Monday, April 30, 2012

Suspect Sought in the Robbery of First Tennessee Bank Branch in Dandridge


The Knoxville Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Chief Carson Williams of the Dandridge Police Department (DPD) are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the man who robbed the First Tennessee Bank on April 27, 2012.

At approximately 3:00 p.m., a man entered the First Tennessee Bank located at 1030 South Highway 92 in Dandridge, Tennessee and presented a note demanding money. Witnesses described the suspect as a male with a light complexion and approximately 6’0” tall with a thin build. The suspect was wearing light-colored blue jeans and a long-sleeved, button-down white shirt with blue, vertical stripes. The suspect was also wearing white latex gloves and a black knit hat with a snowflake pattern. After obtaining an undetermined amount of money, the suspect left the scene on foot.

Photos of the suspect can be viewed below.

In an effort to locate the suspect, additional agencies assisted with the investigation, including the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office aviation and K9 assets, as well as the Sevierville Police Department’s K9 Unit.

Anyone with information is asked to call the DPD at 865-475-3482 or the FBI at 865-544-0751. This matter is being jointly investigated by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force (comprised of the FBI, KPD, and KSCO) and DPD.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

18th Street Gang Members Sentenced to Life in Prison for Participating in a Racketeering Conspiracy Related to Gang Activities


Participated in 2009 Abduction and Murder of a 15–Year Old Boy and Shooting Death of a 24–Year Old Young Man

Greenbelt, Maryland — U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus sentenced Joel Ventura Quintanilla, aka “Clon,” age 25, of Germantown, Maryland today to life in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise in connection with his membership in the 18th Street gang.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Acting Special Agent in Charge Marino F. Vidoli of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Baltimore Field Division; Chief Mark P. Sroka of the Gaithersburg Police Department; Chief Mark A. Magaw of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department; Chief Cathy Lanier of the Metropolitan Police Department; Chief Larry Brownlee of the Maryland National Capital Park Police – Prince George’s County Division; Montgomery County Sheriff Darren Popkin; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy; and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela D. Alsobrooks.

“Anyone who wonders about the impact of pernicious gangs that spawn senseless violence need look no further than this case,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. Joel Ventura Quintanilla, a member of the 18th Street gang, kidnapped and murdered an innocent 15 year old boy and shot to death a 24 year old man whose only offense was that the killers mistakenly thought they belonged to rival gangs.

According to his plea agreement, from 2007 to 2009 Ventura Quintanilla, a native of El Salvador, was a member of the 18th Street gang. The gang originated in the Los Angeles, California area and operates in Central America and across the United States, including Maryland. The gang is divided into subsets called cliques, and operates according to rules which the gang enforces by punishment for their violation, including beating the violating gang member. For serious transgressions, the gang will “green light” or order the murder of a gang member.

On January 18, 2009, Ventura Quintanilla and another gang member forced 15 year old Dennys Alfredo Guzman–Saenz, who was thought to be a rival gang member, into a car in Langley Park, Maryland and drove Guzman–Saenz to Gaithersburg, Maryland. Ventura Quintanilla and other gang members took the victim to a park in Gaithersburg where Ventura Quintanilla and several gang members stabbed and beat Guzman–Saenz to death. Guzman–Saenz’s body was found in a creek in the park the next morning.

On February 8, 2009, Ventura Quintanilla and other gang members were at a residence in Gaithersburg discussing the killing of rival gang members. Ventura Quintanilla and other gang members rode into the District of Columbia in search of rival gang members. Ventura Quintanilla and another gang member exited the car near a restaurant located in the 3900 block of 14th Street NW, Washington, DC. Ventura Quintanilla and the other gang member, both armed with guns, approached two men who were standing in front of the restaurant. Ventura Quintanilla shot at the two men striking both of them. One of the victims, Manuel Garcia–Fuentes, age 25, died from his wounds.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the members of ATF–led Regional Area Gang Enforcement (RAGE) Task Force, including the Gaithersburg Police Department, the Prince George’s County Police Department, Montgomery County Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and the Maryland National Capital Park Police – Prince George’s County Division, as well as the Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI and the Montgomery County and Prince George’s County State’s Attorneys’ offices for their work in this investigation and prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys William Moomau and Jonathan Lenzner, who prosecuted the case.

