FBI Seeks Assistance Locating Serial Bank Robber

Suspect Nicknamed the Haggler Bandit

An unidentified male bank robber has been linked to three bank robberies and two attempted bank robberies in the past week; four of the incidents occurred in the past day. The Haggler Bandit is described as an unidentified black male, 5’8” and 6’0” tall, 150-170 lbs., and anywhere from in his late 20s to 40 years of age. The suspect was given the nickname “Haggler Bandit” based on the fact that victim tellers described him as having “haggled” to some extent over the amount of money he expected to receive based on his demand for cash. The suspect passes a note to the victim teller during the robberies. During today’s (August 31, 2012) attempted robbery, the suspect verbally threatened a weapon.

This case is being investigated by the Pasadena Police Department, the Monrovia Police Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the FBI. Anyone with information as to the identity of the Haggler Bandit should contact one of these agencies or dial 911. In southern California, the FBI may be reached 24 hours a day at 888-CANT-HIDE (888-226-8443).

ATF Undercover Operation in the Valley Recovers 13 Firearms

LOS ANGELES – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) today announced the arrests of five defendants for various federal firearms and narcotics violations during an undercover investigation dubbed “Operation Hollywood Confidential.”

In June 2010, ATF initiated the investigation that targeted firearm traffickers in Hollywood and San Fernando Valley area after receiving information that individuals were trafficking firearms in those areas. A confidential informant working undercover on behalf of ATF was able to contact a number of those individuals and negotiate the purchase of 13 illegal firearms and narcotics in the San Fernando Valley.

“ATF’s number one priority is to combat violent crime by targeting the criminals that supply the tools of the trade and the violent offenders that plague our communities,” said Steven J. Bogdalek, ATF Special Agent in Charge of the Los Angeles Field Division. “This investigation disrupted several firearm trafficking suspects that were also supplying narcotics in the west valley of Los Angeles.”

The following eight defendants are named in seven federal criminal indictments and charged with the following:

•Sandy Simpronio, 48, of Sunland, was arrested May 23. Simpronio is charged with distribution of methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine on premise where a minor is present, engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, and felon in possession of a firearm.

•Hayk Kazaryan, 31, of Burbank, was arrested Nov. 30, 2011. Kazaryan is charged with distribution of methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of an unregistered firearm.

•Jose Sandoval, 37, of Long Beach, – was arrested Feb. 28. Sandoval is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

•Felix Lopez, 46, of North Hollywood, was arrested March 2, after being named in an indictment with Wilkerson. Lopez is charged with several counts of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.

•Raul Gamera, 49, of North Hollywood, was arrested May 23. Gamera is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

•Boris Kuperman, 42, of North Hollywood, has not been located and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Kuperman is charged with distribution of methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm.

•Morgan Herrera, 60, of Colton, has not been located and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Herrera is charged with distribution of methamphetamine.

•Derrek Wilkerson, 43, of North Hollywood, has not been located and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Wilkerson is charged with several counts of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine, as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The five defendants taken into custody have pleaded not guilty and are currently scheduled to go to trial this summer.

The drug distribution charges alleged in the indictments carry a mandatory minimum sentence of at least five years and statutory maximum penalties of 40 years in federal prison. The charges of felon in possession of a firearm and felon in possession of ammunition carry a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.

The investigation was led by ATF with assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department, (LAPD), and the Los Angeles County Probation Department, (DISARM).

A criminal indictment is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The federal charges are being prosecuted by the United States Attorney Office in Los Angeles.

More information about ATF and its programs is available at www.atf.gov.

Local Searches for Missing Special Agent Transition to Lead-Driven Searches

Investigators Seek Information from Public

Information is being sought regarding Stephen Ivens, a resident of Burbank, California, who was reported missing on Friday, May 11, 2012. Stephen Ivens has been a special agent (SA) with the Federal Bureau of Investigation since September 2008 and is assigned to the Los Angeles Field Office. On the morning of May 11, officers with the Burbank Police Department responded to the 1700 block of Scott Road, in Burbank, California, where Ivens resides with his family. SA Ivens’ family last saw him at the Scott Road residence the previous evening.

Initial investigation indicates that SA Ivens may have been distraught and possibly suicidal. SA Ivens’ FBI service weapon, a Glock handgun, was missing when police responded to the residence, and it is possible the handgun is in SA Ivens’ possession. Investigators have found no evidence of foul play, and there is no indication that SA Ivens intended to harm others. The FBI and the law enforcement community are concerned for SA Ivens’ well-being and have public safety concerns with regard to the missing weapon.

Comprehensive searches conducted during the past 12 days in the nearby Verdugo Mountains met with negative results. Investigators will continue to focus on lead-driven searches, as well as information provided by the public. More than 100 tips from residents, area-hikers, and others were received by the investigative team. Photos and a description of SA Ivens may be found at the following link: http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/stephen-ryan-ivens/view.

