Sur 13 Gang Member Sentenced to 35 Years

TAMPA, FL—U.S. Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces that U.S. District Judge James S. Moody, Jr. today sentenced Basillio Alvardo (44, Wachula) to 35 years in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possession of a firearm and ammunition after having been convicted of a felony offense.

Alvardo was found guilty on February 23, 2011, following a trial. According to court documents, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) initially arrested Alvardo on June 15, 2010, following a traffic stop on Bee Ridge Road. An officer observed Alvardo's vehicle, a Mitsubishi Gallant, had excessive window tint. Alvardo was the driver and sole occupant of the car.

During the stop, an SCSO canine alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. Deputies searched the car and found more than 200 grams of methamphetamine, a loaded .38 caliber revolver, and a digital scale. Alvardo later admitted to being a member of the Sur 13 gang. He also admitted to having fired the revolver earlier on June 15, 2010, because he thought someone might be following him and trying to steal his drugs. Subsequent investigation revealed that Alvardo was a convicted felon.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Southwest Florida Violent Crimes Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray.

Three Police Books

Police-Writers.com is a website that lists over 700 state and local police officers who have written books. Police-Writers.com added three police officers and their three police books: James A. Forrest; William Gately; and, William Vanderberg.

Lieutenant James A. Forrest is employed by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (Florida). He is the author of Eye of the Storm. According to the book description, Eye of the Storm “charter Captain Jack Foster tries to live a simple life and leave his past as a cold case investigator behind him, but when he finds the body of his friend Capt. Tom in the mangroves it's not that easy. When Capt. Tom's killers learn of Jack's interest in the investigation they decide to take care of him and his daughter, Katelyn, before they are discovered. While defending against attack, trying to figure out clues, and protecting his daughter, massive Hurricane Lynn churns in the Gulf of Mexico and is bearing down on them. Out numbered and out gunned, will Jack be able to solve the murder and evade the wrath of Mother Nature or are his and Katelyn's fates sealed like Capt. Tom's?”

According to one reader of Eye of the Storm, “This is a quick paced, thrilling, action packed book. It's a great read for traveling through airports or sitting home recovering from surgery. James A. Forrest's "Eye of the Storm" is one novel that any reader could enjoy and appreciate. However, native Floridians--and even fishing enthusiasts--could glean even more out of this perfect "made for TV movie" type novel. Someone--if not all--members of your family will enjoy this read.”

William Gately is a Vietnam veteran and former vice-cop from the Metropolitan Police Department (Washington, DC). In 1970, after a three year enlistment in the Marines and tour in Vietnam he took the oath of police officer in the nation's capital. For the next eight years he served as a member of the Metropolitan Police Department. On June 17, 1972, William Gately was assigned to the Metropolitan Police Department tactical unit that surprised the Watergate Burlgars. After leaving the joined the U.S. Customs Service, eventually rising to the rank of assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Customs in Los Angeles.

William Gately co-authored Dead Ringer: An Insider's Account of the Mob's Colombian Connection. According to publisher’s weekly, “Gatley, an employee of the U.S. Customs Service; Joe Caffaro, a Sicilian-born businessman with Mafia ties; and Leo Fraley, an American career criminal who became involved in Colombian drug-smuggling--these men are an unlikely trio to be the subjects of the same book. Yet all played major roles in court cases which tied the Medellin drug cartel to the mafia in Sicily and thence to the U.S. mafia. That the tie exists is no revelation to those who read news stories about organized crime, so this volume by Gately and freelancer Fernandez is hardly eye-opening; nor are their portraits of American mobsters as stupid and greedy and Columbian drug lords as cruel and merciless anything new. What readers will find informative is the depiction here of inter-bureau rivalry among the FBI, the DEA and Customs, bureaucratic infighting which does not augur well for the drug war.”

William R. Vanderberg is a decorated veteran of the Metropolitan Police Department (Washington DC). While with the force, Bill Vanderberg was a street cop working one of the most violent and deadly areas of our nation's capital, the Northeast section of the city. William Vanderberg is the author of Thrill Kill. According to the book description, “many of the incidents in this novel are based on actual experiences which Bill either participated in or personally witnessed.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 712 police officers (representing 327 police departments) and their 1530 police books in six 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.