District of Arizona

PHOENIX – Today, Roneldo James, 28, of Pinon, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to eight years of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. James had previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. James committed the offense with his two brothers, Delfred Lee and Milfred James, who were previously sentenced to seven and six years of imprisonment, respectively, for their roles in the offense.

 

     On Dec. 1, 2015, James and his brothers held a juvenile victim and others at gunpoint against their will in a Pinon, Ariz. residence on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. All parties involved are members of the Navajo Nation. All three brothers are affiliated with the Red Nation Warriors street gang.

 

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

 

CASE NUMBER: CR-16-8167-PCT-GMS

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-078_James

 

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PHOENIX – On Aug. 16, 2017, a Phoenix grand jury returned an indictment charging Fanny Madrigal-Lopez, 45, of Peoria, Ariz., with federal 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. Madrigal-Lopez is currently being detained, pending a Detention Hearing scheduled for Aug. 24, 2017.

 

     Specifically, it is alleged that, on Nov. 16, 2016, Madrigal-Lopez distributed fentanyl to a man who later died from ingesting it. It is further alleged that Madrigal-Lopez used her residence for the purpose of distributing fentanyl and oxycodone from the summer of 2016 through Nov. 16, 2016.

 

     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 with the assistance of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, the Peoria Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. The prosecution is being handled by Carolina Escalante Konti and D. J. Pashayan, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

 

 

CASE NUMBER: CR-17-01110-PHX-DLR

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-077_Madrigal-Lopez

 

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PHOENIX– Yesterday, Paula Anthony, 65, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 36 months in prison for her role in a stolen identity and money laundering scheme.

 

     Anthony, formerly a registered tax return preparer, was found guilty following trial on multiple counts, including conspiracy, mail fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Anthony was a key participant in the scheme, in which the conspirators stole the identities of dozens of taxpayers and filed fabricated income tax returns to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax refunds in the victims’ names. Anthony and others obtained the fraudulent refunds through online accounts set up with prepaid debit cards and utilized multiple bank accounts to convert the refund money into cash. Once Anthony obtained the cash, she, or people she recruited, laundered the money out of the United States by wiring most of the funds to Nigeria.

 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations. The prosecution was handled by Monica Edelstein and William Voit, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

 

 

CASE NUMBER: CR-16-00083-PHX-DLR

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-068_Anthony

 

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PHOENIX– Yesterday, Reed O’Brien Thomas, Jr., 27, from Dennehotso, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 13 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Thomas had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer.

 

     The investigation revealed that on August 17, 2016, Navajo Nation police officers responded to a domestic dispute on the Navajo Indian Reservation. Thomas fought with the officers, and during the struggle, one of the officers sustained a broken finger. Thomas is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. The officers at the time were delegated authority to enforce federal law.

 

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

 

CASE NUMBER: CR-16-08219-PCT-GMS

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-070_Thomas

 

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PHOENIX – Yesterday, Ashley Attson, 23, of Chinle, Ariz., an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David C. Campbell to 20 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for killing her 17-month-old daughter.

 

     Attson previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. The facts showed that she put her child in a stroller, pushed her into the desert, and left the child for four days and nights.  Over the next few days, she met friends for ice cream and posted pictures of herself on Facebook. When she returned, the child was dead. Two days after finding her deceased child, Attson returned for the body, put it into a trash bag, and buried it in an animal hole. The child was born with methamphetamine in her system and had been in the custody of tribal social services throughout most of her life. Attson regained custody of her child approximately two months before the homicide.

 

     When announcing the 20-year sentence, Judge Campbell said that this was an “intentional, cold-hearted, horrendous killing of an innocent child.”

 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Navajo Nation Department of Law Enforcement. The prosecution was handled by Sharon K. Sexton and Christine Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

 

CASE NUMBER: CR-16-08234-DGC-PCT

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-069_Attson

 

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     TUCSON, Ariz. – This week, Alvin Edison Moreno, 53, of Sells, Ariz., a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Raner C. Collins to 37 months in prison. Moreno had previously pleaded guilty to one count of abusive sexual contact of a minor. The minor victim is also a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Moreno will be placed on lifetime federal supervision and be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

 

     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 Charisse Arce and Micah Schmit, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.

