District of Arizona
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Tucson City Court Receives Nearly $500,000 in Federal Grant Money to Support Domestic Violence Court EffortsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo announced that $497,062 in additional grant funds have been made available to the Tucson City Court in support of its Domestic Violence Court, with the goal of administering justice, strengthening services to victims of violence, and reducing violence against women. The grant funds were awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, a component of the U.S. Department of Justice.
“I am pleased to announce that the Justice Department has awarded such significant funding to the Tucson City Court. This grant will enable the Tucson City Court to provide assistance that is crucial to families that find themselves in the court system struggling to recover and heal from the devastation of domestic violence.” said U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. “We encourage all agencies to be proactive and apply for future grant funding through our Office on Violence Against Women.”
Additional information about the Office on Violence Against Women and its programs is available at: http://www.justice.gov/ovw.
Information about the U.S. Department of Justice and its programs can be found at:http://www.justice.gov/.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-067_TUCSON C. COURT GRANT (2015-FJ-AX-0008)
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Arizona Man and U.S. Citizen Residing in Germany Convicted of Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
Two men were convicted today following a five-day jury trial in the District of Arizona for the sexual assault of a 17-year-old female in Landstuhl, Germany.
Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo of the District of Arizona, Special Agent James Boerner of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Command (CID), Special Agent in Charge Douglas G. Price of the FBI’s Phoenix Division and Assistant Director in Charge Andrew McCabe of the FBI’s Washington, D.C., Field Office made the announcement.
Joseph S. Martin, 20, of Peoria, Arizona, and Christopher J. Heikkila, 21, a U.S. citizen residing in Weilerbach, Germany, were each convicted of one count of sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact. The sentencing hearing for Martin and Heikkila is scheduled for Nov. 16, 2015, before U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell of the District of Arizona, who presided over the trial.
According to the evidence presented at trial, on or about Oct. 19, 2013, Martin and Heikkila sexually assaulted a 17-year-old female in Landstuhl while she was incapacitated. At the time, Martin and Heikkila were employees of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service on Ramstein Air Force Base in Ramstein, Germany, as well as dependents of civilian employees of the military. The Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act gives U.S. federal courts jurisdiction over felonies committed abroad by certain persons employed by or accompanying the U.S. military.
The trial evidence showed that, beginning on or before Oct. 13, 2013, Martin and Heikkila used social media websites to post comments and exchange a series of messages specifically targeting the victim and planning the sexual assault. The evidence further demonstrated that two men continued discussing the assault on social media after it occurred.
The case was investigated by Army CID and the FBI’s Phoenix Division and Washington Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Christine Duey and Michael Sheckels of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph E. Koehler of the District of Arizona.
Gila River Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for StabbingRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yesterday, Kenneth Wayne Morgan, Jr., 38, of Blackwater, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 108 months in prison. On April 30, 2015, Morgan was found guilty by a jury of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
On Jan. 29, 2014, Morgan entered a home on the Gila River Indian Community and stabbed a man in the head, causing a 10 cm. gash from the victim’s temple through his ear. The victim was air-evacuated to a local hospital where he was treated for the life threatening injury. Both Morgan and the victim are members of the Gila River Indian Community.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Raynette Logan and Brooke Mickelson, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-01126-PHX-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-066_Morgan
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Tohono O’odham Receives Nearly $215,000 in Federal Grant Money to Support Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA)Read the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo announced that $214,481 in additional grant funds will be made available to the Tohono O’odham Nation to support, maintain, and refine jurisdiction-wide SORNA programs and functions. These funds will assist in improving victim notification services and in increasing service capacity by hiring a SORNA specialist. The grant funds were awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (“BJA”), which is a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (“OJP”).
“We are committed to protecting the public from convicted sex offenders and offenders against children,” said U.S. Attorney Leonardo. “We encourage all agencies to be proactive and apply for future grant funding through our Office of Justice Programs.”
Additional information about BJA and its programs is available at: https://www.bja.gov/Default.aspx
Information about OJP and its programs can be found at:http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-065_TOHONO O GRANT (2015-AW-BX-0011)
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Cochise County Receives More Than $25,000 in Federal Money to Promote Law Enforcement EffortsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo announced that $25,189 in additional federal funds has been awarded to the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office to fund equipment for law enforcement, with the goal of preventing and controlling crime and increasing officer safety. The grant funds are supplied by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (“BJA”), which is a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (“OJP”).
“These funds support the basic operational law enforcement needs of the county,” said U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. “This grant will enhance Cochise County’s efforts to increase officer readiness, 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.”
Additional information about BJA and its programs is available at: https://www.bja.gov/Default.aspx
Information about OJP and its programs can be found at:http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-064_COCHISE GRANT (2015-DJ-BX-0975)
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Tucson Man Convicted of 1998 Child Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, Christopher James Preston, 48, of Tucson, Ariz., a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, was found guilty of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child by a federal jury. The case was tried before U.S. District Judge James A. Soto on Aug. 10-18, 2015. Preston is being held after trial and is set for sentencing on Oct. 26, 2015.
The evidence at trial showed that in the summer of 1998, Preston sexually abused the minor victim on the Tohono O’odham reservation. At the time, Preston was the victim’s little league coach.
A conviction for aggravated sexual abuse of a child carries a maximum penalty of lifetime incarceration.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Tohono O’odham Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Matthew C. Cassell and Rui Wang, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-13-1851-TUC-JAS-BPV
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-063_Preston
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
PHOENIX– Today, Raul Gutierrez-Cisneros, 43, of Phoenix, Ariz., pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
In this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force-led (OCDETF) undercover investigation, Gutierrez-Cisneros engaged in negotiations in February 2015 during which he agreed to sell 60 pounds of methamphetamine. Soon afterward, Gutierrez-Cisneros arranged for two of his associates, one of whom chose to bring a loaded Browning 9mm pistol, to deliver approximately 18 pounds of methamphetamine to a Phoenix hotel. Upon their arrival at the hotel, the FBI arrested all three men and seized the methamphetamine and the pistol.
Gutierrez-Cisneros’s conviction for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, a maximum fine of $10,000,000, or both.
Sentencing is set before Judge Susan R. Bolton on Nov. 2, 2015 at 1:30 P.M.
