Mexican National Sentenced for Role in Drug Conspiracy

COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Adrian Cienfuegos-Aguirre, age 32, of Guerrero, Mexico, was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment yesterday in federal court in Columbia, South Carolina, after earlier pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr., of Columbia, imposed the sentence, which will be followed by three years of supervised release.

Adrian Cienfuegos-Aguirre, who had no prior record, was one of over 116 defendants initially charged in 2009 following a series of court-authorized, FBI-monitored wiretaps over multiple telephones in the Columbia/Lexington area. Cienfuegos-Aguirre was a fugitive on the federal charge until his arrest at the Texas/Mexico border in September 2011. The evidence in the case indicated that Cienfuegos-Aguirre, a resident alien lawfully in the United States, was involved in the transportation of drug proceeds after the sale of kilogram quantities of cocaine and in maintaining a stash house for the drugs. Evidence presented in court showed that on January 21, 2009, following a multi-kilogram deal, which was under surveillance by agents, Cienfuegos-Aguirre was stopped in a vehicle with another co-defendant, and found in possession of $153,640, which was seized by law enforcement. All co-defendants have been convicted and sentenced, with the exception of one remaining fugitive in the indictment.

The case was investigated by agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the Columbia Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.

Mansfield Doctor Indicted on Prescription Drug Charge

Dr. David Walter Massie, a medical doctor who lives in Mansfield, Ohio, was arrested today after being indicted on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute Oxycontin and/or Oxycodone, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Massie, age 59, is scheduled to be arraigned July 6.

He wrote fraudulent prescriptions for Oxycontin and Oxycodone for patients, which the patients then filled and illegally distributed back to Massie for his own personal use, distribution, and sale to others, according to the indictment.

“Prescription drug abuse has wreaked havoc on Ohio and is a major challenge for law enforcement,” Dettelbach said. “To have a doctor involved in a drug conspiracy such as this is profoundly troubling. We will continue to work with our partners in the law enforcement, regulatory, and medical fields to help solve this problem.”

Much of the conduct took place between 2005 and 2007 but includes transactions in May 2012, when Massie sold Oxycontin and/or Oxycodone at the rate of $1 per milligram, according to the indictment. Massie obtained more than 4,000 pills of Oxycontin or Oxycodone through this conspiracy, according to the indictment.

Oxycontin and Oxycodone are both prescription painkillers classified as Schedule II controlled substances.

In some cases, Massie asked patients to provide their insurance information to cover the cost of the prescriptions. In other cases he provided them cash to pay for the pills, according to the indictment. Massie sometimes allowed some patients to keep a few of the pills as payment, according to the indictment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa L. Dirksen following an investigation by the METRICH Enforcement Unit of the Richland County Sheriff’s Office and FBI (Mansfield Resident Office).

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any; his role in the offense; and the unique characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

FBI Recovers Remains in North Dakota

FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Johnson of the Salt Lake City Division and Chief of Police Frank DiFonzo of the Sidney, Montana Police Department announce a development in the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Sherry Arnold.

On March 20, 2012, special agents assigned to the FBI Evidence Response Team began efforts to recover human remains in the vicinity of Williston, North Dakota. During this operation, the FBI received support and assistance from several Montana and North Dakota law enforcement agencies to include the Sidney Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Williams County Sheriff’s Office, Williston Police Department, and the North Dakota Highway Patrol. By the early morning hours of March 21, 2012, special agents had recovered the physical remains of a female. While a positive identification has not been made at this time, it is believed the remains are those of Sherry Arnold of Sidney, Montana. Further efforts to verify the identity of the remains are currently underway by law enforcement. After a positive identification is made, a news release will be issued. Due to the ongoing investigation, no further details about the case can be released at this time.

Ms. Arnold went missing Saturday, January 7, 2012 at approximately 6:30 a.m. while on her morning run in Sidney, Montana.

