Man Sentenced to 34 Years for Pandering and Pimping of a Child

GOLDEN, CO—Victor Everitt Sanders, born December 26, 1985, of Aurora, was sentenced today to 34 years in prison, plus five years of parole, for forcing a 16-year-old girl to prostitute herself for him.

On January 11, 2011, investigators received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that led them to Sanders through a 16-year-old victim who was advertising services on a website.

The tip was forwarded to a special agent with the FBI and a detective from the Aurora Police Department who are both assigned to the FBI Safe Streets Task Force. Lakewood Police, who are also members of the Safe Streets Task Force, conducted an undercover prostitution sting on January 21. They took the 16-year-old teen into custody. The teen told investigators that Sanders was her pimp. He had forced her to post ads and then go with strangers and commit sex acts and then bring the money back to him. Investigators learned that Sanders made her dependent upon him. He fed her little and bought sexually explicit clothing for her to wear. He beat her, raped her, belittled her, and in other ways verbally abused her.

The investigation led to a warrant being issued for the arrest of Victor Sanders on January 24.

The young woman appeared in court today, with her grandmother, for the sentencing hearing. She talked little about what Sanders had done or taken from her. She instead told the judge that she was no longer a victim; that she was victorious ,and now she was free. She told the court that she went to prom this year, and that she graduated from high school. She smiled as she told the court that at the beginning of September, she moved into the dorm of her new four-year college.

“These cases are extremely difficult,” says District Attorney Scott Storey. “The young victim ran away from home at 13 to escape abuse and a difficult home environment. No child wants to prostitute themselves. For them, it is a matter of survival. In this case, there is good news. With the help and support of victim advocates and our Crimes Against Children team, this young woman is doing well and is healing and moving on with her life. Others are not so fortunate.”

“This sentence should send a clear message to those who victimize our nation’s children. Law enforcement, prosecutors, and our communities will come together to protect our young people and hold accountable those who exploit the innocence of young victims,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge James Yacone. “I would like to thank the Lakewood Police Department, the Aurora Police Department, the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, and the Colorado Attorney General’s Office for their leadership and collaboration with the Innocence Lost Unit of our FBI Safe Streets Task Force.”

The jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on one count of child trafficking, and they returned a not guilty verdict on one count of sexual assault.

On July 24 a Jefferson County jury found Sanders guilty of:

■Pandering of a child

■Pimping of a child

■Procurement of a child

■Contributing to the delinquency of a child

■Two violent crime counts

District Judge Randall Aarp said that this case was “replete with violence and assault.” The judge also said that he had seen an interview with Sanders that the jury had not seen, and that throughout that interview and this case, he had seen no remorse whatsoever, nor had Sanders appeared to accept any responsibility for his actions. Sanders has one prior felony conviction and must register as a sex offender.

This press release originated from the Office of the District Attorney, First Judicial District, which handles Jefferson and Gilpin Counties, Colorado. The public information officer is Pam Russell at 303-271-6905.

Tacoma Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Human Trafficking and Illegal Gun Possession

Used Threats and Violence Forcing Juvenile Girl to Work as Prostitute

A Tacoma man with a lengthy criminal history was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison for two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of human trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. JONELLE LAJOHN BRAUN, 24, of Tacoma, Washington, was arrested in March 2011 as he left a Federal Way, Washington motel. BRAUN was wanted for violating the terms of his state parole. When officers approached and told BRAUN to raise his hands, BRAUN pulled a .380 caliber semi-automatic Llama pistol from his waistband and dropped it on the floor. Further investigation revealed that BRAUN recruited a 16-year-old female to work for him as a prostitute. BRAUN forced the teen to give him all her earnings, and he hit, slapped, and threatened her. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle said, “It can hardly be overstated the devastation to young women who get involved in this lifestyle.”

According to records filed in the case, BRAUN has previous convictions for assault, burglary, cocaine delivery, possession of stolen property and unlawful possession of a firearm. As a convicted felon, he is barred from possessing firearms. In addition to the gun he possessed at the time of his arrest, BRAUN also pleaded guilty to illegal gun possession for a January 2011 incident where he stole a rifle from the home of two acquaintances. BRAUN later sold the rifle to a person working with law enforcement.

