Nogales CBP Officers Seize Heroin, Meth Over Weekend

Seized narcotics valued at more than $271K

Nogales, Ariz. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to the Tucson Field Office made three separate drug seizures over the weekend, resulting in nearly 12 pounds of heroin and almost seven pounds of methamphetamines being seized, worth nearly $271,000.

CBP officers at the Dennis DeConcini Port referred a 46-year-old Tucson man for a secondary inspection of his Dodge truck when he attempted to enter the United States on Friday. After a CBP officer noticed some possible tampering with the engine, the vehicle was taken to a vehicle lift where officers located seven packages of crystal methamphetamine weighing almost seven pounds and valued at $106,000 concealed in the engine compartment.

Saturday, a 33-year-old man from Glendale, Ariz., was referred for a secondary inspection of his Buick sedan when he attempted to enter the United States. After a CBP detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs, a subsequent inspection was conducted leading officers to discover four packages of heroin inside some luggage. The packages contained almost eight pounds of heroin valued at $102,000.

On Sunday, an 18-year-old Mexican national was referred for a secondary inspection of his Dodge truck when he attempted to enter the United States. After a CBP detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs, the subject’s tailgate was removed for a non-intrusive x-ray. Inside the tailgate officers located four packages of heroin. The packages weighed nearly five pounds with a value of $62,000.

In all three of the incidents, the vehicles and drugs were processed for seizure. The subjects were arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

Individuals arrested may be charged by complaint, the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity, which raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

CBP's Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within Homeland Security tasked with an anti-terrorism mission at our nation’s ports. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the United States while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. Their mission also includes carrying out border-related duties, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Fugitive from England Indicted for Illegal Firearms, Document Fraud, Identity Theft

SPRINGFIELD, MO—Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that additional charges have been filed against a fugitive from England who was arrested in Ozark, Mo., and indicted by a federal grand jury today for illegally possessing firearms, document fraud, and identity theft.

Edward John Maher, also known as Michael Maher, 56, of Ozark, was charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed on Feb. 9, 2012, and includes additional charges. Maher remains in federal custody.

Today’s indictment alleges that Maher used a Social Security card as an identification document for employment verification in Christian County, Mo., on May 25, 2010. The indictment alleges that the Social Security card was not issued lawfully for Maher’s use.

Maher is also charged with aggravated identity theft. Maher allegedly possessed and used a means of identification that he knew belonged to another person. This charge is related to Maher’s alleged use of a Missouri driver’s license in the name of his brother, Michael Maher, on Oct. 12, 2011.

The indictment also includes the charge that was contained in the original criminal complaint. The indictment alleges that Maher, an illegal alien, was in possession of a Hi-Point .45-caliber pistol, a Jennings .380 pistol, a Mauser 7.62x39 rifle, a Mossberg .22-caliber rifle and ammunition on Feb. 8, 2012. The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require Maher to forfeit those firearms to the government.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, the Ozark Police Department received information on Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, regarding a fugitive from England who allegedly stole a large amount of cash while working as a security guard. Ozark police officers and FBI agents conducted surveillance of Maher until he was arrested on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012.

Maher told federal agents that he began working in the United States in 1998 and has been using the identity of his brother, Michael Maher, who lives in England. Police officers seized the firearms from Maher’s residence and from a storage facility in Ozark. Under federal law, it is unlawful for an illegal alien to possess any firearms or ammunition.

Phillips cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the Ozark, Mo., Police Department, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations.

El Centro Sector Border Patrol Agents Seize Narcotics Valued at More than $2.55 Million

Salton Sea, Calif. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio station arrested two suspected smugglers on February 24, with over $2.55 million worth of illegal narcotics. 

The first incident occurred at 4:50 p.m., after a Border Patrol canine team performing a cursory search alerted to a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu occupied by a 40-year-old female Mexican national at the Highway 86 Border Patrol Checkpoint near Salton Sea. Agents later conducted a thorough inspection which revealed a hidden compartment with 11 packages of cocaine. The cocaine weighed approximately 27 pounds and had a street value of approximately $880,000.

Later that evening at approximately 10:45 p.m., a Border Patrol canine team alerted to a 2004 Honda Accord occupied by a 42-year-old male Mexican national, his adult son and juvenile daughter. After further inspection, agents discovered 42 vacuum sealed packages of methamphetamine hidden throughout several non-factory compartments. The narcotics weighed approximately 52 pounds and had a street value of more than $1.67 million.

Both suspects were arrested and turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration along with the vehicles and narcotics.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney and FBI Assistant Director in Charge Announce Fraud Charges Against Campaign Treasurer for Candidate Seeking Citywide Elective Office in 2013

At Least 40 Fraudulent Donations Allegedly Designed to Funnel City Matching Funds to Campaign; Defendant Also Charged with Obstruction of Justice

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Janice K. Fedarcyk, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), today announced fraud charges against JIA HOU, a/k/a “Jenny Hou,” the campaign treasurer for a candidate (the “Candidate”) seeking citywide elective office in 2013 (the “Campaign”). HOU is accused of participating in a scheme that used “straw donors” to funnel to the Campaign large, illegal contributions that were well above the individual limit authorized by the New York City Campaign Finance Board (the “NYCCFB”), with the intent to fraudulently increase the amount of matching funds provided by NYCCFB to the Campaign. She is also charged with obstructing the government’s investigation of suspected fraud in connection with the Campaign’s fundraising efforts. HOU was arrested this morning and will be presented in Manhattan federal court later today.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated: “New York’s campaign finance laws are not optional. They ensure that all candidates operate on a level playing field and that everyone plays by the rules. Today, we allege that Jia Hou, a Campaign treasurer, was a central figure in a coordinated scheme to break the city’s campaign finance laws. As described in the criminal complaint, Hou concealed the use of straw donors, subverted the city’s electoral system, and obstructed justice. As today’s charges demonstrate, unlawful campaign conduct will not be tolerated.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Janice K. Fedarcyk stated: “As the complaint alleges, Hou circumvented the city’s campaign finance rules in a scheme that used straw donors to exceed the limit on individual contributions. The intent of those rules is in part to limit the influence of wealthy contributors on political campaigns. In a very real sense, Hou is accused of undermining the democratic process.”