The OCDETF investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations. The prosecution is being handled by Don Pashayan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, and Dominique Park, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Assistant Chief Counsel, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-00335-001-PHX-SRB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-062_Gutierrez-Cisneros
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Bullhead City Physician to Pay $207,000 to Resolve False Claims AllegationsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Dr. Bashir Azher, M.D., 69, an Arizona-licensed physician practicing in Bullhead City, Ariz., has agreed to pay the United States $207,988 to resolve civil allegations that he violated the federal False Claims Act by submitting false bills to Medicare for prostate laser ablation procedures, commonly known as Green Light prostatectomies.
“This settlement is the latest of our office’s longstanding and ongoing efforts to protect taxpayer dollars and recoup them when misappropriated,” said United States Attorney John S. Leonardo.
“When physicians fail to meet professionally recognized standards of care while providing medically unnecessary procedures, taxpayers’ dollars are wasted and the public’s trust in the medical profession is at risk,” said Timothy B. DeFrancesca, Acting Special Agent in Charge for the Los Angeles Region of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “Our agents will continue to hold health care providers accountable for improper claims.”
The settlement agreement resolves allegations that from February 2006 through July 2014, Dr. Azher knowingly submitted materially false claims for reimbursement for prostate laser ablation procedures that were too short to generate a therapeutic benefit, failed to meet professionally recognized standards of care, were medically unnecessary, and/or violated applicable Medicare regulations. The settlement is neither an admission of liability by Dr. Azher nor a concession by the United States that its claims are unfounded.
The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed in June 2014 by Dr. Arnaldo Trabucco, M.D., 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 obtained. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona and is captioned United States ex rel. Trabucco v. PHC Fort Mohave, Inc., et al. (CV-14-8094-PCT-DGC). Dr. Trabucco will receive a share of the settlement payment that resolves the qui tam suit he filed.
The case was investigated by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona and the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
CASE NUMBER: CV-14-8094-PCT-DGC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-061_ Azher
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Yuma Receives Nearly $43,000 in Federal Grant Money to Promote Law Enforcement EffortsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo announced that $42,924 in additional grant funds would be made available to law enforcement offices in Yuma to support internet access, with the goal of reducing crime and increasing officer safety. The grant funds were awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (“BJA”), which is a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (“OJP”).
“Supporting our local law enforcement agencies throughout Arizona is a primary goal of our office,” said U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. “We encourage all agencies to be proactive and apply for future grant funding through our Office of Justice Programs.”
Additional information about BJA and its programs is available at: https://www.bja.gov/Default.aspx
Information about OJP and its programs can be found at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-058_YUMA GRANT (2015-DJ-BX-0578)
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Maricopa County Receives More Than $950,000 in Federal Money to Promote Law Enforcement EffortsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo announced that $952,411 in additional federal funds has been awarded to Maricopa County to fund personnel, equipment, supplies, consultants, and contractors to support probation, prosecution, enforcement, forensic, and prevention programs, with the goal of preventing and controlling crime and increasing officer safety. The grant funds are supplied by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (“BJA”), which is a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (“OJP”).
“These funds support the basic operational needs of the county,” said U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. “This grant will enhance Maricopa County’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.”
Additional information about BJA and its programs is available at: https://www.bja.gov/Default.aspx
Information about OJP and its programs can be found at:http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-059_MARICOPA GRANT (2015-DJ-BX-0227)
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Defendant Sentenced for Sexual Abuse on Lake Powell in 2002Read the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yesterday, Blain Arno Pannell, 44, of Taylorsville, Utah, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton to 30 months’ imprisonment and required to register as a sex offender. Pannell previously pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse.
“Today’s outcome is a testament to the dedicated work of the National Park Service in diligently investigating a pattern of misconduct that had occurred many years earlier,” said U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. “The conviction and sentence should help bring some measure of justice to the victims.”
The evidence presented at sentencing indicated that, beginning around 2002, the defendant engaged in a sexual relationship with his then 16-year-old niece. On one occasion in June 2002, the defendant took his niece and a 17-year-old nephew out on his boat on Lake Powell, provided them with alcohol and marijuana, and then engaged in sexual contact with both of them. The matter was not reported to law enforcement until 2010.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the National Park Service, Investigative Services Branch. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick Schneider and Dimitra Sampson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-08158-SRB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-057_Pannell
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Yuma and Cochise Counties Have Accepted over $3 Million in Federal Grant Money Since 2010Read the Press Release
PHOENIX – Governor Ducey recently announced that $557,000 in additional funds would be made available to the sheriff’s offices in Yuma and Cochise Counties to assist with the cost of border law enforcement.
Law enforcement along the border is also a high priority of the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona. Since 2010, Yuma County was awarded over $3 million in grant money from the DOJ and Cochise County was awarded over $200,000 in such grant money. The four border counties in Arizona received additional law enforcement support in the form of millions of dollars in DOJ grants and other federal funding since 2010.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-055_AZ GRANTS
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Arizona-Based Network Receives $4 Million Federal Grant to Support Collaborative Law Enforcement EffortsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo announced that the Rocky Mountain Information Network (“RMIN”), which is based in Phoenix, Ariz., has been chosen to receive a $4,065,855 grant from the Office of Justice Programs, which is a component of the U.S. Department of Justice.
The RMIN offers a variety of services and support to federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and parts of Canada. These services and support include a secure information-sharing and communications system. The RMIN supports efforts to eradicate organized and violent crime, gang activity, terrorism, human trafficking, identity theft, and other regional priorities.
“It is extremely rewarding to see that, despite this time of financial constraints, we are able to continue to support the highest priorities of our regional law enforcement partners,” stated U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. “This award recognizes the continued need for greater collaboration between law enforcement agencies at every level. I congratulate the Rocky Mountain Information Network on this well-deserved award.”
Additional information about BJA and its programs is at: https://www.bja.gov/Default.aspx
Information about OJP and its programs can be found at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-056_Rocky Mtn. Grant
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Tucson Heroin Trafficker Sentenced over 19 YearsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, Victor Corral, Jr., 36, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson to 235 months’ imprisonment. Corral previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin (greater than 90 kilograms) and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.