 

CASE NUMBER: CR-16-0636-TUC-RCC-JR

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-065_Moreno

 

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TUCSON, Ariz. – On July 25, 2017, Patrick Paul Charley, 39, of Ajo, Ariz., and a member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to concurrent terms of imprisonment for sexual offenses committed against two adult members of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Charley had previously pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse committed in 2014 and was sentenced to 43 months’ imprisonment. Charley was also sentenced to a term of 16 months’ imprisonment for his plea of guilty to one count of abusive sexual contact from a 2011 incident.

 

     After completing his imprisonment, Charley will be placed on lifetime federal supervision and will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

 

     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 Micah Schmit, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

 

CASE NUMBERS: CR-16-0528-TUC-JGZ and CR-16-0529-TUC-JGZ

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-064_Charley

 

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PHOENIX – Yesterday, Jerrison Begay, 33, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton to 96 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Begay had previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. In January, Begay’s co-defendant, Shelton Six, 28, of Sanders, Ariz., was sentenced by Judge Bolton to concurrent terms of 132 months and 78 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Six had previously pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter and one count of assault by strangling or suffocating, arising out of two separate cases.

 

     On or between Dec. 2, 2015, and Dec. 3, 2015, Six became angry with the victim and began physically assaulting him. Begay participated in the assault. The victim, a member of the Navajo Nation, later died of blunt force injuries and suffocation and strangulation. Both Six and Begay are also members of the Navajo Nation.

 

     On Feb. 14, 2016, Six assaulted a different victim, by threatening and strangling the victim with his hands, making it difficult to breathe. That 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 Department of Public Safety. The prosecution was handled by Dimitra Sampson and Christina Covault, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

 

CASE NUMBERS: CR-16-8050-PCT-SRB

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-063_Six_etal

 

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PHOENIX – Today, Rosalee Vavages, 55, of Sacaton, Ariz., a member of the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 63 months in prison. Vavegas had previously pleaded guilty to child abuse, likely to produce death or serious bodily injury. Previously, co-defendant Ernestine Jefferson, 74, a member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced to 30 months in prison, also after pleading guilty to child abuse. Victims are current members of the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation and the offenses occurred on the Gila River Indian Community.

 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Raynette Logan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

 

CASE NUMBER: CR-16-1242-PHX-JJT

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-059_Vavages

 

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PHOENIX – Yesterday, Anthony Erwin Jackson, Sr., 57, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Rayes to 18 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Jackson had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor.

 

     The evidence showed that Jackson sexually abused a 9-year-old victim in 1997 and a 6-year-old victim in 1998 while living on the Gila River Indian Community. Jackson and the victims are enrolled members of the Gila River Indian Community.

 

     Judge Rayes increased Jackson’s sentence to account for allegations that Jackson had sexually abused at least six other minor victims over a period of 30 years and his corresponding danger to the community.

 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Christine Keller and Dimitra Sampson, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

 

CASE NUMBER: CR-17-00059-PHX-DLR

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-056_Jackson

 

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PHOENIX – Yesterday, Michael Randolph Garcia, 26, of Camp Verde, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to concurrent terms of 38 months and 33 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. On March 22, 2017, Garcia had previously pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of assault by strangling or suffocating, arising out of two separate cases.

 

     On or about July 5, 2013, Garcia, a member of the Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians, assaulted a victim with a golf club. As a result, the victim, a member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, suffered bodily injury.

 

     On or between Feb. 7 and Feb. 8, 2016, Garcia assaulted a different victim, also a member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, in front of a young child.

 

     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 NUMBERS: CR-16-8058-PCT-DJH; CR-16-8196-PCT-DJH

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-057_Garcia

 

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PHOENIX – On June 19, 2017, Beatrice Denise Welsh, 40, of Parker, Ariz., a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 42 months in prison. Welsh was found guilty by a federal jury of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

 

     Welsh was driving on the Colorado River Indian Tribes Reservation, after consuming alcohol. She knew her vehicle had faulty brakes. Welsh took back dirt roads and sped around a ninety degree corner at a speed between fifty-three and fifty-seven miles per hour. The pickup rolled and her passenger, a non-tribal member, was ejected and is permanently paralyzed.

