Border Patrol Agents in South Texas Arrest Murderer, Seize Marijuana Worth $460k, Recover 12 Rifles

Del Rio, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Del Rio Sector seized nearly 600 pounds of marijuana, arrested a convicted murderer and seized 12 rifles last week. 

On Wednesday, Carrizo Springs Station agents stopped a 1999 Ford F-250 flat bed work truck, loaded with several large bundles of marijuana and arrested the driver. The bundles were discovered in hidden compartments located under several tool boxes mounted on the flatbed of the truck. The total amount of marijuana seized was 496.3 pounds worth $397,040. The case was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On Friday, Uvalde Station agents assisted Zavala County deputies during a traffic stop of a 2002 Dodge truck near La Pryor. During the search of the vehicle, 12 rifles were discovered hidden within the doors of the truck. The case was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

On Sunday, Eagle Pass Station agents, working along the railroad tracks near Eagle Pass, arrested Aquiles Escobar-Diaz, 46, an undocumented immigrant from Honduras. During processing, agents discovered that Escobar-Diaz was previously deported from the United States and that in 1999 Escobar -Diaz was convicted of homicide in Wisconsin and sentenced to five years imprisonment. Escobar-Diaz will be removed from the United States and deported to Honduras.

Also on Sunday, Eagle Pass South Station agents discovered two large military-style duffel bags floating in the Rio Grande River. The bags contained 40 individual bricks of marijuana weighing 84.86 pounds, with an estimated street value of $67, 888. The contraband was turned over to DEA.

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.

Navy Seal Bickle Sentenced to 17½ Years in Prison

LAS VEGAS – The U.S. Navy SEAL who was convicted last fall of multiple felony weapons charges, including dealing in stolen firearms, was sentenced today to 17½ years in federal prison and three years of supervised release, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.

Nicholas Bickle, 34, of San Diego, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Roger L. Hunt. Bickle was convicted by a jury in October 2011 of one count of conspiracy to unlawfully receive, transport, possess and transfer machineguns and stolen firearms and to deal in firearms; one count of dealing in firearms without a license; four counts of possession and transfer of machineguns; five counts of possession, concealment, sale and disposition of stolen firearms; one count of receiving, concealing and retaining property of the United States; and one count of transportation by and distribution of explosives to a non-licensee. The judge imposed a greater sentence because of the large number of firearms involved, the types of firearms involved, and because the firearms were stolen and trafficked. Judge Hunt also found that Bickle was a leader or organizer of the offense, and that Bickle had abused his position of trust in order to facilitate the offenses.

"The weapons trafficked in this case were not your ordinary firearms; rather, they were fully-automatic machineguns that likely would have ended up in the hands of criminals," said U.S. Attorney Bogden. "The defendant's conduct was serious, and the Court imposed a lengthy prison sentence that should serve as a deterrent to anyone who is considering trafficking in machineguns or other firearms."

"ATF works diligently with our law enforcement partners to ensure that illegal machineguns and explosives never make it to our streets," said Acting Special Agent in Charge John P. Lee. "Mr. Bickle abused the public trust inherent to the position of a Navy SEAL and today he paid the price."

The evidence at trial demonstrated that from about March 2009 to November 2010, Bickle, a Navy Seal, conspired with Richard Paul, 35,of Durango, Colorado, Andrew Kaufman, 37, and Omar Aguirre, 36, both of Las Vegas, to sell machineguns and other weapons possessed by Bickle when he returned from Iraq. The firearms included over 30 AK-47 type machineguns (some of which bore the markings or symbols of the Iraqi military forces) and multiple pistols previously procured by the United States for Iraqi security forces. Bickle transported the majority of the weapons to Nevada and Colorado where his co-conspirators sold them to others, including an undercover law enforcement agent who expressed the intent to smuggle the weapons to Mexico. Bickle received a substantial portion of the proceeds from the sales of firearms. Bickle was also convicted of unlawfully receiving and retaining government property (ammunition, explosives, grenades and optical sights) valued at more than $1,000, and unlawfully transporting and transferring approximately five pounds of C-4 explosives.

Aguirre, Paul, and Kaufman pleaded guilty prior to trial. Aguirre was sentenced in October 2011 to five years in prison. Paul and Kaufman are scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow, July 18, 2012.

The investigation was conducted by ATF, NCIS, and the LVMPD. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy S. Vasquez and Phillip N. Smith, Jr.

CBP Officers at Del Rio Seize Assault Rifles Bound for Mexico

Del Rio, Texas – A Ciudad Acuña man is in custody after attempting to smuggle assault rifles out of the United States.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Del Rio Port of Entry selected a 2004 Chevrolet pickup truck for inspection as the vehicle was leaving the United States, bound for Mexico. During initial inspection, CBP officers found two rifle magazines in the driver’s pockets.