A joint state and federal task force investigation into a Mexican based drug trafficking organization led to the identification of co-conspirators working out of Tucson, Ariz. The Tucson cell of the organization was responsible for the importation and distribution of kilogram quantities of heroin throughout the western United States, including Denver, Colo. and Portland, Ore. Working from Tucson, Corral supervised and managed other co-conspirators in the importation and further distribution of that heroin. Additionally, Corral was responsible for receipt, transport, and smuggling of the bulk cash drug proceeds in excess of a million dollars back into Mexico. Much of the heroin imported and distributed by Corral and the drug trafficking organization, was “white” heroin, with the last seizure in the case weighing approximately 89 pounds with a purity of 90%.
The investigation in this case was conducted by DEA-Tucson, HSI-Tucson, Tucson Police Department, and the Counter Narcotics Alliance. The prosecution was handled by Anthony E. Maingot, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-01156-CKJ (CRP)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-054_Corral
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
New York Man Charged with Making Threatening Phone Calls to Flagstaff Elementary SchoolsRead the Press Release
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Viktor Lisnyak, 29, of Staten Island, N.Y., was arrested by federal agents on July 17, 2015, and charged via complaint with five counts of transmitting threatening communications in interstate commerce.
The affidavit supporting the complaint alleges that, on multiple occasions between March 2015 and May 2015, an unknown caller placed telephone calls to elementary schools in Flagstaff, Ariz., and threatened to “kill the children.” The affidavit further alleges that, even though this caller used fictitious names and fictitious email accounts in an attempt to conceal his true identity, investigators were eventually able to identify the defendant, Mr. Lisnyak, as the person who placed the calls.
Each violation is punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum fine of $250,000, or both.
A criminal complaint is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Flagstaff Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution is being handled by Camille Bibles, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona.
CASE NUMBER: MJ-15-004179-PCT-DMF
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-053_Lisnyak
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Former Treasurer of Religious Conference Sentenced to Prison for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, Marie Ann Stoltz, 38, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 21 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $408,021 in restitution. Stoltz’s husband, Mark Edwin Stoltz, 44, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced to 9 months of home confinement and also ordered to pay $408,821 in restitution. Both defendants previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Ms. Stoltz abused her position as the treasurer and secretary of the Arizona Light & Life Conference of the Free Methodist Church to fraudulently obtain over $423,000. In the course of the scheme, she drafted over $79,000 in Conference checks made payable to her spouse, many of which he endorsed, and also used the Conference’s credit cards for personal expenses. As a result of fraud, the Conference was forced to cease operations, another conference was required to assume the Conference’s responsibilities, and three Conference employees lost their jobs. As of sentencing, the Stoltzes had repaid $15,063 to the Conference.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Phoenix Police Department and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The prosecution was handled by Frederick A. Battista, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-444-PHX-JTT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-052_Stoltz
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit
http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter
@USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Nogales Resident Sentenced to 78 Months for Fraudulent Tax Refund SchemeRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On July 8, 2015, Scott William Acorn, 43, of Nogales, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson to a total of 78 months imprisonment and ordered to pay $415,000 in restitution. Acorn pleaded guilty on March 31, 2015, to conspiracy, filing false claim for refund, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
Acorn and another individual together acquired the personal identification information (name, birthdate, and social security number) of approximately 1,117 individuals. Using this information, Acorn and his co-defendant electronically filed false tax returns for these individuals seeking refunds of approximately $1,000 on each return. The individuals whose information was used were unaware of the returns being filed in their name. For tax years 2010 and 2011, the conspirators sought over a million dollars in fraudulent refunds which resulted in a payout of $414,000 by the United States Treasury.
Acorn’s sentence was enhanced by his admission that he fled to Mexico while on pre-trial release in 2012 and continued to file false tax returns in much the same manner as before. In September of 2014, he was discovered and returned to the United States to face prosecution.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Tucson. The prosecution was handled by the U.S Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-12-1293-CKJ-JR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-051_Acorn
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Phoenix Man Sentenced to 144 Months in Prison for Defrauding Arizona InvestorsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On June 29, 2015, Vernon Smith, 53, of Phoenix, Ariz. was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton to 144 months in federal prison on fraud charges and ordered to pay restitution to the victims. Earlier this year, Smith pleaded guilty to committing wire fraud by defrauding six Arizona investors out of approximately $229,000 in a variety of investment scams. When Smith committed these crimes, he was on supervised release in a second federal fraud case prosecuted in Oregon and on probation for a third fraud case prosecuted by the State of Arizona.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting the investing public from fraud, particularly from serial financial predators like Vernon Smith. This lengthy sentence should serve as a strong deterrent to others who would defraud the public,” stated United States Attorney John Leonardo. Mr. Leonardo thanked the FBI for their hard work and dedication through the course of the investigation and prosecution. “The number of victims and losses would have increased exponentially if the FBI hadn’t detected the criminal activity and acted quickly to end it,” stated Mr. Leonardo.
From October of 2013 to June of 2014, Smith – then a two-time convicted felon with no legitimate financial education or experience – posed as a wealthy, retired investment banker, residing in a 10,000 square foot Scottsdale home and driving an Aston Martin Vantage. He convinced six Phoenix-area victims to invest in either an African gold-mine venture or foreign bonds, both bogus investments. He used the victims’ money to support his lavish lifestyle and, at times, he used later victims’ money to make payments to earlier victims. Smith ultimately attempted to defraud an FBI undercover operative, and he was indicted and arrested in August of 2014. After serving his 144-month and 7-month federal prison sentences, Smith faces probation revocation proceedings and prison time in state court arising out of a state court conviction for fraud he committed in 2002.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Phoenix Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Monica Klapper, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-01108-PHX
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-050_Smith
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Former Realtor Sentenced to 5 Years for Leading Decade-Long Mortgage Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yesterday, Julio Cesar Esquivel Reyes, 41, of Tolleson, Ariz. was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Roslyn Silver to five years in prison and ordered to pay $568,413 in restitution. Reyes previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
“Mortgage fraud is a serious offense that has detrimental effects on the economy as a whole. The facts of this case are especially egregious because the defendants used their affiliation with a church to further the crime,” said U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. “This sentence and that of Pastor Tovar send a solid message that those engaging in such actions will be prosecuted and incarcerated.”