The following allegations are based on the complaint filed today in Manhattan federal court:

New York City’s Matching Campaign Funds Program

Candidates for elective office in New York City are eligible to receive matching campaign funds from a program administered by NYCCFB. Under the program, for each dollar a New York City resident over 18 years of age contributes to a participating candidate—up to a maximum of $175—the city provides the candidate $6 in matching funds. Accordingly, each candidate could receive up to a maximum of $1,050 in matching funds per contributor. Individuals are allowed to donate up to $4,950 to candidates running for citywide elective offices. For each donation received, campaigns seeking matching funds must provide NYCCFB with a campaign contribution form that includes the donor’s name, address, employment information, and amount donated. The donor must sign the form, acknowledging that he/she is not being reimbursed in any manner for making the contribution.

The Straw Donor Scheme

HOU serves as the Candidate’s treasurer for the 2013 election cycle and is responsible for all financial disclosures related to the Campaign. She is responsible for accounting for every donation and for ensuring that all donations by individuals are within the maximum allowed by New York City. HOU and the Candidate are the only individuals authorized to submit disclosure statements on behalf of the Campaign. HOU is also responsible for disclosing to the NYCCFB the identities of “intermediaries,” also known as “bundlers” involved in soliciting and receiving donations for the Campaign.

HOU participated in a scheme that used straw donors to circumvent the limit on individual contributions and with the intent to fraudulently increase the amount of matching campaign funds provided by NYCCFB to the Candidate’s 2013 campaign. Certain individuals, who wanted to donate more than the legally allowed amount, would instead arrange for straw donors to make contributions that were under the limit. The individuals would then reimburse the straw donors. As part of the scheme, the Campaign submitted fraudulent contribution forms on behalf of the straw donors to NYCCFB. The forms included information about the straw donors as well as their purported signatures acknowledging that each individual donor was not being reimbursed. The information contained in these fraudulent contribution forms is used by the city to determine whether to release matching campaign funds to the Candidate’s 2013 campaign.

In furtherance of the scheme, HOU offered to reimburse an individual for a donation to the Campaign notwithstanding the requirement under New York state law that donations must be paid from a donor’s personal funds and may not be reimbursed in any manner. In a series of instant messages on July 14, 2011, HOU and the individual discussed the reimbursement. After the individual asked if HOU was taking personal funds to reimburse the individual, HOU responded: “Don’t worry about it. I’m gonna mail it to [individual’s residence]. Whenever you get a chance though, I need [you to] sign that form and send it back to me cus [because] I can’t charge your card without a signature.”

HOU also instructed a campaign volunteer (“Campaign-Volunteer-1”) to imitate the handwriting of campaign donors on the contribution forms in order to make it appear that the forms were filled out by the purported contributors and to disguise the Campaign’s use of straw donors. In addition, HOU instructed another campaign volunteer (“Campaign Volunteer-2”) and others not to accept consecutively numbered money orders as donations to the Campaign because NYCCFB had previously notified the Candidate’s 2009 Campaign Treasurer that sequentially numbered money orders indicated that the contributions were coming from the same donors, instead of different donors, as reported. HOU also discussed with Campaign Volunteer- 2 ways to conceal information about campaign fundraisers in order to avoid alerting NYCCFB to the possible use of undisclosed intermediaries and straw donors.

Furthermore, HOU worked closely with individuals who served as intermediaries in connection with multiple events where straw donors were reimbursed for their contributions, and failed to disclose to the NYCCFB their involvement in the Campaign. NYCCFB records show that the Campaign did not disclose any bundlers or intermediaries for the 2013 New York City election cycle until January 17, 2012, despite the fact that the Campaign had been raising funds since at least December 2009. On January 17, 2012, the Campaign disclosed a list of approximately 59 intermediaries to the NYCCFB, but that disclosure did not include multiple individuals who appear to have served in that capacity.

In addition, HOU impeded the government’s investigation of suspected fraud in connection with the Campaign’s fundraising efforts. Specifically, in an apparent attempt to frustrate the investigation, HOU failed to produce facially inculpatory documents in response to subpoenas served on her and represented that her production of documents was complete when in fact it was not.

***

HOU, 25, of Queens, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of attempting to commit wire fraud, and one count of obstruction of justice. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of the FBI and expressed appreciation to the New York City Department of Investigation for its contribution to this ongoing investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by the office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steve C. Lee, Brian A. Jacobs, and Justin Anderson are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Firefighter Fatality

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatality:

Name: Matt Waller

Rank: Firefighter/Fire Marshal
Age: 47
Gender: Male
Status: Career
Years of Service: 29
Date of Incident: 02/16/2012
Time of Incident: 1330hrs
Date of Death: 02/25/2012

Fire Department: Memphis Fire Department

Address: 721 W Robertson ST, Memphis, TX 79245
Fire Department Chief: Wiley Davis

Incident Description: Firefighter/Fire Marshal Waller passed away from a stroke he suffered while on-duty at the fire station.

Incident Location: 721 W Robertson ST, Memphis, TX 79245

Funeral Arrangements: Services will be at 1400hrs, 02/28/2012, at the First Baptist Church with the Rev. Daniel Downey officiating. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery. Arrangements are by Hughs Funeral Home of Memphis. (http://www.hughsfuneralhome.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=1406213&fh_id=10265)

Tribute is being paid to Firefighter/Fire Marshal Matt Waller at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

To date, 13 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2012. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online @ http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.shtm

Fugitive Wanted for 1996 Murder in Chicago Arrested in Riverside County

Awaiting Extradition to Illinois

A fugitive wanted for a 1996 homicide in Chicago, Illinois was arrested in Hemet, California last Tuesday, after the FBI’s regional fugitive task force received information from the FBI’s Chicago Field Office that led to the fugitive’s location, announced Steven Martinez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, and Robert Grant, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Chicago Field Office.

