Triggerman Found Guilty in Murder-for-Hire

TAMPA—On Friday, August 3, 2012, a federal jury found Luis Angel Lopez (24, Hillsborough County) guilty of conspiring and using the mail or a facility of interstate commerce with the intent to commit murder and using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence that caused a death. He faces a penalty of life in federal prison. Lopez was indicted in May 2011, along with Cristie Fay Bottorff and Jerry Alan Bottorff. Lopez is scheduled to be sentenced on October 18, 2012.

Thomas Lee Sehorne was murdered on June 7, 2007, in Lithia, Florida. At the time of the murder, Cristie Bottorff was married to Sehorne and involved in an affair with Jerry Bottorff. The evidence presented at trial revealed that the murder was procured by Cristie and Jerry Bottorff and accomplished with the assistance of Michael Garcia, who served as a middle-man or broker to Lopez. Lopez, the triggerman, was to be paid $60,000 for the murder. Sehorne was killed for $1 million dollars in life insurance proceeds that he held for his wife and two minor children.

Cristie Bottorff and Jerry Bottorff both pled guilty to all charges on July 9, 2012, and testified against Lopez during the trial, along with Garcia. Both Cristie and Jerry Bottorff are scheduled to be sentenced on October 22, 2012. Michael Garcia remains in jail on unrelated drug charges.

The case was investigated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Terry Furr and Tom Palermo, with investigative assistance from Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Downing.

School Teacher Arrested and Charged for Enticing a Minor to Engage in Sexual Acts

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Addy M. Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, (FDLE), Miami Field Division; John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office; Chadwick Wagner, Chief, Hollywood Police Department; Al Lamberti, Sheriff, Broward Sheriff’s Office; and Franklin Adderley, Chief, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, announce today’s filing of a complaint following the June 16, 2012 arrest of Thomas Patrick Keelan, 54, of Roanoke, Virginia, on charges resulting from an FDLE-led investigation into allegations that Keelan attempted to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and that he traveled in interstate commerce for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct with a minor. Keelan made his initial appearance in federal court today at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman.

According to the criminal complaint, between 2009 and 2010, Keelan was a teacher at a private school in Miami-Dade County. While at the school, Keelan began to have a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student. According to the criminal complaint, over the next two years, Keelan had sex with the minor approximately 60 times.

The complaint further alleges that in the fall of 2010, Keelan accepted a job as the head of the English department at a private school in Roanoke, Virginia. In May 2012, the Miami-Dade victim, then 17 years old, began cooperating with law enforcement and placed several phone calls to Keelan. In these calls, Keelan expressed his love for the minor victim and, in one call, masturbated while on the phone with the victim. By the end of the call, Keelan had told the victim that he wanted to travel down to Miami to have sex with the victim again. In a subsequent call, Keelan told the victim that he would meet the victim at the same hotel in Hollywood, Florida where he and the victim had sex before.

On May 28, 2012, the complaint alleges, Keelan reserved a room at a Hollywood hotel for seven days, beginning June 16, 2012. On June 1, 2012, Keelan told the victim that he planned to leave Virginia by car on June 15, 2012 and arrive in South Florida on June 16, 2012. According to the complaint, on June 16, 2012, Keelan arrived at the Hollywood hotel, parked his car in the hotel parking lot, and entered the lobby. Keelan was arrested when he entered the hotel.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FDLE and FBI. Mr. Ferrer would also like to thank the Hollywood Police Department, the Broward Sheriff’s Office, and the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Roy K. Altman.

Five Charged for Conspiracy to Extort Relatives of Smuggled Cuban Migrants

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Alysa Erichs, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), Miami Field Office; John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office; and Addy Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), announce the unsealing of a four-count indictment charging Yandrys Leon, 35, Yadira Leon Placias, 25, both of Jennings, Florida, Manuel Bernal, 46, of Tampa, Florida, Oscar A. Morera Torres, 44, and Jose A. Fernandez, 42, both of Miami, with conspiring to commit extortion in connection with the illegal smuggling of Cuban migrants from Mexico into the United States. Three of the defendants have been arrested. If convicted, the defendants each face a possible maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison.

A joint investigation by ICE-HSI, FBI, and FDLE led law enforcement to Leon and Leon Placias after relatives of Cuban migrants notified law enforcement that the migrants were being held in Mexico for ransom after departing Cuba en route to the United States. The indictment charges all five defendants with conspiring to commit extortion through the wrongful use of actual and threatened force, violence and fear. In addition, Leon, Bernal, Morera Torres, and Fernandez are each charged with making telephone calls with the intent to extort money.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the ICE-HSI, FBI, and FDLE. Mr. Ferrer also thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), Area 5 for their assistance in this investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John D. Couriel and Elisa Castrolugo.

An indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Destin Homicide Suspect Arrested in Madison County

Madison, FL - A Crestview, Florida man wanted in connection with a Homicide and Armed Robbery is finally behind bars after almost two weeks on the run. According to investigators from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, 23 year old Deaundros L. Blackshear was involved in an armed robbery on November 15, 2011 in Destin, Florida which ended in the shooting death of 21 year old Junior Christopher Ferguson. Information released indicated that Blackshear and co-defendant Arderiuss Warren set up a deal with Ferguson and Peter Frazier to purchase $1000.00 worth of cellular telephones. As Frazier and Warren discussed the deal and exchanged money, Blackshear is alleged to have pulled out a gun killing Ferguson and wounding Frazier. Arderiuss Warren was arrested by Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office on November 16 for unrelated drug charges and charged on November 17 with the murder and armed robbery of Ferguson and Frazier.

Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputies identified Deaundros Blackshear as the alleged shooter in the robbery and have been pursuing Blackshear throughout North Florida and South Alabama since the incident. Members of the US Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force were contacted by Okaloosa investigators on Friday November 18 after information was obtained that Blackshear may have fled to the Madison County, Florida area. Task Force members working with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office identified several family members and known associates of Blackshear who were currently living in Madison County. Information developed by Madison investigators lead a team of task force officers to a residence in the 200 block of Anderson Pond Way early this morning. US Marshals Task Force Officers and Madison County Deputy Sheriff’s surrounded the residence and located Blackshear inside the residence hiding in a room with two small female children.

Blackshear surrendered to the overwhelming law enforcement presence after a brief standoff and was booked into the Madison County Jail where he awaits extradition back to Okaloosa County.

The Tallahassee Division of the FRFTF is comprised of law enforcement officers from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office, Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Leon County State Attorney’s Office, Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Perry Police Department, Tallahassee Police Department, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office and the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office. These local law enforcement agencies contribute approximately 23 officers in both full time and part time roles with the officers sworn in as Special Deputy US Marshals who have the authority to cross their normal jurisdictional lines to pursue fugitives wanted for violent crimes by their respective departments.

Members of Opa Locka Drug Trafficking Organization and Police Captain Charged with Drug Offenses

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office; Hugo Barrera, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); James K. Loftus, Director, Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD); and Addy M. Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), announced the indictment of Toriano Johnson, 36, of Opa Locka; Terrence Johnson, 38, of Miramar; Dwayne Miller, 27, of Opa Locka; Jermaine Parrish, 29, of Miami; Antwan Davis, 29, of Miami; Lawrence Benbow, 35, of Miami Gardens; Justin Jean, 27, of Opa Locka; and Arthur Balom, 44, of Miramar, a captain with the City of Opa Locka Police Department, in connection with their participation in the distribution of cocaine, Ecstacy and Oxycodone in Opa Locka. The charges announced today are the result of two-year joint investigation into drug distribution activities in the City of Opa Locka.

More specifically, the four-count indictment against the eight defendants charges them with various counts of conspiracy to distribute and substantive drug distribution charges. The indictment also includes a forfeiture count. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory sentence of up to 40 years in prison. Initial appearances and Pre-trial detention hearings have been scheduled for November 18, 2011 before U.S. Magistrate Judge John O’Sullivan.

U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer stated, “Drug trafficking is a scourge on our communities. Its effects are even worse when, as in this case, we find police officers, who are sworn to protect and serve our community, instead abuse the public trust and engage in drug trafficking to line their pockets. We are pleased to have discovered and removed this bad apple from the rank and file of honest and working police officers on the force.”

“Today’s arrests and indictment have disrupted and struck a serious blow to a violent, multi-kilo drug trafficking organization based out of Opa Locka. This criminal organization had the alleged assistance of a corrupt Opa Locka Police Captain who misused his position and violated the public’s trust by assisting members of this gang in carrying out their criminal activities,” said John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge for FBI Miami. “Our success in this ongoing investigation is the direct result of the exceptional cooperation among the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.”

“These arrests confirm the resolve of the South Florida law enforcement community to stand united in our commitment to bring criminals to justice and to protect the innocent. We will investigate those who choose to break the law and will prosecute them to the full extent of the law,” said Hugo Barrera, ATF Special Agent in Charge.

“We remain committed to arresting individuals that violate the laws of this country and the trust of our community, regardless of their affiliations. This indictment is yet another example of how we successfully continue to work closely with our fellow agencies to combat these crimes,” said Director James K. Loftus, Miami-Dade Police Department.

FDLE Special Agent in Charge Addy M. Villanueva stated, “This organization of violent criminals has plagued the south Florida community for far too long. Through inter-agency cooperation, this group has been arrested and will be brought to justice. The south Florida community is a little safer today.”