“Schemes like this that undermine our financial system and lead to millions of dollars in losses impact consumers at all levels,” said Matt Allen, special agent in charge for HSI Arizona. “That’s why HSI will continue to work with its enforcement partners to ensure that those who engage in high-dollar fraud schemes pay a price to pay for their crimes.”
Reyes, a former realtor, and his co-conspirators embarked on an 11-year mortgage fraud scheme that resulted in losses just under $2 million. Among other things, the defendants provided false information to lenders and used straw buyers to perpetrate the scheme. During the course of the conspiracy, the defendants obtained at least 14 loans on 11 properties that totaled over $3 million and resulted in nine foreclosures. A portion of the scheme was co-led by Pastor Luis Antonio (“Tony”) Maldonado Tovar of Grupo Amistad church. By misrepresenting that the proceeds would be used to benefit the church, Tovar and Reyes recruited members and affiliates of Grupo Amistad church in Phoenix to act as straw buyers for a number of the fraudulent transactions. Tovar was previously sentenced to 33 months imprisonment for his role in the offense. He was ordered to self-surrender to serve his sentence on Jan. 20, 2015, but failed to appear and remains at large - any information on Tovar’s whereabouts should be reported to the U. S. Marshals Service at 1-800-336-0102 or [email protected]. Picture attached.
Also sentenced in this case were Evangelina Gardner (14 months’ imprisonment) and Reyes’s father, Andres Esquivel (12 months’ imprisonment).
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Jennifer Levinson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-12-01122
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-049_Reyes et al
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Sexually Extorting Eleven-Year-Old Girl over the InternetRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Today, Steven Antepara, 21, of New York, N.Y., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson to 18 years in prison. Antepara previously pleaded guilty to attempting to entice a minor. Antepara’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.
Antepara used an online chat service and instant messaging application to meet and communicate with a girl in Tucson who was eleven years old. Antepara coerced the child to take and send him sexually explicit images of herself. Antepara then threatened to post the child’s images on social media and networking sites if she failed to send him more sexually explicit photos and engage in sexually explicit video web chats over Skype with him. The defendant obtained sexually explicit images from other minor children in the same manner. He possessed over 900 images of child pornography and shared the images with others.
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, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-578-TUC-CKJ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-45_ Antepara
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
U.S. Attorney Announces ‘Be Here for Kids’ Event in PhoenixRead the Press Release
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 Friday, June 12, 2015, at the Desert Ridge Marketplace in Phoenix. The event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 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. Families also are encouraged to take 25 minutes to talk to their children about abduction and safety prevention.
"The annual ‘Be Here for Kids’ national child safety campaign is particularly important this time of year, when children begin their summer breaks and have more time on their hands" said U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. "This event is designed to increase awareness among parents and children of the potential threats to child safety present in daily life, including the Internet."
This year’s event is being presented in partnership with the U.S. Marshal’s Service; Maricopa County Attorney’s Office; Phoenix Police Department; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Department of Homeland Security; and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. The Phoenix Police Department will be providing an armored vehicle from the bomb squad, guests from their K-9 unit, and education on bike safety, child restraints, and traffic. The U.S. Marshal’s Service will be introducing their new Marshal dog and digital child identification kits will be provided free of charge to those that 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: 2015-042_Be_Here_for_Kids_Phoenix
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit
http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter
@USAO_AZ for the latest news
.
Sacaton Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On May 26, 2015, Roberto Miguel Nanez, 31, of Sacaton, Ariz., a member of the Gila River Indian Tribe, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 57 months in prison. Nanez previously pleaded guilty to domestic assault by a habitual offender.
Over the course of 2 days, from Feb. 5-6, 2014, within the Gila River Indian Community, Nanez beat his girlfriend causing bruises over her entire body. Among other things, he choked her with an electrical cord. Prior to this assault, the defendant had been twice convicted of domestic violence.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Raynette Logan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-00749-PHX-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-041_ Nanez
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
U.S. Attorney Announces “Be Here for Kids” Event in TucsonRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, is hosting the “Be Here For Kids” event on Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at the Children’s Museum in Tucson. The event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 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. Families also are encouraged to take 25 minutes to talk to their children about abduction and safety prevention.
“The annual ‘Be Here For Kids’ national child safety campaign is particularly important this time of year, when children begin their summer breaks and have more time on their hands” said U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. “This event is designed to increase awareness among parents and children of the potential threats to child safety present in daily life, including the Internet.”
This year’s event is being presented in partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Pima County Attorney’s Office, and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. Interactive children’s self-defense demonstrations by Ko Sho Martial Training Institute will take place throughout the day, and digital child identification kits will be provided free of charge to those that attend.
A similar Phoenix event is scheduled for June 12, 2015.
For more information on NCMEC, visit www.missingkids.com. For more information about the Take 25 campaign, visit www.Take25.org. For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-040_Take_25_Tucson
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Contractor and Bookkeeper Both Sentenced to Prison for Mortgage FraudRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yesterday, Paxton Jeffrey Anderson, 44, of Montevideo, Minn., and Joseph John Plany, 42, of Hutto, Texas, were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Susan R. Bolton to eight years and four years in prison, respectively, and ordered to pay $3,270,425 in restitution. Anderson and Planey were convicted of multiple counts of bank fraud in June, 2014, after a three-week jury trial.
“This is yet another reminder of the damage that mortgage fraud has caused to our community,” said U.S. Attorney John Leonardo. The defendants committed fraud at the expense of other homeowners and lenders, all in the name of greed.”
“The defendants orchestrated a multi-million mortgage fraud scheme that caused severe financial and emotional harm to numerous victim investors. Anderson was the mastermind who diverted hundreds of thousands of dollars to finance his love for horse racing and gambling, while Plany supervised the day-to-day details of the fraud and failed to alert unsuspecting borrowers to the illegal diversion of funds” said Dawn Mertz, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Anderson worked as a Phoenix-based general contractor between 2004-2007. During that time, and with the assistance of his bookkeeper Plany, Anderson made false representations to lenders to obtain construction loans for borrowers. Anderson used some of his friends and family as the borrowers for these fraudulently acquired loans. Unbeknownst to the borrowers, Anderson and Plany forged and altered draw requests, and other documents, to withdraw money from the construction loans. Anderson and Plany would use the monetary draws for their own personal expenses instead of using the funds to construct homes for the borrowers. Some of these personal expenses included the purchase of racehorses and trips to the Kentucky Derby. As a result of the fraud, many borrowers were forced into bankruptcy because their homes were never completed and were foreclosed upon by lenders.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin M. Rapp and Monica B. Klapper.
