Six Rescued, Seven Arrested Locally in Multi-Agency Operation Targeting Child Prostitution

HAYWARD, CA—The FBI and its local and state law enforcement partners announced the recovery of six children, who were being victimized through prostitution, and the arrest of seven individuals, commonly referred to as pimps, who exploited them throughout the Bay Area on state and local charges as a part of Operation Cross Country.

The operation is a three-day national enforcement action that is coordinated through the Innocence Lost National Initiative, which is a partnership between the FBI, local law enforcement partners, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that targets child prostitution.

The San Francisco Division of the FBI and multiple local and state law enforcement participated in the operation from June 20 through June 23 in several cities in the Bay Area.

Nationwide, 79 children were rescued and 104 pimps were arrested for various state and local charges. The efforts in the Bay Area account for 7.6 percent of the rescued children and 6.7 percent of the total number of pimps arrested throughout 57 participating cities.

The origins of this nationwide effort started in northern California over seven years ago when the Bay Area Innocence Lost Working Group sought to target the growing problem of child prostitution by conducting a joint, multi-day operation to rescue children and to arrest those who exploited them.

The following agencies were a part of the operation: Alameda County Probation Department, Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, Alameda County Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force, Alameda County Vice Enforcement Task Force (ACVET), California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Division of Adult Parole Operations, Concord Police Department, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, Petaluma Police Department, Richmond Police Department, San Francisco Police Department, San Jose Police Department, San Rafael Police Department, Oakland Housing Authority Police Department, Oakland Police Department, and the Oakland Unified School District Police Department.

ACVET consists of the following agencies: Albany Police Department, California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, California Highway Patrol, Emeryville Police Department, Fremont Police Department, Hayward Police Department, Livermore Police Department, Newark Police Department, and the University of California Berkeley Police Department.

Members of the media should call FBI Public Affairs Specialist Julianne Sohn or Peter Lee at 415-553-7450.

Mongols Motorcycle Gang Member Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murdering President of San Francisco Hells Angels

SAN FRANCISCO—Christopher Bryan Ablett, a/k/a “Stoney,” a member of the Modesto Chapter of the Mongols outlaw motorcycle gang, was sentenced today to serve two concurrent life sentences and one life sentence to run consecutive, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced. The sentence was imposed for the defendant’s gang-related murder of Mark “Papa” Guardado, the president of the San Francisco Chapter of the Hells Angels, on September 2, 2008 at 24th Street and Treat Avenue in the Mission District of San Francisco.

“The defendant killed a complete stranger for no reason other than his membership in a rival motorcycle gang,” U.S. Attorney Haag said. “This sentence should send a clear message that there is a heavy price to pay for engaging in such a senseless act of violence. There is nothing we can do to bring Mr. Guardaro back. I hope, however, that this conviction and sentence begin to bring his family some closure.”

Evidence at Ablett’s trial showed that during a trip to San Francisco to visit a friend, Ablett was armed with a foot-long military knife and a .357 magnum revolver and brought a Mongols full-patch vest and T-shirt that only a full member of the Mongols is allowed to wear. According to testimony from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) gang expert Special Agent John Ciccone and former Mongols undercover ATF Special Agent Darrin Kozlowski, the Mongols are an organized criminal motorcycle gang whose primary rival is the Hells Angels motorcycle gang.

When Guardado learned that Ablett was wearing a Mongols patch shirt in a bar in the Mission, Guardado went to the street outside the bar and approached Ablett. A fight broke out, and Ablett stabbed Guardado four times and shot him twice, killing him. According to the testimony of FBI Special Agent Jacob Millspaugh, the case agent, Ablett’s phone records showed that he spent the next several hours calling people who were identified as members of the Mongols.

Following the trial, on February 22, 2012, the jury rejected Ablett’s claims that he acted in self-defense, in defense of his friends, and in the heat of passion. The jury also found that the defendant murdered Guardado to maintain or increase his position in the Mongols and that the Mongols engaged in racketeering activity.

The sentence was handed down by United States District Court Judge Richard Seeborg for Ablett’s convictions for murder in aid of racketeering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1959; assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1959; using a firearm during a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c); and using a firearm causing murder during a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(j). A federal life sentence does not allow for parole.

