Reputed Aryan Brotherhood of Texas Gang Leader Pleads Guilty to Federal Racketeering Charges

An alleged general of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas gang (ABT) pleaded guilty today to racketeering charges related to his membership in the ABT’s criminal enterprise, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson of the Southern District of Texas.

Charles Lee Roberts, aka “Jive,” 67, of Beaumont, Texas, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Sim Lake in the Southern District of Texas to one count of conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity.
According to court documents, Roberts and other ABT gang members and associates, agreed to commit multiple acts of murder, robbery, arson, kidnapping and narcotics trafficking on behalf of the ABT gang.  Roberts and numerous ABT gang members met on a regular basis at various locations throughout Texas to report on gang-related business, collect dues, commit disciplinary assaults against fellow gang members and discuss acts of violence against rival gang members, among other things. 

 By pleading guilty to racketeering charges, Roberts admitted to being a member of the ABT criminal enterprise.

According to the superseding indictment, the ABT was established in the early 1980s within the Texas prison system.  The gang modeled itself after and adopted many of the precepts and writings of the Aryan Brotherhood, a California-based prison gang that was formed in the California prison system during the 1960s.  According to the superseding indictment, previously, the ABT was primarily concerned with the protection of white inmates and white supremacy/separatism.  Over time, the ABT expanded its criminal enterprise to include illegal activities for profit.

Court documents allege that the ABT enforced its rules and promoted discipline among its members, prospects and associates through murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, arson, assault, robbery and threats against those who violate the rules or pose a threat to the enterprise.  Members, and oftentimes associates, were required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members, often referred to as “direct orders.”

According to the superseding indictment, in order to be considered for ABT membership, a person must be sponsored by another gang member.  Once sponsored, a prospective member must serve an unspecified term, during which he is referred to as a prospect, while his conduct is observed by the members of the ABT.

At sentencing, scheduled for Sept. 26, 2013, Roberts faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Roberts is one of 35 defendants charged with conducting racketeering activity through the ABT criminal enterprise, among other charges.  Ben Christian Dillon, 40, of Houston; James Marshall Meldrum, 40, of Dallas; Chad Ray Folmsbee, 30, of Houston; and Chrisopher Morris, 37, of Dallas, each previously pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy for their roles in the criminal enterprise.
 
This case is being investigated by a multi-agency task force consisting of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; FBI; U.S. Marshals Service; Federal Bureau of Prisons; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations; Texas Rangers; Texas Department of Public Safety; Montgomery County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office; Houston Police Department-Gang Division; Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Office of Inspector General; Harris County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office; Atascosa County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office; Orange County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office; Waller County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office; Alvin, Texas, Police Department; Carrollton, Texas, Police Department; Mesquite, Texas, Police Department; Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office; and the Atascosa County District Attorney’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Texas.

NIOC Georgia Sailor Shares His Story to Increase Drunk Driving Awareness

By Cryptologic Technician (Technical) Seaman Robert A. Hartland, NIOC Georgia Public Affairs

FORT GORDON, Ga. (NNS) -- A Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Georgia Sailor participated in Tour LaFitte, a 10-mile bike ride in Louisiana, May 4, which was a feat that doctors told him would be nearly impossible more than six months ago after being hit by a drunk driver.

For the past four years, Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) 1st Class Whitney M. Bellow has been participating in Tour LaFitte to raise money for the Special Olympics - this year Bellow was racing on a hand-cranked trike lent to him by the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center as part of his personal road to recovery.

"In doing this, I think we're going to show that no matter what obstacle you may encounter, no matter what happens in your life, you fight, you push forward, you overcome those things," said Bellow.

October 2012, he had been a designated driver for some friends, and after dropping them off had stopped at a local gas station to pick up a soda. After leaving the gas station Bellow was struck without warning by another driver, on the drivers side.

"You can't control life, you can't control what happens to you, but you can control how you face it," Bellow said. "Sometimes things are just going to happen regardless of all of the planning and doing the right things."

Waking up after the accident as EMT's arrived, Bellow recalls, "they had to peel the car away from my body, it was so mangled."

His seat was knocked off the cars frame, the steering wheel was bent and Bellow was hit so hard his shoe was taken off his foot by the impact.