NINE DEFENDANTS INDICTED FOR CONTRABAND CIGARETTE TRAFFICKING AND POSSESSION AND SALE OF COUNTERFEIT CIGARETTE TAX STAMPS


James L. Santelle, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that as the result of a year long investigation by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, a federal grand jury has indicted 9 defendants for contraband cigarette trafficking in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 2342(a) as well as possession and sale of counterfeit cigarette tax stamps in violation of Title 18, United
States Code, Sections 2315.

The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to possess and transport unstamped cigarettes in quantities of 10,000 or more from Wisconsin to Illinois in order to evade Illinois state and local taxes. The indictment further alleges that individual defendants possessed and transported between one and 182 cases or between 12,000 to over 2 million cigarettes, and that collectively they evaded between $1 million and $4.6 million in state and local taxes.

The indictment also alleges that defendants Uddin, Bheri and Aslam sold quantities of counterfeit Wisconsin and Illinois tax stamps.

Each conspiracy and contraband cigarette trafficking offense is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each counterfeit tax offense is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

In announcing the charges against the nine defendants in the 42-count indictment, unsealed today, United States Attorney Santelle stated: “The defendants conspired to evade the established cigarette tax laws of the States of Illinois and Wisconsin for the express purpose of self-enrichment; in doing so, they also prevented the legitimate collection of millions of dollars in state revenues. Their trafficking in contraband cigarettes, including their use of counterfeit tax stamps, has been the focus of a productive and extensive investigation by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, resulting in the grand jury indictment. In cooperation with our federal investigative partner, our office will prosecute this matter—and others like it that similarly involve the possession and transportation of contraband goods—to ensure the integrity of the state tax systems from which all law-abiding citizens benefit.”

In a statement issued by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, St. Paul
Field Division Special Agent in Charge Bernard J. Zapor stated, "These contraband economies deprive revenue from the states at a time when it is gravely needed."

This case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carol L. Kraft.

The public is caution that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which time the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Investigation of Northeast Oklahoma City Street Gang Results in 56 Convictions and a Collective Prison Sentence of Over 414 Years


OKLAHOMA CITY—As the result of a multi-year investigation into the narcotics trafficking activities by a neighborhood street gang operating on the Northeast side of Oklahoma City, a total of 51 individuals have now been convicted and sentenced in federal court to a combined total of 4,808 months in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Sanford C. Coats, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge James Finch, and Oklahoma City Police Chief Bill Citty. An additional five defendants were sentenced to 168 months in state prison. Together, this investigation resulted in the federal and state convictions of 56 defendants who were sentenced to a collective total of 4,976 months in prison—over 414.6 years.

“The Oklahoma City metro area will be safer because those prosecuted in this case will be removed from our community for a long period of time,” said U.S. Attorney Sanford C. Coats. “We will continue to use all resources and tools at our disposal to disrupt and dismantle gangs wherever they exist, and we will be aggressive in stopping their criminal activities and bringing them to justice.”

“This investigation shows the dedication of the FBI and its law enforcement partners to investigate violent gang members who have chosen to violate the law,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Jim Finch. “We will continue to investigate these violent gangs to ensure the safety of the citizens in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.”

“The arrest and prosecution of so many dangerous individuals can only be accomplished with the combined efforts and cooperation of federal and local law enforcement agencies,” said Oklahoma City Police Chief Bill Citty. “The multi-agency investigation along with the aggressive prosecution of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oklahoma City have made a tremendous impact on reducing violent crime in our community.”

In August 2007, the FBI, Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD), and Midwest City Police Department, as part of the Safe Streets Task Force, initiated an investigation targeting a neighborhood street gang operating on the Northeast side of Oklahoma City. Intelligence gathered from OCPD indicated that this was one of most violent gangs operating in Oklahoma City. The investigation initially targeted a key supplier of crack cocaine, which led to evidence that this supplier was also selling a variety of other drugs, not only to other drug dealers, but to other members of violent gangs. Ultimately, the investigation led to the supplier’s sources and to others associated with the gang’s illegal activities.

On January 14 and February 23, 2010, a sweep by law enforcement resulted in the arrests of numerous gang members, high-level drug suppliers, and street-level drug dealers. Additional individuals were later charged and convicted in connection with this investigation. Most of the crimes related to narcotics trafficking where the primary drugs sold were cocaine (powder and crack), marijuana, methamphetamine, and PCP. Several defendants were also convicted of firearms offenses.

A total of 56 defendants were prosecuted and convicted in federal and state court.

