Bond Sentenced to 87 Months in Federal Prison After Starting Fires at Two Utah Businesses

SALT LAKE CITY—Walter Edmund Bond, age 35, of Salt Lake City, who pleaded guilty in July to two counts of arson in connection with fires at the Tandy Leather Factory in Salt Lake City and the Tiburon Fine Dining Restaurant in Sandy in 2010, will serve 87 months in federal prison.

Chief U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart imposed the sentence this afternoon in U.S. District Court. Judge Stewart also ordered Bond to serve 36 months of supervised release when he finishes his federal prison sentence. Bond must have no association with members of the Animal Liberation Front during the period of supervised release. Bond also must pay $10,000 in restitution for the fire at the Tandy Leather Factory. The restitution amount for the Tiburon restaurant fire will be set later.

Federal prosecutors filed a sentencing memorandum in the case asking Judge Stewart to sentence Bond above the sentencing guideline range calculated in the case. They also asked Judge Stewart to order Bond to serve the sentence for his Utah crimes consecutive to a sentence he is currently serving for a conviction in the District of Colorado.

“Five known fires have been set ablaze in the name of whatever may be the defendant’s cause du jour. Moreover, the defendant continues to maintain his unapologetic attitude, and boasts of his commitment to activism by criminal acts,” Assistant U.S. Attorney John Huber said in the sentencing memorandum. Huber told the court that Bond is a serial arsonist searching for causes to serve as a justification for setting fires.

The 87-month sentence imposed by Judge Stewart is at the high end of the sentencing guidelines for Bond. Judge Stewart also ordered Bond to serve the 87-month sentence consecutive to the federal prison sentence he is serving for a case in Colorado. Bond is serving a 60-month federal prison sentence following convictions for the use of fire or explosives to damage and destroy property in interstate commerce and the use of force, violence, and threats involving an animal enterprise in Colorado. The case involved an April 30, 2010, fire at the Sheepskin Factory in Glendale, Colorado.

“The defendant intentionally set fires to the Tandy Leather Factory and the Tiburon Fine Dining Restaurant in an effort to intimidate and destroy these businesses and further his own political agenda,” said U.S. Attorney David B. Barlow. “Such acts of violence are a wholly unacceptable means of affecting change and this office will vigorously prosecute those who carry out such acts.”

As a part of a plea agreement reached with federal prosecutors, Bond admitted that he intended to start the fires at the businesses. He also admitted that he intended to damage or destroy the buildings and interfere with the business operations.

Bond was charged in an indictment returned in September 2010 with two counts of arson and two counts of force, violence, and threats involving animal enterprises in connection with the two fires. The Tandy Leather Factory fire was set in the early morning hours of June 5, 2010. The fire at Tiburon Fine Dining Restaurant in Sandy was set on July 2, 2010. Federal prosecutors dismissed the threats to animal enterprises counts today.

Agents and officers of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the ATF, and Salt Lake City and Sandy Police Departments participated in the investigation of the case.

“The FBI is pleased with the prison sentence Mr. Bond has received. There are many legal avenues available for individuals to deliver their message to the public. During the federal investigation it became clear Mr. Bond chose to share his views using a different route. As a result of his illegal activity he will now face the consequences of his actions,” said David J. Johnson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Salt Lake City.

“This investigation was a collaborative interagency effort and we are gratified with the successful prosecution and conviction,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Marvin Richardson. “Arson related crime remains one of ATF’s highest investigative priorities and we will aggressively pursue arsonists and those who choose to commit this cowardly act of violence.”

Monett Man Sentenced to 24 Years for Meth Conspiracy, Firarms

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Monett, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessing firearms.

Roberto Rodriguez, 26, of Monett, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr to 24 years and four months in federal prison without parole.

On March 4, 2011, Rodriguez was convicted at trial of his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Barry County, Mo., from October 2009 to February 2010. He was also convicted of being in possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it in Barry County, and of maintaining a residence in Monett for the purpose of using and distributing methamphetamine.

Rodriguez was also convicted of two counts of being a felon and an unlawful user of methamphetamine while in possession of firearms. He was in possession of a Springfield Armory .45–caliber handgun on Dec. 7, 2009, in Christian County, Mo. He was in possession of a Ruger .45–caliber revolver and a Mossberg 12–gauge shotgun on Feb. 1, 2010, at his residence where he was arrested.

The jury also convicted Rodriguez of three forfeiture allegations. Rodriguez must forfeit $2,669 that was seized from his residence at the time of his arrest, as well as the firearms.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy A. Garrison and David P. Rush. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Southwest Missouri Drug Task Force, the Missouri StateHighway Patrol and the police departments of Billings, Clever, and Monett, Mo.

U.S. Border Patrol Agents Arrest Suspected Carjacker at Interstate 15 Checkpoint

Temecula, Calif. — U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Interstate 15 checkpoint near Temecula arrested a 36-year-old male U.S. citizen hours after he allegedly stole a vehicle from its owner at knifepoint in San Diego County.

Sunday night at approximately 9:40 p.m., agents encountered the suspect driving a 2009 Toyota Corolla as he arrived at the checkpoint. During inspection, agents became suspicious of the man’s nervous demeanor and referred him for a secondary inspection.

While agents questioned the man, they noticed the handle of a knife protruding from between the driver’s seat and the center console. Agents asked the man to step out of the car while they conducted records checks on the vehicle. The records checks revealed that the Corolla had been reported stolen earlier that evening in Chula Vista. 

The suspect, vehicle, and all of its contents were taken into custody and subsequently turned over to the ChulaVista Police Department.

To prevent illicit smuggling of humans, drugs, and other contraband, the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on major corridors of egress away from our nation’s borders. The U.S. Border Patrol also maintains strong collaborative partnerships with other law enforcement agencies to reduce crime and improve the quality of life in border communities.

