Former East St. Louis Police Officer Pleads Guilty in Federal Court

A former East St. Louis police officer, Ramon T. Carpenter, 40, pled guilty to two federal charges of making false statements to federal law enforcement officers during their investigation of a civil rights complaint, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today.

Carpenter was fired from the East St. Louis Police Department on July 10, 2012, and was indicted by the federal grand jury on July 17, 2012, following a complaint that he received oral sex from an intoxicated female driver whom he then released with no charges filed, despite the fact that she was also uninsured and driving without a driver’s license.

“The power to arrest is the power to deprive someone of their liberty. Used properly and professionally, such power is valid. However, the conduct described in the indictment deprived this victim of more than her liberty—it also deprived her of her dignity. This prosecution is a strong reminder to those in law enforcement that police officers are sworn to protect citizens, not prey upon them,” noted United States Attorney Wigginton.

The indictment alleged that in the early morning hours of May 8, 2012, that the driver was driving near the intersection of Louisiana Blvd. and 25th Street in East St. Louis, Illinois, when she encountered two on-duty East St. Louis Police officers. The driver was intoxicated and driving with open liquor at the time. The driver believed that she would be arrested by the officers for driving with no license, no insurance, and for driving while under the influence of alcohol (DUI). The female alleged that she was driven to a secluded area in Jones Park in East St. Louis, where she felt that she had to perform oral sex on the officer to avoid going to jail. The charges state that when Carpenter was interviewed by federal agents that he falsely denied being present in Jones Park during his shift and that he also falsely denied receiving oral sex.

The crime of making a false statement to a federal law enforcement officer is punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than three years’ supervised release upon release from prison. However, the United States Sentencing Guidelines must be applied to the case and considered by the court during sentencing. Carpenter will be sentenced in U.S. District Court on January 3, 2012.

The investigation was conducted through the Metro East Public Corruption Task Force by agents from the Illinois State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.

Former Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Production of Child Pornography

James L. Santelle, United States Attorney of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that Philip Wentzel (age 41), formerly of West Allis, Wisconsin, and formerly a sergeant with the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department, pleaded guilty in federal court to six counts of production of child pornography.

According to court documents, from 2009 through approximately April 2011, Wentzel (age 41), knowingly produced child pornography. Each of the six counts involved a different minor female victim. According to court records, Wentzel also used a peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing program to share images and videos of child pornography which he and others had produced.

The court set Wentzel’s sentencing for December 21, 2012. At that time, Wentzel faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment as to each count. Wentzel also faces up to a $250,000 fine per count and a minimum of five years and up to life time of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. According to United States Attorney L. Santelle, “Allegations of criminal activity by those who are sworn to enforce the law are especially troubling as such activities are an affront to the public, the justice system, and the many hard-working and honest men and women who serve in law enforcement.”

This case is the result of an investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Milwaukee Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the Milwaukee Police Department, High Technology Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Penelope L. Coblentz is prosecuting this case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Baltimore City Police Officer Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Trafficking Heroin While on Duty

Provided Heroin to a Co-Conspirator on the Police Station Parking Lot

BALTIMORE—U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Baltimore City Police officer Daniel Redd, age 41, of Baltimore, today to 20 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute a kilogram or more of heroin and for using a gun in a drug trafficking crime.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Acting Special Agent in Charge Timothy P. Groh of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Special Agent in Charge Ava Cooper-Davis of the Drug Enforcement Administration-Washington Field Division; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein; and Acting Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Barksdale.

“Using a police officer’s badge and gun to commit crime is a particularly egregious threat to the community. This case highlights the fact that the law enforcement community will not tolerate crime, especially when committed by those sworn to oppose it,” said Timothy P. Groh, Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge. “It should serve as a warning that local, state, and federal agencies are working together to root out those that would hide behind a position of authority to break the law and bring them to justice.”

Acting Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Barksdale said, “I commend the Baltimore Police officers that initiated this investigation and our federal partners who worked so hard to help send a clear message that corruption will not be tolerated among the ranks of the Baltimore Police Department.”

According to Redd’s plea agreement, from January to June 30, 2011, Redd conspired with others to distribute between one and three kilograms of heroin.

Specifically, on March 2, 2011, Redd met with a co-conspirator to obtain 40 grams of heroin while on duty as a Baltimore Police officer. Redd was dressed in his full uniform and carried his service firearm. On March 6, 2011, Redd provided protection for another co-conspirator who was meeting with a heroin customer. Redd had provided the co-conspirator with heroin to sell to the customer. Redd carried a gun during the transaction and would have used it if necessary to protect the co-conspirator.

Finally, on March 31, 2011, on the parking lot of the Northwest District Police Station, Redd provided 200 grams of heroin to a co-conspirator while on duty, dressed in full uniform and carrying his service firearm.