Due to the accident Bellow suffered a concussion, four broken ribs, a punctured lung, punctured spleen, fractured pelvis, and dislocated left leg. He had to go through multiple procedures in the hospital and at the time the doctors told Bellow the outlook for being active again was not positive.

When thinking of the those who came to visit after the accident, he said, "I held the hands of everyone who came to visit me, it was my only connection to the world."

Bellow went on to say, "the support I had was amazing. Family, friends and colleagues all came to visit. Even people I had only seen in passing thought enough to come see me and it really meant a lot."

Bellow has progressed from using a wheelchair to walking with a cain, and often times without any assistance at all, through the help of physical therapy.

"I had to work towards making progress, moving forward," he said.

Bellow went on to say that he "strives to make each day a little better than the last."

With this positive attitude Bellow has excelled in his recovery faster than expected. "Having a sober acceptance of life doesn't mean that you can't hope and strive for better," said Bellow.

In addition to his participation in Tour Lafitte, he has used his accident to educate Sailors on the dangers of drunk driving by speaking to groups stationed at Fort Gordon, Ga.

"Some of the greatest advice that I can give is that actions have consequences and that you can't ever undo anything you've done," Bellows said. "I can't say that you shouldn't drink but you need to be safe about it, plan ahead. I'd rather pay a $20 cab ride than to hear about a fatality."

While a civilian caused the accident that involved Bellow, his message is universal.

"I'm still trying to understand this new perspective, this has changed me irrevocably. I have to figure out how to do things." "This is an experience I have had to go through, that didn't have to be this way. I am in this position because of a choice someone else made, and I'm paying the consequence. Take an extra second to make a plan and to reach out to your leadership."

Bellows was days away from leaving for a deployment and had plans to take part in an Officer ascension program.

"Beyond my life, my world, those I am close to, there are higher implications," he said. "My career was put on hold, the person I was supposed to relieve was affected and the Navy's mission was affected."

NIOC Georgia has begun implementing a Hand-Held Alcohol Detection Device (ADD) in accordance with OPNAVINST 5350.8 as a deterrent to alcohol abuse. The ADD is already being used at many Navy commands and will be utilized to reinforce the Right Spirit Campaign and other Alcohol Campaigns by helping to reduce the irresponsible use of alcohol.

The ADD is a supporting tool in the campaign that can help promote safety, enhance education, awareness of the affects, and assist with identifying those who may require support before an incident places the member or unit at risk.

"[This] will reinforce supporting actions and help commands detect and deter alcohol or substance abuse," said Vince Krajcir, NIOC Georgia Drug and Alcohol Prevention.

In the military and at NIOC Georgia, the consequences for driving under the influence are stern and have long-term effects that could follow an offender to the end of their career.

NIOC Georgia advocates taking preventative measures to travel safely by using a designated driver, Saferide, a taxi or calling the chain of command as a last resort.

NIOC Georgia is a subordinate command of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command and comprises Task Force 1050 of the U.S. 10th Fleet. Based at Fort Gordon, its mission is to provide information warfare and expert cryptologic personnel to fleet air, surface, submarine and special warfare combatants and to provide reachback and extended staff support to U.S. Central Command and U.S. European Command Joint Forces Maritime Component Commanders.

Georgia Men Plead Guilty to Receiving Bribes in Transportation Scheme at Local Military Base

Two former employees at the Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany (MCLB-Albany) have pleaded guilty to receiving bribes related to a scheme to funnel freight hauling business to a local transportation company resulting in the loss of millions of dollars to the United States government, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Michael J. Moore for the Middle District of Georgia.

Mitchell D. Potts, 48, and Jeffrey S. Philpot, 35, both of Sylvester, Ga., each pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands in the Middle District of Georgia to one count of bribery of a public official.