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.

Seeking Information on “The Wig Out Bandit” Serial Bank Robber

The Denver Police Department and the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force (RMSSTF) are investigating multiple bank robberies suspected of being committed by the same individual.

This individual has been dubbed “The Wig Out Bandit” by the RMSSTF, because he wore a wig in the first robbery he is believed to have committed.

“The Wig Out Bandit” robberies are below:

08/01/2011

 Public Service Credit Union
 815 Colorado Blvd.
 Denver, Colorado

08/23/2011
 Wells Fargo Bank
 1001 S. Monaco St.
 Denver, Colorado

09/19/2011

 First Bank
 2850 Quebec St.
 Denver, Colorado

09/27/2011

 Bank of the West
 2970 Quebec St.
 Denver, Colorado

10/10/2011

 U.S. Bank
 6333 East Colfax Ave.
 Denver, Colorado

10/13/2011

 First Bank
 2850 Quebec St.
 Denver, Colorado

The suspect is described as a black male, 40 to 50 years of age, approximately 5’11” to 6’2” in height, with a slender build.

The suspect enters the bank, presents a demand note, and flees.

The “The Wig Out Bandit” is believed to be responsible for a total of six bank robberies in Northeast Denver.

Bank robbery is punishable by a 20-year prison sentence for each offense and increases if a dangerous weapon is used in the commission of the crime.

The FBI continues to provide financial institutions with the best practices for security to make them less vulnerable to robberies.

If anyone has any information on the bank robbery above, or any bank robbery, please call the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force at 303-629-7171; or, you can remain anonymous and earn up to two thousand dollars ($2,000) by calling CRIMESTOPPERS at 720-913-STOP (7867).

Florida Man Arrested in “Operation Hackerazzi” for Targeting Celebrities with Computer Intrusion, Wiretapping, and Identity Theft

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LOS ANGELES—A man accused of targeting the entertainment industry by hacking into the personal e-mail accounts of celebrities was arrested today after being charged with a range of cyber-related crimes, announced André Birotte Jr., the United States Attorney in Los Angeles; and Steven Martinez, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.

Christopher Chaney, 35, of Jacksonville, Florida, was arrested this morning by FBI agents without incident. A federal grand jury in Los Angeles returned a sealed indictment yesterday charging Chaney with violations under Title 18 of the U.S. Criminal Code, including: accessing protected computers without authorization; damaging protected computers without authorization; wiretapping; and aggravated identity theft.

According to the indictment, which was unsealed this morning, Chaney used several aliases while illegally obtaining personal information of numerous celebrities through a series of computer intrusions. The aliases used include: “trainreqsuckswhat,” “anonygrrl,” and “jaxjaguars911.”

Investigators believe that Chaney used publicly available sources to mine for data about his female and male victims, all of whom are associated with the entertainment industry. Once Chaney gained access and control of an e-mail account, he would obtain private information, such as e-mails and file attachments, according to the indictment. In addition, investigators believe that Chaney was led to new victims by accessing the address books of victims whose computers he already controlled.

Throughout the 11-month investigation, agents identified over 50 victims whose accounts were illegally accessed by Chaney. The 26-count indictment details specific instances in which Chaney violated 11 of the victims, some of whom are identified by initials only. The victims are identified in the indictment as: Simone Harouche, Mila Kunis, Christina Aguilera, Scarlett Johansson, Renee Olstead, B.P., J.A., L.B., L.S., D.F., and B.G.

The indictment specifically charges Chaney with illegally accessing the computers, e-mail accounts and account settings of several victims, beginning November 13, 2010, through February 10, 2011. The indictment further alleges that Chaney knowingly caused the transmission of programs, information codes and commands, resulting in damage to e-mail servers, causing losses of at least $5,000 per instance. Chaney also used the identities of some of the victims to illegally access and control computers, according to the indictment. In other instances, Chaney allegedly intercepted and endeavored to intercept wire communications; specifically, e-mails and attachments.

In most cases, Chaney accessed the administrative settings on the victims’ accounts so that all of their e-mails would automatically be forwarded to a separate e-mail account Chaney controlled. This form of wiretapping allowed Chaney to continually receive victims’ e-mails even after a password had been reset.

Investigators determined that Chaney distributed some of the files he obtained illegally, including photos of celebrities, and offered them to various celebrity blog sites. Some of the illegally obtained files, including private photographs, were ultimately posted online as a result of Chaney’s alleged activities.

“While the case against Mr. Chaney involves celebrities who were targeted because of their fame, this case reminds us that we are all potential victims of computer hackers,” said United States Attorney André Birotte Jr. “Everyone can take simple steps that will help protect a computer system. Taking these steps will go a long way in protecting yourself from the financial and emotional costs of having someone intrude on your private life and potentially steal your identity.”

“As we highlight cyber awareness during the month of October, it’s important to remember that, although these victims appear to have been targeted based on their celebrity, similar methods may be used to illegally access any one of our computers,” said Steven Martinez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “Strict computer security should be practiced when using smart phones, laptops, desktops, iPads, or any other device that provides Internet access.”

Chaney will have an initial appearance in United States District Court in Jacksonville, Florida. It is anticipated that the government will request that Chaney be removed to Los Angeles, the district in which he was charged, to face prosecution.

If convicted on all counts, Chaney faces a statutory maximum penalty of 121 years in federal prison. This investigation was conducted by the FBI. The charges against Chaney will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Results of Search for Possible Victims of David Parker Ray

Today’s search of McRae Canyon near Elephant Butte Lake for possible victims of David Parker Ray yielded no human remains. However, searchers plan to return to the Elephant Butte area at an undetermined date in the near future to further search some areas of interest. In the meantime, anyone with information about possible victims is asked to call the FBI at 505-889-1300.