Co-defendants Abdul Zakaria, age 38; Malik Jones, age 42; Dyrell Garrett, age 34; and Shanel Stallings, age 33, all previously pleaded guilty to their participation in the conspiracy. Zakaria and Jones were each sentenced to 48 months in prison; Garrett was sentenced to 37 months in prison; and Stallings was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI , DEA, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Peter M. Nothstein, James T. Wallner, and James G. Warwick, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

Former Inmate, Correctional Officer Sentenced for Smuggling Heroin into FCC Petersburg

RICHMOND, VA—A former inmate and a correctional officer were sentenced this week for conspiring to smuggle heroin in the Federal Correctional Complex in Petersburg, Virginia.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; John S. Adams, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Richmond Division; and Gene E. Morrison, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General for the Washington Field Office, made the announcement after the sentencings by United States District Judge John A. Gibney.

Walter Brooks, 57, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on September 10, 2012, to 20 years in prison following his conviction by a federal jury of conspiring to provide contraband to inmates, conspiracy to distribute heroin, five counts of providing contraband to inmates, and three counts of use of a communication facility to commit a felony.

Evidence at trial showed that beginning in 2008 and continuing until October 2011, Brooks conspired with Keif Jackson, 49, of Dumfries, and others to smuggle heroin into the Federal Correctional Complex in Petersburg. In 2008, Brooks was an inmate at FCC Petersburg when he recruited correctional officer Keif Jackson to smuggle heroin to him in the prison. At Brooks’ request, Jackson contacted acquaintances of Brooks and, on multiple occasions, met with them to obtain heroin. He then smuggled the drugs into the prison.

In October 2010, Brooks was released from FCC Petersburg. At that time, he began to supply heroin directly to Jackson to smuggle into the prison. Approximately one year later, on October 10, 2011, Jackson was stopped by law enforcement on his way to work. During a search of his vehicle, officers recovered a package containing heroin.

On March 26, 2012, Jackson entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute heroin. He was sentenced on September 13, 2012, to 12 months in prison.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Richmond Field Office and the United States Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Roderick C. Young prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

Customs and Border Protection Officer Charged for Assisting Fugitive to Avoid Apprehension at Port of Entry

United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Customs and Border Protection Officer Thomas P. Silva was arraigned in federal court in San Diego today before Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo on a complaint charging him with concealing a person from arrest, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1071, and wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343.

As alleged in the complaint, since 2002, Silva has been employed as a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer with the Department of Homeland Security. During this entire time, Silva was stationed at the San Ysidro Port of Entry (POE). Prior to his arrest, Silva’s official duties included screening people and vehicles for lawful admittance into the United States.

As detailed in today’s court proceedings, Silva is charged with two separate and unrelated criminal incidents. The first charge accuses Silva of assisting fugitive Julio Cesar Landaverde-Valdez (Silva’s brother-in-law) to evade arrest at the San Ysidro POE. The complaint alleges that despite knowing that, there was an outstanding warrant for Landaverde-Valdez’s arrest, Silva allowed his brother-in-law and several passengers to pass through his lane at the POE without subjecting them to the required inspection. After verifying that his brother-in-law was still a fugitive, Silva failed to enter his brother-in-law’s personal information into the CBP database at the time his brother-in-law presented himself for inspection at the POE. In addition, Silva did not properly input into the CBP computer system the license plate number of his brother-in-law’s car in order to further avoid arrest by law enforcement officials.

According to court documents, Landaverde-Valdez had previously been convicted in federal court for transportation of illegal aliens. After failing to appear at his designated custodial commitment location, Landaverde-Valdez was charged in a separate indictment with escape, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 751. Landaverde-Valdez remains a fugitive.

In addition to the charge of assisting Landaverde-Valdez to avoid apprehension, Silva is also charged with fraudulently obtaining over $7,000 from Farmers Insurance. According to the complaint, Silva illegally obtained these funds by falsely reporting to Farmers that his Nissan Titan pickup truck had been stolen while parked in Chula Vista, California. Border crossing records, however, demonstrate that Silva’s truck had been driven into Mexico approximately 10 days prior to the alleged theft and had not returned to the United States. The complaint also alleges that in making the insurance claim, Silva falsely inflated the vehicle’s purchase price.

Silva was arrested this past Friday at the San Ysidro Port-of-Entry (POE) by Border Corruption Task Force (BCTF) agents. The BCTF is a federal task force comprised of law enforcement officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, CBP-Internal Affairs, CBP-Field Operations, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Magistrate Judge Gallo set a detention hearing for September 12, 2012 at 2:30 p.m.

A complaint is not evidence that the defendant committed the crimes charged. The defendant is presumed innocent until the government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

DEFENDANT

Thomas P. Silva Age: 33 Chula Vista, California

Criminal Case No. 12-MJ-3306

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Count 1: Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343 - wire fraud. Maximum penalties: 20 years in custody; $250,000; $100 special assessment; three-year term of supervised release.

Count 2: Title 18, United States Code, Section 1071 - concealing person from arrest. Maximum penalties: five years in custody; $250,000 fine; $100 special assessment; three-year term of supervised release.

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

■Federal Bureau of Investigation

■Customs and Border Protection

■Transportation Security Administration

■Drug Enforcement Administration