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Arizona Man Sentenced to 67 Months Imprisonment for Two CVS RobberiesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX– On May 18, 2015, Darrell Lee Jenkins, Jr., 35, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 67 months’ imprisonment. Jenkins previously pleaded guilty to one count of robbery involving controlled substances and one count of interference with commerce by robbery (a Hobbs Act violation).
On March 13, 2014, Jenkins robbed a CVS pharmacy in Reno, Nev., of over $10,000 in OxyContin. On April 4, 2014, Jenkins again robbed a CVS pharmacy, this time in Flagstaff, Ariz., taking multiple bottles of Oxycodone.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Flagstaff Police Department, the Reno, Nevada Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Dimitra H. Sampson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-8090-PCT-GMS and 15-0162-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-038_Jenkins
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Tucson Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Today, Tucson resident Vittorio Francesco Castillo-Gonzalez, 27, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Raner C. Collins to 30 years’ incarceration for his part in two federal child pornography cases. In the first case, which arose in Arizona, the defendant was charged with distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography after a 2009 investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) revealed Gonzalez’s large-scale trading and distribution of graphic and sadistic child pornography. In the second case, which arose from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations Agents out of Louisiana, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to produce child pornography for his part in producing a series of videos depicting a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct in 2012 and 2013. The defendant entered guilty pleas in both cases on Nov. 12, 2015, after the Louisiana matter was transferred to the District of Arizona. Gonzalez’s term of imprisonment will be followed by lifetime 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 combines 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 of child sexual abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The investigations in these cases were conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Tucson, Ariz., Birmingham, Ala., and Albany, N.Y., and Homeland Security Investigations in Louisiana, Arizona, and California, as well as by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Louisiana. The prosecutions were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carin C. Duryee, District of Arizona, Tucson, and Brian M. Klebba, Eastern District of Louisiana.
CASE NUMBERS: CR 13-0195-RCC; CR 14-1831-RCC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-037_Gonzalez
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az
Parker Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual ContactRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On May 13, 2015, Alexander Ezekial Gonzales, 26, of Parker, Ariz. and a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton to 139 months in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release. Gonzales pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact with a minor.
According to court documents, between September 2012 and September 2013, Gonzales engaged in sexual contact with the minor victim who was under the age of 12. The minor victim is also a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Colorado River Indian Tribes Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Christina J. Reid-Moore, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-0932-PHX-SRB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-036_Gonzales
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Phoenix Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 26 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On May 11, 2015, Terance Taylor Prigge, 54, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 26.6 years’ imprisonment followed by 10 years’ supervised release. Prigge was convicted by a federal jury on Feb. 12, 2015, of five felony charges that included conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to commit money laundering, international money laundering, promotional money laundering, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
The trial evidence showed that Prigge’s drug trafficking organization transported at least 122 kilograms of cocaine from Latin America, into the American southwest, and then to Chicago from at least early 2010 to September 2013. The organization used private charter flights to transport the drugs from Phoenix and Southern California to Chicago. Prigge was arrested after he exited one of those flights with a co-conspirator in DeKalb, Ill. with 22 kilograms of cocaine in their luggage in September 2013.
The evidence further showed that Prigge had extensive contacts with sources of drug supply in at least two Latin American countries. He was convicted of International Money Laundering for organizing the transfer of $100,000 to an individual in Guatemala in support of a drug deal. He was also convicted of taking other steps to launder money in support of his drug trafficking. Prigge was convicted previously for trafficking cocaine from Panama into the United States and served seven years in prison.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Scottsdale Police Department, and the DeKalb, Ill. Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Karen McDonald and Alexander Samuels, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-13-01363-PHX-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-035_ Prigge
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Phoenix Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 25 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, Gilberto Martinez, 35, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton to 25 years’ imprisonment, followed by 10 years’ supervised release. Martinez was found guilty by a federal jury on Jan. 15, 2015, of five felony charges that included possession with intent to distribute cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The evidence showed that at 2:45 a.m. on March 31, 2014, the Martinez residence, a drug stash house in the 4800 block of East Cambridge, was the subject of a violent home invasion by armed suspects. During the home invasion, a gunshot occurred as Martinez struggled with one of the home invaders for control of a firearm. The home invaders then fled the residence, and Martinez quickly placed a portion of his drugs, firearms, and cash in a truck. As Officers of the Phoenix Police Department were arriving on the scene, Martinez drove away in the truck and led Officers in police vehicles and a helicopter on a high speed chase. Martinez abandoned the truck in the 3700 block of West Sheridan and was taken into custody when found hiding outside a nearby residence. In the ensuing investigation, police and federal agents seized from Martinez ten firearms, two sets of ballistic armor, 6.7 kilograms of cocaine, 90 kilograms of marijuana, 180 grams of methamphetamine, and over $420,000.00 in cash. Martinez is an eight-time convicted felon, including two prior convictions for drug dealing in the Phoenix area.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Phoenix Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution was handled by Michael Lee and Todd Allison, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-0495-PHX-SRB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-034_Martinez
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Gila River Man Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, Manuel Ybarra Garcia, 41, of Sacaton, Ariz., a member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 180 months in prison followed by lifetime supervised release. Garcia pleaded guilty on Dec. 9, 2014, to abusive sexual contact of a minor. The crime occurred on the Gila River Indian Reservation.
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 Gila River Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Raynette Logan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-00888-PHX-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-033_Garcia
Phoenix Financial Planner and Fund Manager Both Sentenced to Prison for FraudRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yesterday, Rolf Heartburg, 41 and Larry Heartburg, 68, of Scottsdale, Ariz., were both sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Neil V. Wake to a year in prison and ordered to pay $257,000 in restitution. Rolf Heartburg previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and Larry Heartburg previously pleaded guilty to five counts of willfully failing to file a tax return. Rolf Heartburg was immediately taken into custody following the imposition of his sentence.
"Unfortunately, the problem of investment scams targeting the elderly is rampant,” said John S. Leonardo, United States Attorney. “This case sends a strong message that the United States Attorney’s Office will make every effort to uncover frauds by investment managers against vulnerable members of our community and we will prosecute the unscrupulous perpetrators of such frauds. I commend the IRS for its fine work in interrupting this fraud before more clients were victimized."