Seventy Defendants in Helena-West Helena and Marianna Indicted in Operation Delta Blues

LITTLE ROCK—Christopher R. Thyer, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, along Valerie Parlave, Special Agent in Charge of the Little Rock Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); William J. Bryant, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Little Rock District Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Grover C. Crossland, Resident Agent in Charge of the Little Rock Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Christopher A. Henry, Special Agent in Charge of the Nashville Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigations Division; and Colonel JR Howard, Director of the Arkansas State Police (ASP), announced today that a federal grand jury returned seven indictments charging 70 individuals, including five law enforcement officers, in the Phillips and Lee County areas. The charges include public corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms offenses. The indictments were handed down on Tuesday, October 4, 2011, and were unsealed today following a massive roundup of the charged defendants.

The charges stem from multiple Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigations spanning more than a two-year period. The investigations, collectively referred to as “Operation Delta Blues,” primarily focused on public corruption and drug trafficking activities in the Helena-West Helena and Marianna, Arkansas areas. The United States Attorney’s Office utilized 16 court-authorized wiretaps over the course of Operation Delta Blues. Approximately 700 federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel from the FBI, DEA, IRS, ATF, ASP, Arkansas National Guard, and the Little Rock Police Department and West Memphis Police Department participated in the arrests today.

“Our commitment to eradicating drug trafficking and violent crime has never been stronger,” stated United States Attorney Christopher R. Thyer. “When these two elements are mixed with law enforcement corruption, it can make for the perfect storm in a community. It can paralyze honest law enforcement action, silence witnesses, and erode public confidence in our system of justice.” Thyer added, “These indictments and arrests signify a substantial development in what can only be classified as an ongoing investigation into public corruption, drug trafficking, and violent crime in the eastern part of our district.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Parlave followed by saying, “I am confident that today’s takedown in Operation Delta Blues will send a clear message that we are committed to rooting out public corruption, disrupting violent gang activities, and dismantling illegal drug organizations. I am honored to work alongside the Arkansas State Police, ATF, DEA, and IRS, who pulled together in an unprecedented way to execute this operation today. Our investigation remains ongoing and I encourage anyone with information to call our public corruption hotline at 501-221-8200, or e-mail: Little.Rock@ic.fbi.gov.”

DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Bryant concurred, saying, “This type of investigation shows the great teamwork and commitment of the federal agencies—FBI, DEA, ATF, and IRS—and the Arkansas State Police in combating drug trafficking and public corruption in the State of Arkansas. All of these agencies combined their assets and resources to disrupt and dismantle these drug trafficking organizations and corrupt public officials.”

“Some of the best police work I’ve ever been a part of occurred when law enforcement agencies came together to share resources for a common good. As disappointing as it may be that public corruption of the worst kind was the target in this Operation, the public would expect nothing less of us than to ensure we worked together to eliminate the threat,” stated ASP Colonel Howard.

IRS Special Agent in Charge Henry added, “The role of IRS Criminal Investigations in narcotics investigations is to follow the money so we can financially disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations. Working alongside our law enforcement partners, IRS-CI is proud to provide our financial expertise to help make our communities safer places to live.”

The defendants who were arrested today will appear before United States Magistrate Judge Joseph J. Volpe for Plea and Arraignment on October 13, 2011, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The cases are as follows:

■United States v. Trice, et al., Case No. 4:11CR209 JLH, pending before U.S. District Court Judge J. Leon Holmes.

■United States v. Colbert, et al., Case No. 4:11CR210 JMM, pending before U.S. District Court Judge James M. Moody.
■United States v. Turner, et al., Case No. 4:11CR211 JMM, pending before U.S. District Court Judge James M. Moody.
■United States v. Hughes, et al., Case No. 4:11CR212 JLH, pending before U.S. District Court Judge J. Leon Holmes.
■United States v. Eaton, Case No. 4:11CR213 JLH, pending before U.S. District Court Judge J. Leon Holmes.
■United States v. Rogers, et al., Case No. 4:11CR214 BSM, pending before U.S. District Court Judge Brian S. Miller.
■United States v. Wahls, Case No. 4:11CR215 BRW, pending before U.S. District Court Judge Bill Wilson.

The investigation was conducted by the United States Attorney’s Office, FBI, DEA, ATF, IRS-CID, and Arkansas State Police, with operational assistance from the Arkansas National Guard, the Little Rock Police Department, and the West Memphis Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Julie Peters, Benecia B. Moore, and Michael Gordon.

An indictment contains only allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

FBI, Other Law Enforcement to Search for Possible Victims of David Parker Ray

The FBI, New Mexico State Police, and Albuquerque Police will conduct a search around Elephant Butte Lake on Tuesday (October 11, 2011) to look for the remains of any possible victims of David Parker Ray.

Ray died in state prison in 2002 while serving a sentence of more than 223 years in connection with kidnapping and other charges involving two women who said he sexually tortured them at his residence near Elephant Butte Lake.

Numerous searches have been conducted over the years based on suspicions Ray may have killed several unidentified victims. Ray claimed to have abducted about 40 victims from several states.

No bodies have been found.

The latest search comes after new information was provided to authorities. No details about that information will be provided at this time.

As previously reported, the Albuquerque Police Department has an open case into the disappearance of Jill Troia, who was last seen the night of September 30, 1995, or early morning of October 1, 1995, at the Frontier Restaurant in Albuquerque.

Ray is suspected of having been involved in Troia’s disappearance and possible death.

Authorities are not saying at this time where they suspect Troia’s body might have been hidden.

The FBI, New Mexico State Police, and Albuquerque Police continue to work together to try to bring closure to the families and friends of missing persons who may have been Ray’s victims.

