine to Pennsylvania through the U.S. mail. In addition, during a search of Gonzalez-Zazueta’s residence, agents seized a firearm and approximately $417,000 in U.S. currency.
The investigation in this case was conducted by a collaborative team consisting of multiple agencies, including Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, the Salt River Police Department, and the Apache Junction Police Department. The prosecution was handled by D. J. Pashayan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-1548-PHX-DJH; CR-15-1571-PHX-SRB; CR-16-219-PHX-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-096_Gonzalez-Zazueta
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Laveen Man Sentenced to 65 Months in Prison for Aggravated AssaultRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On Oct. 31, 2016, Verland Anthony Sabori, 35, of Laveen, Ariz., an enrolled member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced by Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 65 months in federal prison, followed by a term of three years of supervised release. Sabori had previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.
On Dec. 15, 2016, Sabori, a three-time felon, shot the victim, who is also a tribal member, in the back, causing life-threatening bodily injury. The incident occurred within the boundaries of the Gila River Indian Community.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Christina Covault, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-269-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-095_Sabori
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Peach Springs Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Aggravated AssaultRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On Oct. 24, 2016, Lonewolf Deray Havatone, Sr., 34, of Peach Springs, Ariz., a member of the Havasupai Tribe, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 59 months in federal prison, followed by a term of three years of supervised release. Havatone had previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. The 59-month sentence reflects a five-month reduction for the time Havatone spent in tribal custody for the same incident.
On Sept. 23, 2014, Havatone, a convicted felon, assaulted the victim, a member of the Hualapai tribe, by striking her with a rifle and threatening to kill her. He then fled on foot still armed with the rifle, requiring Hualapai Police Department officers to engage in a foot chase to apprehend him. The incident occurred on the Hualapai Nation Indian Reservation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Hualapai Nation Police. The prosecution was handled by Christina Covault, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-8268-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-094_ Havatone
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U.S. Attorney Announces Efforts to Protect Voters and Prevent Fraud in November 2016 ElectionsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX - United States Attorney John S. Leonardo announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Todd M. Allison will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming Nov. 8, 2016, general elections. AUSA Allison has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the District of Arizona, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
“Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate,” stated United States Attorney John S. Leonardo. “It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination, voter intimidation, or election fraud make that information available immediately to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud, voter intimidation, and discrimination at the polls, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on election day.
Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice.
The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the electoral franchise exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on Nov. 8, 2016, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA Allison will be on duty in this District the entire time that the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: (602) 595-2866.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and any other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (623) 466-1999.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington, DC by phone at 1-800-253-3931 or (202) 307-2767, by fax at (202) 307-3961, by email to [email protected] or by complaint format at http://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-092_2016 Gen Elections
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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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Three Members of the Colorado River Indian Tribes Sentenced to Federal Prison for RobberyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, Javen Ann Drennan, 31, of Parker, Ariz. was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 51 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
On July 25, 2016, co-defendant Rikki Alison Drennan, 27, of Parker, Ariz. was sentenced by Judge Steven P. Logan to 50 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and on June 27, 2016, co-defendant Arrow Nicholas Lopez, 19, of Parker, Ariz., was sentenced by Judge Logan to 32 months in prison, having received credit for 14 months served in tribal custody. All three defendants, who are members of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, had previously pleaded guilty to robbery.
On the morning of Dec. 2, 2014, J. Drennan’s employment was terminated at Woody’s gas station in Parker, Ariz., which is located on the Colorado River Indian Tribes Reservation. Later that evening J. Drennan drove R. Drennan and Lopez to Woody’s. R. Drennan and A. Lopez wore dark clothing and covered their faces with bandanas, and Lopez had a knife. When they entered the store to commit the robbery, Lopez held the knife inches from the victim’s waist and told the victim to empty the cash register drawers. R. Drennan stole alcohol and cigarettes and she and Lopez fled the store with approximately $850 in cash. R. Drennan and Lopez got into J. Drennan’s vehicle and fled from Woody’s until they were stopped by Parker Police.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the CRIT Police Department, and the Parker Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Christina J. Reid-Moore, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-0114-PHX-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-093_Lopez_etal
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Phoenix Woman Sentenced to over 12 Months for Failure to Pay Taxes and WagesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On Oct. 17, 2016, Ismary Diaz, 56, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 12 months and 1 day of imprisonment. Diaz had previously pleaded guilty to willful failure to collect or pay tax and failure to pay minimum wage.
Diaz, from at least 2009 through March, 2013, failed to file accurate tax returns, in order to hide the fact that she was illegally employing undocumented aliens in her five Phoenix area restaurants. Diaz also failed to pay her employees the federal minimum wage required by law. Diaz failed to pay over $288,000 in taxes and over $89,000 in wages.
The investigation in this case was conducted by a collaborative team consisting of multiple agencies, including IRS-CI, DOL, HSI, FBI and the Phoenix Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Monica Edelstein and Robert Brooks, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-455-PHX-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-091_Diaz
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Tohono O’odham Police Detective Receives Award from U.S. Attorney General for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Jessie Gonzales, a detective with the Tohono O’odham Police Department in Arizona, has received the U.S. Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing for criminal investigations.