Major Mexican Drug Dealer Gets 20 Years

COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Frediberto Pineda, a/k/a “Calero,” a/k/a “Samuel Hernandez-Pimental,” a/k/a “Samuel P. Hernandez,” a/k/a “Jorge Rodriguez-Berruquin,” a/k/a “Jorge Rodriguez-Barruquin,” age 32, of Gaston, South Carolina and Guerrerro, Mexico, was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Columbia, South Carolina, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than 50 grams of crack cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code; and illegal re-entry after deportation, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1326(a). United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. of Columbia sentenced Pineda, whose true birth name is Samuel Hernandez-Pimental, to 20 years (240 months) in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Pineda will be deported after serving his active sentence.

Pineda was one of over 116 defendants charged in 2009 following a series of court-authorized, FBI-monitored wiretaps over multiple telephones in the Columbia area. The evidence in the case indicated that Pineda, a Mexican citizen who illegally re-entered the United States following an earlier deportation, assisted by his brother Alfredo Pimental, a/k/a “Buli,” a/k/a “Alfredo Pimentel,” a/k/a “Alfredo Hernandez-Pimentel,” a/k/a “Alfredo Pimentel-Hernandez,” who is currently a fugitive, was a major supplier of kilogram quantities of cocaine to a number of local drug organizations.

The case was investigated by agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the Columbia Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.

Lexington County Drug Dealer Convicted at Trial

COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Terry Wainwright Mitchell, age 34, of West Columbia, was convicted today in federal court in Columbia, South Carolina, following a two-day trial. The federal jury convicted Mitchell on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than 50 grams of crack cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846; and three counts of use of a telephone in furtherance of a drug felony, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843(b).

United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. of Columbia presided over the trial and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. Mitchell faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum of life, along with $4,000,000 fine and four years of supervised release to follow his term of imprisonment.

Mitchell was one of 116 defendants charged in 2009 following a series of court-authorized, FBI-monitored wiretaps over multiple telephones in the Columbia area. The evidence in the case indicated that Mitchell, a tow truck driver, was part of a vast conspiracy of local drug dealers who were obtaining large amounts of cocaine and crack cocaine from Mexican suppliers and then distributing it in Richland and Lexington Counties. Thus far, 110 of the charged defendants have entered guilty pleas and four remain fugitives.

The case was investigated by the FBI-led Columbia Violent Gang Task Force, which is comprised of agents from the FBI, the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the Columbia Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office prosecuted the trial of the case.

Oregon, South Carolina and Tennessee

July 31, 2007 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added police officers from Oregon, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Larry C. Pike is a retired sergeant from the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office (Oregon). Beginning in 1973 he began serving as a crime scene specialist. During his law enforcement career he was promoted to sergeant and has investigated more than fifty murders including several multiple homicides; and, one thought to be related to the Green River killings. He has investigated more than two hundred deaths from other causes--suicide, accidents, traffic fatalities. Larry Pike has a BA in psychology and has taught police science and psychology at a local community college. He is the author of Killer Instinct.

Sam Morton’s 12 year law enforcement career with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (South Carolina) included assignments as a detective working robbery and homicide. Sam Morton is the author of Disavowed. And, the upcoming book Ramblings.

According to the book description of Disavowed, “armed with a new identity, Chandler, a disgraced ex-cop, takes on murderous white supremacists to win back his honor. In the process, he discovers it might cost him more than he's willing to pay. When an innocent woman is kidnapped, Mike battles time, the FBI, and the kidnappers themselves to save her life and his one chance at happiness.”

Marty Penny’s law enforcement career began with the Soddy-Daisy Police Department (Tennessee). He then joined the Red Bank Police Department (Tennessee). Marty Penny then joined the Chattanooga Police Department (Tennessee) and after working uniformed patrol was promoted to detectives. Marty Penny is the author of two books: A Tale of Three Cities: From a Cop's Point of View and A Lamb of Sacrifice.

According to the book description of A Tale of Three Cities: From a Cop's Point of View, “Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, there are men and women out on the streets who have chosen to take on the ne’er-do-wells of society. The incidents related in this book give an insight into the tragedies and triumphs, the horror and the satisfaction that comes with being a cop in America today. Come along as the author takes you on a ride through the streets of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and reveals a world that is very rarely seen by the average person. From dangerous high-speed pursuits to officer-involved shootings and the untimely deaths of fellow officers, being a cop is not always what it is cracked up to be”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 683 police officers (representing 307 police departments) and their 1459 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.