Anyone with information on possible victims, or who recalls seeing Ray in unusual areas or doing anything strange in the Elephant Butte vicinity, is asked to contact Albuquerque Police Detective Richard Lewis at 505-924-6095, or e-mail him at rlewis@cabq.gov.

FBI, National City Police Department, and San Diego Sheriff’s Department Seek Public’s Assistance to Identify Hoax Bomb Suspects

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The FBI, Chula Vista Police Department, and San Diego Sheriff’s Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the individuals responsible for threatening to use a bomb during an attempted robbery of the Chase Bank, 1130 East Plaza Boulevard, National City, California, on Thursday, October 6, 2011.

On Thursday, October 6, 2011, at approximately 9:12 a.m., the Chase Bank, 1130 East Plaza Boulevard, National City, California, was the victim of an attempted bank robbery involving a hoax bomb threat.

At approximately 9:12 a.m., a call was received by an employee working inside of the Chase Bank, 1130 East Plaza Boulevard, National City, California. The caller, believed to be a male, told the employee to place $100,000 cash inside of a green bag that was sitting near a red bag. The employee was then directed to place the bag near an object outside of the bank. The caller threatened to use a bomb if the employee did not comply with his demands. The employee alerted other employees inside of the bank, at which time the bank was evacuated and law enforcement contacted

At about the same time the call was received at the bank, an unknown female wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt and dark sweatpants, was observed carrying a red sports like bag and a green like shopping bag right outside of the bank. The suspect dropped both bags inside of the bank lobby door and walked away heading west across the parking lot. The suspect was observed removing the hooded sweatshirt and pants. The hooded sweatshirt and pants were recovered under a parked car in a nearby parking lot.

Witnesses describe the female suspect as follows:

■Sex: Female

■Race: Black
■Age: Unknown
■Height: Approximately 5’6” to 5’7”
■ Weight: Approximately 145 lbs. to 170 lbs.
■ Build: Heavy
■Hair/Coloring: Unknown
■Clothing: Dark blue hooded sweatshirt and dark blue sweatpants

Anyone with information concerning this attempted robbery is asked to contact the FBI at telephone number (858) 565-1255 or Crimestoppers at (888) 580-8477. You may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 by calling either telephone number.

18 Child Porn Websites Shut Down

Result of Joint U.S.-China Cooperation

In another example of the increasingly international nature of crime, a man was recently indicted on federal charges of running 18 Chinese-language child pornography websites out of his apartment in Flushing, New York. The websites were being advertised to Chinese-speaking individuals in China, in the U.S., and other countries.

This case serves as an example of something else as well: the increasingly international nature of law enforcement. While the FBI investigated this case in the U.S., we received what U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara of the Southern District of New York called “extensive cooperation and assistance” from the Chinese Ministry of Public Security.

How it all started. In late 2010, the FBI—through our legal attaché office in Beijing—received information from Chinese officials about their investigation of a large-scale child pornography website housed on U.S. servers. And one of their main suspects, a Chinese-born man, was living in New York. So our New York office opened an investigation under our Innocent Images National Initiative and instituted an undercover operation.

The investigation. While the main webpage advertised the various categories of pornographic pictures that were available, our undercover agents—with the help of an FBI Chinese language specialist—discovered that in order to actually view, post, or download the pornography, you had to pay a membership fee ($25 quarterly, $50 annually, and $100 for a “lifetime” membership). The website conveniently accepted all payment types—credit cards, wire and bank transfers, online payments, and even cash that could be mailed to what turned out to be a money transfer office in New York. After becoming “members,” the agents saw hundreds of disturbing pictures and videos of children of all different nationalities engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

Through our investigative efforts, we were able to determine that the site—and its related online payment system—resided on the servers of a web hosting company in Dallas and that the subscriber of the website domain lived in Flushing. We also traced two e-mail accounts—one featured on the site and the other affiliated with the website domain—back to the same individual. Through billing information, we learned that the man had made about $20,000 per month from his subscribers. We believe he had been operating the site since at least 2007.

After the arrest, we identified 17 additional Chinese-language child pornography websites he allegedly maintained and operated. We also seized two servers in Dallas where those sites were hosted. All 18 websites have been shut down.

During the course of the operation, FBI and Chinese investigators and prosecutors met to discuss the case and to talk about future cooperation on similar cases.

One concrete outcome of this partnership? The Ministry of Public Security sent its first Chinese officer to join the FBI’s Innocent Images International Task Force and receive specialized training on such topics as legal principals, emerging trends and technologies, and investigative techniques. Once the fall 2011 training session is completed, the task force will number 100 officers in 43 countries. Since its launch in 2004, the task force has built an international network of Internet child sexual exploitation investigators who share intelligence and work joint operations across national borders. Exactly what’s needed to combat the many child pornographers using the Internet to extend their nefarious reach around the globe.

Joint Field Command - Week in Review

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Tucson, Ariz. — The U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Arizona Joint Field Command is reporting the seizure of more than 16,357 pounds of narcotics worth an estimated $8.6 million, and the apprehension of 1,739 illegal and 132 inadmissible immigrants at the Arizona border Aug. 29 – Sept. 4.

Narcotics seizures consisted of more than 16,300 pounds of marijuana, 25 pounds of cocaine, and 16 pounds of methamphetamines. CBP also intercepted one weapon, $40,395 in illegal outbound currency, and 59 vehicles used for illicit purposes.

Since the beginning of the 2011 fiscal year, CBP in Arizona has apprehended more than 122,500 illegal immigrants and seized in excess of 1,090,200 pounds of marijuana. These numbers represent a 42 percent decrease in apprehensions and a one percent increase in marijuana seizures when compared to the same period last fiscal year. CBP credits this success to an integrated border enforcement effort in Arizona and significant increases in personnel, technology and tactical infrastructure.