Giovanni Spiller, 65, was wanted by the Cook County Sheriff’s Police Department after he was identified as a suspect by the Chicago Police Department in a 1996 homicide that occurred in the city of Chicago. In December 1996, an arrest warrant charging Spiller with one count of murder was issued in Cook County, Illinois.

Spiller became a fugitive in 1997 and has eluded capture since. Investigators have sought Spiller in the United States and abroad, and believed he traveled through the Philippines, among other locations. Once Chicago detectives determined that Spiller had fled the state of Illinois, the FBI was asked to join the investigation and a federal warrant charging Spiller with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution (UFAP) was obtained in the Northern District of Illinois in May 1997.

Last week, members of the FBI’s Inland Regional Apprehension Team (IRAT) were contacted after investigators in Chicago received a tip indicating that Spiller could be located at a residence in Hemet, California.

IRAT members responded to the home and, after a short surveillance, located Spiller as he was parking in the driveway of the Hemet residence.

IRAT members positively identified Spiller, who had been using a fictitious name, and he was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, California.

Spiller is being held at the Presley Detention Center pending extradition to Chicago to face prosecution. It is anticipated that the United States government will dismiss the federal warrant charging Spiller with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and that he will remain in custody while he awaits prosecution for the state murder charge by the Cook County District Attorney’s Office.

The fugitive investigation was the result of cooperation by the FBI’s Chicago and Los Angeles Field Offices; IRAT members from the Riverside Police Department, the San Bernardino Police Department, and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department; and the FBI’s legal attaché assigned to the United States Embassy in Manila, the Philippines.

The FBI continues to work with local law enforcement to apprehend violent criminals charged with state crimes who then flee the jurisdiction interstate or internationally. Photos and descriptions of many fugitives wanted by the FBI can be found at FBI.gov.

Gun Traffickers Arrested in Stockton After Selling Guns to ATF Undercover Agents

STOCKTON, Calif. – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), San Francisco Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Scot Thomasson announced Dennis William Estes and Kevin John Webber were arrested Friday morning in Stockton, CA after conspiring to manufacture and sell firearms without a license to ATF undercover agents Friday, Feb. 24.

Estes 37, a resident of Modesto and has been charged with six counts of dealing firearms without a license, six counts of being a felon being in possession of a firearm, two counts of possessing a machine gun and silencer, and conspiracy to commit a federal crime. Webber 35, resident of Lathrop has been charged with one count of aiding and abetting the dealing of firearms without a license and conspiracy to commit a federal crime.

Beginning in November 2011 to February 2012, ATF conducted a proactive firearms trafficking investigation and made undercover purchases of numerous firearms from Estes including two suspected Machine Guns, AR 15 Type Weapons, AK-74 Rifle, silencer, as well as other long guns and hand guns, and approximately 450 rounds of .223 ammunition. Webber aided and abetted the dealing of firearms without a license. Estes attempted to purchase an M-60 Machine Gun on Friday during the pre-arranged undercover meet with ATF undercover agents just prior to his arrest. After Estes was taken into custody ATF seized eight additional firearms, and alleged controlled subtances. Subsequent to the service of a search warrant at Estes' residence ATF located and seized several more firearms.

The two appeared Monday in U.S. District Court in Sacramento, CA. on a criminal complaint alleging the above mentioned violations. Estes is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation was conducted by the ATF, and Task Force Officers from Stockton Police Departments, and the Stanislaus District Attorney's Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hitt.

ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating firearms violations. More information on ATF can be found at ATF.gov

Northern Arapaho Man Sentenced for Arson and Burglary

U.S. Attorney Christopher A. Crofts announced that on February 24, 2012, Norman Ybarra, a 23-year-old Northern Arapaho Tribal member from the Wind River Indian Reservation, was sentenced for his role in the September 2011 arson and burglary of the Arapahoe Baptist Church. Mr. Ybarra was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Clarence A. Brimmer to 53 months’ imprisonment, five years of supervised release, $200 in court costs, and $223,818.14 in restitution. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Court Affirms 300-Month Prison Sentence for Child Pornography Offender

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit last week affirmed the prison sentence of Michael Coates, age 28. Coates, a former Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania resident, was previously sentenced by United States District Court Judge John E. Jones, III, to serve 300 months in prison for the production of child pornography.

According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, Coates pleaded guilty in May 2010. Coates admitted that he produced child pornography involving a child under the age of 5.

The charge against Coates resulted from an investigation by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bloomsburg Police Department. A federal grand jury indicted Coates in September 2008. Coates was sentenced by Judge Jones on May 27, 2011.

In appealing his sentence, Coates claimed that the district court failed to suppress evidence obtained from his cell phone, which he had voluntarily turned over to the Bloomsburg Police Department. He also claimed the district court failed to meaningfully consider relevant sentencing factors and did not adequately articulate its reasons for imposing the 300-month prison sentence. In rejecting those claims, the Third Circuit noted that there is no subjective expectation of privacy in an object voluntarily turned over to a third party and that Judge Jones adequately addressed the relevant sentencing factors such as the impact of Coates crime on the victim, the need for just punishment, the interest of public safety, as well as certain mitigating factors.

The case and appeal was handled by Assistant United States Attorney William Simmers.

Chicago Man Sentenced for Making Bomb Threat Targeting Southern Illinois University in Carbondale

The U.S. District Court in East St. Louis sentenced a Chicago resident to 16 months in prison for willfully making a bomb threat to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Maurice Leon Wiggins, 23, was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release upon his release from prison, pay a $100 fine, and pay a $100 special assessment to the court.

“My office will not sit idly as people make illegal threats in our community. My office has successfully prosecuted people who have mailed anthrax-simulating powder and who have mailed threats to burn apartment complexes. Threats of this nature, however bizarre, are a danger to all of us and must be dealt with. I credit the SIU PD and the FBI for its quick response. This prosecution should serve as a warning that offenders cannot hide anonymously behind their cell phones and computers when they break the law, that we will catch them, and that we will seek appropriate punishment,” stated United States Attorney Wigginton.