 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Colorado River Indian Tribal Police. The prosecution was handled by Abbie Broughton Marsh and Ryan Powell, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

 

CASE NUMBER: CR-16-325-PHX-DLR

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-055_Welsh

 

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TUCSON, Ariz. – On June 12, 2017, Ian Joseph Ritzer, 34, of Sierra Vista, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez to 25 years in prison to be followed by lifetime supervised release. Ritzer had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography, one count of extortion, and one count of attempted enticement of a minor. Ritzer’s term of lifetime supervised release will include stringent sex offender conditions and he will be required to register as a sex offender.

 

     While at work as a civilian employee of the U.S. Army, Ritzer used the internet to meet young girls on social media and other chat room websites. Ritzer then communicated with numerous girls through email and text messages. Specifically, Ritzer communicated with a thirteen-year-old girl in Illinois and a fourteen-year-old girl in Michigan. During their communications, Ritzer manipulated the girls by pretending to be a minor child, by engaging in a relationship with them, and then demanding that they send him sexually explicit photos. If the girls did not comply with his requests, Ritzer threatened to post their images, commit suicide, or other forms of retribution. It is suspected that Ritzer had over 100 victims. Further, Ritzer travelled to Michigan to meet the minor child with whom he was communicating.

 

     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 U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Erica L. Seger, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

 

CASE NUMBER: CR-14-01918-TUC

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-053_Ritzer

 

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TUCSON, Ariz. – On June 7, 2017, Marvin Richie Lewis, Jr., 34, of Sells, Ariz., a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Frank R. Zapata to 37 months in prison. Lewis had previously pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a minor, who is also a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Lewis will be placed on lifetime federal supervision and be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

 

     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 Micah Schmit, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

 

CASE NUMBER: CR-16-0637-TUC-FRZ-BPV

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-052_Lewis

 

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PHOENIX – Yesterday, Jaime Villa, 45, of Maricopa, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Neil V. Wake to over 132 years of imprisonment. Villa was found guilty by a federal jury on Dec. 7, 2016, of six bank robberies and six accompanying charges of using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.

 

     The six armed bank robberies dated back to 2010. Each time, Villa brandished a firearm toward the tellers. Villa was caught on Aug. 24, 2015, the date of the last robbery, by the Chandler Police Department. During the pursuit, Villa fired his firearm at two uniformed Chandler Police Department officers. Under federal law, Villa faced a mandatory-minimum sentence of at least 132 years due to the presence of six firearm-related counts of conviction.

 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Chandler Police Department, the Mesa Police Department, the Tempe Police Department, the Apache Junction Police Department, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Phoenix Police Department, the Scottsdale Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Bank Robbery Task Force. The prosecution was handled by Gayle L. Helart, Assistant U.S. Attorney, and Brett A. Day, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

 

CASE NUMBER: CR-2:15-01149-NVW

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-051_ Villa

 

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PHOENIX - On June 5, 2017, Jordan Lee Etzel, 25, of Fort McDowell, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Neil V. Wake to 41 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He had previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.

 

     The evidence showed that on Jan. 4, 2016, Etzel struck the victim repeatedly with a golf club, which broke during the assault. The victim’s wounds required immediate medical attention. The victim is an enrolled member of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation; Etzel is not.

 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Fort McDowell Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Gayle L. Helart, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

 

CASE NUMBER: CR-16-00918-NVW

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-050_ Etzel

 

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PHOENIX – Today, Donna Karen Holyan, 50, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 28 months in prison, followed by three years’ supervised release. Holyan had previously pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

 

     The evidence showed that Holyan stabbed the victim approximately four times at a grocery store on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. Both Holyan and the victim are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.

 

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

 

 

CASE NUMBER: CR-16-08245-PCT-JJT

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-046_Holyan

 

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PHOENIX– This week, Melvin C. Yazzie, 40, of Hotevilla, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 90 month of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Yazzie had previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.

 

     On Sept. 8, 2015, Yazzie engaged in a physical fight with the victim near Ft. Defiance, Ariz. During the fight, Yazzie stabbed the victim with a knife eighteen times. The victim survived and was hospitalized for numerous days. The victim and Yazzie are both enrolled members of the Navajo Nation.