Since launching the Southwest Border Initiative in March, 2009, the Department of Homeland Security has engaged in an unprecedented effort to bring focus and intensity to security along the Southwest border; along with a reinvigorated, smart and effective approach to enforcing immigration laws in the interior of our country.

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.

Federal Prison Terms Handed Down to Hondo- and Uvalde-Based Texas Mexican Mafia Members and Associates

United States Attorney Robert Pitman announced that in Del Rio this week, five Texas Mexican Mafia members were sentenced to lengthy federal prison terms for committing various federal racketeering offenses committed in Uvalde, Eagle Pass, Del Rio and the surrounding area.

On Wednesday, United States District Judge Alia Moses sentenced:

■33-year-old Juan Alfredo Gloria-Perales, of Eagle Pass, to 300 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. Judge Moses also ordered that Gloria-Perales pay a $10,000 fine. On November 10, 2010, Gloria-Perales pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) statute;

■32-year-old Orlando Guerrero, of Uvalde, to 180 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. Judge Moses also ordered that Guerrero pay a $10,000 fine. On February 3, 2010, Guerrero pleaded guilty to the RICO conspiracy charge;

■33-year-old Arturo Villarreal, of Eagle Pass, to 168 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. Judge Moses also ordered that Villarreal pay a $5,000 fine. On June 30, 2010, Villarreal pleaded guilty to the RICO conspiracy charge;

■21-year-old Ernesto Ramon, of Uvalde, to 121 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. Judge Moses also ordered that Ramon pay a $3,000 fine. On June 2 , 2010, Ramon pleaded guilty to the RICO conspiracy charge; and

■38-year-old Abel Melendrez, of Uvalde, to 121 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. Judge Moses also ordered that Melendrez pay a $3,000 fine. On April 7, 2010, Melendrez pleaded guilty to the RICO conspiracy charge.

Other co-defendants who have been sentenced after pleading guilty to the RICO conspiracy charge last year include:

■39-year-old Miguel Guerrero, of Uvalde, was sentenced on July 28, 2011, to 216 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $3,000 fine;

■41-year-old Francisco Corrales, of Uvalde, was sentenced on July 13, 2011, to 120 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $2,000 fine; and

■26-year-old Nicolas Alvarez, of Uvalde, was sentenced on September 6, 2011, to 84 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $3,000 fine.

Other co-defendants, all of whom face up to life in federal prison and are awaiting sentencing, include: 23-year-old Javier “Javi” Guerrero of Uvalde; 26-year-old Victor Esquivel of Eagle Pass; 23-year-old Jesse Joe Oranday of Hondo; and, 34-year-old Valdomero Hernandez, Jr., of San Antonio. Guerrero, Esquivel and Hernandez are scheduled to be sentenced on December 12, 2011. Sentencing has yet to be scheduled for Oranday.

Oranday and Hernandez pleaded guilty to the RICO conspiracy charge prior to trial. In July, a federal jury convicted Javier Guerrero and Victor Esquivel of conspiracy to violate the RICO statute. Testimony during trial revealed that Guerrero and Esquivel, together with 10 other individuals, conspired to conduct the affairs of the Texas Mexican Mafia through a pattern of racketeering activity, which included murder, solicitation of murder, drug trafficking, and extortion. The extortion took the form of coercive collection of a 10 percent drug tax, also known as “the dime,” from drug distributors known to the members of the criminal enterprise. Collection was enforced by robbery, serious bodily injury, or other acts of violence, including death.

Guerrero, who held a leadership position in the criminal organization, was also convicted of substantive charges of conspiracy and violent crime in aid of racketeering for the murders of Christopher Mendez in Concan, Texas, on December 6, 2006 and Jose Damian Garza in Hondo, Texas, on July 19, 2008. Esquivel was also convicted of conspiracy and violent crime in aid of racketeering for the murder of Garza.

The Texas Mexican Mafia was formed in the early 1980’s by inmates in the Texas prison system. Over the years, the gang has expanded its efforts to promote widespread criminal activity through extortion, narcotics trafficking, and violent crime. Also known as “La Eme” or “Mexikanemi,” the organization has been the subject of numerous federal indictments in the Western District of Texas since 1991. This investigation, however, is the first to directly target the gang’s machinery operating along the Texas-Mexico international border in the cities of Eagle Pass, Del Rio, Crystal City, Carrizo Springs, Uvalde, Sabinal, and Hondo.

This case resulted from a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Texas Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigations Division, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Hondo Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Rangers, Uvalde Police Department, and the Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office.

Man Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Violations in Connection with Arson at Planned Parenthood and Vandalism of Mosque in Madera, California

WASHINGTON—Donny Eugene Mower, 38, of Madera, Calif., pleaded guilty in federal court today to one count of arson, one count of damaging religious property and one count of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which makes it a federal crime to damage the property of a reproductive health services facility. These charges stem from Mower’s lighting a fire inside a Planned Parenthood clinic and throwing a brick at a mosque in Madera.

During his plea, Mower admitted that in the early morning hours of Sept. 2, 2010, he constructed a Molotov cocktail by stuffing a fuel-soaked cloth into a beer bottle. He then drove to Madera Planned Parenthood Clinic, lit the Molotov cocktail, and threw it through a ground-floor window of the clinic. As a result of the ensuing fire, the clinic sustained more than $26,000 of damage and had to close for two days.

Mower also acknowledged that on Aug. 20, 2010, two days after placing a sign in front of Masjid Madera, a local mosque, that read “No temple for the god of terrorism at ground zero. ANB,” he threw a brick at the front of the mosque and damaged its facade. On Aug. 24, 2010, Mower left additional signs at the mosque, stating “Wake up America, the enemy is here” and “American Nationalist Brotherhood.” Mower admitted that he threw the brick at Masjid Madera because of the race, color, or ethnic characteristics of the individuals associated with the mosque.