Prior to and at sentencing, Wiggins admitted that in the summer of 2011, his girlfriend, who was attending SIU Carbondale, broke up the relationship with Wiggins. Wiggins traveled from Chicago to Carbondale in an effort to reestablish the relationship. His efforts failed.

On August 29, 2011, in response to the break-up and while he was in Chicago, Wiggins accessed the Internet from his cellular phone and submitted an anonymous message to the Southern Illinois University “Campus Crime Watch” webpage for the Carbondale campus. His message stated that he planned to kill 4,000 students and staff by bombing three dormitories and a student center between September and November 2011. That same day Wiggins also called the Southern Illinois University Police Department five times and left a message on the last call indicating that he was going to rape and kill 30 female students. Finally, Wiggins threatened the life of the ex-girlfriend.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Southern Illinois University Police Department. The case was being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Liam Coonan.

FBI and Laredo Police Announce “Bandit Shield” Crime Initiative

LAREDO, TX—Armando Fernandez, Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), whose territory includes Laredo, TX, and regional law enforcement, announce the implementation of a new regional crime reduction venture, “The Bandit Shield Initiative.”

The Bandit Shield Initiative was developed to reduce bank robberies, and to assist local, state, and federal law enforcement with their robbery investigations. Financial institutions participating in the Bandit Shield Initiative have agreed to implement a variety of “best practices” and other security measures developed to deter robberies in an effort to assist law enforcement. Additionally, participating financial institutions have undertaken other innovative steps as part of this initiative to make their institutions unattractive targets for would-be robbers. Banking institutions in compliance with the Bandit Shield Initiative will be provided with Bandit Shield decals to be affixed to the institution’s doors. Initially, the Bandit Shield Initiative will be implemented in the FBI’s San Antonio Division territory, and it will be considered for broader participation at a later time.

Brooklyn Center Bank Robbery

On February 27, 2012, at approximately 12:20 p.m., a bank robbery occurred at a TCF Bank branch located at 2950 County Road 10 in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. The robber, who was described as a white male, entered the bank and approached the teller counter. He handed the victim teller a note demanding cash. After receiving an undisclosed amount of cash, the robber fled from the bank.

The robber was described as a white male, approximately 5’9” to 5’10” in height, and having a stocky build. He appeared to be in his early 20s and was described as having a “baby face.” He was wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, a dark stocking cap, black pants, and black high top tennis shoes with white soles. If anyone has any information regarding this robbery, they are requested to contact the FBI at (763) 569 8000 or the Brooklyn Center Police Department.

Dayton Duo Plead Guilty to Federal Charges in Deadly Armed Home Invasion

DAYTON—Theron E. Lewis aka “T-Streets,” 26, and Keith A. Watson aka “Hooskal King” and “Buck,” 29, both of Dayton, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to charges stemming from an April 3, 2007 deadly armed home invasion of a West Dayton residence that resulted in the shooting death of a 52-year old man. Lewis pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition, and one count of violating the Hobbs Act. Watson pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Hobbs Act. This case resulted from an investigation led by the Dayton Federal Safe Streets Task Force and the Dayton Police Department Homicide Unit.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Edward J. Hanko, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation Cincinnati Division (FBI), Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl, and members of the Safe Streets Task Force, announced the pleas entered today before U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black.

According to court documents, in April 2007, Lewis, Watson, and another unidentified, now-deceased, individual, met, planned and conspired to commit an armed home invasion and robbery of an occupied residence located at 1637 Harold Street in Dayton for the purpose of stealing drugs and drug cash proceeds believed to be stored in the home. All of the conspirators possessed loaded handguns, gained entry into the residence, and threatened the six adult occupants with acts of force and physical violence.

Watson ordered three of the occupants to lie down on the floor as he guarded the front door, while Lewis and the third co-conspirator proceeded to a rear bedroom where three other occupants were located, including a quadriplegic. The robbers demanded money and drugs, which the occupants denied having. As the discussions became increasingly heated, Lewis shot and murdered the 52 year old occupant at point blank range. Upon locating and stealing $5,200 in drug proceeds, the trio fled the scene.

Lewis’s plea agreement calls for a 25-year prison sentence to run concurrent with a 23-year-to-life state sentence he is currently serving on an unrelated murder. Watson’s plea agreement calls for a 9 to 11 year prison term for his role in the home invasion.

Judge Black has scheduled sentencing for both men on June 28, 2012.

Stewart commended the cooperative investigation by the federal and local agencies, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwight K. Keller and Brent G. Tabacchi, who are prosecuting the case.

Four Former NYPD Officers Plead Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Participating in Conspiracies to Transport Firearms and/or Stolen Goods

Nine of the Twelve Defendants Originally Charged Have Now Plead Guilty

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that former New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) officers GARY ORTIZ, JOSEPH TRISCHITTA, JOHN MAHONEY, and RICHARD MELNIK pled guilty to engaging in conspiracies to transport firearms and/or stolen goods across state lines. Associates MICHAEL GEE and ERIC GOMER also pled guilty to participating in a scheme to transport stolen goods interstate, and GEE pled guilty to participating in a conspiracy to sell a firearm to an out-of-state resident. ORTIZ, TRISCHITTA, MAHONEY, and GEE each pled guilty today, and MELNIK and GOMER pled guilty last week.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “As they admitted today, these police officers moonlighted as criminals, and even planned to use their badges to cover their illegal activity. When officers break the law they swear to uphold, they undermine the public’s confidence, and the damage they cause cannot be overstated. To date, seven law enforcement officers have admitted to violating this sacred trust, and now they must face the consequences of their betrayal.”