“Rolf Heartburg exploited his position of trust as a financial advisor by directing the victim investors to a risky real estate investment controlled by his father Larry who used the money for this own personal expenses,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Dawn Mertz. “Larry Heartburg then failed to file income tax returns and failed to pay taxes on that income. Honest and law abiding citizens are fed up with those who use deceit and fraud to line their pockets with other people’s money and then skirt their own tax obligations.”
Rolf Heartburg was a Phoenix based financial planner who solicited his own clients to invest in a speculative real estate fund. The fund allegedly generated profits by selling mortgage notes it had acquired at a discount. Unbeknownst to the investors, Larry Heartburg served as the manager of the fund and he did not purchase any mortgage notes. Instead, the Heartburgs used nearly two thirds of investor money for their own personal expenses. Additionally, Larry Heartburg failed to file taxes on the money received from investors and other income for tax years 2008-2012.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin M. Rapp.
CASE NUMBER: CR-13-CR-01461-NVW
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-032_ Heartburg et al
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Tohono O’odham Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, Michael Henry Flores, 30, a member of the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Raner C. Collins to 12 years in prison having pleaded guilty on Aug. 21, 2014, to the offense of voluntary manslaughter.
On the night of Aug. 15, 2011, and into Aug. 16, 2011, the defendant became enraged during an argument with his girlfriend and killed her by assaulting and choking her outside his residence near Sells, Ariz.
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-13-01207-RCC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-031_ Flores
Tuba City Man Found Guilty of Killing 10-Week-Old Infant DaughterRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Ken Jermaine Fowler, 30, of Tuba City, Ariz., a member of the Navajo Nation, was found guilty by a federal jury of involuntary manslaughter and assault resulting in serious bodily injury of a minor. The case was tried before U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow from March 3 - 26, 2015. The defendant was remanded into custody after trial. Sentencing is set before Judge Snow on June 29, 2015.
The evidence at trial showed that Fowler assaulted the ten week old infant on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation while she was alone in his care. The assault caused massive brain injury that resulted in her death four days later.
A conviction for assault resulting in serious bodily injury of a minor carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life in prison, a $250,000.00 fine, or both.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Christine Ducat Keller and Sharon K. Sexton, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-12-8156-PCT-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-028_Fowler
Louisiana Man Sentenced to 14.5 Years in Prison for Operating an Arizona Based Alien Smuggling OrganizationRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Otoniel Galindo Vasquez-Lopez, 29, of Bossier, La., was sentenced on March 30, 2015 by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 14.5 years in custody and three years of supervised release for his role as the leader of an Arizona based alien smuggling organization after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Vasquez-Lopez employed and directed money launderers and alien smugglers in Arizona, and coordinated transportation and payment with hundreds of aliens and their families, from the assumed anonymity of Bossier, La.
Vasquez-Lopez sentence reflects that illegal aliens who utilized his organization, died while in transport to other destinations in the United States. Specifically, on July 22, 2012, two illegal aliens transported by Vasquez-Lopez’s alien smugglers were killed in a roll over double fatality in Holbrook, Ariz., after being ejected from a Dodge minivan that was overloaded with 15 people and crashed when a tire blew. Additionally, on June 23, 2012, Vasquez-Lopez’s name and telephone number were found in the pocket of a deceased alien, who died in the dessert near Sells, Ariz., after being left behind by his guides when he could not keep up with his group.
Additionally, over #30 other alien smugglers and money launders in this organization were also arrested, convicted, and sentenced in the District of Arizona.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Phoenix. The prosecution was handled by Kristen Brook, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-13-1513-PHX-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-030_Vasquez-Lopez
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Sun City Pediatrician Sentenced to 14 Years for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX– On March 30, 2015, Emilio Luna, 44, of Sun City, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 14 years in federal prison, to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. Luna previously pleaded guilty on two counts of distribution of child pornography during a time when he was a practicing pediatrician. Luna is also required to register as a sex offender and prohibited from working as a pediatrician.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Melissa Karlen and Sharon Sexton, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-10-1305-PHX-DGC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-027_Luna
Phoenix Man Sentenced to 96 Months Imprisonment for Conspiring to Commit Sex Trafficking of a MinorRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Kenneth Wayne Becketts, Jr., 32, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton to 96 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor. Becketts was also ordered to register as a sex offender.
As part of the plea agreement, Becketts admitted to recruiting the underage victim to work as a prostitute, and posting advertisements on various web sites in December of 2011.
U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo stated, “We will not tolerate those who sexually exploit young women for financial gain. This substantial prison sentence indicates to all that such acts of victimization will be vigorously prosecuted.”
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Phoenix Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Christine Ducat Keller, Rachel R. Stoddard, and Krissa Lanham, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-13-01637-PHX-SRB (DKD)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-026_Becketts
Ex-Professional Boxer Sentenced for Marijuana TraffickingRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On March 25, 2015, Juan Antonio Suazo, 34, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Raner C. Collins to 84 months in prison and fined $15,000. Suazo pleaded guilty on Dec. 2, 2014, to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana.
In 2009, Suazo, a former Golden Gloves champion and ex-professional boxer, supplied 300- to 350- pound loads of marijuana on multiple occasions to the buyers for distribution in several states including Nebraska, and received in excess of three million dollars in return. The U.S. government seized approximately one million dollars in the course of the investigation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by agencies participating in the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. The lead agencies were the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation assisted by the Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigation. Other participants included the Tucson Police Department, Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the Arizona Department of Transportation. The prosecution was handled by Anthony E. Maingot and Heather Sechrist, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-13-0865-TUC-RCC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-025_ Suazo
Tucson Man Convicted of Murder, AssaultRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On March 17, 2015, Joseph Edward Camargo, 29, of Tucson, Ariz., was found guilty of second degree murder, aggravated assault, and weapons offenses, by a federal jury. The case was tried before U.S. District Chief Judge Raner C. Collins on March 10-17, 2015. Camargo is being held pending sentencing before Judge Collins on May 27, 2015.
