Admitted Gang Member Sentenced for Federal Rackerteering Charges

July 24, 2014, 2:19 pm

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Armando Jose Velasquez, aka “Money,” 27, of East Chicago, Indiana, was sentenced today to serve 305 months in prison on federal racketeering charges relating to a Dec. 3, 2011, attempted murder.

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney David A. Capp for the Northern District of Indiana made the announcement.   The sentence was imposed today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Philip P. Simon.

According to court documents, on Dec. 3, 2011, Velasquez fired a gun into a car being driven by an 18-year-old resident of East Chicago, Indiana, and struck the victim three times.  Velasquez believed that the victim was a rival gang member, but the victim was not actually a gang member and was not involved in any criminal activity.   Velasquez had been previously convicted in the Lake County Superior Court in Indiana of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2005 and was on state parole when he committed the offense.

Velasquez was part of a 24-defendant indictment alleging that members of the Imperial Gangsters committed 14 previously-uncharged homicides: 12 in East Chicago, Indiana, one in Hammond, Indiana, and one in Gary, Indiana.   The indictment also charged a decade-long racketeering conspiracy that involved the attempted murder of 19 other victims and the large scale distribution of cocaine and marijuana.

Velasquez pleaded guilty on Jan. 10, 2014, to one count of conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, attempted murder in aid of racketeering activity and a firearm offense relating to the Dec. 3, 2011, attempted murder.  Velasquez is one of 22 defendants charged in the indictment to plead guilty.   One defendant, Richard Reyes, was convicted by a jury of murder and conspiracy to commit racketeering activity on Jan. 24, 2014, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 30, 2014.   The remaining defendant is scheduled for trial on Jan. 12, 2015.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the FBI, and the East Chicago Police Department, with assistance from the Gary Police Department, the Hammond Police Department and the Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program.   This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Bruce R. Hegyi of the Criminal Division’s Capital Case Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Nozick of the Northern District of Indiana.

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Justice Department Issues Joint Statement of Principles with City of Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Reform Albuquerque Police Department

July 24, 2014, 2:35 pm

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The Justice Department today announced it has signed a joint statement of principles with the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, that reflects the good-faith intent of both sides to enter into a court-enforceable agreement to reform the Albuquerque Police Department (APD).  The joint statement of principles publicly specifies the measures that the department and the city are undertaking in order to resolve the findings resulting from the department’s investigation into use of force by APD.  On April 10, 2014, following an extensive investigation, the department found reasonable cause to believe that APD engages in a pattern or practice of use of excessive force, including unreasonable deadly force.

 

Following the release of the findings letter the department and the city each separately reached out to numerous stakeholders across Albuquerque to hear their ideas and concerns about the reform of APD.  Attorneys and staff of the department have spoken to police officers, city officials, mental health service providers, advocacy organizations, individuals who have been personally affected by APD’s past conduct and other community members.  The department has held dozens of meetings and met with hundreds of people across the city.  Through these efforts, both sides have gained important insights into officers’ and the community’s concerns that will shape the final agreement.  The department is encouraged by the feedback it has received and is committed to sustainable reforms that will ensure APD delivers services in a manner that respects the rights of residents, promotes mutual confidence between the police and the community and improves public and officer safety.

 

“This agreement marks an important step forward in addressing the unreasonable use of deadly force uncovered in our investigation into the Albuquerque Police Department," said Attorney General Eric Holder.  "The residents of Albuquerque depend on their police department to serve their community with honor and integrity.  In the overwhelming majority of cases, our dedicated local law enforcement officials – who put their lives on the line every day— do just that.  But when misconduct does occur, we will never hesitate to act in order to secure the civil rights of everyone in this country.  As a result of our ongoing action, I am confident that the Albuquerque Police Department will be able to correct troubling practices, restore public trust, and better protect its citizens against all threats and dangers - while providing the model of professionalism and fairness that all Americans deserve.”