Mr. Ferrer commended the FBI, ATF, the MDPD, and FDLE for their efforts in the investigation of this case. Mr. Ferrer also thanked Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office and the Opa Locka Police Department for their assistance and cooperation in this matter. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Gilfarb, Maria Medetis and Jason Linder.

An indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

Motorcycle Gang Member Convicted; Others Plead Guilty

A trial in federal court has resulted in the conviction of a member of the Outlaw Motorcycle Club. Johnny Blake Clanton, 33, of Foley, was convicted of a gun charge alleging that he was a user of an illegal drug in possession of a firearm. That count carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a fine not to exceed $250,000, and a term of supervised release of three years. The trial, which began before United States District Court Judge Callie V.S. Granade on Monday, concluded yesterday when the jury returned the verdicts shortly before 5:00 p.m.

Also convicted was Loverne Bollwage Blackledge, 47, of Gulf Shores. Blackledge was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, and two counts alleging that she used a cell phone to facilitate the commission of the marijuana distribution conspiracy, charges for which Clanton was acquitted. She faces a penalty of not more than 20 years imprisonment, a fine not to exceed $2,000,000, and a supervised release term of three years.

Evidence from the trial established that Clanton’s affiliation with the Outlaw Motorcycle Club resulted in his introduction to and association with other members ofthe marijuana distribution conspiracy. Blackledge was followed from Affordable Auto Repair on County Road 12 in Foley, and was stopped in her truck on Highway 59 during April of 2011 by the Foley Police Department and found in possession of 2.5 ounces of marijuana. The business owner, James Spencer, his daughter Crystle Enochs, and his wife Theresa Spencer all entered guilty pleas to the conspiracy charge. Orlando Munoz, a resident of Gulf Shores, also pled guilty to the conspiracy charge, as did Dale Tanner, a resident of Pensacola, and Francisco Leos Castro and Ricardo Hernandez-Hernandez, both residents of Mexico and illegally present in the United States.

The trial evidence established that Spencer and Tanner were partners in the drug business, as Spencer had connections through whom the drugs were distributed and Tanner had connections with Castro and Hernandez, who supplied the drugs. The investigation culminated in the execution of arrest warrants and search warrants during early May of 20 11, and the federal indictment was returned later that month. A search of Clanton’s residence yielded an extensive assortment of marijuana smoking paraphernalia, user amounts of the drug itself, and three guns. Judge Granade directed a verdict of acquittal as to one defendant, Joel Charles Anthenat, shortly before the prosecution rested its case on Wednesday. She set sentencing dates for Clanton and Blackledge in February of 2012.

United States Attorney Kenyen R. Brown stated, “I commend federal, state, and local law enforcement, most especially the FBI, for the excellent collaborative investigative work that was performed in this case, which resulted in the conviction of these thugs. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with law enforcement in an effort to disrupt and dismantle gangs and organized crime in this area.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Lewis M. Chapman stated, “[T]hese convictions, along with the previous nine plea agreements could not have been accomplished without the strong support and teamwork of all of the participating law enforcement agencies. This represents a victory for our citizens and sends a strong message that organized gang and drug activity will not be tolerated.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau ofInvestigation, the Foley Police Department, the Mobile County Sheriffs Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Baldwin County Sheriffs Office, Fairhope Police Department, Alabama Port Authority, Gulf Shores Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Escambia County (Florida) Sheriffs Office, and the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell.

U.S. Marshals Task Force Arrests Wanted Pace Man who Threatened to Kill Wife, Cops

Pace, FL – The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force (FRFTF) from Pensacola apprehended a man who according to police reports said he would kill his wife, her family and law enforcement should they try to stop him. According to a report taken by the Sheriff’s Office in Santa Rosa taken earlier this week James Walter Robinson told his wife, “…tell them cops to come on, I have lots of guns and if they come over here someone is going to die.” Robinson, 34, was advised by a deputy in Santa Rosa to stop sending harassing and threatening messages to his wife from whom he is separated. Robinson reportedly continued to send her messages which included one where he allegedly stated “…I have nothing to lose, game on, I’m packing a .44 Caliber revolver…” Later on that night Robinson supposedly entered his wife’s grandparents home while they slept. It is also reported that Robinson had sent his wife a photo of her parent’s home out of state and said he “…had been outside their house.”

The Task Force received information around noon today that Robinson may be at his father’s house in Pace. Members from the Task Force from Santa Rosa and Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Offices, the State Attorney’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Patrol Deputies from Santa Rosa County then converged on the home on the 5000 Block of Todd Street. The Task Force was unable to determine if Robinson was in fact inside the house. During their investigation they also learned that Robinson like to spend a lot of time in the woods behind the home. While trying to determine if Robinson was inside, Task Force members also began concentrating their focus on the woods. Around 4 p.m. Robinson did emerge from those woods and was immediately spotted by officers first and arrested him without any incident. No weapon was found on or near Robinson.

