Dennis Mahon Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Scottsdale Bombing Case

PHOENIX — Today, Dennis Mahon, 61, of Davis Junction, Ill., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 40 years in prison for conspiracy to damage buildings and property by means of explosive (Count 1), and malicious damage of a building by means of explosive (Count 2) to run concurrently, and 33 months on distribution of information related to explosives (Count 3) to also run concurrently. Following a six–week trial in February 2012, a federal jury found Mahon guilty on all three counts in the superseding indictment in the 2004 bombing of the City of Scottsdale Office of Diversity and Dialogue, and the injury to Donald Logan and other victims.

“The perseverance and dedication of ATF, the Postal Inspection Service, the Scottsdale Police Department, and our prosecution team has brought justice to a defendant who not only spoke in the abstract in favor of violence, but who also committed actual acts of violence against innocent civilians who were engaged in serving the community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ann Birmingham Scheel. “Although the victims of this crime will live with the physical and psychological effects of the bombing for the rest of their lives, we hope that the sentence imposed today will bring them some sense of justice.”

“The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) is committed to aggressively pursuing hate–fueled acts of violence,” said Thomas Atteberry, ATF Special Agent in Charge. “Today’s sentence makes clear that such acts of violence will not be tolerated in Arizona. I commend the tenacity of the ATF agents that led this investigation for eight years, culminating in verdicts of guilt upon Dennis Mahon. We will continue to use every tool in our arsenal to put criminal hatemongers on notice – no matter how long it takes – they are not beyond our reach. I want to especially thank the leadership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and recognize the cooperative efforts of our investigative partners; the United States Postal Service and the Scottsdale Police Department.”

“We are pleased to see a conclusion to a very long investigative and judicial process which exhibited a significant level of cooperation between the U.S. Postal inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Scottsdale Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Pete Zegarac, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Phoenix Division. “This case demonstrated that radical extremists like Dennis Mahon, who attempted to inflict harm and fear on others, will be relentlessly pursued for their heinous actions, regardless of how long it takes.”

The evidence at trial showed that a bomb detonated at the City of Scottsdale Office of Diversity and Dialogue on February 26, 2004, causing injury to Donald Logan, Renita Linyard, and others. The evidence also showed that Mahon had specific knowledge of how the bomb, addressed to Donald Logan, was constructed. The evidence further showed that Mahon conspired with other individuals on behalf of the White Aryan Resistance to promote racial violence.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the United States Postal Service; and the Scottsdale Police Department. The prosecution was handled by John Boyle and Michael Morrissey, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

“Castaway Bandit” Wanted

PHOENIX—Phoenix FBI Special Agent in Charge Nathan Gray announced the FBI’s Bank Robbery Task Force is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the “Castaway Bandit.”

The Castaway Bandit presents the victim teller a note demanding money. He is described as a white male, 6’0”-6’3” tall, 180 lbs, 27-30 years old. He has worn a white “Gilligan”-style hat, dark sunglasses or large white framed sunglasses, and gloves.

Any information regarding the Castaway Bandit should be reported to Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS or to the FBI at 602-279-5511.

Robberies linked to the Castaway Bandit include:

03/10/11: First Fidelity,

7401 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale

03/16/11: First Credit Union

475 N. Gila Springs Boulevard, Chandler

03/21/11: TCF Bank

1990 E. Ray Road, Chandler

The FBI Bank Robbery Task Force is comprised of the Phoenix Police Department, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Mesa Police Department, and the Scottsdale Police Department.

Serial Bank Robber Sentenced to 19-and-a-Half Years in Prison

PHOENIX—U.S. District Judge Roslyn O. Silver on Monday sentenced Samuel Cresante, of Phoenix, to 19-and-a-half years in federal prison. Cresante, 45, pleaded guilty on October 26, 2010 to two counts of armed bank robbery and one count of use of a firearm during a crime of violence.

Cresante was connected with a dozen bank robberies in the Valley between June 2009 and January 2010. The facts showed that Cresante entered the banks and either brandished a firearm or passed a note demanding money to the tellers. The tellers, fearing for their lives, complied with Cresante’s demands. Cresante had just been released from state prison a few months earlier, after serving 12-and-a-half years for armed robbery.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the FBI’s Bank Robbery Task Force, which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mesa Police Department, the Phoenix Police Department, and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. Other investigative agencies involved were the Scottsdale Police Department, the Gilbert Police Department, and the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Alison S. Bachus, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.