During their guilty pleas, Potts, the former Traffic Office Supervisor for the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) at MCLB-Albany, and Philpot, the former Lead Transportation Assistant in the Traffic Office, admitted to participating in a scheme whereby Potts and Philpot assisted Person A, the owner of several local commercial trucking companies, in obtaining trucking business from the DLA in exchange for the payment of cash and other things of value.  Both defendants admitted that they took a variety of steps designed to push business to Person A and his companies, including: 1) delaying shipments for a period of hours or days, thereby reducing the time available to fulfill the shipping request and assuring that it would be awarded to a local trucking company, usually one owned by Person A; 2) “short loading” shipments awarded to Person A’s companies so that it would appear to require more trucks than necessary to move the subject freight, resulting in additional loads being awarded to Person A’s companies; 3) indicating that removable gooseneck (RGN) trailers were required for shipments, which resulted in many loads being directed to Person A’s companies because they always had RGNs available; and 4) creating “ghost shipments” where Person A billed the DLA for shipments that were never made.  Both Potts and Philpot admitted that their actions led to millions of dollars of overcharges to the government.

Potts and Philpot admitted that they received cash payments from Person A when he visited the traffic office, sometimes multiple times per week.  They also admitted receiving lunches provided by Person A several times a week during the relevant period and that they also received gift cards and other things of value.  Potts admitted receiving approximately $209,000 in kickbacks from Person A during the roughly three-year scheme.  Philpot admitted receiving approximately $523,000 in cash and other things of value from Person A during the same period.

At sentencing, Potts and Philpot each face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of not more than twice the pecuniary loss to the government.  As part of their plea agreements with the United States, both Potts and Philpot have agreed to forfeit the bribe proceeds they received from the scheme, as well as to pay full restitution to the Department of Defense.  Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 15, 2013.

The case is being investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, with assistance from the Dougherty County District Attorney’s Office Economic Crime Unit, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Defense Logistics Agency Office of the Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Richard B. Evans and J.P. Cooney of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney K. Alan Dasher of the Middle District of Georgia.

Help available for victims of domestic violence

by Staff Sgt. Robert Cloys
50th Space Wing Public Affairs

5/8/2013 - SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Domestic violence kills. Three women die each and every day at the hands of their intimate partner according to the National Institute of Justice and the Centers of disease control and prevention. It's a shocking statistic and one that military members aren't immune to.

Domestic violence or interpersonal violence is a pattern of behavior resulting in emotional or psychological abuse, economic control and/or interference with personal liberty, according to Shirley Crow, the Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate located at Peterson Air Force Base. The behaviors may be directed toward a person who is a current spouse or former spouse, a person with whom the abuser shares a child in common, a current or former intimate partner with whom the abuser shares or has shared a common domicile.

"Individuals must make a choice about how they want to live their life," said Crow. "They must reach out for help before the law enforcement or other agencies become involved and strong consequences occur."

Interpersonal violence comes in multiple forms. Although often associated with physical abuse, this type of violence can be emotional, economic, verbal and sexual.
However, sexual assaults within relationships carry a different dynamic, said Paula Krause, Sexual Assault Response Coordinator on Schriever, and will be handled by the DAVA.

Regardless of the type of abuse, those looking for help have many resources at their disposal including the DAVA, Family Advocacy Supporting Effective Solutions, marriage counseling or marriage link training programs. TESSA, a domestic violence intervention program, is also available in downtown Colorado Springs.

"Basically the choice is to stay or leave, but leaving can very dangerous and victims should plan carefully and know their options in order to leave safely," said Crow. "Think about safety planning, where you're going to go and what individuals can safely support and help."

A victim of domestic violence often leaves seven to nine times before they are successful, said Crow. Often their plan falls through, they run out of money, or have some other issue that allows their partner to manipulate them into coming back. Researching and getting help before leaving can assure this doesn't happen.

One of the biggest issues with domestic violence is that it can become very clouded.

"Often the offender can present well to the public. Issues become a 'he-said she-said' situation that are often difficult to sort out," said Crow. Family Advocacy is a resource to help sort out the facts and support victims.

This doesn't mean there isn't help, and different reporting options are available.

"Restricted and unrestricted reporting are options created by the Department of Defense to encourage victims of IPV to take care of their needs. It offers the victim choice," said Crow. "If command or law enforcement are involved or the client wishes to have their involvement the reporting option is unrestricted. However, if law enforcement or commands are not aware of the situation the victim may choose to obtain services such as medical, mental health and DAVA services. This option allows the victim to learn about options and services and have their medical and mental health needs taken care of privately."