The case was prosecuted by former Assistant United States Attorney Christine Wong and Assistant United States Attorneys Kathryn Haun, Wilson Leung, and William Frentzen; with the assistance of paralegal specialist Lili ArauzHaase, legal techs Marina Ponomarchuk, Daniel Charlier-Smith, and Ponly Tu. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the San Francisco Police Department.

Former California State University Assistant Professor Sentenced to 450 Months in Prison for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child

Joint Child Pornography Investigation Rescued Infant from Sexual Abuse by California Assistant Professor of Justice Studies and the Infant’s Mother

SAN FRANCISCO—Kenneth Martin Kyle pleaded guilty and was sentenced late Thursday afternoon to 37-and-a-half years in prison and ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution for traveling across state lines to sexually abuse a child, Melinda Haag, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, announced.

In pleading guilty, Kyle admitted that in August 2009, he traveled from San Francisco to St. Louis for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with an infant victim. Immediately following his guilty plea, which was pursuant to a plea agreement with the United States, Kyle was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White.

“It is my hope that the sentence Mr. Kyle received sends a strong message about the abhorrent conduct in this case,” U.S. Attorney Haag said. “Protecting children from sexual predators is an important priority. My office will continue to work diligently with our partners in law enforcement to track down and prosecute sexual predators to the fullest extent of the law.”

At the time of his arrest, in March 2010, Kyle was an Assistant Professor of Justice Studies at California State University East Bay. He came to the attention of the FBI when undercover agents discovered that he was sharing child pornography over a peer-to-peer file-sharing network. The FBI passed this information along to San Francisco police officers who obtained a search warrant for Kyle’s San Francisco apartment. During the search of Kyle’s apartment, they found computers containing child pornography. Because Kyle was out of the country at the time, San Francisco police officers shared their information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

“Nothing is more gratifying than seeing someone like this go to prison for a very, very long time where he will no longer have the opportunity to harm children in such a horrible fashion,” said Clark Settles, special agent in charge for the ICE-HSI office in San Francisco. “HSI will use every tool at its disposal to track down those who would harm our children and see that they are brought to justice.”

During his plea hearing, Kyle admitted to molesting a 5-month-old infant in St. Louis over several months. The infant victim’s mother currently faces federal child pornography charges in California and Missouri and has already pleaded guilty to state child molestation charges in Missouri.

Kyle, 47, of San Francisco, was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 1, 2010. He was charged with aggravated sexual abuse of a child, production of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, transportation of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. Under the plea agreement, Kyle pleaded guilty to count one of the indictment.

Owen Martikan is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Rosario Calderon. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by ICE-HSI. This investigation also involved significant assistance from the FBI, the San Francisco Police Department, the St. Louis Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri.

Cold Case Homicide Arrest

The Albuquerque Police Department released the following statement.

On August 4, 1987, the body of 37-year-old Diedre Brewington was located in her apartment on Coal Avenue SW. Investigation determined she had been shot to death. APD detectives learned Diedre was separated from her husband, 43-year-old Ronald A. Brewington, and she intended to divorce him. Investigators determined that there was probable cause to arrest Mr. Brewington for the murder of his wife and an arrest warrant was obtained. However, Mr. Brewington had already fled New Mexico and could not be located. In April, 1988, the Bernalillo County grand jury indicted Mr. Brewington for first-degree murder in the death of Diedre and a bench warrant was issued. Mr. Brewington has eluded capture on this charge and has been a fugitive for almost 25 years.

Last fall, the Albuquerque Police Department’s Cold Case Unit began a follow up investigation of this murder and began trying to locate Mr. Brewington. A collaborative multi-agency investigation took place. Detectives tracked Mr. Brewington and learned he has used many aliases and has resided in many locations across the U.S. during the past 25 years. Through investigation, the alias Mr. Brewington is currently using was learned.

With the assistance of the Albuquerque office of the FBI, the San Francisco Office of the FBI, Oakland Police Department, San Francisco Police Department and the U.S. Marshals, Mr. Brewington was tracked to the San Francisco Bay Area. Each agency was very involved and instrumental in this investigation. An Albuquerque Police Department Cold Case detective and other law enforcement officers travelled to the Bay Area to conduct additional investigation.