The evidence at trial showed that on Sept. 30, 2011, Camargo drove to a residence on the Pascua Yaqui Indian Reservation, armed with a handgun. Camargo provoked a fight with the male victim in the front yard of the residence. After the victim fled into the home, Camargo pursued him, firing four shots into the house. Three bullets struck the victim, killing him a fourth bullet struck another male at the house who was treated and medically released by University Medical Center. All victims are/were members of the Pascua Yaqui Indian Tribe.
A conviction for second degree murder carries a maximum penalty of lifetime incarceration.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pascua Yaqui Police Department, with assistance provided by the Arizona Department of Public Safety and Office of the Medical Examiner. The prosecution was handled by Jesse J. Figueroa and Matthew C. Cassell, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-11-4021-TUC-RCC-DTF
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-024_ Camargo
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Two Men Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Cross-Country Marijuana Distribution RingRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On March 9, 2015, two defendants were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Neil V. Wake for their roles in a cross-country marijuana distribution ring. Darius Blackwell, 38, of Mesa, Ariz., was sentenced to over 9 years in prison and Grady Blackwell, 62, of Lithonia, Ga., was sentenced to 5 years in prison. Both defendants previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to their plea agreements, the Blackwells participated in a conspiracy to distribute marijuana using the United States Postal Service. Their organization purchased marijuana in Arizona, mailed it throughout the United States, primarily to Georgia, and then arranged for the proceeds to be sent back to Arizona. Shipping records and seizures show that at least 50 kilograms of marijuana were mailed in this fashion. In addition, seven bank accounts were opened in March 2012 for the purpose of receiving and transferring the proceeds of the scheme. Nearly $410,000 was deposited into these accounts (largely via cash deposits in Georgia) and over $395,000 was withdrawn (largely via cash withdrawals in Arizona).
The investigation in this case was conducted by the United Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, and the Mesa Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Donald Pashayan, Brian Larson and Mark Wenker, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-13-1462-PHX-NVW
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-023_Blackwell
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Scottsdale Chiropractor Sentenced to 30 Months Imprisonment for Filing More than $6 Million in False Tax Refund ClaimsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX– Today, Adrianne Marta Frazer, 62, a chiropractor practicing in Scottsdale, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay $703,478 in restitution to the federal government. Frazer was previously found guilty by a federal jury of five counts of filing false and fictitious claims for tax refunds.
Evidence at trial showed that Frazer knowingly filed false tax returns utilizing a common scheme known as the Form 1099-OID scheme. Although many of Frazer’s tax returns were immediately rejected by the Internal Revenue Service, one was accepted, resulting in the issuance of a $593,651 refund. Within days of getting the refund check, Frazer began spending and transferring the money. Frazer also solicited others to attend seminars that taught participants on how to use the 1099-OID scheme and kept filing false returns after being put on notice that the Form 1099-OID scheme was fraudulent.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Howard Sukenic and Monica Edelstein, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-12-1836-PHX-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-022_Frazer
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
San Carlos Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX– On Feb. 9, 2015, Ricardo Lee Polk, 20, a member of the San Carlos Apache Indian Community, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge Roslyn O. Silver to 180 months in prison as a result of pleading guilty on Sept. 26, 2014, to second degree murder.
On Jan. 6, 2011, Polk was with the victim and others on the San Carlos Apache Indian Community. Without apparent provocation, Polk recklessly pointed a handgun at the victim and fired one time from close range striking the victim in the head and causing her death. Polk fled the area, but was later arrested after a thorough investigation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Bureau of Indian Affairs. The prosecution was handled by Thomas Simon, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-01202
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-018_Polk
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Gila River Woman Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Robbery at the Wild Horse Pass CasinoRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, Prima Shalis Mendoza, 36, a member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 60 months in prison as a result of pleading guilty on Dec. 4, 2014, to robbery.
On June 26, 2014, the victim was parked outside the Wild Horse Pass Casino, on the Gila River Indian Community, when Mendoza approached her and threatened to shoot her if she did not hand over her purse. Mendoza fled with the victim’s purse, but she was later arrested after a thorough investigation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department, the Security and Surveillance Departments of the Wild Horse Pass Casino, and the Chandler Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Raynette Logan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-01065-PHX-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-017_Mendoza
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Owner of Mortgage Company and Four Others Sentenced on Mortgage Origination Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On Feb. 11, 2015, Kevin Grant Lee, 35, formerly of Mesa, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge Roslyn O. Silver to 12 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in assisting his brother, Scott Thomas Lee, in committing mortgage loan origination fraud. Late last year, Judge Silver sentenced Scott Thomas Lee, 46, former owner of Summit Capital Mortgage, LLC, to 60 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. The brothers previously pleaded guilty to conspiring together and with others to commit mortgage fraud involving high-end residential loans and custom-home construction loans. Both were also ordered to pay millions in restitution to lenders.
Scott Lee owned and operated Summit Capital, located in Mesa where he employed Kevin Lee and several other family members. Leading up to the real estate crash of 2008, Summit Capital specialized in high-end residential mortgage loans and custom-home construction loans. Through Summit Capital, Scott Lee and Kevin Lee originated dozens of fraudulent loans by providing false information on loan applications, forging signatures, and creating false financial and construction-related documents. Summit Capital and Scott Lee received nearly $1.5 million in commissions based on these bogus loans and caused millions in losses to a variety of lenders.
Three co-conspirators who were involved in several of the fraudulent loans through their Gilbert company, The Reserve at Greenfield, LLC, also pleaded guilty and were sentenced by Judge Silver late last year. Chad Brian Kennedy, 43, of Gilbert, pleaded guilty to fraud charges based on his involvement in using a fictitious buyer on several loans, and he was sentenced to nine months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Shalynn K. Loar, 43, of Gilbert, and Jackson Wesley Skousen, 42, previously of Gilbert, pleaded guilty to fraud charges based on similar activity, and each received a sentence of five years of probation with six months of home confinement. All three were also ordered to pay substantial restitution to lenders.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the FBI, Phoenix Division. The prosecution was handled by Monica Beerling Klapper, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-13-00824-PHX-ROS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-013_Lee et al
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Tucson Cocaine Distributors SentencedRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Joel Sesma-Garcia, 40, was sentenced on Feb. 10, 2015, and Gerald Fidel Herrera, 41, was sentenced on Jan. 30, 2015, by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 25 years and 15 years’ imprisonment, respectively, for their roles in a cocaine distribution ring that operated from 2008 to 2012 and spanned five states. Both are from Tucson, Ariz.