Privacy and confidentiality will continue throughout the process unless the privacy of the victim becomes outweighed by the risk of harm.

Help is there for those who don't want to report an incident as well.

"Emotionally you can get beaten down," said Crow. "If you hear negative things enough, you can begin to believe them. There are programs to strengthen you back up."

As an educational seminar reinforcing healthy interaction, FASES is one of those programs.

By building on strengths already possessed by individuals that have dealt with some form of maltreatment in their lives, it is designed to enhance individual, couple, and family functioning through awareness of ineffective interpersonal patters. The program is a one-time four-hour class provided by Family Advocacy.

For more information or to get help if you are in an abusive relationship, call your local Domestic Violence Crisis line or the local Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate.

Former Medical Doctor Pleads Guilty in Washington, D.C. to Engaging in Illicit Sexual Conduct with Minors in Kenya

A former medical doctor pleaded guilty today in Washington, D.C., to engaging in illicit sexual conduct in Kenya, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Assistant Director in Charge Valerie Parlave of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.

John D. Ott, 67, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton in the District of Columbia to one count of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place.  Ott was charged in an information filed on March 21, 2012.

According to filed court documents and proceedings, Ott was a former medical doctor who worked for non-governmental organizations and hospitals in Kenya.  Court records show that Ott also started an orphanage in Kenya.  Ott admitted that between approximately January 2004 and September 2012, he engaged in illicit sexual conduct in Muhuru Bay, Sori and Kendu Bay, Kenya, with at least 14 minors, who ranged in age from approximately nine to 17 years old when the illicit sexual conduct began.  Ott admitted that he frequently paid for schooling and provided other financial support, including housing, for minors with whom he engaged in illicit conduct.

Ott has been in federal custody since he was arrested in December 2012, following his deportation from Tanzania.  Engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  Ott’s sentencing has been scheduled for July 26, 2013.

The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Keith A. Becker of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ari Redbord of the District of Columbia.  The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Washington Field Office.  Significant assistance was provided by the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs.

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 Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ offices and 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.

My educational journey: Take control of your future, now!

by Staff Sgt. Michael Baty
58 MOS/MXOOM

5/7/2013 - KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- My name is Michael Baty. I grew up in North Charleston, S.C., and graduated from North Charleston High School in 1995. I had completed one year of Navy ROTC but decided a military lifestyle was not for me and elected not to do a second year. Following graduation, my grandmother offered to put me through college and I reluctantly accepted. After one month of being intimidated by the much larger amount of dedication, commitment and work that came with being in college compared to being in high school, I dropped out, breaking my grandmother's heart and wasting her hard earned money. So, I decided to go to work instead.

I knew someone who was a little bit older and had a job as a framer building houses. I thought that sounded fun, so I followed suit and built houses. I enjoyed it a lot initially. In fact, I still love to build things. However, I noticed after a couple years that my body had endured a lot of physical abuse from carrying hundreds of pounds of lumber, swinging a hammer (bad for your elbows), climbing stairs, getting injured and having a few close calls of falling anywhere from three to five stories down to the ground. So, after a few years, I decided to find something different. This went on for nearly eight years. I had several different jobs to include a few really good ones. Some of them included Scout Boats, telecommunications, alarm and H-Vac installation, Hyman's Seafood and Pepsi to name a few. I even started my own lawn maintenance/landscaping business called "Immaculate Lawns."

During the two years that I did that, I made decent money, met hundreds of people and changed hundreds of yards from a sore view to a pleasant one, bringing smiles to homeowners. The area I was lacking was the business know-how due to my lack of education. So, instead of evolving into an owner who moved away from the intense labor to allow my employees to do that while I expanded the business to establish Immaculate Lawns as a serious competitor, I stayed at the same level I had maxed out at and was becoming exhausted.

By that time, I realized I was a "Jack of all trades, but a master of none." However, the worst thing about all of this was that I wasn't working my way to retirement, nor earning a degree, nor increasing my savings, nor building a family nor doing anything else I should have been doing for the previous eight years. I had no structure in my life and was chasing my tail while burning both ends of the candle. So, there I was at 25 years of age, engulfed by the vast amount of experience, knowledge and miles I had put on myself with nothing to show for it. It was that moment I decided it was time for a change.