Robinson was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail on charges of Aggravated Stalking, Cyber Stalking w/Death or Injury, Harassing Communication, Burglary of an Occupied Dwelling, Criminal Mischief and Petty Theft. Robinson has no bond for the Stalking and Harassment charges.

Top Story: Fraud in the Family – Cheating Foster parents

The Case of the Cheating Foster Parents

It’s almost unthinkable—parents stealing from their own foster child. But here’s a story about a couple who did exactly that.

It’s also a case that Tampa FBI Agent Dan Kelly, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Agent Terry Corn, and Acting U.S. Attorney Robert O’Neill (now U.S. Attorney) won’t soon forget. Said Kelly, “For financial crime investigations, we often don’t get to know the victims, but in this instance, it was hard not to be absorbed into this boy’s situation.”

It started back in 2000, when 13-year-old Markus Kim suffered an unimaginable loss—his father murdered his mother. Markus was eventually placed with foster parents Radhames and Asia Oropeza in Flushing, New York.

About six months later, Markus learned he was entitled to a $500,000 life insurance policy that his mother had taken out. He couldn’t access the money until he turned 18…in the interim it would be managed by the life insurance company. Not long after, Radhames and Asia Oropeza began suggesting that Markus consider real estate investing when he became of age. 

Around the time Markus turned 18, his foster parents left New York without a word to him. Turns out they had moved to Florida, and about a year later, he was invited down to visit them. The Oropezas convinced their foster son to buy two $200,000 certificates of deposit (CDs) from a local bank…to better protect his money, they said. Because Markus trusted them, he followed their advice, and even allowed Asia Oropeza to co-sign bank documents.

The bank told Markus he’d receive monthly $1,000 checks—interest earned by the CDs. But after two checks, they stopped coming. He discovered that the CD accounts had been emptied and closed by Asia Oropeza. 

So how did the FBI become involved? Markus, becoming exceedingly frustrated, contacted a legal aid attorney in New York, who in turn sought the help of an attorney in Florida. The attorney, who worked the case pro bono, contacted Acting U.S. Attorney O’Neill in Tampa. And O’Neill got in touch with the FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Our investigation revealed that the couple used the CDs—which were also in Asia Oropeza’s name—as collateral when applying for two separate mortgage loans, and then once the CDs matured, they used the funds to pay off those loans.

Outcome. Asia Oropeza pled guilty to fraud, while her husband was later convicted at trial. They were ordered to pay Markus restitution, had their real estate holdings seized, and received prison terms.

And last month in Tampa, during a press conference attended by investigators and prosecutors who worked the case, the 25-year-old Markus, who works as a concert stage hand in New York, received full restitution—a check for $409,662.07. He told the press that receiving the money gave him “a new lease on life.”

Special Agent Kelly says that the investigation brought him and everyone else involved a great deal of satisfaction. “Cases like this,” he explained, “show us what kind of impact our work actually has, and that’s what keeps us out there doing it every day.”

U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force Arrests Alabama Fugitive

Tallahassee, FL - The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force (FRFTF) today announced the arrest of thirty year old Marquez Cornelius Vaughn of Opelika, Alabama at an apartment complex located at 1112 South Magnolia Drive in Tallahassee, FL. Vaughn was currently being sought by the Opelika Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force in Montgomery, Alabama on charges of 1st Degree Robbery and 2nd Degree Assault. According to Alabama authorities, Vaughn was involved in an Armed Robbery on June 19, 2011 in which Vaughn is alleged to have shot the victim in the leg before taking approximately four hundred dollars in cash as well as the victim's cellular phone. Alabama authorities also advised that Vaughn had previously fired shots at Opelika Police Officers during a prior arrest which prompted Vaughn's listing as Armed and Dangerous.

Investigation by Opelika PD and U.S. Marshals indicated that Vaughn fled Alabama shortly after the shooting to the Tallahassee, Florida area where he was located hiding with a relative at the Tally Terrace apartment complex. FRFTF members entered the apartment during an early morning operation and first located two sleeping juveniles on the ground floor of the two story apartment. FRFTF evacuated the two females prior to confronting Vaughn who was located asleep in an upstairs bedroom where he was arrested without incident. Vaughn initially told task force officers that he thought he was dreaming when he awoke to find a room full of US Marshals armed with rifles and ballistic shields standing over his bed. Vaughn was transported to the Leon County Jail by task force members and is currently awaiting an extradition hearing which will send him back to Alabama to face his charges.