“I am proud of Detective Gonzales and very pleased that he was recognized by the Attorney General for his efforts and accomplishments in combatting crime and enhancing public safety in the Tohono O’odham community,” said U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. “This is a very prestigious national award and Detective Gonzales is a deserving recipient.”
Detective Gonzales was recognized for his work in criminal investigations. Assigned to crimes against children and sex crimes, Detective Gonzales was sometimes the only detective investigating these cases on the Tohono O’odham reservation, which covers three counties. He consistently went above and beyond the call of duty when conducting investigations. He solved two rape cases during his time in the Criminal Investigations Division, one involving a 10-year-old victim and the other involving a domestic violence-related stabbing.
The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing recognizes individual state, local, or tribal sworn police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in community policing.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-087_AG_Award-Gonzales
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Arizona Indian Tribes and Agencies Awarded over $6.8 Million in Federal Grants to Assist Victims, Promote Public and Officer SafetyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo announced that over $6.8 million in federal grant funds have been awarded to a variety of Arizona-based Indian tribes and associatedagencies. The federal grant awards, which are individually summarized below, are intended to combat crime, assist victims of crime, and promote public and officer safety:
- Pascua Yaqui Tribe: Awarded a total of $1,609,919, through four awards, to support the Comprehensive Tribal Victim Assistance Program and other federal programs and to improve services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault/trafficking, and stalking. (Grant Nos. 2016-VR-GX-K009, 2016-AC-BX-0004, 2016-VI-GX-K006, 2016-TW-AX-0011.)
- Tohono O’odham Nation: Awarded $1,362,142, through three awards, to support the Comprehensive Tribal Victim Assistance Program and other federal programs. (Grant Nos. 2016-TW-AW-0009, 2016-VR-GX-K008, 2016-DJ-BX-0985.)
• Colorado River Indian Tribes: Awarded $991,092 to support the hiring of three officers and the purchase of additional equipment and training. (2016-CTAS-COPS.)
- Hopi Tribe: Awarded $679,065 to ensure crimes against women and girls are aggressively prosecuted. (Grant No. 2015-TW-AX-0037)
- Unified Solutions Tribal Community Development Group, Inc.: Awarded $500,000 to enhance tribal communities’ ability to provide comprehensive and culturally appropriate services to victims of crime, their families, and their communities. (Grant No. 2015-MU-GX-K074.)
- Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community: Awarded $450,000 to support the Comprehensive Tribal Victim Assistance Program. (Grant No. 2016-VR-GX-K006.)
- Hopi-Tewa Women’s Coalition to End Abuse: Awarded $336,976 to implement certain provisions of the Violence Against Women Act of 2000, the Justice Act of 2004, and Public Law No. 108-4-5. (Grant No. 2016-IW-AX-0015.)
- Southwest Indigenous Women’s Coalition: Awarded $336,976 to implement certain provisions of the Violence Against Women Act of 2000, the Justice Act of 2004, and Public Law No. 108-4-5. (Grant No. 2016-IW-AX-0012.)
- Yavapai-Apache Nation: Awarded $184,680 to support Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking and the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. (Grant No. 2016AW-BX-0024.)
- White Mountain Apache Tribe: Awarded $150,000 to support Sex Offender, Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking and the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. (Grant No. 2016-AW-BX-0025.)
- Salt River Police Department: Awarded a total of $141,032, through two awards, to support the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act and the Comprehensive Tribal Victim Assistance Program. (Grant Nos. 2016-AW-BX-0012, 2016-VR-GX-K006.)
- Navajo Nation: Awarded $48,831 to implement Moral Reconation Therapy in its probation and parole services. (2016-DJ-BX-0919.)
- San Carlos Apache Tribe Police Department: Awarded $22,246 for the purchase of ammunition, approved firearms, and training. (2016-DJ-BX-1000.)
- Gila River Indian Community: Awarded $20,150 to improve officer safety by purchasing ballistic vests. (2016-DJ-BX-0510.)
“These funds support the basic operational needs of each of the Arizona-based tribes and agencies named in this release,” said U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. “These grants will enhance our efforts to reduce crime and increase public safety in Indian Country. We encourage all agencies to be proactive and apply for future law enforcement grant funding through our Office of Justice Programs.”
The grant funds identified above were supplied by a variety of federal awarding agencies, all of which are components of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (“OJP”).