I joined the Air Force in December 2002 when I was 25 years old, and before I graduated tech school, I had turned 26. In other words, I was the old man on the block. Once I graduated, I got stationed at Charleston AFB, S.C., in 2003. Yep, that's right, five minutes from where I grew up. At the time I was focused on learning my trade as an aircraft structural maintenance technician and enjoying the Air Force while being close to my family and friends that I had grown up with. Education was the last thing on my mind. Yet again I wasted so much time. After two and a half years had gone by, I had only taken one class, Spanish 101, before PCSing to Kunsan AB, South Korea, in September 2005.

I arrived at Kunsan with high expectations and a vision of getting my Community College of the Air Force degree during the year that I would be there. After all, it was the perfect place. No distraction from family and friends, no vehicle to go cruise the streets with and no excuse not to go to school. Ready for the same story? Twelve months later I was PCSing to Hickam AFB, Hawaii, without having taken a single class. I was "living the now" and not for the future. Who cares, right? I was heading to paradise without a worry in the world, looking forward to great food, hiking, and some of the world's greatest surfing. A few years had gone by and it was time for another PCS. By this time, I was married with kids. The good news is that I did manage to go to school, if you want to call it that. I took two classes in the 36 months I was in Hawaii.

Let's recap shall we? Nearly seven years in the Air Force with access to $4500 per year of tuition assistance to go to school. Let's see, seven times 4500 equals $31,500. WOW! That's a lot of money. Now, what did I use? Three classes at anywhere from $600-$725 (the cost has increased yearly so these are just estimates) equals $1,800-$2,175. That's pathetic if you ask me. I didn't even use 10 percent of what was available.

I landed at Kirtland AFB, N.M., in October 2009. I got settled in and switched to a temporary position for a few years. I met someone who asked me to take a speech class with him. I didn't really feel like it but I figured at least I would know someone in the class. So I agreed. That event changed my life.

Fast forward just a few years to today -- I am preparing for my CCAF graduation this month and only have a handful of classes to go for my bachelor's degree in Technical Management. It sure feels great! There were a few hiccups over the past few years such as deployments, vacations, life, etc., but I have come a long way.

In conclusion, I am now 36 years of age with a wife, two kids and one on the way. I am proud of my accomplishments, but if I had taken control of my life when I graduated high school, I would be three years away from retirement with a bachelor's at the least, while moving towards a master's. I could have accomplished all of this and more in the first few years of being in the Air Force while TA was readily available before all of the "force cuts," sequestration, and talks of cutting TA, forcing one to use the GI Bill instead of saving it for a family member. In today's military, we don't get to enjoy the job security we once had. Today our military is becoming much leaner and expected to do more with less.

So, take advantage of your TA now! We all already have college credits just by graduating boot camp and tech school. After that only three to five classes are needed to obtain a CCAF degree. Once, you do that, you are on a roll -- so don't stop! Because, trust me, the older you get, the harder it is to go to college due to added responsibilities, family additions, and the cobwebs that develop in older folks' brains such as mine. By earning your degree, if your career field is cut, or you are forced to choose a career outside of the military, you will be a prime candidate for the top jobs in the civilian market. Take control of your future and do it now!

Throughout my career, the Air Force has truly been amazing to me in numerous ways. However, for the first seven years I over looked what I consider the greatest thing the Air Force offered me -- unlimited access to TA for education, providing me limitless opportunities while on active duty and after active duty. On top of that, through the GI Bill, the Air Force has also provided unlimited opportunities for one of my dependents. If you ask me, that is priceless, and I say thank you to the Air Force.