SA Ivens is a former police officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. He is known to be an avid runner and is described as a white male, 35 years of age, 6’0” tall, 160 lbs., with brown eyes and receding brown hair. SA Ivens normally wears prescription glasses. SA Ivens is believed to have departed on foot and may have been wearing athletic or casual attire. The search for SA Ivens originally focused on the Verdugo Mountain range based on the proximity of the mountains to SA Ivens’ home, as well as an early scent detected by a canine unit. Investigators have not ruled out that the scent may have been based on an earlier visit to the Vergugo Mountains by SA Ivens. At no time was there conclusive evidence that SA Ivens went in the direction of the Verdugo Mountains, though this possibility has not been ruled out. Investigators believe it is also possible that SA Ivens may have gone in another direction and are, therefore, relying on anyone who might have seen SA Ivens, or does see him, to call the Burbank PD or the FBI with information.

Since May 11, several agencies have supported the search efforts. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s personnel from Altadena, Montrose, Santa Clarita, and Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Teams* assisted in Verdugo Mountain searches, including specially trained reserve sheriff’s deputies and civilian volunteer rescuers, as well as Special Enforcement Bureau-Emergency Services Detail deputy paramedics, bloodhounds, off-road motorcycles, and a helicopter crew. Law enforcement personnel, including air, ground, and canine units with the following law enforcement agencies provided considerable assistance during the search efforts: Burbank Police Department, the Glendale Police Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Long Beach Police Department, the Los Angeles City Fire Department, the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, and the Burbank Airport Police Department. Teams made up of approximately 40 FBI agents at a time were paired up with the search and rescue teams during several days of searching.

The Burbank Police Department is leading the missing person investigation with the assistance of the FBI. Anyone with information as to the whereabouts or circumstances surrounding the disappearance of SA Ivens is urged to contact the Burbank Police Department at 818-238-3000 or the FBI in Los Angeles at 310 477-6565.

*FROM LACSD: Sheriff’s search and rescue team personnel are reserve sheriff’s deputies who volunteer their time to help others for $1 a year and who partner with sheriff’s civilian volunteers who volunteer for free. There are over 150 members of the eight search and rescue teams of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, who were activated for over 450 search and rescue missions last year, making it one of the most active counties for search and rescue missions in the nation. Reserve deputies and civilian volunteers are supervised by full-time sheriff’s deputies. http://lasdreserve.org/

Media Contact:

FBI Los Angeles Media Relations: 310 996-3343

Burbank Police Department: Sergeant Darin Ryburn: 818 238-3240

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department: Captain Michael Parker: 323 267-4800

Wanted Suspects Nabbed by CBP U.S. Border Patrol

Tucson, Ariz. – Two suspects wanted on separate charges were arrested by Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents Friday and Saturday.

Ajo Station agents encountered a 19-year-old male U.S. citizen Friday near FR-21 on the Tohono O’odham Nation. During initial questioning, the individual told agents he was a U.S. citizen who had crossed the border illegally and was wanted for murder in Phoenix. Agents quickly confirmed multiple active warrants, including one for murder, and took the suspect into custody. He was later turned over to Pima County Sheriff officials for extradition.

Saturday, Nogales agents discovered an outstanding active warrant for homicide on a male Mexican national during immigration processing. The warrant had been issued in Los Angeles by the LA Police Department. A criminal history check also revealed he was sentenced to two years in prison for transport/sale of narcotics and four years for grand theft. He now faces extradition to California to face the homicide charge.

All criminals arrested in the U.S. have their fingerprints and photographs added to the database, which quickly provides Border Patrol agents instant access to the entire criminal history of every individual they encounter. By using this system, the Border Patrol is better equipped to identify and classify dangerous individuals for an appropriate consequence.

Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling (877) 872-7435 toll free.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Fugitive Brothers Who Took Their Sons on Two-Year International Odyssey Plead Guilty to International Parental Kidnapping

LOS ANGELES—The second of two brothers who removed their minor sons from the United States without the consent of their custodial mothers pleaded guilty this week to federal charges of international parental kidnapping.

The two brothers were recently extradited to the United States from the Netherlands, where they were located by the FBI.

In July 2008, George Silah and John Silah left the United States, taking with them George Silah’s two sons and John Silah’s one son. Both men were divorced from the boys’ mothers and had only partial legal custody of the boys, who resided in the Los Angeles area.

Over the next two years, the group traveled through Mexico, Central America, and Europe. In November 2010, the Silah brothers and their sons were found in the Netherlands. At the request of the United States, John and George Silah were detained by Dutch authorities. The boys’ mothers then flew to the Netherlands, where they were reunited with their sons.

John Silah was extradited to the United States in March. On Tuesday, May 8, John Silah pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Judge Otis D. Wright, II to one count of international parental kidnapping. Judge Wright is scheduled to sentence John Silah on August 6. John Silah, 51, is a citizen of Syria.

George Silah was returned to the United States in October 2011. On February 21, George Silah pleaded guilty before Judge Wright to two counts of international parental kidnapping. Judge Wright is scheduled to sentence George Silah on May 29. George Silah, 49, is a naturalized citizen of the United States.

The statutory maximum penalty for the crime of international parental kidnapping is three years in federal prison.

The investigation into the Silah brothers was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Los Angeles Police Department.