Following BRAUN’s arrest investigators interviewed a 16-year-old female who had been working for BRAUN as a prostitute. BRAUN recruited her in November 2010 and showed her how to advertise on backpage.com for prostitution services. BRAUN took all her earnings and threatened her with a gun or hit her if she did not do as he ordered. “...[H]e led her to believe that if she did not follow his instructions and directions that she would suffer serious harm...[T]he defendant is a young man who lacks respect and consideration for another human being, and...he is driven utmost by greed,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo. The 16-year old female was finally able to escape from BRAUN when he was arrested and placed in federal custody.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Innocence Lost Task Force, as well as the Lakewood Police Department, Tacoma Police Department, Washington State Department of Corrections, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ye-Ting Woo and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Williams. Ms. Woo heads the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s task force on human trafficking. Mr. Williams is a Deputy Pierce County Prosecutor, specially designated to prosecute firearms cases in federal court.

For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at 206)-553-4110 or Emily.Langlie@USDOJ.Gov.

Seeking Information on “Rainbow Bandit” Serial Bank Robber

The Lakewood and Denver Police Departments, along with the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force (RMSSTF), are investigating three bank robberies, suspected of being committed by the same individual.

Wells Fargo Bank

1905 South Wadsworth Bl.
Lakewood, Colorado
01/26/2012, 3:22 p.m.

US Bank

1100 South Broadway
Denver, Colorado
01/26/2012, 3:55 p.m.

Colorado State Bank & Trust

3610 East 1st Avenue
Denver, Colorado
01/30/2012, 5:08 p.m.

The suspect is described as a white male, 50 to 60 years of age, approximately 5’10” to 6’2” in height, with a medium build and a scruffy unshaven appearance.

This individual has been dubbed the “The Rainbow Bandit” by the investigating agencies for the fact that he uses different color ink in his robbery notes.

The suspect enters the bank, presents a demand note, and flees.

Bank robbery is punishable by a 20-year prison sentence for each offense and increases if a dangerous weapon is used in the commission of the crime.

The FBI continues to provide financial institutions with the best practices for security to make them less vulnerable to robberies.

If anyone has any information on the bank robberies above, or any bank robbery, please call the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force at 303-629-7171; or, you can remain anonymous and earn up to two thousand dollars ($2,000) by calling CRIMESTOPPERS at 720-913-STOP (7867).

Seeking Information on Two Bank Robberies in Colorado

The Denver and Lakewood Police Departments, along with the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force (RMSSTF), are investigating two bank robberies, suspected of being committed by the same individual.

Wells Fargo Bank

1905 South Wadsworth Boulevard
Lakewood, Colorado
01/26/2012, 3:22 p.m.

US Bank

1100 South Broadway
Denver, Colorado
01/26/2012, 3:55 p.m.

The suspect is described as a white male, 45 to 60 years of age, approximately 5’5” to 6’0” in height, with a thin to medium build, and is unshaven.

The suspect entered the bank, presented a demand note, and fled.

Bank robbery is punishable by a 20-year prison sentence for each offense and increases if a dangerous weapon is used in the commission of the crime.

The FBI continues to provide financial institutions with the best practices for security to make them less vulnerable to robberies.

If anyone has any information on the bank robbery above, or any bank robbery, please call the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force at 303-629-7171; or, you can remain anonymous and earn up to $2,000 by calling CRIMESTOPPERS at 720-913-STOP (7867).

Deputy Attorney General Joins U.S. Attorney, ATF and Local Officials to Announce Results of Summer Anti-Violence Initiative

Get the inside scoop on the Denver Police Department from these revealing Denver Police books written by actual Denver cops!

DENVER – Deputy Attorney General James Cole, the number two official with the Department of Justice, came to Denver today to participate in announcing the results of an initiative to combat violent crime throughout Metro Denver this past summer. Joining Cole for the announcement was U.S. Attorney John Walsh, ATF Special Agent in Charge Marvin Richardson, Aurora Police Chief Daniel Oates, Lakewood Police Chief Kevin Paletta, and Denver Police Chief Gerald Whitman. These agencies came together to form a partnership to investigate gun crime and arrest armed gang members.

During the Spring of this year, gun crime in Metro Denver appeared to be on the rise, and with a long hot summer approaching, local, state and federal law enforcement, along with the U.S. Attorney, came together to develop a strategy to reduce gun violence. The results of this partnership are impressive. Eighty armed gang members or their associates were investigated, charged and arrested. Of the 80, 62 defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury, and 18 defendants were charged in state court.

During the course of the investigation, agents and officers seized over 120 firearms from gang members, including machine guns, sawed-off shotguns, handguns, silencers, and destructive devices. They also seized over 10,000 rounds of ammunition. Many of the defendants caught during this anti-violence initiative claimed gang ties, including the Aryan Brotherhood, Bloods, Crips, Crenshaw Mafia Gangsters, East Side Oldies, Gallant Knight Insane, Sin City Disciples, Suerno 13, Sons of Silence, Vice Lords, and West Side Locos.