According to the Complaint, the plea agreements, the Informations to which each defendant pled, and statements made in court:

From September 2010 to October 2011, ORTIZ and TRISCHITTA participated in a scheme to transport firearms across state lines. ORTIZ, TRISCHITTA, and their co-conspirators helped transport three M-16 rifles, one shotgun, and 16 handguns – the majority of which had been defaced to remove or alter the serial number – from New Jersey to New York. In another scheme, ORTIZ and TRISCHITTA, joined by MAHONEY, MELNIK, GEE, and GOMER, and other co-conspirators, helped transport what they believed were stolen goods, including slot machines and thousands of cartons of cigarettes, as well as various counterfeit merchandise, across state lines. In total, the goods they illegally transported carried a street value of approximately $1 million. GEE also participated in a conspiracy to sell a firearm to an out-of-state resident.

While participating in the scheme, ORTIZ and MAHONEY were active-duty officers, in Brooklyn’s 71st and 68th precincts, respectively. For part of the time, TRISCHITTA was an active-duty officer in Brooklyn’s 68th precinct. MELNIK was a retired NYPD Officer who had previously worked in Brooklyn’s 68th precinct. The ringleader was William Masso, who was an active-duty officer in Brooklyn’s 68th precinct.

In preparing for, and carrying out this scheme, the defendants specifically discussed using their credentials and knowledge as law enforcement officers. In a meeting on March 24, 2011, Masso told MAHONEY, MELNIK, and TRISCHITTA that they should carry their law enforcement badges during the operation and, if stopped, should say they were police officers working off-duty to deliver items another person had purchased at an auction. At that same meeting, TRISCHITTA discussed a potential problem using a certain brand of rental truck to transport the merchandise since law enforcement is trained to look for that type of truck in connection with potential criminal activity. The following day, after transporting six slot machines they believed to have been stolen from New Jersey to New York, MELNIK said that they needed to coordinate better on future meetings to make sure they were not all in the same parking lot, which made it look like they were scoping out the area.

During their guilty pleas, ORTIZ and TRISCHITTA admitted that they had willfully transported firearms across state lines, in violation of their obligations as NYPD Officers. They, along with MAHONEY, MELNIK, GEE, and GOMER, also admitted that they had knowingly transported what they believed were stolen cigarettes, slot machines, and/or other merchandise across state lines.

* * *

ORTIZ, 28, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Theodore H. Katz to one count of conspiracy to transport firearms interstate and one count of conspiracy to transport and receive stolen merchandise. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. ORTIZ agreed to a money judgment of $18,000, representing the amount of the crime proceeds, and agreed to forfeit his interest in one gun seized from him at the time of his arrest. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe on June 12, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. TRISCHITTA, 42, of Staten Island, New York pled guilty today before Judge Katz to one count of conspiracy to transport firearms interstate and one count of conspiracy to transport and receive stolen merchandise. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

TRISCHITTA agreed to a money judgment of $11,500, representing the amount of the crime proceeds, and agreed to forfeit his interest in five guns seized from him at the time of his arrest. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley on July 6, 2012 at 2:00 p.m.

MAHONEY, 27, of Staten Island, New York, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Sullivan to one count of conspiracy to transport and receive stolen merchandise. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. MAHONEY agreed to a money judgment of $4,500, representing the amount of the crime proceeds, and agreed to forfeit his interest in two guns seized from him at the time of his arrest. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Sullivan on June 15, 2012 at 11:30 a.m.

GEE, 50, of Staten Island, New York, pled guilty today before Judge Katz to one count of conspiracy to sell a firearm to an out-of-state resident and one count of conspiracy to transport and receive stolen merchandise. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. GEE agreed to a money judgment of $5,000, representing the amount of the crime proceeds. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Andrew L. Carter, Jr. on June 1, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.

MELNIK, 43, of Staten Island, New York, pled guilty on February 24, 2012 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank Maas to one count of conspiracy to transport and receive stolen merchandise. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. MELNIK agreed to a money judgment of $5,000, representing the amount of the crime proceeds, and agreed to forfeit his interest in three guns seized from him at the time of his arrest. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones on July 6, 2012 at 2:30 p.m.

GOMER, 28, of Rhode Island, New York, pled guilty on February 22, 2012 before U.S. District Judge John F. Keenan to one count of conspiracy to transport and receive stolen merchandise. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. GOMER agreed to a money judgment of $5,000, representing the amount of the crime proceeds, and agreed to forfeit his interest in a replica gun seized from him at the time of his arrest. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Keenan on May 30, 2012 at 3:00 p.m.

Three defendants previously pled guilty in connection with the case. Masso pled guilty on February 6, 2012 and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 15, 2012. Marco Venezia, a former NYPD Officer, and David Kanwisher, a corrections officer in New Jersey, each pled guilty on February 15, 2012 and are scheduled to be sentenced on June 21, 2012 and May 25, 2012, respectively.

Charges are pending against former NYPD Officers Eddie Goris and Ali Oklu and former NYC Department of Sanitation Police Officer Anthony Santiago. Goris is scheduled to appear in Magistrate Court on March 1, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. for a plea hearing. Santiago is scheduled appear before U.S. District Judge Deborah A. Batts on March 9, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. for a plea hearing. Oklu is scheduled to appear at a pretrial conference before Judge Pauley on March 23, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. The charges against these co-conspirators are merely accusations, and these defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of the FBI and the Internal Affairs Bureau of the NYPD.

This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption and Complex Frauds units. Assistant United States Attorneys Carrie H. Cohen, Brent S. Wible, and Amanda Kramer are in charge of the cases.

FBI Releases Photographs of a Bank Robbery at the TD Bank in Boca Raton

The FBI is releasing photographs from a bank robbery that took place Friday (2/24/2012) at approximately 2:15 pm at the TD Bank located at 2301 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton, Florida.

The robber entered the bank and demanded money from a bank employee. Customers were in the bank at the time of the robbery. No one was injured. Money was taken, but the amount will not be released at this time.

The bank robber is described as follows: See attached pictures.