The Albuquerque Police Department officers who traveled to the Bay Area reported today that Mr. Brewington has been successfully taken into custody.

APD would like to thank the Albuquerque Office of the FBI, the San Francisco Office of the FBI, Oakland Police Department, San Francisco Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals for their assistance with this investigation. The cooperation between these agencies was nothing short of amazing and this shows the dedication of these law enforcement agencies and how they will never stop investigating cold cases and tracking down wanted fugitives.

East Bay Marijuana Trafficker Sentenced to 10 Years in Jail

Defendant Ran Multiple Grow Houses in Suburban Neighborhoods

OAKLAND, CA—Peng Li was sentenced last week to 10 years in prison for distributing and conspiring to distribute more than 1,000 marijuana plants, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced.

Li was convicted in September on two drug trafficking charges after a trial by jury. During the trial, evidence showed that Li and his associates operated three indoor marijuana grow houses in suburban residential neighborhoods in Antioch, Pinole, and Bay Point, Calif., as well as a marijuana processing location in Oakland. According to the evidence offered at trial, Li and his associates rented the houses, constructed elaborate electrical bypasses to power their growing lights with stolen electricity, used voluminous amounts of chemical fertilizers, and destroyed walls and ceilings inside the houses to build ventilation and hydration systems. According to witnesses at trial, Li and his associates grew approximately 3,000 marijuana plants in this manner over multiple grow cycles. The evidence at trial also showed that at least one of the houses in a residential area of Pinole appeared to have been burglarized by unknown parties.

“Indoor marijuana grow operations are illegal under federal law,” U.S. Attorney Haag said. “Moreover, they threaten the safety of our residential neighborhoods by greatly increasing the risk of burglaries, environmental damage and fires.”

Li, 29, of Antioch, was originally indicted by a federal grand jury on July 15, 2008. He was charged with manufacturing, distributing, and possessing with intent to distribute marijuana, and conspiring to do the same.

The case was the result of a multi-year operation dubbed Operation Triple Stack, led by the San Francisco office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a multi-agency task force that coordinates long-term narcotics trafficking investigations. The San Francisco Police Department, Oakland Police Department, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration also participated in Operation Triple Stack, which targeted a group of ecstasy and marijuana traffickers. The investigation was conducted in coordination with related ecstasy-trafficking investigations in Sacramento and Denver, resulting in the apprehension of more than 50 individuals nationwide.

The 10-year sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton on Jan. 18, 2012. Judge Hamilton also sentenced the defendant to a four-year period of supervised release, and ordered the seizure of a Rolex watch that prosecutors said was worth approximately $6,000 and was purchased using illegal drug proceeds.

Suspect Linked to “The Plaid Bandit” Bank Robberies Arrested

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A man, suspected of bank robberies linked to “The Plaid Bandit,” was arrested on Tuesday in San Francisco, announced Special Agent in Charge Stephanie Douglas, FBI San Francisco Field Office, and Chief Greg Suhr, San Francisco Police Department.

Donald Gene Booth, 68, was taken into custody at his residence by police officers and special agents without incident on Tuesday, October 18. He was scheduled to make his initial appearance on Friday, October 21, 2011 at the San Francisco Superior Court.

The FBI and San Francisco Police Department arrested Booth, who was dubbed “The Plaid Bandit,” based upon an anonymous tip. Booth is linked to four bank robberies in San Francisco:

■October 6, 2011 East West Bank, 555 Montgomery Street.

■July 27, 2010 U.S. Bank, 201 Montgomery Street

■June 21, 2010 City National Bank, California Avenue

■June 10, 2010 Bank of the West, 505 Montgomery Street

Booth will be prosecuted by the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office and is charged with four counts of bank robbery.

Investigators were able to link Booth to the four bank robberies based upon the suspect’s description and methods used.

This investigation is being conducted jointly by the FBI San Francisco and San Francisco Police Department.

An arrest is not evidence that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

FBI San Francisco can be reached 24 hours a day at 415-553-7400.

Members of the media should call:

■San Francisco Police Department Media Relations at 415-553-1651.

■San Francisco District Attorney’s Office at 415-553-1167 or 415-740-5134.
■FBI San Francisco Public Affairs at 415-553-7450.