U.S. Marshals Arrest Attempted Murder Fugitive in Harrisburg

Harrisburg, PA – United States Marshal Martin J. Pane announced today that the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Jason Strite in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Strite was being sought for an attempted homicide that occurred on April 21, 2013 in Lower Swatara Township. It is alleged that Strite assaulted and attempted to run over the victim with his vehicle. On April 21, an arrest warrant was issued charging Strite with the following offenses:

•     Criminal Attempt – Homicide 
•     Aggravated Assault
•     Simple Assault
•     Recklessly Endangering Another Person
•     Theft By Unlawful Taking-Moveable Property
•     Criminal Mischief – Damage Property

At the request of the Lower Swatara Township Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force in the Middle District of Pennsylvania (M/PA) began investigating the whereabouts of Strite. Information was developed by U.S. Marshals based in Harrisburg which indicated Strite may still be in the area.

Earlier today, U.S. Marshals Service personnel located and arrested Strite without incident in the 3600 block of Walnut Street.

Strite was also wanted by the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole and the Dauphin County Adult Probation Office on separate parole / probation violation warrants.

Strite, 37-years old, was lodged at the Dauphin County Prison to await proceedings concerning his multiple open warrants.

United States Marshal Martin J. Pane stated, “It is law enforcement’s top priority to arrest violent offenders, especially those who have no regard for human life”.

U.S. Marshals were assisted by personnel from the Lower Swatara Township Police Department, the Dauphin County Adult Probation Office, and the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole.

The concept of all USMS-led fugitive task forces is to seek out and arrest the nation’s most dangerous offenders.

Suspected Bank Robbers Arrested by U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force

Concord, NH – This afternoon, members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force from both New Hampshire and Massachusetts arrested Ryan Patrick Lane, 35 and Amy Cole, 38 in Brockton, Mass. Lane, who was last known to be from Charlestown, Mass. and Cole whose last known address was in Weymouth, MA, were both being sought on outstanding arrest warrants for their alleged involvement in multiple bank robberies that occurred in both NH and Mass. This arrest was a cooperative effort made by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force including members from the U.S. Marshals, along with Task Force Officers from the Brockton & Cambridge, Mass. Police Departments, and the Strafford, Hillsborough, Rockingham, and Essex County Sheriff’s Offices.

Today, information was developed by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, which led investigators to a hotel on West Elm Street in Brockton, Mass. A check with management verified that both Lane and Cole were staying at the hotel. Lane and Cole refused to open the hotel room door, and it was forced open by investigators. Lane and Cole were quickly located and arrested without any further incident.

Lane was arrested on a warrant issued out of Hampton, NH for a bank robbery that occurred on April 4, 2013 at the TD Bank, as well as a warrant out of Hingham, Mass. for another bank robbery which occurred on March 29, 2013. Lane also had additional outstanding arrest warrants out of Massachusetts for assault and battery with a deadly weapon. Cole was arrested on an outstanding warrant for her role in the Hingham, Mass. bank robbery, alleging that she was an accessory after the fact, along with three other less serious arrest warrants.

Both Lane and Cole were turned over to the Brockton Police Department for processing and holding on the outstanding arrest warrants. Lane and Cole are being held pending their initial court appearance in Brockton District Court.

Lane and Cole are also suspects in additional bank robberies in the area and additional charges are possible pending the outcome of those investigations.

U.S. Marshal David Cargill, Jr., said “Unfortunately, crime knows no boundaries, and criminals can easily move around to commit offenses in any state.” Cargill continued, “We are fortunate that the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force has a broad, nationwide jurisdiction that allows us to pursue these fugitives anywhere in the country and even around the world through our vast network of law enforcement partners.”

Nationally the United States Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, 7 regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.

Virginia Teen, Charged as Adult, Sentenced for Church Arson

Jean-Claude Bridges pleaded guilty earlier this year to deliberately setting a church on fire and was sentenced this morning in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Danville, Va.  Bridges was sentenced to serve two years in prison, two years of supervised release and ordered to pay $141,773.68 in restitution .

 

Bridges, 18, of Henry County, Va., pleaded guilty to one count of destroying a religious property by fire. Prior to his guilty plea, the court granted a government motion to transfer Bridges to adult status for criminal prosecution. The defendant was 17-years-old when the criminal conduct occurred.