The Tallahassee Division of the FRFTF is comprised of law enforcement officers from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Gadsden County Sheriff's Office, Leon County Sheriff's Office, Leon County State Attorney's Office, Liberty County Sheriff's Office, Madison County Sheriff's Office, Perry Police Department, Tallahassee Police Department, Taylor County Sheriff's Office, and the Wakulla County Sheriff's Office.

U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force Locates Fugitive Hiding Beneath Baby

Tallahassee, FL – The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force (FRFTF) has found violent fugitives hiding in every conceivable way; underneath clothes in the closet, in attic crawl spaces, inside the trunks of cars, walls, clothes dressers and yes even inside refrigerators. However, when members of the FRFTF responded to 509 Magnolia Drive this morning in an attempt to locate Deon Dorsey, Dorsey added a new wrinkle to what these fugitive investigators have seen. Deon Dorsey, a 20 year old citizen of Tallahassee, was currently being sought by the Tallahassee Police Department on charges of Domestic Battery by Strangulation. Dorsey was also being sought by the Florida Department of Corrections for violating his probation in Pinellas County, Florida for a conviction of Battery and Trespassing. According to the Tallahassee Police Department, TPD Officers responded to a 911 call at 306 White Drive on May 7, 2011 in which Dorsey was identified as the suspect in a domestic battery where he is alleged to have attempted to strangle the victim.

Investigation by TPD Task Force Officers assigned to the US Marshals task force indicated that Dorsey was currently staying in an apartment at 509 Magnolia Drive. Task Force Officers responded to this address early this morning and located Dorsey hiding beneath a bed mattress with a small child lying over his hiding spot. According to Task Force Officers, Dorsey wedged himself between the wall and the box springs of the mattress and then had the mattress slid over his hiding spot with the child placed directly over his body. Task Force Officers became suspicious of Dorsey’s hiding spot during a search of the residence and first removed the small child from the room prior to confronting Dorsey. Dorsey was then pulled from his hideout by multiple officers before being handcuffed and transported to the Leon County Jail where he awaits first appearance. Task Force members also arrested Dorsey’s current girlfriend, Maydreona Miles, for Obstruction of Justice after Miles repeatedly stated to officers that Dorsey was not inside the residence.

The Tallahassee Division of the FRFTF is comprised of law enforcement officers from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office, Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Leon County State Attorney’s Office, Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Perry Police Department, Tallahassee Police Department, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office.

Three Charged in Murder-for-Hire

TAMPA, FL—United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Cristie Fay Bottorff a/k/a "Cristie Fay Sehorne" (32, Brandon), Jerry Alan Bottorff (40, Brandon), and Luis Angel Lopez a/k/a "Proof" (23, Riverview), with use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, and using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. The commission of the offenses resulted in the death of Thomas Lee Sehorne. If convicted on all counts, Cristie Fay Bottorff, Jerry Alan Bottorff, and Luis Angel Lopez each face a penalty of life imprisonment or death. The indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States intends to forfeit $1,000,000, plus interest, in life insurance proceeds paid or payable to Cristie Fay Bottorff, which are alleged to be proceeds traceable to the offenses.

According to the indictment, Cristie Bottorff, Jerry Bottorff, and Luis Lopez used the mail and facilities of interstate commerce, with the intent that Thomas Lee Sehorne would be murdered as consideration for the payment of U.S. currency and other things of value, and that they conspired to do so, resulting in the death of Thomas Lee Sehorne.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey S. Downing.

U.S. Marshals Capture Sexual Assault Subject in Killearn Estates

Tallahassee, FL – The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force today announced the arrest of Lyndell Davis, 48, of Tallahassee, Florida for the offenses of Armed Kidnapping, Armed Sexual Assault, and Armed Robbery on a Miami Police Department case dating back to 1988. Miami Dade Police Detectives made the connection on the unsolved case involving the kidnapping, rape, and robbery of a 16 year old female after receiving a DNA match for Davis through the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Combined DNA Index System. An affidavit filed by detectives alleged that on May 23, 1988 the victim in the above case was followed by an unknown black male after getting off a Metro Bus near her residence while returning from her after school job. The victim was rushed from behind and forcibly dragged into a parking lot behind a nearby church where the male suspect proceeded to forcibly rape and rob her. Miami Dade Police Detectives assigned to the Special Victim’s Bureau, Sexual Crimes Section had been searching for Davis for the past month and had recently received information that Davis was in the Tallahassee, Florida area. Miami Dade Police Department (MDPD) Detectives contacted the U.S. Marshals task force who quickly located Davis in the 4000 block of

Ardara Drive

in the Killearn Estates area. Davis, who was outside his residence doing yard work at the time, was quickly surrounded and arrested without incident. Davis is currently being held in the Leon County Jail awaiting removal back to Miami, Florida.