The FBI believes this robber may be involved in numerous other bank robberies to include:

Amtrust Bank, located at 5461 Sheridan Street, Hollywood, FL on 12/24/2011; Regent Bank, located at 2205 S. University Drive, Davie, FL on 1/6/2012; Valley Bank, located at 3309 Sheridan Road, Hollywood, FL on 1/6/2012; TD Bank, located at 1215 SE 17th Street, Ft Lauderdale, FL on 1/18/2012; Comerica Bank, located at 1 S. Federal Highway, Boca Raton, FL on 1/20/2012; IberiaBank, located at 990 N. Federal Highway, Pompano Beach, FL on 1/27/2012; Bank of America located at 2300 E Sunrise Blvd, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on 2/20/2012.

If anyone has information as to the identity of this bank robber, they are urged to call the FBI at (305) 944-9101 or Crimestoppers.

SEVEN INDICTED AND ARRESTED ON FEDERAL DRUG, GUN & ROBBERY CHARGES

Two More Defendants Arrested Will Face Criminal State Charges

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A total of nine defendants were arrested earlier today and face federal and state criminal charges, announced Anne M. Tompkins, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Seven of the defendants were charged with federal drug, gun and robbery offenses, and two face state criminal charges.

U.S. Attorney Tompkins is joined in making today’s announcement by Tony Robbins, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division; R. Andrew Murray, District Attorney for Mecklenburg County; Chief Rodney D. Monroe, of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD); J. Richard Griffin, Special Agent in Charge of the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division (ALE); and Tracy Lee, Judicial District Manager of the 26th Judicial District of the North Carolina Division of Community Corrections.

The defendants were apprehended during an early morning take-down today conducted by federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. Those arrested and federally charged include, in alphabetical order:

• Tangie Alexander, 28, of Charlotte;

• Curtis Davis, 57, of Charlotte;

• Dequrius Stephon Greene, 20, of Charlotte;

• Damien Jackson, 31, of Charlotte;

• Louis Daniel Misenheimer, Jr., 40, of Charlotte;

• Anthony Moye, 49, of Charlotte; and

• Charles Edward Toney, a/k/a “CJ”, 31, of Charlotte

In addition to the seven federal defendants apprehended today, Tommie Lee Williams, a/k/a “ATL”, 39, and Dapatrick Marque Richardson, 28, both of Charlotte and currently in custody on state offenses, have also been charged federally in connection with this investigation.

Three more defendants, Daysha Cole, 20, Roberto Gallegos, 23, and Jamire White, 21, all of Charlotte, were arrested in November 2011, on a federal complaint on bank robbery charges stemming from this investigation. They are currently in local federal custody.

Of those arrested today, Curtis Davis, made his initial federal court appearance this morning. The other six individuals in custody on federal charges will have their initial court appearances later today or tomorrow.

Two additional defendants arrested today face state criminal charges.

Today’s arrests and indictments are the result of a four-month, cross-jurisdictional and multi-agency investigation conducted by local, state, and federal law enforcement officers, dedicated to making our streets and communities safer. The agencies involved in the initiative include the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina, ATF, CMPD’s North Tryon Division & Vice Unit, the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office, the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division, and North Carolina State Probation. The goal of the investigation is to target and reduce violent crime in Mecklenburg County, with special emphasis placed on the Sugar Creek/Interstate 85 corridor.

In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney Tompkins stated, “Today’s arrests are the result of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to focus our resources on a hot spot for violent crime. Throughout this investigation all agencies worked side by side to identify and prosecute individuals who pose a continuous threat to our community. I want to thank all the agencies involved in this successful endeavor, and to assure the public that we will all continue to work together and remain vigilant in our commitment to making our streets and communities safer. ”

“Today’s joint enforcement operation should send a loud and clear message,” said ATF’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Robbins. “ATF will continue to combine our efforts and resources with our law enforcement partners to hold those accountable who continue to endanger our communities by engaging in violent crime; especially those crimes involving the use of firearms.”

“A successful operation of this magnitude could only have been accomplished through multi-agency collaboration and communication. By working with our partners, who are just as committed as we are to reducing crime and bringing violent offenders to justice, we helped to improve the quality of life for our citizens today along the Sugar Creek corridor,” said Chief Monroe of CMPD.

“Alcohol Law Enforcement is always willing to assist local, state and federal agencies in combating violent crime for the betterment of the community,” stated ALE’s Director John Ledford.

“We are excited about working with federal and local law enforcement agencies in promoting public safety,” stated Tracy Lee, Judicial District Manager with North Carolina’s Division of Community Corrections. “We are encouraged by this initiative and look forward to continued collaboration among these agencies."

The charges contained in these indictments are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The investigation is being handled by the ATF, CMPD, ALE, and NC State Probation. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Claire Phillips and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Greene of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.

Woman Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison

Tucson, Ariz. – A 30-year-old woman from Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico, who was apprehended by Douglas Station Border Patrol agents in February 2011, was sentenced last week to 36 months of confinement.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted Maria Soto-Favela following her 2011 apprehension for attempting to illegally re-enter the United States. During processing, agents using the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System learned that Soto-Favela was convicted in 2002 in Maricopa County, Arizona, for felony armed robbery, felony attempted aggravated assault and theft. She was sentenced to four years in prison. Records also indicated Soto-Favela was previously deported from the United States in January 2011.

Following the Border Patrol’s initial processing, the case was submitted to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for re-entry of a felon. Soto-Favela will be formally removed from the U.S. following her 36-month incarceration and is now banned for life from all legalization processes.

All illegal immigrants apprehended by the Border Patrol undergo criminal history checks using IAFIS. This vital tool accesses criminal records throughout the United States, enabling agents to quickly identify violent criminals and wanted persons.

As part of a targeted enforcement strategy, the Tucson Sector places individuals into impact programs designed to prevent them from deciding to commit a subsequent illegal entry. Prosecution in federal court is one of the impact programs used on individuals with prior criminal convictions.

Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity and remain anonymous by calling the Border Patrol at (877) 872-7435 toll free.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

FBI Announces the Arrest of an Individual Wanted in Connection with the Robberies of Bank of America and TD Bank

John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the FBI Miami Field Office, announces the arrest last night of Richard Bystricky, 49, of Cleveland, Ohio, in connection with the robberies of the Bank of America, 2300 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale on 02/10/2012 and TD Bank, 2301 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton on 02/24/2012.

The arrest was made at approximately 6:00 pm yesterday (2/25/2012) without incident in Hollywood, Florida, by members of the South Florida Violent Crime/Fugitive Task Force and the Hollywood Police Department.

The individual arrested is expected to face federal charges. It is anticipated that he will have his initial appearance in Federal Court Monday (2/27/2012) in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

The FBI, Boca Raton Police Department, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Broward County Sheriff’s Office and the South Florida Violent Crime/Fugitive Task Force continue their investigation.

The FBI continues to seek other suspects and persons of interest in connection with this crime. Anyone with information should call the FBI in Miami at (305) 944-9101.

SAC Gillies would like to thank the public for their assistance in the matter.

Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty to Soliciting Kidnapping of New Jersey Woman and Her Young Child

TRENTON, NJ—Jayen I. Patel, 41, of Southampton, Pa., admitted today to engaging someone he thought was a white supremacist to kidnap a New Jersey woman and her child, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Patel pleaded guilty to an Indictment charging him with one count of soliciting an individual to aid in a kidnapping. The defendant entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson in Trenton federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

In September 2010, Patel reached out to an FBI agent acting in an undercover capacity (“the UC”) through an Internet-based social networking site. As the relationship between the UC and Patel developed, Patel identified a woman and her daughter whom he wished to have kidnapped, claiming that the child’s father wanted custody of the child. Patel’s plan involved forcing the woman to do things ‘to make her loose [sic] custody of her child.’

Patel indicated that if the UC—who he thought was a white supremacist—and his associates aided in the abduction, they would be paid from money they obtained from the victim, whom they would all share as a slave following her abduction. During his guilty plea, Patel admitted that he provided instructions to separate the child from her mother, to restrain the mother with handcuffs, and to knock the mother unconscious with a handgun if she resisted. Patel also provided the victims’ names and address, urging the UC to conduct surveillance on the victims to determine their schedules and how many people lived in the residence. He also gave instructions regarding the makeup of the group that should engage in the kidnapping.

The solicitation charge to which Patel pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $125,000 fine.

Sentencing before Judge Wolfson is currently scheduled for June 1, 2012. The defendant remains under house arrest and electronic monitoring pending sentencing.

U.S. Attorney Fishman praised the outstanding work of special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward, as well as the other members of the Newark Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). He also thanked the Oklahoma City FBI, Franklin Township, N.J., Police Department, South Brunswick Police Department, and the Hopewell Township Police Department for their roles in the investigation. The JTTF is made up of agents and officers of the U.S. Department of State: U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection; New Jersey State Police; Jersey City Police Department; Bayonne Police Department; Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and other law enforcement agencies.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis C. Carletta of the U.S. Attorney’s Office National Security Unit in Newark.

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Defense counsel: Robert J. DeGroot Esq., Newark

Indictment Charges Two Men with Illegally Distributing Controlled Substances

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven has returned a six-count indictment charging ROBERT GENTILE, 75, of Manchester, and ANDREW PARENTE, 75, of Hartford, with controlled substances offenses. The indictment was returned on February 24, 2012.

As alleged in the indictment, in October and November 2011, GENTILE and PARENTE conspired to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, Schedule II controlled substances. On November 22, 2011, GENTILE and PARENTE possessed with the intent to distribute, and did distribute, a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of OxyContin, a Schedule II controlled substance.

The indictment further alleges that, on October 17, November 4, and November 21, 2011, GENTILE possessed with the intent to distribute, and did distribute, a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of Dilaudid, a Schedule II controlled substance. On February 10, 2012, GENTILE possessed with the intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of Percocet, also a Schedule II controlled substance. Each of the charges carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $1 million. GENTILE and PARENTE were arrested on a criminal complaint on February 10, 2012. GENTILE has been detained since his arrest. PARENTE is released on a $50,000 non-surety bond.

This matter has been assigned to Senior United States District Judge Ellen Bree Burns in New Haven.

U.S. Attorney Fein stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John H. Durham.

Caldwell Police, FBI Confirm Missing Mom and Three Children Have Crossed Into Mexico

Detectives with the Caldwell Police Department and special agents of the FBI Salt Lake City Division have developed new information today in the disappearance of three Idaho children, who were taken last week by their non custodial mother. Investigative leads confirm all four crossed into Mexico as early as Sunday evening. A witness says the three children appeared to be unharmed and with their mother. They drove across the border in a grey, 4-door, Pontiac 6000 (Nevada license plate number 389XPR). This is the same vehicle they left Idaho in. Law enforcement continues to search for all four, however due to this new information the police department will request the Amber Alerts in Idaho and Nevada be cancelled.

The three children, who were living in foster care in Caldwell, Idaho, were taken by their non custodial mother, 35-year old Bertha Sabala Guerrero, over the weekend. Media and the public in several states were alerted to the disappearance of the children, 5-year-old Esmerelda Guerrero-Lopez (female), 7-year-old Mirella Guerrero-Lopez (female), and 9-year-old Ubaldo Guerrero-Lopez Jr. (male). The investigation shows Guerrero drove through Nevada and Arizona to cross into Mexico.

It is important to note, detectives with the Caldwell Police Department and FBI special agents continue to investigate this case. A state arrest warrant was issued in Idaho for Guerrero that allows for nationwide extradition. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Caldwell Police Department in Idaho at (208) 454-7531.

Smithboro Man Sentenced to 498 Months for Production and Possession of Child Pornography

Darrell L. Stewart, Jr., 42, of Smithboro, IL, received a forty year sentence following his plea of guilty to three counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Upon release from imprisonment, Stewart will be on supervised release for the remainder of his life, will be subject to a search condition, and will be required to register as a sex offender. Stewart was also ordered to pay a $400 fine, a $400 special assessment and restitution in the amount of $2,000.