Information about Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov
Information about Bureau of Justice Assistance and its programs can be found at:
https://www.bja.gov/Default.aspxInformation on the Office on Violence against Women can be found at:
https://www.justice.gov/ovw/grant-programs
Information on the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency can be found at:
http://www.ojjdp.gov/
Tribal training and technical assistance
https://www.justice.gov/tribal/training-and-technical-assistance
Additional tribal training and technical assistance:
- Unified Solutions: http://www.unified-solutions.org/
- U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Indian Affairs: www.bia.gov
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-090_IC GRANTS
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Tohono O’odham Man to Serve 46 Months in Prison for Stabbing Another Tribal MemberRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, Lauterio Keanu Ace Valenzuela, 24, of Tucson, Ariz, a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 46 months in prison. Valenzuela had previously pleaded guilty to an assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
On Oct. 18, 2015, Valenzuela stabbed another Tohono O’odham Nation member following an argument. The incident occurred in the San Xavier District within the Tohono O’odham reservation. The victim was stabbed several times in the arm and suffered a laceration to the ear. The injuries were not life-threatening. Valenzuela was on federal supervision at the time of the assault. He absconded following the assault and was arrested two months later.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Tohono O’odham Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Raquel Arellano, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-2147-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-089_Valenzuela
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Yavapai Regional Medical Center to Pay $5.85 Million to Resolve False Claims AllegationsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yavapai Regional Medical Center (Yavapai), an Arizona not-for-profit community health system, has agreed to pay the United States $5.85 million to resolve claims that it violated the False Claims Act by misreporting data about the hours worked by its employees on its annual cost reports, which improperly inflated the amount of money it received from the Medicare program.
“The United States Attorney’s Office has invested and will continue to invest significant time, effort, and resources in successfully enforcing the False Claims Act to hold health care providers, including hospital systems, accountable for false billings,” said U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. “False bills to the Medicare program threaten the viability and effectiveness of the program, undermine public confidence, waste precious taxpayer dollars, and will not be tolerated.”
“Falsifying records and extracting unwarranted funds from Medicare will be detected and stopped,” said Christian J. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge for the Los Angeles Region of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “Medicare funds are intended to care for patients, not line the pockets of providers who submit false claims.”
The United States alleged that between 2006 and 2009, Yavapai misreported the hours worked by its employees, which inflated the wage index for the Prescott, Arizona area. The United States alleged that the artificially inflated wage index was used by the Medicare program when it calculated the amount of the payments it made to Yavapai. The United States also alleged that as a result of Yavapai’s false claims, federal health care programs paid substantially more than was warranted. The settlement is neither an admission of liability by Yavapai, nor is it a concession by the United States that its claims are not well founded.
The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed in April 2016 by Gregory Kuzma under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private citizens to bring civil actions on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona and is captioned United States ex rel. Kuzma v. Yavapai Regional Medical Center (CV-16-08072-PCT-JAT). Mr. Kuzma will receive $1.17 million as his share of the settlement payment that resolves the qui tam suit he filed.
The case was handled by the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, and the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General.
Individuals with information regarding fraud, waste, or abuse related to Medicare or other federal programs are encouraged to file a complaint with the United States Attorney’s Office through the office’s website, http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/, or by calling (602) 514-7500.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-088_ Yavapai Regional Medical Center
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Arizona Agencies Awarded over $9 Million in Federal Grants to Combat Crime, Assist Victims, and Promote Public and Officer Safety.Read the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo announced that over $9 million in federal grant funds have been awarded to a variety of Arizona-based state, local, and non-profit organizations. The federal grant awards, which are individually summarized below, are intended to combat crime, assist victims of crime, and promote public and officer safety:
• Rocky Mountain Information Network: Awarded $4,740,957 to offer support to regional law enforcement agencies, critical analytical and investigative support services, and de-confliction to enhance officer safety. (Grant No. 2015-RS-CX-0003)
• Maricopa County: Awarded $1,064,609 to support its probation, prosecution, enforcement, forensic, and prevention programs, with the goal of preventing and controlling crime and increasing officer safety. (Grant No. 2016-DJ-BX-0801)
• Arizona Governor’s Office: Awarded $828,727 to support its Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention program. (Grant No. 2016-JF-FX-0013)
• Arizona Department of Corrections: Awarded $742,528 to assist in formulating a comprehensive response to the increasing number of people who are released from prison and jails. (Grant No. 2016-RV-BX-0001)
• Against Abuse, Inc.: Awarded $599,494 to improve the response of civil and criminal systems to families of domestic violence. (Grant No. 2016-FJ-AX-00002)
• Southwest Center for Law and Policy: Awarded $450,000 to assist and support victims of crime. (Grant No. 2016-TA-AX-K014)
• National Advocacy & Training Network: Awarded $349,445 to provide aid to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalkers. (Grant No. 2016-WH-AX0013)
• Arizona Coalition To End Sexual Assault And Domestic Violence: Awarded $239,532 to administer the State and Territorial Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Coalition Program. (Grant No. 2016-MU-AX-0002)
“These funds support the basic operational needs of each of the individual agencies named in this release, within our District,” said U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. “These grants will enhance our District’s efforts to reduce crime and increase public safety. We encourage all agencies to be proactive and apply for future law enforcement grant funding through our Office of Justice Programs.”
The grant funds identified above were supplied by a variety of federal awarding agencies, all of which are components of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (“OJP”).
Information about Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov
Information about Bureau of Justice Assistance and its programs can be found at:
https://www.bja.gov/Default.aspxInformation on the Office on Violence against Women can be found at:
https://www.justice.gov/ovw/grant-programs
Information on the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency can be found at:
http://www.ojjdp.gov/
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-085_GEN GRANTS _1
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