Arrest Made in Mabelvale for Illegal Possession of Explosive Material

LITTLE ROCK—Christopher R. Thyer, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced that Michael, S. Parker, age 52, of Mabelvale, Arkansas, was arraigned today before United States Magistrate J. Thomas Ray on a federal complaint charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and explosive material. Parker was detained following his initial appearance. His indictment will be presented at the next session of the grand jury.

The affidavit supporting the complaint states that probable cause existed to conduct a search warrant at an address in Mabelvale, Arkansas. The search warrant was executed by 30 law enforcement officers on September 19, 2012, from multiple state and local law enforcement agencies, including a bomb squad from the Arkansas State Police (ASP) and bomb detection K-9s from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The search resulted in the seizure of a 12-gauge shotgun, a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver, one stick of military grade dynamite, and 14 one-pound high-explosive slurries. A slurry is a commercially available all-purpose, weather-resistant emulsion explosive. The complaint alleges that Parker had previous felony methamphetamine-related convictions. As a felon, it is illegal for Parker to possess firearms or explosives.

“It is a relief to this office, those involved in the search, and now the neighbors of the Mabelvale community that these extremely explosive devices were recovered,” stated Thyer. “Just one pound of slurry could destroy a vehicle and everyone in it. The potential damage from the explosion of 14 of these would have been devastating.”

A complaint contains only allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This investigation was conducted by agents from ATF. The search warrant was executed by ATF, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Arkansas State Police, and officers from the Little Rock Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Givens and Stephanie Mazzanti are prosecuting the case for the United States.

Thirty in Jonesboro Indicted in Methamphetamine Conspiracy

LITTLE ROCK—Jane W. Duke, First Assistant for the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and William J. Bryant, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Little Rock Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced the unsealing of a federal indictment against 30 individuals in the Jonesboro area.

The 64 count indictment charges all 30 defendants, except for Blanca Fuentes, in count 1 with conspiring to distribute, or to possess with intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine from an unknown date through the grand jury’s return of the indictment on September 5, 2012. Antonio Ventura-Fuentes is charged in counts 2, 3, 6-11, and 13 with distributing methamphetamine on multiple occasions between January and May of 2012. William Jeffrey Long, Sr., and Michael Thomas McGuinnes are similarly charged with distributing methamphetamine, respectively, in counts 4 and 5, and count 11. Jeffrey Holman is charged in count 12 with possessing methamphetamine on May 8, 2012, with the intent to distribute it. Count 14 charges Blanca Fuentes with misprision of a felony for being aware of, concealing, and failing to report the methamphetamine conspiracy. The remaining 50 counts charge each defendant—except for Blanca Fuentes, Misty Polston, Marco Antonio Martinez, and Jeffrey Holman—with a “phone count” for using a telephone to commit, cause, or facilitate the methamphetamine conspiracy.

“Methamphetamine is a highly addictive and devastating drug,” stated Duke. “There is no way people are able to remain ‘social’ or ‘recreational’ meth users. It eventually overtakes every aspect of a person’s life. We have seen case after case where people think they can use methamphetamine occasionally and still maintain a family, a career, a home, and their health. But, the addictive nature of this drug is such that you simply cannot. Eventually, the acquisition and use of methamphetamine completely consumes a user. Left in the wake are broken families, ruined careers, repossessed homes, and serious health problems.”

“This is an important day for the Jonesboro community. Credit is due to the diligent investigative work of DEA agents, Jonesboro Police Department and the Craighead County Sheriff’s office, with assistance from the Second Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s office,” stated Bryant. “Today, the Arkansas State Police, United States Marshals Service, the FBI, and the Arkansas National Guard and Independence County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the arrests of these drug dealers. Through coordinated efforts of the law enforcement community, we continue to make the communities across the state of Arkansas safer for the law abiding citizens living in them.”

If convicted of conspiring to distribute or possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine (as charged in count 1), the defendants will face a sentence of not less than 10 years to life imprisonment. Counts 2-13 (distribution of or possession with intent to distribute less than 50 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine) carry a possible punishment of not more than 20 years in federal prison. Count 14 (misprision of a felony) carries a possible punishment of not more than three years’ imprisonment. Each “phone count” is punishable by not more than four years’ imprisonment.

United States Attorney Christopher R. Thyer has recused himself from the prosecution of this case.