 

“The freedom to practice the religion that we choose in a safe environment without being subjected to hateful acts is among our nation’s most cherished rights,” said Roy L. Austin, Jr., Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Anyone who violates this right will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

 

“Mr. Bridges’ racial bias led him to commit the dangerous crime of arson,” United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today. “When he set fire to the New Holy Deliverance Outreach Ministry, he endangered neighbors and first responders. This act of prejudice offended the entire community. This office will protect the civil rights of everyone and vigorously prosecute crimes like that committed by Mr. Bridges. Racism has no place in Axton or anywhere else in the Western District of Virginia.”   

 

According to filings in the case, on May 20, 2012, at approximately 1:20 a.m., Bridges and another juvenile intentionally set fire to New Holy Deliverance Outreach Ministry, a church with a predominantly African American congregation, located in Axton, Va. In pleading guilty to this offense, Bridges admitted that he burned down New Holy Deliverance Outreach Ministry because of the race, color and ethnic characteristics of its congregants.

 

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Henry County Department of Public Safety, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.   Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Cullen, assisted by Trial Attorney Christopher Lomax of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, will prosecute the case for the United States.

Suspected Drug Dealer Arrested By U.S. Marshals and Laguna Police

Albuquerque, NM – Just before last call at 1:45am, alleged drug dealer, Omar Cota, was arrested off the dance floor at Route 66 Casino inside Club Envy. Cota is known by law enforcement officers to be affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel and to be a Brew Town gang member. Cota was taken into custody by United States Marshals and Laguna Police. Omar Cota had an outstanding Federal arrest warrant for Drug Trafficking and had eluded capture from Federal law enforcement officers since February 2012. Omar Cota was added to the United States Marshals Service, District of New Mexico’s Most Wanted on February 11, 2013. Tips about Cota’s whereabouts have been coming into the Marshals Service over the last two and a half months. From the tips, information was developed that Omar Cota liked to go to the casinos and could be found there at night time. Early this morning, Marshals received information that Cota was at the Route 66 Casino. When Cota was arrested by Marshals and Laguna Police Officers he was found to have a large amount of cash and suspected narcotics on his person.

The yearlong fugitive investigation spread from Albuquerque to Farmington back to Albuquerque. Allegedly Cota would slip in and out of the Albuquerque metro area depending upon the pressure law enforcement officers placed on his support network. Throughout the investigation, the United States Marshals Service was assisted by: the Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Albuquerque Police Department, Farmington Police Department and the Navajo Narcotics Unit.

District of New Mexico, United States Marshal, Conrad Candelaria, said “the effectiveness of the Marshals Service on pursuing dangerous and violent fugitives spans 223 years. In the District of New Mexico this has been the case since 1850 when the Marshals Service began to enforce a rule of law in the Territory of New Mexico and since this time working alongside local, county, tribal and state law enforcement with a common goal of protecting communities and citizens; this dangerous fugitive will no longer harm our families, friends and children”.

Three Men Arrested in Connection with Boston Marathon Bombing Investigation

BOSTON – Three men were arrested and charged today in connection with the Boston Marathon bombings investigation.    

 

            Dias Kadyrbayev, 19, and Azamat Tazhayakov, 19, both of New Bedford, Mass., were charged in a criminal complaint with conspiracy to obstruct justice by conspiring to destroy, conceal and cover-up tangible objects belonging to suspected Marathon bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, namely a laptop computer and backpack containing fireworks.  A third man, Robel Phillipos, 19, of Cambridge, Mass., was charged with willfully making materially false statements to federal law enforcement officials during a terrorism investigation.  According to the affidavit accompanying the complaint, Kadyrbayev and Tazhayakov are both nationals of Kazakhstan who entered the United States on student visas.  Kadyrbayev and Tazhayakov face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and $250,000 fine.  Phillipos, a U.S. citizen, faces a maximum sentence of eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

 

U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Carmen M. Ortiz and Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Office of the FBI, announced the charges today.  This investigation was conducted by the FBI's Boston Division, the Boston Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police and member agencies of the Boston Joint Terrorism Task Force, which is comprised of more than 30 federal, state and local enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Secret Service; the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority; and others.  In addition, the Watertown, Mass., Police Department, the Cambridge Police Department, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Police Department, the Boston Fire Department, the National Guard and police, fire and emergency responders from across Massachusetts and New England played critical roles in the investigation and response.

 

The charges contained in the criminal complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.