U.S. Marshal Dennis Williamson stated that the arrest of Lyndell Davis highlights the great cooperation between the U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force and local area law enforcement to track down and apprehend those individuals wanted for violent crimes. The U.S. Marshals task force is comprised of Deputy U.S. Marshals who work side by side on a daily basis with law enforcement officers from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office, Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Tallahassee Police Department, Perry Police Department, and the Leon County State Attorney’s Office to locate and apprehend the most violent offenders in the State of Florida.

Four Local Juveniles Rescued from Prostitution During Operation Cross Country V

TAMPA—Over the past 72 hours, local law enforcement agencies concluded their investigative efforts in conjunction with Operation Cross Country V, a three-day national enforcement action as part of the Innocence Lost National Initiative. The operation included enforcement actions in 40 cities throughout the nation and led to the recovery of 69 children who were being victimized through prostitution. Additionally, nearly 885 others, including 99 pimps, were arrested on state and local charges.

Locally, four juveniles were rescued and 35 adults arrested during the weekend sweep. The four children resided in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties. The participating agencies included the Tampa Police Department, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Clearwater Police Department, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the FBI.

Task Force operations usually begin as local actions, targeting such places as truck stops, casinos, street “tracks,” and Internet websites, based on intelligence gathered by officers working in their respective jurisdictions. Initial arrests are often violations of local and state laws relating to prostitution or solicitation. Information gleaned from those arrested often uncovers organized efforts to prostitute women and children across many states. Investigators further develop this information in partnership with U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and file federal charges where appropriate.

To date, the 39 Innocence Lost Task Forces and Working Groups have recovered over 1,200 children from the streets. The investigations and subsequent 625 convictions have resulted in lengthy sentences, including multiple 25-years-to-life sentences and the seizure of more than $3.1 million in assets.

In the spring of 2003, the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, in partnership with the Department of Justice’s CEOS and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), formed the Innocence Lost National Initiative to address the growing problem of children forced into prostitution.

This program brings state and federal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and social service providers all from around the country to NCMEC, where the groups are trained together. In addition, CEOS has reinforced the training by assigning prosecutors to help bring cases in those cities plagued by child prostitution.

The charges announced today are merely accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

2 men arrested for child pornography during 'Operation Safe Halloween'

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Two men were arrested Friday following the execution of search warrants for child pornography during "Operation Safe Halloween" conducted by the Wakulla County Sheriff's Office (WCSO), Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Arrested during the operation were William Lee Johnson, 34, and John Elwin Roberts, 58, both of Crawfordville, Fla.

The suspects became the subject of an undercover investigation that began in September as detectives discovered the suspects' computer Internet Protocol addresses with illegal files on file sharing systems. Investigators viewed the images and positively identified them as child pornography.

"Through partnerships with state, local and other federal law enforcement agencies, ICE will continue to vigorously investigate child exploitation cases," said Susan McCormick, special agent in charge of ICE HSI in Tampa, Fla.

Johnson was charged with seven counts of possessing photographs of a sexual performance of a child. The search warrant revealed more than 200 images of child pornography. Seven videos were viewed and determined to be child pornography.

Additional charges are pending following the forensic analysis of the computer and computer equipment by FDLE.

Roberts was charged with one count of possession of obscene material for photographs of sexual performance by a child. Several computers and hard drives were located in the home and they were collected as evidence. An attempt had been made to delete images but one video was found.

Johnson is being held in the Wakulla County Jail under a $70,000 bond. Roberts posted a $7,500 bond and was released Saturday.

The investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to identify, investigate and arrest those who prey on children, including human traffickers, international sex tourists, Internet pornographers, and foreign-national predators whose crimes make them deportable.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-347-2423. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.

Special Agent James O. Born

April 22, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) The April 23, 2008, program of Conversations with Cops at The Watering Hole features a conversation with special agent and author James O. Born.

Program Date: April 23, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: A conversation with James Born
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement

About the Guest
James Born is a Special Agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. He has been involved in investigations such as organized crime, violent crimes, economic crimes, drug cartels, and police corruption.

Before working with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, James Born joined the US Marshals service in early 1986 as a deputy marshal. One year later, he transferred to the Drug Enforcement Administration. In four years with Drug Enforcement Administration, he was assigned to the West Palm Beach field office, and traveled within the United States and Panama. He spent a great deal of time in Miami during the height of the drug wars. His investigations at Drug Enforcement Administration generally focused on cocaine smuggling from Colombia. In addition, he worked undercover in a number of situations, in one case volunteering to assist the ATF as an undercover agent in the Ku Klux Klan during an explosives investigation.