Agents and officers also seized drugs during the course of the summer anti-violence initiative, including cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, and Ecstasy.

The summer anti-violence initiative is consistent with what Attorney General Eric Holder tasked U.S. Attorneys Offices to do; be proactive, identify violent crime hot spots, and develop law enforcement strategies to address the violence. That is exactly what was done here. Local law enforcement working together helped to prevent gang members from using city boundaries to escape punishment for their crimes.

The summer anti-violence initiative had two primary goals, prevent gun crime, and investigate gun violence, holding those responsible accountable. This strategy, specifically the partnership between federal and local law enforcement and district attorney’s office, removed violent felons from our streets.

“Consistent with the Department of Justice’s anti-violence initiative strategy, federal, state and local authorities formed a partnership, combined resources and initiated investigations into gang violence,” said Deputy Attorney General Cole. “Instead of sitting on the sidelines, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the ATF, in partnership with the Aurora, Denver and Lakewood Police Departments, and the local District Attorneys, stepped up, focusing on locations where violent gun crime was most likely to occur. ”

‘Thanks goes to the brave men and women who investigated these cases, spending long hot summer days, late nights and weekends to investigate armed gang members this past summer,’ said U.S. Attorney John Walsh. ‘Any time you remove gang members and their associates from the streets, and take away their guns, our communities, our neighborhoods, and our cities are much safer as a result.’

‘We know from experience that gun violence goes hand-in-hand with gangs and drugs,’ said Marvin Richardson, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Denver Field Division. ‘We will continue to fight violent crime by partnering in the investigation and prosecution of those who seek to reduce the quality of life in our communities. ATF will continue our great collaboration with the state, local and federal partners who are similarly dedicated to this mission.’

‘We believe the community is safer today thanks to the recent anti-gang violence initiative spearheaded by the ATF and the Aurora Police Department, with the support of the U.S. Attorney’s Office,’ Aurora Police Chief Daniel Oates said. ‘This initiative targets the worst violent offenders. The cooperation of all participating agencies makes available resources to arrest these offenders and hold them accountable.’

‘This is an impressive list when you consider the number of guns, defendants, and narcotics that were taken off the streets,’ said Kevin Paletta, the Lakewood Chief of Police. ‘There’s no telling what crimes were prevented through the efforts of these dedicated investigators. All we as law enforcement executives need to do is to provide them with the support they need to do their jobs and the results can be amazing, as we have seen.’

‘I am very pleased with the joint operation and its results,’ said Denver Police Chief Gerald Whitman. ‘We work very well with our law enforcement partners and believe that through collaborations such as this one we serve the citizen’s of Denver better. These are dangerous individuals and getting them off the streets makes everyone safer.’

Those who have been convicted of federal felony firearm violations generally face not more than 10 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.

There are still operations under way, so some details cannot yet be provided.

The anti-violence initiative is part of the department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program – a nationwide, gun-violence reduction initiative. Since its inception in 2001, the PSN program has granted nearly $2 billion in funding to hire new federal and state prosecutors; support investigators; provide training; distribute gun lock safety kits; deter juvenile gun crime; and develop and promote community outreach efforts as well as to support other gun and gang violence reduction strategies.

Robbery of TCF Bank Branch in Lakewood

The Lakewood Police Department and the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force (RMSSTF) are investigating a bank robbery.

TCF Bank

7595 West Colfax Avenue

Lakewood, Colorado

03/19/2011, 9:00 a.m.

The suspect is described as a white male, 20 to 30 years of age, 5'10" to 6'0" in height, approximately 160 to 170 pounds, with several days' growth of facial hair (goatee).

The RMSSTF has dubbed this bandit the "Blessings Bandit," who is believed responsible for five bank robberies in the Denver metro area.

The name "Blessings Bandit" was chosen because at the end of the threat of violence demand note, the words "God Bless" were written.

The suspect demanded money and fled.

Bank robbery is punishable by a 20-year prison sentence for each offense and increases if a dangerous weapon is used in the commission of the crime.

The FBI continues to provide financial institutions with the best practices for security to make them less vulnerable to robberies.

If anyone has any information on the bank robbery above, or any bank robbery, please call the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force at 303-629-7171; or, you can remain anonymous and earn up to two thousand dollars ($2,000) by calling CRIMESTOPPERS at 720-913-STOP (7867).