During an intensive inspection of the vehicle, officers discovered four assault rifles and an additional magazine hidden under the bedliner of the pickup. Rifles seized by CBP officers included two AR-15s, one AK-47, and one SKS.

The weapons and driver, a 33-year-old Mexican national, were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

“Preventing firearms from illegally being exported from the United States is an important function of CBP officers at the Port of Entry,” said Michael Perez, CBP Port Director, Del Rio. “Officer training and experience are vital tools in intercepting a variety of prohibited items.”

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 official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Hells Angels Members and Associates Arrested on 91-Count Federal RICO Indictment

COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney Bill Nettles and Special Agent in Charge David A. Thomas of the Federal Bureau of Investigation stated that 19 individuals were arrested today after the return of a 91-count indictment charging members and associates of the Rock Hell City Nomad Chapter of the Hells Angels with racketeering and racketeering conspiracy (RICO-18 U.S.C. §1962), narcotics violations (21 U.S.C. §§ 841, 846), Hobbs Act robbery (18 U.S.C. §1951), money laundering (18 U.S.C. §1956), and firearm violations [18 U.S.C. §§ 922 and 924; 26 U.S.C. §§ 5861(d), 5845(a)(7), and 5871]. Those arrested were Daniel Eugene Bifield, a/k/a Diamond Dan (Leesville); Mark William Baker, a/k/a Lightning (Lancaster); David Channing Oiler, a/k/a Gravel Dave (Lancaster); Bruce James Long, a/k/a Bruce-Bruce (West Columbia); Richard Thrower, a/k/a Little Mark, Rat (Lancaster); David Pryor, a/k/a Yard Owl (York); James Frederick Keach, Jr., a/k/a Big Fred (Pelion); Frank Enriquez, Jr., a/k/a Big Frank (Rock Hill); Donald Boersma, a/k/a Brooklyn Donnie (Clover); Lisa Ellen Bifield, a/k/a Lisa Ellen Meyers, Lisa Ellen Stockton (Leesville); Johanna Looper, a/k/a JoJo (York); Kerry Chitwood (Gastonia, North Carolina); Carlos Hernandez (Charlotte, North Carolina); Ronald Dean Byrum, Jr., a/k/a Big Ron (Gastonia, North Carolina); Trent Allen Brown (West Columbia); Bruce Ranson Wilson, a/k/a Diesel (Swansea); Thomas McManus Plyler, a/k/a Uncle Tom (Rock Hill); Jamie Hobbs Long (Lancaster); and Somying Anderson, a/k/a Ying (West Columbia).

The arrest warrants were served along with the execution of 23 search warrants in North and South Carolina. During today’s operation, law enforcement seized methamphatamine, cocaine, marijuana, pills, and approximately 100 firearms, including two automatic machine guns. Special Agent in Charge David Thomas stated, “The significance of the extensive and long-term investigative efforts that resulted in the arrests today represent the FBI’s continuing commitment to the dismantling of organized criminal organizations. By working in a joint environment with federal, state, and local counterparts, we send a clear message that such pervasive criminal activities will not be tolerated.”

These arrests follow a two-year interagency investigation by the South Carolina Hells Angels Task Force (SCHATF). Assisting in the investigation and today’s operation were the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Columbia and Charlotte Field Divisions; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Lexington County Sheriff’s Department; Lexington Police Department; Rock Hill Police Department; York County Sheriff’s Office; Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office; State Law Enforcement Division; Gastonia, Police Department; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department; Gaston County Sheriff’s Office; and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.

United States Attorney Bill Nettles commended the inter-agency cooperation, saying, “Today’s arrests and seizures are an important step in our ongoing fight against criminal gangs operating in South Carolina. This investigation is also another example of what can be accomplished through a close partnership among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.” The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay N. Richardson.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Austin Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing an Assault Rifle

MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court in St. Paul, a 31-year-old felon from Austin pleaded guilty to possessing an assault rifle. Samuel James Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. Johnson, who was indicted on April 17, 2012, entered his plea before United States District Court Judge Richard H. Kyle.

In his plea agreement, Johnson admitted that on November 4, 2010, he possessed a .39-caliber, semi-automatic assault rifle. Because he is a felon, Johnson is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. Johnson’s criminal history includes a number of convictions in Mower County: attempted simple robbery (2000), simple robbery (2007), possession of a short-barreled shotgun (2007), and sale of a simulated controlled substance (2007). In addition, Johnson has a Hennepin County conviction for felony theft (1999).

Since at least three of Johnson’s prior felony convictions were for crimes of violence or serious drug crimes, sentencing in the current case will be subject to the Armed Career Criminal Act, which mandates a minimum of 15 years in federal prison. The maximum sentence is life in prison. Judge Kyle will determine Johnson’s sentence at a future hearing.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, including the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; the University of Minnesota Police Department; the Minneapolis Police Department; the St. Paul Police Department; the Fairmont Police Department; and the Minnesota Department of Corrections. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Winter.