James Born writes fictional novels set in Florida. According to one reader, “It's always exciting to pick up a novel by an author who started off with great work and who keeps getting better with each new book. Born fits that description. Escape Clause, his third novel featuring Florida Department of Law Enforcement agent Bill Tasker, is easily his best, not an easy mark to reach considering the high quality of Walking Money and Shock Wave, his first two novels.” James Born’s fourth novel is Field of Fire.

About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement

Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530

Law Enforcement Jobs

Police-Writers.com is a website dedicated to listing state and local police officers who have authored books. Frank Pickens and Jeff Bonilla were added to the list of authors who have written books on how to start a career in law enforcement, policing and criminal justice.

Police officers Frank Pickens and Jeff Bonilla of the Burlingame Police Department are the authors of So you Want to be a Cop. According to the authors, “When the idea for this book first came to us, we were parked side by side in our patrol cars, talking about the many ups and downs of being police officers. We began to discuss the many books about cops that had been written over the last few years, and it became apparent to us that there wasn't a current book out that gave anyone interested in police work any insight or guidelines on what to expect in a career as a police officer.

According to one reader/review of So you Want to be a Cop, “This book is well written and easy to follow. I was going to start the police academy so i bought this book to get an insiders look on things. It has a lot of great info and is right on with how the entire process works and what to expect. I’ve read this book three times and every once in a while I pick it up just to read a chapter or one of the authors real life stories. This book is perfect for someone that is going to be a police officer, for someone that wants to know how officers think or if you’re a vet and want to remember the good old days. I recommend this book.”

Previously added books on law enforcement, police officer and criminal justice careers by police officers include Barry Baker’s Becoming a Police Officer, Wayne LeQuang’s How to Become a Peace Officer and Raymond E. Foster, editing of the Learning Express Police Officer Exam book.

Police-Writers.com now hosts 465 police officers (representing 196 police departments) and their 969 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

Two Cops, a Fed and Scientist

Police-Writers.com, a website dedicated to listing state and local police officers who have authored books, added two police officers, one federal agent and a civilian police writer. Added to the growing list of writers are: William Camp, Don Howell, Michael E. Grimes and Ken Goddard.

According to Jim Doherty, William Camp was a deputy sheriff for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Camp wrote two novels Night Beat and The Jacob Park Killings.” In Night Beat, Camp recounts a rookie police officer’s first night on patrol. In The Jacob Park Killings, Camp’s story is about a murder investigation that uncovers a corrupt police force. Doherty says, the location is given the fictional names of “Sedona County,” but Camp is clearly writing about Los Angeles County.

Don Howell graduated with honors with a degree in Police Science and Administration. He spent 25 years as a police officer for two different agencies in Southern California cities, retiring from the Huntington Beach Police Department. As a detective for more than 15 years, he specialized in the investigation of sexual assaults and child abuse. He is a court certified expert in these areas and is a highly sought after consultant to agencies on complex cases.

His book, Interviewing Sex Crime Victims, was strongly endorsed by John Walsh, the host of America's Most Wanted; and, has been recommended by law enforcement professionals, social workers and educators. Howell’s book presents a step-by-step formula for interviewing sex crime victims, particularly children. The non-threatening method of interviewing children shown in the book is quickly becoming the "standard" for these difficult investigations. This book introduces the "team" approach to sex crimes investigation, demonstrating the success of blending law enforcement officers and social workers, working together, to solve the crime and protect the victim.

Michael E. Grimes spent 28 years with the United States Department of Justice in law enforcement. He began his career with the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and continued as a Special Agent when the organization became the Drug Enforcement Administration. He spent his entire career either working in the field as an agent or supervising field agents. As a field agent and supervisor he dealt with hundreds of informants and saw most, if not all, mistakes that can be made by law enforcement officers in dealing with informants. In 1980, Agent Grimes began sharing his observations with other law enforcement officers and has since lectured extensively to federal, state, and local police officers and agents nationwide.

His book, A Guide for Developing and Controlling Informants, “is vital to the success of the drug enforcement operations of any law enforcement agency.” According to the book description, “rarely can a drug case be developed without the services of informants at some stage of the investigation. This is why knowing the proper procedures for handling informants is important for police officers. The material in this manual was developed through the misfortune of many who have used informants. Use of the manual will help maintain the integrity of the department, the controlling officer and the investigation. Police departments that do not set-up and maintain a standardized system for the development and control of informants will be subject to intense scrutiny and criticism by the courts and the community.”