 

“We commend the city for engaging in good-faith negotiations to reach a court-enforceable agreement that will ensure sustainable reforms of APD,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn Samuels for the Civil Rights Division.  “The joint statement of principles provides the community with our commitment to work expeditiously with the city to craft a durable agreement that will resolve our findings and will ensure that APD provides effective and constitutional policing to the people of Albuquerque.”

 

“Since the release of DOJ’s findings letter, we have asked for and received valuable ideas and insights from officers, members of the community, representatives of many organizations, and others who have a stake in the future of our community,” said U.S. Attorney Damon Martinez for the District of New Mexico.  “We are thankful to everyone who has spoken to us.  The anticipated final court-enforceable agreement, which we hope to enter into with the city of Albuquerque, is already stronger because of the input we have received.”

 

The department and city have released the joint statement of principles to inform APD officers and the Albuquerque community that their concerns and ideas have been heard and that their ongoing participation will be critical to achieving sustainable reform.  Specifically, the joint statement of principles announces that the department and the city expect to develop reforms in the eight areas outlined in the department’s findings letter: use of force policies, interactions with individuals with mental illness and other disabilities, tactical units, training, internal investigations and civilian complaints, management and supervision, recruitment and selection of officers, and community engagement and oversight.  The joint statement of principles also indicates that the goal is to reach a court-enforceable agreement that will be overseen by an independent monitor. 

 

During the negotiation process, the department remains interested in obtaining recommendations and information related to reforms from the public.  The department continues to monitor the APD community hotline, which is available for both English and Spanish speakers, 1-855-544-5134 and the APD community email address. 

Portrait of an active shooter

July 25, 2014, 10:21 am

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by Staff Sgt. Jarad A. Denton
501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs

7/24/2014 - RAF CROUGHTON, United Kingdom  -- A thin sliver of light shone through the break between two heavy, dark curtains. No one saw, no one noticed the slight, almost imperceptible, movement of fabric.

Everyone's attention was focused at the base of the stage where Col. Douglas Mellars, 422nd Air Base Group commander, was briefing Airmen on changing the leadership culture on RAF Croughton, United Kingdom.

Behind the curtain, an eye peered out - scanning the crowd and silently waiting.

"You don't care. None of you care about me!"

The woman behind the curtain squeezed the grip of her M4 carbine and thumbed the selector to "auto." She felt the rage inside her boil over as she stared at the sea of faces - blaming them and the world for everything wrong with her life. Without another thought, she burst from behind the curtain, attacking the crowd below and launching the Airman of RAF Croughton into a multi-installation, multi-national active shooter exercise, July 22.

"As an active shooter I would want to take out as many people as I can," said Tech. Sgt. Ajenna Smith, 422nd Security Forces Squadron noncommissioned officer of training and simulated-active shooter. "I would be angry - angry at the military. They are doing force reductions, I'm on the board and don't want to get kicked out of the military."

Using recent changes in force management as her motivation, Smith painted a picture of herself as a troubled individual, isolated, angry and ready to violently lash out against the world. As an active shooter, Smith was not expecting to survive the incident.

"I know that if I survive I am going to jail," she said. "I don't want to spend the rest of my life in prison. If they don't kill me I'm going to kill myself."

Smith used the chaos to move from her hiding spot behind the stage. She stalked the grounds of RAF Croughton, hunting down more victims. Meanwhile, nearly 62 miles away, inside the projection booth a RAF Alconbury, Tech. Sgt. Leegale Irving, 501st Combat Support Wing ground safety manager and simulated-active shooter, was waiting for his moment to strike.

"I gave you 16 years and you're just going to throw me away!"

Irving's breathing became more agitated as he listened to the 423rd Air Base Group Commander, Col. Steven Sweeney, give his own all-call. Looking out over the crowd below, Irving no longer saw Airmen, friends and coworkers - he only saw targets.