 

     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-16-08022-PCT-DLR

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-045_YAZZIE

 

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U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE ANNOUNCES

“BE HERE FOR KIDS”

CHILD SAFETY EVENT IN PHOENIX

 

     PHOENIX- The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, is hosting the ‘Be Here for Kids’ event on Thursday, May 25th, 2017 at the Desert Ridge Marketplace in Phoenix. The event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

 

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

 

     This year’s event is being presented in partnership with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, Maricopa County Victim Services, Phoenix Police Department, Department of Homeland Security, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, BOLO Cop, Camelback Daylight #75, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Red Means Stop Traffic Safety Alliance.

     The Phoenix Police Department will be providing an armored vehicle from the bomb squad and officers from its motorcycle unit. The U.S. Marshals Service will be introducing its Marshal dog (Joy). Maricopa Victim Services will be introducing its court dog. Digital child identification kits will be provided free of charge to children who attend.

 

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

 

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-044_Be Here for Kids_Phx

 

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PHOENIX – On May 9, 2017, D’Juan Manuel Pizarro, 27, of Steamboat, Ariz., and a member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 120 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Pizarro had previously pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

 

     On June 4, 2016, Pizarro stabbed the victim, also an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, to death. The incident occurred on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.

 

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

 

CASE NUMBER: CR-16-8148-DGC

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-042_Pizarro

 

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PHOENIX – Today, LuCinda Marie Burlison, 42, of Lynnwood, Wash., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow. Burlison had previously pleaded guilty to high-speed flight from an immigration checkpoint.

 

     On Jan. 27, 2017, Burlison was selected for further inspection at the Border Patrol checkpoint on State Route 85 near Gila Bend, Ariz. When agents told Burlison they were going to have a narcotic detection dog sniff the air around her vehicle, Burlison “peeled out” and fled the checkpoint at a high rate of speed. Burlison drove at speeds over 80 miles per hour and evaded federal agents for approximately 20 miles.

 

     ADVISORY - Fleeing from an immigration checkpoint in excess of the speed limit is a felony offense that carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine. When an individual flees a checkpoint, the public and law enforcement agents are placed at a substantial risk of being struck by the fleeing vehicle. In the past year, at least seven individuals have been prosecuted and convicted for felonies in the District of Arizona after fleeing immigration checkpoints.

 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from Border Patrol. The prosecution was handled by Matthew Binford, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

 

CASE NUMBER: CR-173-73-GMS

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-040_ Burlison

 

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TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, Ruben Betancourt-Hernandez, 29, of Tuxpan, Veracruz, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 78 months of imprisonment. Betancourt-Hernandez had previously pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and to the use of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense.

 

     On Sept. 13, 2016, Border Patrol agents near Sonoita, Ariz., tracked a group of five suspected narcotic smugglers. Agents were able to apprehend two men, who were wearing camouflage shirts and pants. Nearby, agents located two bundles of marijuana, an AR-15 style rifle, and an AK-47 style rifle. Agents seized both rifles, which were loaded, extra magazines, and over 300 rounds of ammunition at the scene. During his guilty plea, Betancourt-Hernandez admitted that he intended to deliver the marijuana to other members of the drug trafficking organization and that he carried the AR-15 style rifle in order to protect the drug load.

 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security- Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Border Patrol. The prosecution was handled by Lawrence C. Lee, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

 

CASE NUMBER: CR-16-01935 TUC JGZ (JR)

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-041_ Betancourt-Hernandez

 

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PHOENIX – On May 1, 2017, John Albert Campos, Sr., 49, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton to six consecutive natural life sentences with no possibility of parole. Campos had previously pleaded guilty to carjacking resulting in death, use of firearm during a crime of violence resulting in death, and various other counts of carjacking, use of a firearm during a crime of violence, and Hobbs Act robbery.

 

     “The defendant was appropriately sentenced to life in prison for his senseless crimes, which resulted in the death of an innocent victim who had the terrible misfortune to be in the wrong place at the wrong time,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange.

 

     "Campos’ actions have had a devastating, life-long impact on the victim’s family. The FBI will continue to work with our partner agencies to pursue justice for all victims. This sentence was the result of outstanding efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the Phoenix Police Department, the Tempe Police Department, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, and the Gila River Police Department." said FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Deleon.