“Interference with the lawful work of reproductive health clinics will not be tolerated; nor will attacks directed at places of worship because of the perceived ethnicity of those who worship there,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will aggressively prosecute those who carry out these acts.”

“We will vigorously safeguard the right of Muslim Americans to practice their religion free from the fear of intimidation, and the right of reproductive health centers to conduct their activities free from violence,” said U.S. Attorney Ben Wagner for the Eastern District of California. “Donny Mower’s campaign of hate and intimidation is over, but the work of the U.S. Justice Department in protecting constitutional rights is unending.”

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 6, 2012. Mower faces a prison sentence of five to 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000 on the arson charge. He also faces sentences of up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, or both, on the damaging religious property and FACE Act charges.

This case was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Madera Police Department and the Madera County Sheriff’s Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elana Landau for the Eastern District of California and Trial Attorney Chiraag Bains from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

Heroin Epidemic Leads to Largest St. Louis-Area DEA Operation Against Deadly Drug

ST. LOUIS, MO – The Drug Enforcement Administration, in collaboration with 32 other Law Enforcement Agencies, conducted an aggressive and unprecedented heroin enforcement operation resulting in the arrest of 53 individuals. DEA Special Agent in Charge Harry S. Sommers of the St. Louis Field Division announced the arrests, which mark the first phase of the bi-state partnership between law enforcement agencies targeting not just street level heroin dealers but also those responsible for trafficking heroin in and around St. Louis. 

Since July, DEA and their law enforcement counterparts have coordinated efforts, which included 165 undercover purchases of heroin, in order to respond to the increase in heroin-related overdoses and deaths, as well as the overwhelming increase of heroin use in suburban and rural areas.   Within the city of St. Louis, alone, there have been 57 heroin related deaths since the beginning of this year. It is the largest single strike against heroin in St. Louis law enforcement history.     

The widespread arrests ranging from southern Illinois to Franklin and Lincoln County, MO, was a deliberate act intended to send a clear message to heroin violators. DEA and their law enforcement partners will not tolerate heroin use, abuse and trafficking. SAC Sommers stated: “Even after today, we will continue to target with vigor those using and bringing heroin into our communities. We are working to save lives and keep communities safe.”

Of the 53 arrests, 49 will be referred for State prosecution and charges include Violation of the Missouri Controlled Substance Act (VMCSA) possession, possession with intent to distribute. Four (4) of the arrests will be referred for Federal Prosecution and charges include conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute.

Other Agencies: St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Saint Louis County Police Department, Granite City (IL) Police Department, St. Clair County (IL) Sheriff’s Department (Drug Tactical Unit), Illinois State Police (MEGSI), Hazelwood (MO) Police Department, St. Charles County Regional Drug Task Force, Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department (Narcotics Enforcement Team), the US Marshals Service, Overland Police Department, St. Ann Police Department, O’Fallon (MO) Police Department, St. Charles County Sheriff’s Department, St. Charles City Police Department, Maryland Heights Police Department, St Louis Airport Police, St Peters Police Department, Chesterfield Police Department, Florissant Police Department, Bridgeton Police Department, Kirkwood Police Department, St. John Police Department, Brentwood Police Department, Richmond Heights Police Department, Clayton Police Department, Cahokia Police Department, Collinsville Police Department, Fairview Heights Police Department, Park Hills (MO) Police Department and the Festus Police Department.

Columbus Man Sentenced to Six Months in Prison for E-Mailing Bomb Threat Aimed at the Ohio State University

COLUMBUS—Jonathan Michael Birkemeyer, 24, of Columbus, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to six months’ imprisonment for sending an e-mail threat to the FBI warning of bombs placed on the campus of The Ohio State University on November 16, 2010.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Edward J. Hanko, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); The Ohio State University Safety Director Vernon Baisden; The Ohio State University Police Chief Paul Denton; Columbus Police Chief Walter Distelzweig; and Columbus Fire Chief Ned Pettus Jr. announced the sentence handed down today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.

Birkemeyer, a student at the university, pleaded guilty on June 20, 2011 to one count of maliciously conveying false information concerning an attempt to destroy property by means of explosives. According to a statement read during his hearing, Birkemeyer sent an e-mail to the FBI Headquarters in Washington claiming that he had found a detailed map of nine bombs placed in four different buildings on the campus in Columbus. He claimed the bombs were placed in the door jambs and were set to be triggered when opened after 9 a.m. on November 16.

Birkemeyer’s e-mail claimed that the bombs were in the Thompson Library, McPherson Chemical Lab, Smith Laboratory, and Scott Laboratory and were made of chemicals and high explosive powder.

The FBI Headquarters notified the FBI Columbus office, which alerted the Ohio State University Police, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Columbus PoliceDepartment, and the Columbus Fire Department Bomb Squad.

The threat prompted the school to evacuate the four buildings. The law enforcement and public safety agencies conducted a thorough search of the buildings and did not find any explosive devices. The buildings remained closed until 5 p.m.

Birkemeyer was also sentenced to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term, with special conditions including serving the first three months at a halfway house, followed by three months of locked-down home confinement. Birkemeyer’s sentence also included an order for a mental health assessment with continued treatment as recommended.

Stewart commended the prompt cooperative response by the federal, state, local, and university officials.

Chambers County Woman Charged with Conspiring and Aiding Her Deceased Husband to Make 122 Destructive Devices

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HOUSTON—A federal grand jury has charged 32-year-old Pamela Leggett of aiding and abetting her deceased common-law husband, Gilbert Ortez, in the making and possessing, along with conspiring to make and possess, destructive devices and firearms, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today along with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge J. Dewey Webb.