The investigation was conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jonesboro Police Department, and the Craighead County Sheriff’s Office. Assistance was also provided by the prosecutor’s office of the Second Judicial District. Agencies assisting with the arrests were the Arkansas State Police, the United States Marshal Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Arkansas National Guard, and Independence County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Gordon, Julie Peters, and Chris Givens.

An indictment contains only allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

FBI Announces $20,000 Reward for Information Regarding Osage Baptist Church IED Incident

LITTLE ROCK—Randall C. Coleman, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for the state of Arkansas, announced today that the FBI is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the person responsible for the following incident:

As the Carroll County community is aware, on Wednesday, June 9, 2010, an improvised explosive device (IED) was found near the Osage Baptist Church in Osage, Arkansas. The device was found by church employees who were cleaning the church following run-off elections, held there the previous day. The church was used as a polling place by local residents during the election. The Bentonville Police Bomb Squad responded to the location at the request of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department and rendered the IED safe. This explosive device had been constructed in a 12-ounce Pepsi Cola can.

The FBI and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office are investigating this case and seeking new information. As some investigations take several twists and turns before they are ultimately solved, sometimes an innocuous, small bit of information can be the piece of evidence needed to make the case.

The construction of the device in this case was very sophisticated. We believe whoever is responsible for this act had a message to send to the community and to law enforcement. Although the subject’s knowledge of bomb-making and electronics was apparent, and he took steps to protect himself during the construction and placement of the device, we cannot emphasize enough the risk inherent with constructing and transporting IEDs. Explosives by their nature are sensitive materials, and there is a risk that this subject’s materials could be found by a family member, child, co-worker, or acquaintance who could be severely injured.

Though we remain confident that we will identify this subject, we remind the public of the danger he poses to our community—not only to potential intended targets but also to others who may know him who are exposed to his explosive materials. He is likely from this area, either currently or in his past. People around here know him. Experts have offered the following traits and characteristics likely related to this offender. We will not reveal every aspect of our assessment, but people who know this subject may notice these traits:

He is skilled in electronics and possesses above-average knowledge of circuitry. He is skilled working with small projects and models. These skills may have come from his previous technical training, employment, or hobbies.

He may have displayed these skills in previous crafts or projects with pyrotechnics (fireworks). He may be known as someone who can repair electrical problems. He may have used these skills to play pranks on others in the past. In fact, some of these pranks may have been motivated by revenge. He may display the attitude of, “I don’t get mad; I get even.” Additionally, he may have committed acts of vandalism with pyrotechnic/explosive devices. He will need an area that affords him privacy to experiment with and build his devices. This will likely be an area in his residence or place of employment, where he can work undisturbed and in secret. Items he may keep in this area include the following: circuit boards; batteries; wires; ammunition; pyrotechnic powder and fuses; electronic switches; springs; glue/adhesives; and tools necessary for his craft to include wire cutters, tweezers, and a Dremel tool. It is likely that he has experimented with explosives and pyrotechnics; those living around him may have heard explosions or sounds like gunfire near his residence or in nearby rural areas.

We are asking if anyone has any information that might be related to this matter to contact us via any of the following means: Carroll County Sheriff’s Office at (870) 423-2901 or the FBI’s Little Rock Office at (501) 221-9100. Regardless of how insignificant you think your information might be, or whether or not you think we already are aware of it, please let us assess the relevance of your tip. Also, please do not discount someone you may suspect if he does not fit all the traits and characteristics listed above. We remind the public of the reward of $20,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the person responsible for this incident.

“Fake Beard Bandit” Sentenced to 135 Months for Each of Seven Armed Bank Robberies in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas

FORT SMITH, AR—Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Jason Day, age 39 of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 135 months today for each of seven counts of armed bank robbery, one count of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery, to run concurrent. While dressed as the “Fake Beard Bandit,” Day robbed or attempted to rob nine banks in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas. The sentence was handed down in U.S. District Court in Fort Smith, Arkansas before Chief U.S. District Judge P. K. Holmes, III.