Of the 51 defendants prosecuted in federal court, four defendants exercised their right to jury trial: Reginald Lancaster, Tyrone Hill, Ladell Pace, and Detrek Tucker.

■A jury convicted Reginald Lancaster on four counts including possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and marijuana, offenses he committed beginning in August 2008. Lancaster had prior convictions for violent crimes, including robbery and other drug offenses, and had been released from prison in June 2008. Lancaster was sentenced to serve 151 months in federal prison.
■A jury convicted Tyrone Hill on 11 counts involving use of a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense and possession with intent to distribute cocaine powder. Hill’s criminal conduct occurred from March 2009 until July 2009; at the same time, he was serving a deferred sentence for felony domestic abuse. Hill was sentenced to serve 140 months in federal prison.
■A jury convicted Ladell Pace on five counts involving use of a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine during late 2009. Numerous witnesses, including admitted prostitutes, testified that Pace had sold them crack cocaine regularly for several years. Pace had no prior criminal convictions. Pace was sentenced to serve 228 months in federal prison.
■A jury convicted Detrek Tucker of eight counts including use of a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, and possession of a 12-gauge pump shotgun and numerous rounds of ammunition. Tucker has numerous prior convictions for offenses involving firearms and drugs and has served three nine-year prison terms, running concurrently, in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Tucker was sentenced to serve 262 months in federal prison.
In addition to the 51 defendants prosecuted in federal court, five more defendants were convicted in related cases in Oklahoma County District Court by the Oklahoma County District Attorney, David Prater:

■Emily Barnes—seven-year sentence on August 16, 2011 for possession of CDS;
■David Anthony Burkley—five-year suspended sentence on June 17, 2011 for endeavoring to possess CDS;
■Tasha Nicole Gurley—five-year suspended sentence on November 10, 2010 for endeavoring to possess CDS;
■Herman Eli Hall—five-year deferred sentence on November 10, 2010 for endeavoring to possess CDS; and
■Erika Denise Johnson—seven-year sentence on May 19, 2010 for distribution of CDS.

These cases were investigated by the Safe Streets Task Force including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Midwest City Police Department, and the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office. The 51 federal cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Maye and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Hines.

Robbery of Chase Bank Branch in New Orleans


The FBI and NOPD request the public’s assistance in identifying the individual who walked into a J.P. Morgan Chase Bank on Friday, April 27, 2012 to attempt to rob it. At approximately 11:35 a.m., a lone white male entered the bank located at 4525 Chef Menteur Hwy in New Orleans, Louisiana and presented a demand note to a teller but left the bank without any money.

The robber was described as approximately 25-35 years old, 5’9”-6’0” tall, with an athletic build and a goatee. He wore a black long-sleeved shirt with a logo, light blue jeans, a black baseball cap with a logo, and sunglasses.

Anyone with information about this bank robbery is asked to call the FBI at 504-816-3000. The Metropolitan Orleans Bank Security Association (MOBSA) is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of this bank robber.

An image of this robber is not available at this time. The public is asked to visit the website www.bandittrackerneworleans.com, featuring color photos and descriptions of other bank robbers and fugitives throughout the FBI’s New Orleans Division, to see if they can assist the FBI in identifying and/or locating the captioned wanted individuals.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Reno's Fugitive Task Force Arrests Colorado Sexual Assault and Kidnapping Suspect


Reno, NV – The Reno United States Marshals Service (USMS) led Fugitive Task Force, in partnership with the Department of Veterans Police, announces the arrest of Landan R. McMain (28). McMain is wanted by the Colorado Springs Police Department on an outstanding arrest warrant for multiple charges including kidnapping and sexual assault. It is alleged in 2006; McMain kidnapped and sexually assaulted an adult female. The warrant for arrest was issued on April 12, 2012 after McMain was determined to be a suspect.

After receiving information McMain was residing in Northern Nevada, the Task Force worked with the Department of Veterans Police to affect the arrest. McMain was arrested this afternoon, without incident, where he was employed at the Reno Veterans Administration Medical Center. He has been booked into the Washoe County Jail, as a fugitive from justice, awaiting extradition to Colorado.

The Fugitive Task Force, led by the U.S. Marshals Service, is a partnership comprised of law enforcement investigators from the United States Marshals Service, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Department of Public Safety (Probation & Parole), and Sparks Police Department. The Task Force combines the resources and expertise of local, state, and federal law enforcement in a coordinated effort to arrest dangerous fugitives and pursue sexual offenders wherever they are located.