“Darrell Stewart is every parent’s nightmare and every child’s ‘monster in the closet.’ As a result of this investigation and prosecution he won’t be able to harm a child for at least 41 and one half years. Even if he does live to see the end of his prison term, he will be on supervised release and closely monitored for the rest of his life,” said United States Attorney Wigginton. “Our office has aggressively pursued those persons who target children for their depraved desires. In the last year alone we have successfully prosecuted six defendants who engaged in the production of child pornography and they received sentences ranging from a low of thirty years to a high of fifty years in prison. And, we will never cease our efforts to protect our children,” added United States Attorney Wigginton.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation began its investigation when an agent conducted an undercover investigation on a peer to peer file sharing network and discovered that Stewart was distributing child pornography. The FBI executed a search warrant at Stewart’s home and seized a large quantity of electronic equipment. Forensic examination revealed 1,181 child pornography videos, 1,697 still images of child pornography, and 17 pairs of boys underwear in sizes as small as 3T. Stewart had produced some of the child pornography, including a movie which depicted him having sex with a minor. Stewart has been in custody since July 6, 2011. In interviews with the FBI, Stewart admitted to having a sexual interest in children dating back to the 1990s.

At the time of the commission of the child pornography offenses, Stewart was serving a federal term of supervised release following a conviction for Conspiracy to Manufacture Methamphetamine. Following a finding that he had violated the terms of supervised release for possessing, transporting, distributing, and producing child pornography, Stewart was ordered to serve an additional 18 month term of imprisonment, resulting in a total sentence of 498 months.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Vienna Police Department and Illinois Secretary of State Police, both of which agencies have dedicated officers to the FBI Cyber Crimes Task Force. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, in which the United States Attorney’s Office, in conjunction with federal and state law enforcement authorities, is actively investigating and prosecuting individuals who are involved in the exploitation of children. The case was prosecuted by United States Attorney Stephen R. Wigginton and Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne M. Garrison.

Smugglers Leave Cuban Aliens In Puerto Rico Waters; One Alien Dies

CBIG Authorities Rescue 15 Aliens; Navy Of The Dominican Republic Arrests The Two Smugglers

San Juan, P.R. – An alien citizen of Cuba died yesterday afternoon, adding to the recent toll of deaths of undocumented aliens in the Mona Passage being transported by smuggling organizations attempting to reach the shores of the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.

Facing the threat of being intercepted and arrested by law enforcement, yesterday afternoon two human smugglers left a group of aliens of Cuban nationality by “yola” close to the treacherous cliffs of Mona and and Monito islands; both part of a natural reserve between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

Federal authorities under the Caribbean Border Interagency Group, along with Dominican Republic Navy, were able to join forces to interdict and arrest the two Dominican smugglers and rescue 12 adult males, one male minor and three women.

During the late morning hours the crew of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection maritime surveillance aircraft detected a 25-foot wooden makeshift “yola” boat en route east from the Dominican Republic towards Monito and Mona Island, Puerto Rico.

Upon noticing the presence of law enforcement authorities in the area, smugglers proceeded to cover the migrant vessel with a blue tarp in an attempt to avoid detection and continued to transit towards Monito Island, where four Cubans jumped into the water and were trapped below the island’s cliff waterline unable to reach safety.

The migrant vessel proceeded to transit towards Mona Island, where the remaining 12 migrants jumped into the water and began swimming towards shore.

Immediately thereafter, the smugglers proceeded to flee the scene and head back towards the Dominican Republic with the CBP surveillance aircraft in aerial pursuit.

The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Cushing arrived to Monito Island, deployed their response boat and combined efforts with the crew of a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter to rescue the four migrants from the water. The helicopter’s rescue swimmer was able to reach the four endangered migrants and pull them to safety, one at a time, aboard the Cushing’s small boat.

The crew of a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter recovered one other Cuban man deceased from the water and transferred his body to Mona Island.

The crew of the rescue helicopter hoisted one of the survivors onboard, who required immediate medical attention, and transported him to the Good Samaritan Hospital in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The crew of the Cushing embarked the three other survivors from the cutter’s small boat.

CBP surveillance aircraft continued to maintain visual contact with the fleeing vessel, while Coast Guard Watchstanders in Sector San Juan coordinated with Dominican Republic navy authorities, who responded by diverting the maritime interceptor Barracuda.

The crew of the Barracuda arrived on scene, interdicted the suspect vessel and apprehended the two smugglers, who were transferred to awaiting authorities in the Dominican Republic.

Customs and Border Protection helicopter recovered the 11 survivors and the deceased Cuban from Mona Island Thursday night and transported them to the main island of Puerto Rico. The Cushing transported the three other survivors to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, where they turned custody to awaiting CBP Border Patrol Agents.

CBP Border Patrol Agents interviewed the surviving Cuban aliens and transported them to the Ramey Station for further processing.

Upon verification of their immigration status, the group was served a Notice to Appear before an Immigration Judge in San Juan, for proceedings under the Cuban Readjustment Act of 1966.

District Attorney’s from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico along with Agents from CBP Border Patrol and Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations were transported to the scene in Mona Island for investigation.

The two smugglers are under the custody of the Dominican Republic Navy.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed a petition to the Dominican Republic, requesting the extradition of the two smugglers.

As part of CBP’s “Don’t be fooled” (No te engañes) campaign, this border agency issued a warning about the dangers to undocumented aliens when dealing with smuggling organizations, particularly the risk of death when venturing through the dangerous Mona Passage.

Recently, 52 citizens of the Dominican Republic died near the coast of Samaná attempting a voyage towards Puerto Rico.

According to the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime while smuggling by sea accounts only for a small portion of overall migrant smuggling around the world, the particular dangers of irregular travel at sea make it a priority for response; due to the reported fact that more deaths occur by sea.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.