 

     On Dec. 24, 2015, Campos carjacked three victims in the parking lot of the Wild Horse Pass Casino on the Gila River Indian Community. Campos shot and killed one of the victims, a retired California police officer. When a fourth man arrived at the scene and attempted to assist the other victims, Campos proceeded to carjack him while brandishing a firearm. The investigation revealed that Campos also committed six armed robberies of convenience stores, grocery stores, and restaurants in Phoenix and Tempe in the two days before the carjackings.

 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Gila River Police Department, the Phoenix Police Department, and the Tempe Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Dimitra H. Sampson and Keith E. Vercauteren, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

 

CASE NUMBER: CR-16-00011-PHX-SRB

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-039_Campos

 

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TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, Peter Steve Plesinger, 55, of Sahuarita, Ariz., and Stephen Edward Smith, 63, of Tucson, Ariz., were sentenced by U.S. District Judge James A. Soto to 87 months and 102 months, respectively, in prison. Both men had previously pleaded guilty to exportation of munitions from the United States to Hong Kong, dealing firearms without a license, and money laundering. Two other defendants, Irina Cvetkovic and Earl Richmond, both of Sahuarita, Ariz., also were charged and convicted for their lessor roles in the conspiracy.

 

     On June 27, 2014, law enforcement authorities in Hong Kong intercepted a package containing 139 rounds of ammunition that had been shipped from Arizona by Plesinger. A search of the intended recipient’s Hong Kong residence resulted in the recovery of three rifles, two pistols, four rifle barrels, a silencer, and at least 9,000 rounds of ammunition. Further investigation revealed that Plesinger had previously shipped those items to Hong Kong in packages with innocuous labels, that Plesinger had been paid at least $64,500 to ship large quantities of firearms, ammunition, and silencers to Hong Kong, and that Smith had been paid at least $59,550 for making similar shipments.

 

     “The sentences imposed in this case should send a strong message to those who would consider illegally exporting firearms, ammunition, or silencers to other countries,” stated Acting United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange. “We will continue to work diligently with our national and international partners to vigorously investigate and prosecute such conduct.”

 

     "I wish to compliment the tenacity of the ATF agents and prosecuting attorneys that brought this case to a successful conclusion. Our agents left no stone unturned as they doggedly pursued these criminals and brought them to justice. ATF will continue our role in enforcing violations of the federal firearms and explosives laws both domestically and in this case internationally," stated Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Mark Murray.

 

     "HSI with our domestic and international law enforcement partners, is dedicated to making communities safer by bringing criminals to justice. The sentences of the defendants is a direct result of the steadfast efforts of federal agents to prevent firearms from falling into the hands of transnational criminal organizations who pose a threat to public safety both here and abroad,” said Scott Brown, special agent in charge of HSI Phoenix.

 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, United States Customs and Border Protection (Los Angeles), the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, the Hong Kong Police Force, and the Hong Kong Department of Justice. The prosecution was handled by Serra M. Tsethlikai and Angela Martinez, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson, with substantial assistance from the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.

 

CASE NUMBER: CR-14-1362-TUC-JAS

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-038_Plesinger et al

 

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PHOENIX – On April 24, 2017, Elseddig Elmarioud Musa, 43, of Chandler, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 57 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. Musa also was ordered to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution. Musa was convicted by a jury of 35 counts of health care fraud and four counts of aggravated identity theft.

 

     Musa falsely billed Arizona’s Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) for thousands of medical transports that never occurred, generating more than a million dollars in fraudulent payments from AHCCCS. AHCCCS is Arizona’s Medicaid agency that offers health care programs to serve Arizona residents who meet certain income and other requirements. owned and operated Arizona One Medical Transportation LLC, which purported to provide non-emergency medical transportation for AHCCCS recipients on the Navajo reservation. From January 2012 through June 2014, ’s company submitted more than 15,000 false claims to AHCCCS for medical transports that never occurred, generating approximately $1,203,680.08 in fraudulent payments from AHCCCS to Musa.

 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and AHCCCS-OIG. The prosecution was handled by Jillian Besancon and Peter Sexton, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

 

CASE NUMBER: CR-15-01265-DLR-PHX

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-037_Musa

 

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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, 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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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, 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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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

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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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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.

     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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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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