Ken Goddard was a deputy sheriff/criminalist with the Riverside (CA) Sheriff's office (1968-69); a deputy sheriff/criminalist with the San Bernardino (CA) Sheriff's office (1969-72); Scientific Investigation Bureau (civilian) Supervisor and Chief Criminalist for the Huntington Beach Police Department (1972-79); Forensic Science Branch Chief (civilian) and 'tech agent' (carried a badge and gun for self-protection at remote scenes, but did not have arrest authority) for the US Fish & Wildlife Service (1979-86); and National Fish & Wildlife Forensics Lab director (civilian)(1986 to present).

Ken Goddard has written and published two non-fiction books: Crime Scene Investigation and Weaponless Control. Additionally, he has written eight fiction thrillers: Balefire, The Alchemist, Digger/Cheater, Prey, Wildfire, Double Blind, First Evidence and Outer Perimeter

Currently, he is writing a third book in the First Evidence series for Bantam, and has been hired by Pocket Books to take over a series of fiction novels based on the TV series CSI written by Max Collins.

Police-Writers.com now hosts 326 police officers (representing 139 police departments) and their 746 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

Fiction and Reality in Policing

Police-Writers.com, a website dedicated to listing state and local police officers who have authored books, added three police officers to the list of authors: Christopher Garraty, Dennis L. Potter and Terry J. Manwaring.

Christopher Garraty retired as a lieutenant from the Brigantine Police Department (New Jersey) after 25years of service. Garraty spent the beginning of his career close to Atlantic City as the casino industry was in its infancy stages and watched the area change from a quiet seasonal destination to the year round attraction that it is now. In his book, Blue Undertow, “Drug busts, shady land deals, sex for jobs and an egg fight; that’s just Chapter One. All Officer Dick Cambridge wants is to go to work, enforce the law and have a little fun. Cambridge and his circle of friends while away the hours playing pranks and keeping the administration on their toes. When a routine car stop uncovers an up and coming organized crime figure, business turns serious. People die, others disappear. Follow Officer Cambridge and friends as they investigate who is behind the murders and a waterfront restaurant in the sleepy shore town before it’s too late. With mob hits, police shoot outs and flirtatious waitresses, Blue Undertow will keep you guessing and amused until the explosive ending.”

Dennis L. Potter and Terry J. Manwaring teamed up to write Law Enforcement Incident Command. Their book is designed to provide answers and tools for law enforcement in order to better function in a public safety environment using a command concept designed on the principles of a fire related emergency. It explores those compromises necessary to comply with, or add to, the National Incident Management model in order to ensure that law enforcement issues are addressed. According to the authors, “without these compromises, future emergency responses to critical incidents by all public safety responders will prove as confusing and frustrating as those incidents NIMS is trying to renovate.”

Dennis L. Potter retired in 2004 as a Captain with the Jefferson County Colorado Sheriff’s Department in Golden, Colorado. His assignment experience during his 33 years as a police officer includes Patrol, Jail, Homicide Investigations, Victim Services, Motorcycles, Forensic Laboratory, Evidence, Communications, Civil and Fugitive, Recruiting, Police Training, Dispatch, Records Management, Crime Prevention, Public Information Officer, Accreditation, Policy Development, Emergency Management, Staff Inspections and Director of the Law Enforcement Training Academy.

Dennis has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado State University and a Masters Degree in American Military Studies from American Military University in Manassas, Virginia. His critical incident management experience includes police operations of the 2002 Hayman Wildfire, Colorado’s largest wildfire in history, Department manager for three police officer deaths, and Headquarters Supervisor and Operations Chief at the Columbine High School shootings in 1999.

Dennis is currently a college professor in criminal justice and criminology, a critical incident instructor for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), a certified incident command instructor for the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG), an instructor for the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and a certified critical incident instructor with the New York State Office of Criminal Justice. He has conducted critical incident management seminars for line, staff, support staff, and chief law enforcement executive officers in Florida, Colorado, North Carolina, Delaware, Oregon, Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey and Michigan.

Terry J. Manwaring is a Captain with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. He has thirty years of law enforcement experience, including fifteen years in managerial and command positions with the Jefferson County Colorado Sheriff’s Office, a dual Inter-National Accredited Agency. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado Christian University in Organizational Management, and is a graduate of the Law Enforcement Staff and Command School of Northwestern University.

Terry has been assigned to various Sheriff’s Divisions such as Patrol, Investigations, Civil and Detention of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. In 1984, he was promoted to Sergeant and assigned to the Patrol Division, and later back an investigation position. In 1991, he was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to Patrol as Precinct Commander of the Mountain Precinct (50,000 citizens), employing a full service law enforcement sub-station of forty Deputy Sheriffs and four sergeants. In addition to his patrol, investigations and management accomplishments, he was the commander of a 35 member regional SWAT team from 1994 to 1999. His is a Medal of Valor recipient.

Police-Writers.com now hosts 320 police officers (representing 138 police departments) and their 741 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.