Between the Spring of 2008 and the arrests on Aug. 9, 2012, Sesma-Garcia and Herrera conspired to distribute over 527 kilograms of cocaine from Tucson, Ariz., to co-conspirators in Brooklyn, N.Y., Muscle Shoals, Ala., Cleveland, Ohio, and Bradenton, Fla. The cocaine was transported from Tucson to the distribution cities concealed within false compartments in vehicles that were either driven by co-conspirators or hauled cross-country on commercial car haulers. The co-conspirators in the distribution cities sent approximately $12 million in bulk cash back to Tucson as payment for the drugs, concealed within the same false compartments. Co-defendant Caleb Echeverria is pending sentencing on April 6, 2015, while 10 additional co-conspirators were arrested and prosecuted in New York, Alabama, and Arizona in connection with this criminal organization.
Investigators seized over $2.5 million in bulk cash and 17 firearms from the organization over the course of the conspiracy, during multiple traffic stops and search warrants in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Maryland, New York, and Ohio. The organization used drug proceeds to purchase dozens of vehicles to transport drugs and bulk cash, and for the personal use of Sesma-Garcia and his family. Among the luxury vehicles seized from Sesma-Garcia include a 2002 Ferrari Spyder, a 2008 Lamborghini Murcielago, a 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo, a 2008 Mercedes Benz AMG luxury sedan, a 2005 Hummer H2, a classic 1968 Chevy Camaro, and a 2001 Chevy Corvette.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Tucson Strike Force, which is composed of agents and investigators from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Border Patrol, Tucson Police Department, South Tucson Police Department, and Sahuarita Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Mary Sue Feldmeier and Josh Ackerman, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-12-01676-TUC-JGZ
District of Arizona 4:13-cr-01946-CKJ
District of Arizona: 4:14-cr-01398-JAS
Eastern District of New York: 12-cr-00707-KAM
Northern District of Alabama: 11-cr-00399-KOB
Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Court of Commons: CR11-548633
District of Kansas: 5:12-cr-40061-DDCRELEASE NUMBER: 2015-010_Sesma-Garcia et al
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Shonto Man Sentenced to 7 Years for AssaultRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On Feb. 9, 2015, Norman George Begay, Jr., 31, of Shonto, Ariz., a member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to seven years’ imprisonment for stabbing his victim, resulting in serious bodily injuries. Begay pleaded guilty on Sept. 22, 2014, to assault resulting in serious bodily injury, occurring on the Navajo Indian Reservation.
The investigation was handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Dimitra H. Sampson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-8093-PCT-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-014_Begay
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Hopi Man Sentenced to 43 Months in Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On Feb. 9, 2015, U.S. District Judge Neil V. Wake sentenced Devonte Lee Silas, 19, of Hotevilla, Ariz., to 43 months in federal prison. Silas was also sentenced to a life term of supervised release following his release from prison. On Nov. 20, 2014, Silas, a member of the Hopi Tribe, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a minor, occurring on the Hopi Reservation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the BIA-Hopi Agency.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-8216-NVW (BSB)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-012_Silas
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Gila River Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for MurderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On Feb. 9, 2015, Lorenzo Dale Flores, 20, a member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 168 months in prison. Flores pleaded guilty on Oct. 14, 2014, to second degree murder, occurring within the Gila River Indian Community.
On May 26, 2014, Flores shot the victim multiple times outside a home in Bapchule, Ariz.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Raynette Logan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-00923-PHX-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-015_Flores
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Former Maricopa County Jail Inmate Sentenced for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On Feb. 9, 2015, Steven Scott Pearce, 57, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 33 months of imprisonment for preparing false tax refund claims while incarcerated at the Maricopa County Jail. Pearce pleaded guilty on Oct. 7, 2014, to conspiracy to file false claims.
As part of his plea agreement, Pearce admitted preparing federal income tax returns using other inmates’ names, social security numbers, and dates of birth, and then listing false income and tax withholding so that the Internal Revenue Service would issue a false refund. Pearce admitted working with others inside and outside the jail to help prepare the tax returns, mail the returns to the Internal Revenue Service, and cash refund checks. Pearce admitted that he prepared at least 17 tax returns claiming a total of approximately $285,000 in false tax refunds.
Most of the false tax refunds were identified before refunds were issued, and Pearce claimed at sentencing that he did not receive any profits. At the time, Pearce was serving a five year state prison sentence for unrelated crimes. Pearce’s 33-month sentence for the tax fraud scheme will be served consecutive to his state prison sentence.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. The prosecution was handled by James R. Knapp, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-0097-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-011_Pearce
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Habitual Domestic Violence Offender Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for MurderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On Jan. 28, 2015, Willard John, 36, of Cibecue, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge James A. Teilborg to life imprisonment. On July 11, 2014, John was found guilty by a jury of second degree murder.
The facts of this investigation revealed that John, a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, brutally stabbed his wife to death on March 19, 2012, on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, using a pair of household scissors. The evidence at trial showed that John had a lengthy history of abusing his wife.
The investigation was handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with substantial assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The prosecution was handled by Dimitra H. Sampson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-12-8082-PCT-JAT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-009_John
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Pascua Yaqui Man Sentenced to 70 Months Imprisonment for AssaultRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On Jan. 22, 2015, Peter Ron Acuna, 26, of Tucson, Ariz., a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez to 70 months of imprisonment, to be followed by a three year term of supervised release. Acuna pleaded guilty on April 23, 2014 to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
On Nov. 18, 2013, Pascua Yaqui Tribal Police officers responded to a report of a fight occurring on the Pascua Yaqui Indian Nation, in Tucson, Ariz. Officers found an unconscious victim on the ground, covered in blood. Witnesses stated that the defendant had confronted the victim about his presence in the neighborhood and a fight broke out. Acuna and one other combatant combined in assaulting the victim by striking and kicking his head and face. Even after the victim lost consciousness, the two continued to kick the victim’s head. The victim was medically treated for an orbital skull fracture, and multiple lacerations to his face, and he continues to suffer from residual medical concerns.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Pascua Yaqui Tribal Police. The prosecution was handled by Lawrence C. Lee, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-00037 TUC RM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-008_Acuna
# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.