The six-count indictment returned by the grand jury today alleges that beginning in March 2006 through July 2009, Leggett and her deceased common-law husband, then residents of Baytown, Texas, Chambers County, accumulated a supply of precursor chemicals that they used to assemble a total of 122 destructive devices. In some instances the chemicals were allegedly obtained via eBay. The destructive devices, according to the indictment, were improvised explosives that, in some cases, contained pieces of rebar, nails, and bullets. Leggett is also accused of being in possession of a machine gun, a short-barreled rifle, and three illegal silencers in violation of federal firearms statutes.

The United States has sought a court order to transfer Leggett from state custody into federal custody to face the charges and appear for arraignment on a date to be set by the court.

Each of the four counts accusing Leggett of aiding and abetting the possession or making of destructive devices and firearms, to include the illegal silencers and the short-barreled rifle, carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000 upon conviction. Possession of a machine gun carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000 upon conviction. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment as well as a $250,000 fine.

This investigation leading to the federal charges was conducted by the Texas Rangers, FBI, ATF, the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office, the Baytown Police Department, the Bay Area Regional Bomb Squad, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Houston Police Department, Metro Police Department Bomb Squad and the Pasadena PoliceDepartment. Assistant U.S. Attorney John D. Jocher is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by due process of law.

Leader of East Palo Alto-Based Crack Cocaine Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Prison

OAKLAND, CA—Desean Nathaniel Gardner was sentenced yesterday to 235 months in prison for his role as the leader of a conspiracy to manufacture and distribute crack cocaine throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and surrounding communities, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced.

According to his plea agreement, Gardner, 33, of East Palo Alto, Calif., conspired to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine base in the form of crack cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance, from about March 18, 2008, to about March 7, 2009.

According to the plea agreement, as part of the conspiracy, and in furtherance of it, Gardner purchased kilogram quantities of powder cocaine from others and then converted or “cooked” those quantities of cocaine into crack cocaine for sale. In many instances, Gardner provided or sold this crack cocaine to other members of the conspiracy to re-sell. Gardner also provided some of the crack cocaine he manufactured to two co-conspirators, a man and his wife, to distribute to individuals from their residence in East Palo Alto. In fact, from Jan. 7, 2009, through March 7, 2009, Gardner provided these two co-conspirators, or instructed them to distribute, or possess with intent to distribute, a total of at least 892 grams of crack cocaine. Gardner would regularly collect the drug proceeds from those co-conspirators and re-supply them with more crack cocaine to distribute.

The plea agreement also states that Gardner sold and provided crack cocaine to other members of the conspiracy in ounce, half-ounce, quarter-ounce, and eighth-ounce quantities. Gardner typically charged $600 for an ounce, $300 for a half-ounce, $150 for a quarter-ounce, and $75 for an eighth-ounce. Frequently, other members of the conspiracy would contact Gardner on his mobile telephones to arrange to purchase crack cocaine. During these conversations Gardner and his co-conspirators used intentionally vague and coded language to discuss narcotics trafficking activities in order to avoid detection by law enforcement.

According to the plea agreement, in some instances Gardner would sell crack cocaine to a co-conspirator for less than the usual price with the understanding that the co-conspirator would pay him back at the next purchase with money the co-conspirator received from selling the crack cocaine that Gardner had previously given to him or her. This practice is called “fronting.” In addition to setting the price of the crack cocaine and determining whether to front a co-conspirator with crack cocaine, Gardner also chose the meeting locations where he distributed crack cocaine to other co-conspirators. Typically, Gardner used a Mitsubishi Galant, equipped with a hidden compartment to transport cocaine, crack cocaine, and drug proceeds. This vehicle was registered to a co-conspirator but Gardner was the purchaser and exclusive user of the vehicle. Gardner used a vehicle registered in a co-conspirator’s name in order to avoid detection and apprehension by lawenforcement.

According to the plea agreement, from Jan. 7, 2009, through March 7, 2009, Gardner provided at least twenty-five co-conspirators with at least 3.51 kilograms of crack cocaine for re-sale. During the entire length of the conspiracy Gardner distributed more than five kilograms of crack cocaine. Gardner acted as an organizer and leader of extensive criminal activity. Specifically, Gardner set the prices of various quantities of crack cocaine sold by him and other members of the conspiracy. Gardner decided where drug transactions would occur and established a location from which crack cocaine would be distributed. Gardner gave instructions to at least three other members of the conspiracy as to where to meet others for the purpose of selling crack cocaine, how much crack cocaine to distribute, and how much money to collect as payment.

The plea agreement also states that, prior to participating in the offense conduct described above, Gardner had been convicted of the following felony narcotics trafficking offenses: (1) possession of marijuana for sale, a felony, in violation of California Health and Safety Code Section 11359, on or about May 19, 1998, in San Mateo County Superior Court, for which Gardner was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment; and (2) possession/purchase cocaine base for sale, a felony, in violation of California Health & Safety Code Section 11351.5, and possession of marijuana for sale, a felony, in violation of California Health and Safety Code Section 11359, on or about Nov. 2, 2001, in Santa Clara County Superior Court, for which Gardner was sentenced to three years’ in prison. Accordingly, for purposes of the United States Sentencing Guidelines, Gardner is a career offender. Finally, Gardner participated in the conspiracy and committed the conduct described above while he was on probation for another offense.

On April 8, 2009, a federal grand jury returned a second superseding indictment charging Gardner and 34 other defendants with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine and marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(b)(1)(A)(iii), (b)(1)(D). Gardner was also charged with six counts of distributing of crack cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). Those additional counts were dismissed at the sentencing hearing.

Gardner, who has been in custody since his March 2009 arrest, will begin serving his 235-month sentence immediately. Gardner was also sentenced to a five-year term of supervised release during which he may be searched by any federal, state, or local law enforcement officer with or without cause, ordered to pay a $20,000 fine and a $100 special assessment and ordered to forfeit a Mitsubishi Galant and two mobile telephones.