Former Cal State East Bay Professor Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child

Joint Homeland Security/FBI/San Francisco Police Child Pornography Investigation Rescues an Infant from Sexual Abuse by a California Professor of Justice Studies

SAN FRANCISCO—Kenneth Martin Kyle pleaded guilty in federal court in San Francisco today to traveling across state lines for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with a child younger than 12, United States Attorney MELINDA HAAG announced.

In pleading guilty, Mr. Kyle admitted that in August, 2009, he traveled from San Francisco to St. Louis, Missouri, for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with an infant victim. At the time of his arrest, in March, 2010, Mr. Kyle was an assistant professor of justice studies at California State University East Bay. He came to the attention of the FBI when undercover agents discovered that he was sharing child pornography over a peer-to-peer file-sharing network. The FBI passed this information along to San Francisco police officers, who obtained a search warrant for Kyle's San Francisco apartment, where they found computers containing thousands of child pornography images and videos. Because Mr. Kyle was out of the country at the time, San Francisco police officers shared their information with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. When Kyle returned to the United States, customs officers found thousands of child pornography images on a laptop in his possession, and evidence on his mobile phone that suggested he might be involved in a sexual relationship with a minor victim in the St. Louis area.

Quick investigative work by Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Analisa Nogales identified an infant girl in St. Louis, Missouri, whom Mr. Kyle had repeatedly molested—with the participation of the baby's mother—over a six-month period during several visits from San Francisco. Agent Nogales immediately notified St. Louis police officers, who acted quickly to rescue the infant from an abusive home. Other evidence found on Kyle's computer by Homeland Security computer forensics analysts identified another sex offender in Missouri who was actively trading child pornography. He was prosecuted and convicted on state child pornography charges in Missouri. The infant victim's mother currently faces state and federal child molestation and child pornography charges in California and Missouri.

Mr. Kyle, 47, of San Francisco, was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 1, 2010. He was charged with aggravated sexual abuse of a child, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2241(c); production of child pornography, in violation 18 U.S.C. § 2251(c), distribution of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2), transportation of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(1), and possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B). Under the plea agreement, Mr. Kyle pled guilty to count one of the indictment.

The sentencing of Mr. Kyle is scheduled for August 11, 2011 before Judge Jeffrey S. White in San Francisco. The maximum statutory penalty for the count of conviction is at least 30 years up to life in prison, a fine of $250,000, restitution to the victim, and registration as a sex offender. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Owen Martikan is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Rosario Calderon. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Analisa Nogales, along with Homeland Security Computer Forensics Analyst Gilbert Sacramento. This investigation also involved significant assistant by FBI special agents who first identified Kyle, San Francisco police officers who investigated the lead, St. Louis police officers who helped rescue the infant victim and apprehend her mother, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, and by Homeland Security agents in St. Louis, Missouri.

Further Information:

Case #: CR 10-245 JSW

A copy of this press release may be found on the U.S. Attorney's Office's website at usdoj.gov/usao/can.

Methamphetamine - Community Prevention Tactics

June 20, 2008, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) On June 27, 2008, Conversations with Cops at the Watering Hole will feature a conversation with Former San Francisco Police Department Inspector Linda Flanders and Red Wing Police Department Chief of Police Tim Sletten about community prevention tactics and methamphetamine addiction.

Program Date: June 27, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Methamphetamine - Community Prevention Tactics
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/06/28/Methamphetamine-Community-Prevention-Tactics

About the Guests
In the 1970s, Linda Flanders was the first female police officer to join the Mill Valley police Department (California). By 1980, she had moved across the bay and joined the San Francisco Police Department. During her career she was promoted to the rank of Inspector and trained as a Child Interview Specialist. Linda Flanders worked for several years in the Juvenile Division’s Child Sexual Assault Detail.

Linda Flanders has a degree in Criminal Justice and became a Movement Education Teacher in 1991. Since 1999, she has worked as an independent educational filmmaker and, co-developed the “The Movie Making Process©” as a learning and teaching tool for today’s kids. Using a mix of art education, pop-culture and digital technology the process has developed into the 21st Century Prevention Program. The original work, “The Movie Making Process”© was recently nominated by the State of Wisconsin as their “Most Promising Prevention Program”.