Day was arrested within days of his August 23, 2011 robbery of Liberty Bank of Arkansas’ location on Old Greenwood Road in Fort Smith. After he was arrested, Day was identified as the individual in the other “Fake Beard Bandit” robbery surveillance photos. Other “Fake Beard Bandit” robberies perpetrated by Day include: First National Bank of Coweta in Oklahoma on May 26, 2011; Bank of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City (Pennsylvania Avenue Branch) on May 26, 2011; Bank of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City (Northwest Expressway Branch) on June 10, 2011; IBC Bank in Oklahoma City on June 29, 2011; Hometown Bank in Joplin, Missouri on July 13, 2011; Bank of Blue Valley in Shawnee, Kansas on July 25, 2011; Bank Midwest in Olathe, Kansas on August 3, 2011, and attempted robbery of River Town Credit Union in Fort Smith, Arkansas on July 22, 2011.

The cases against Day in the Western District of Oklahoma, the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the District of Kansas and the Western District of Missouri were all transferred to the Western District of Arkansas for simultaneous prosecution.

United States Attorney Eldridge commented, “Today, the “Fake Beard Bandit” was held accountable for terrorizing numerous customers and employees of banks across four states. We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who put innocent people in harm’s way in the course of armed robbery.”

Per court records, on August 23, 2011, a white male disguised with a fake beard, wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, entered the Liberty Bank of Arkansas on Old Greenwood Road in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The individual, later identified as the defendant, ordered a bank teller to put cash in a bag or he was “going to shoot.” The defendant carried what witnesses described as a black semi-automatic handgun and pointed it at two individuals working at the bank, who complied with the robber’s commands. Before leaving the bank, the defendant told everyone inside to lay on the ground for five minutes. He stated his partner outside the bank was watching and would shoot anyone who stood up.

Detective Story, with the Fort Smith Police Department, determined that the person who robbed the Liberty Bank of Arkansas was likely the “Fake Beard Bandit,” due to the same disguise, grey getaway vehicle and similar mannerisms as that of the individual who attempted to rob the River Town Credit Union in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on July 22, 2011. Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation learned that the “Fake Beard Bandit” was also a suspect in bank robberies in Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas. According to investigative reports, the “Fake Beard Bandit”

would enter a bank wearing street clothes and would return to the bank later that same day wearing a disguise that included a fake beard. Surveillance videos and reports from “Fake Beard Bandit” bank robberies indicated that the vehicle driven by the robber was a grey Volkswagen Jetta with an Oklahoma license plate.

Day was sentenced to 135 months’ imprisonment for each count of armed bank robbery; bank robbery and attempted bank robbery counts, to run concurrent; and ordered to pay $70,500.00 in restitution and a $5,000 fine. The defendant will also be under supervised release for five years upon his release from prison.

This case was investigated by the Fort Smith Police Department; the Coweta, Oklahoma Police Department; the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Police Department; the Joplin, Missouri Police Department; the Olathe, Kansas Police Department; the Shawnee, Kansas Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas. Assistant United States Attorney Kyra Jenner prosecuted the case for the United States.

Randall C. Coleman Named Special Agent in Charge of Little Rock Division

Director Robert S. Mueller, III has named Randall C. Coleman special agent in charge of the FBI’s Little Rock Division. Mr. Coleman most recently served as chief of the Counterespionage Section at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Coleman began his career as a special agent with the FBI in July 1997. He first reported to the Phoenix Division and worked in the Kingman Resident Agency. While there, he managed multi-agency criminal and domestic terrorism investigations and served as the on-scene commander during bank robberies, fugitive investigations, kidnappings, and homicides.

In November 2002, Mr. Coleman was promoted to supervisory special agent in the Counterintelligence Division at FBI Headquarters, where he served as a program manager and acting unit chief in the Counterespionage Section.

Mr. Coleman was transferred to the San Antonio Division in November 2004 to serve as the Counterintelligence Program coordinator and squad supervisor. In 2008, he was promoted to assistant special agent in charge of national security programs for the division. Mr. Coleman provided management oversight to the Fort Hood shooting investigation, the dismantlement of a terrorist smuggling operation, and multiple successful counterintelligence cases.

In July 2010, Mr. Coleman was promoted to the Senior Executive Service and returned to FBI Headquarters to serve as chief of the Counterespionage Section, where he oversaw the arrests of numerous individuals for espionage or espionage-related charges.

Mr. Coleman received a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice from East Central Oklahoma State University and then became an officer in the U.S. Army for nine years. He served with the 1st Calvary Division, Fort Hood, Texas, and was deployed to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. He also served as a battery commander with the 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado, and was deployed to Guantanamo Bay for Operation Sea Signal. He is a decorated combat veteran.

Mr. Coleman is married and has two daughters.