Assistant United States Attorneys Garth Hire, of the United States Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime Strike Force, and Assistant United States Attorney Christina McCall, are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Paralegals Patty Lau and Noble Hughes and Legal Technicians Kathleen Turner, Vanessa Vargas, and Janice Pagsanjan. The conviction and sentence were the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Menlo Park Police Department, the East Palo AltoPolice Department, the Internal Revenue Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Department. The sentence was handed down by United States District Court Judge Claudia Wilken.

A Byte Out of History: The FBI and Ultra Intelligence in World War II

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A Most Helpful Ostrich: Using Ultra Intelligence in World War II

Winston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower thought the intelligence was vital to Allied victory in World War II. Eisenhower is said to have called it “decisive.” Churchill was reported to be even stronger in his assessment to King George VI.

The intelligence was called “Ultra’’—because it was so highly secret—and it consisted of intercepted and later decoded radio and cable messages sent by the Nazis to their clandestine networks in Europe and South America during the war. Ultra was launched by British intelligence in 1941 and ultimately became a cooperative Allied effort.

The FBI learned of Ultra in November 1942 and was immediately interested because of its implications on investigative efforts during the war. We gave the intelligence we were able to obtain through Ultra another name—“Ostrich.” The code name was arbitrary, but the information it provided was anything but. The intercepted messages—whether decrypted by British cipher experts, U.S. Army and Navy code breakers, or the new and rapidly improving cryptanalysis team in the FBI Laboratory—were invaluable to our work to protect the homeland from German espionage and sabotage.

The Ostrich information was often hard to come by. In those days, secrecy was paramount and cooperation was just beginning between the FBI and overseas intelligence services like the British Secret Intelligence Service, now more commonly known as MI-6. But through the Bureau’s newly formed legal attaché office in London—headed by Special Agent Arthur Thurston and his assistant, John Cimperman—the FBI began reviewing the British decrypts at MI-6 in January 1943. The bits of intelligence related to possible German espionage on U.S. soil were passed to FBI Headquarters and then on to Bureau agents for action.

The information was especially valuable to our work in South America, where in June 1940—under orders from President Franklin D. Roosevelt—the FBI had set up the Special Intelligence Service, or SIS, to pinpoint and neutralize Nazi spy rings and intelligence activities in the Western Hemisphere.

It helped us, for example, in Argentina, where a network of secret Nazi radio stations had sprung up after being shut down in Brazil in 1942. With the help of Ostrich messages decoded both by the British and by cryptanalysts in the FBI Laboratory, the Bureau learned of the strong political influence and extensive intelligence activities of German agent Johannes Becker, mapped out the operation of his ring, disrupted its work throughout the war, and later shut it down completely in the summer of 1945.

Without Ostrich, the FBI would not have been as successful in pinning down the extent of Nazi espionage in South America through the SIS. On a broader level, Ostrich intelligence enabled the Bureau to control the movements of its double agents and ensure they were successful in penetrating German intelligence. It was, in the end, one of the FBI’s most significant sources of intelligence in World War Two.

Of course, as the war ended, so did the information stream provided by Ostrich and Ultra. But the lessons learned would continue on—most especially in our efforts to penetrate Soviet intelligence in the coming Cold War through cooperative cryptanalytic ventures like Venona. Today, such pioneering information-sharing initiatives are now widespread and widely recognized as key to the work of the FBI and its global partners in protecting the world from terrorists, spies, and dangerous criminals.

FBI Arrests Alleged Rape Fugitive in Honolulu

At 7:30 this evening (10/5/11), the Honolulu FBI arrested fugitive Tone Pulou, male, age 26, at the McDonalds Restaurant located at 4725 Bougainville Drive in Honolulu.  The fugitive investigation had been worked jointly by the FBI and Honolulu police over the past five days. The arrest was without incident.

Mr. Pulou was wanted by the government of American Samoa for rape, first-degree sexual abuse, and endangering the welfare of a child. Please note that these are American Samoa local charges, not federal charges.

The warrant for Mr. Pulou’s arrest was issued in August 2010. According to the affidavit filed in support of the warrant, Mr. Pulou was an elementary school teacher in American Samoa who allegedly had sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old female student that resulted in the student’s pregnancy. This sexual relationship between teacher and student allegedly continued from September 2009 through February 2010.

Mr. Pulou first travelled to Australia after fleeing American Samoa in August 2010. He arrived on Oahu from Australia on Friday 9/30/2011, and had been staying with friends in Waianae for the past few days.

Because this is a local warrant issued in American Samoa, Mr. Pulou is being transported to Honolulu Police custody overnight. The Attorney General of American Samoa has indicated that they will extradite Mr. Pulou back to American Samoa to face the charges. Accordingly, Mr. Pulou will appear before a local judge in Honolulu tomorrow and will likely be held pending his extradition.

 The public is reminded that this defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in a court of law.

Suspect Sought in Connection with Three Deaths on Crow Reservation

The FBI, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office are investigating three deaths on the Crow Reservation in Montana. At this time it appears the individuals were victims of a shooting. The incident occurred outside the community of Lodge Grass.

Law enforcement is searching for a male subject who is believed to be responsible for the deaths. He should be considered armed and extremely dangerous. Sheldon Bernard Chase (DOB 3/6/89) is wanted for questioning. He is described as 6’2” tall, weighing 230 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. He may be driving a Toyota Corolla or Celica with South Dakota or North Dakota license plates. He may also be driving a 2000 red, four-door Volkswagen Jetta with expired Montana license plate number 2210861.

Anyone with information about Chase is reminded that he is considered dangerous and should not be approached. Tips should be called in to the FBI Salt Lake City Division at (801) 579-1400 or to a local law enforcement agency.