Linda Flanders has published several articles on alternative learning styles and children who exhibit atypical behavior. And, is the author of the self-help Cinema-therapy book for teens Hollywood Endings and How To Get One. The prevention program for communities is called The Northern Lights; Shining The Light on the Meth-edemic and mixes entertainment and education to deal with methamphetamine specifically and addiction in general. Linda Flanders’ current project is to work with communities nationwide on the prevention program and evaluation, document it in a peer-reviewed article and submit the findings to the National Institute of Health as a model program. She is actively looking for communities to join this endeavor. www.taprootinc.com

Chief of Police Tim Sletten worked his way up through the ranks of the Red Wing Police Department (Minnesota) and was appointed Chief in 2004. He is very active with the town’s community groups and a visual presence at all events. As a small town Chief, he’s learning quickly how to deal with global issues at the local level. He’s an advocate for up-to date training, known for addressing community concerns immediately and recognizes the need to connect with young people through their own interests. Of The Northern Lights; Shining The Light on the Meth-edemic project, Chief Tim Sletten said, “This is the first thing I’ve ever seen that was created specifically for the kids.”

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, law enforcement 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

First Offender Prostitution Program

The First Offender Prostitution Program (FOPP) is designed to reduce the demand for
commercial sex and human trafficking in San Francisco by educating men arrested for soliciting prostitutes (or “johns”) about the negative consequences of prostitution. The program is a partnership of the San Francisco District Attorney’s office (SFDA), the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD), and a local nonprofit organization, Standing Against Global Exploitation (SAGE). Eligible arrestees are given the choice of paying a fee and attending a one-day class (known generically as the “john school”), or being prosecuted. Fees support all of the costs of conducting the john school classes, as well as subsidizing police vice operations, screening and processing arrestees, and recovery programs for women and girls involved in commercial sex.

The evaluation described in this report addresses three priority issues: the effectiveness, return on investment, and transferability of the FOPP. Data collection efforts included site visits, police “ride alongs,” interviews, collection of program documents and administrative data, structured observations of john school classes, pre- and post-class surveys of participants, and assembly of criminal history data regarding men arrested for soliciting prostitutes in San Francisco and throughout California.

READ ON
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/222451.pdf

Comelli, Flanders and Ruge

April 4, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added three police officers from California agencies.

In 1959, Ivano Franco Comelli graduated from San Jose State College and joined the San Jose Police Department. His law enforcement career spanned 37 years culminating with his retirement at the rank of captain. Ivano Franco Comelli is the author of La Nostra Costa (Our Coast): A Family's Journey to and From the North Coast of Santa Cruz, California (1923-1983).

According to the book description of La Nostra Costa (Our Coast): A Family's Journey to and From the North Coast of Santa Cruz, California (1923-1983), “In 1959, the author, leaving la costa behind, joined the San Jose Police Force. In chilling detail he describes how certain violent acts, such as the assassination of his best friend, changed his life forever. Using actual events, the author gives us a disturbing glimpse into the murky world of the police and outlines the personal rules he followed in order to survive. For those readers who like their history told in a narrative fashion and embedded in a true life story, La Nostra Costa fills the bill. This never-before told story of the ranceri on the north coast of Santa Cruz, will keep the reader turning the pages, seeking the final out come of this family’s journey to and from la costa.”

Linda Flanders, a former San Francisco Police Department detective is currently the CEO of Taproot, Inc., a business that “provides education on essential social/behavioral issues-through the use of art, entertainment and digital technology.” Linda Flanders has a degree in criminal justice and is the author of In Hollywood Endings and How to Get One.

According to the Midwest Book Review, “In Hollywood Endings and How to Get One, former San Francisco police detective and current educational video producer Linda Flanders has created and crafted a original self-help instructional guide to creating the life one desires.

In 2005, after 18 years of law enforcement service, Rodger Ruge retired from the Santa Rosa Police Department. He started his own business, Ready Force Inc. Rodger Ruge is the author of The Warrior's Mantra. According to the book description, “The book teaches the ancient Eastern technique of mantras, or positive affirmations, as a means to improving one's warrior spirit and experiencing its life-altering power.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 924 police officers (representing 391 police departments) and their 1934 police books in 33 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.