"I would have thought this process out," he said. "There are individuals or groups I would feel a certain way toward. They are my targets, but at the same time anything that gets in my way becomes an obstacle to get through."

According to Irving, this attack would be the result of several factors leading him to an outburst of extreme violence. Any recent life-changing events, from non-judicial punishment to wrongdoing that left the shooter feeling they had a grudge against an individual, group or organization. These trigger signs could be personal or professional in nature, resulting in an individual feeling the only recourse is to engage in an active-shooter campaign.

"Day-to-day people could see changes in my mood or behavior," Irving said. "I might distance myself from my normal crowd of friends to the point where it is obvious to others. Disgruntled feelings and signs of aggression could also come out in my behavior before the incident."

This constant, negative display of emotion, if noticed and reported by friends, family or coworkers could mean the difference between an individual getting the help they needed, or opening fire into a crowded theater, Irving said.

Unfortunately, neither Smith nor Irving's warning signs were recognized. They planned, plotted and coordinated their actions through social media communication. They waited for the perfect moment and struck with devastating precision, leaving seven people dead - including themselves.

Jacoby: Transnational Gangs Pose Regional Threat

July 27, 2014, 10:16 am

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By Jim Garamone

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, July 27, 2014 – Transnational criminal gangs based in Mexico and Central America pose a threat to the region, Army Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr., the commander of U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, said at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado yesterday.

The response to the threat has been increased cooperation between the United States and Mexico, Jacoby said.

U.S. Northern Command is a post-9-11 creation dedicated to protecting the homeland. It has geographic responsibility for North America and the Bahamas.

Transnational criminal gangs and associated networks are responsible for many of society’s ills, Jacoby said.

“If you are not worried about the drugs and the 40,000 dead Americans and what they do to our youth” then people should worry about organizations “so ruthless, so violent, so powerful” that they have virtual freedom of movement on the U.S. southern border, he said.

Jacoby said such criminal gangs and organizations can smuggle anything from drugs to guns to unaccompanied children.

“Children are just another product to them,” he said, noting these organizations have undermined and threatened the governance of U.S. partners throughout Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico.

And these gangs are a network, he said. They cooperate when they need to. And the general said he personally believes there is plenty of evidence of links between terrorists and criminal organizations.

“We have learned that the best way to fight a network is with a network,” he said. “Counter-network tactics, techniques, procedures, collection are called for in effective dealing with cartels and other criminal organizations.”

DoD personnel play a role in interdicting drugs in what professionals call the transit zone. There have been record numbers of drug seizures, but officials really have little idea of the impact they are making.

“[The drug cartels] are more powerful, they are more globally interconnected, they are making more money and they are more violent than they ever have been,” Jacoby said.

Meanwhile, he said, efforts designed to shut down these criminal networks continue.

“We know how to take a network apart,” Jacoby said. “We know what the access targets are.” These, he said, are the financiers, logisticians, and operators. All aspects of the network must have pressure placed on them.

The fear calculus in Mexico and Central America is completely wrong, he said. “It’s the Mexican people and the Moms and Dads in Honduras who are afraid, not the criminals,” Jacoby said. “We have to flip that.”

U.S. and Mexican officials need to reevaluate their plans and procedures used to deter international crime networks , he said. “How is our cooperation between law enforcement and the intelligence community,” he asked. The level of cooperation between intelligence and operatives in Afghanistan and Iraq to take down terror networks, the general said, was much closer than it is in the United States.

And the United States and Mexico are having these conversations. In 2006, then-Mexican President Felipe Calderone put the military on the street to combat the cartel violence. The Mexican military turned to the United States to ask for assistance, cooperation and teaming.

This was a sea change in the military-to-military relationship.

The cooperation continued when current Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto took office.

The military-to-military relationship is still growing, and like any relationship there are fits and starts. “We trained with more than 5,000 Mexican soldiers this year,” Jacoby said.

Mexican military officials also worked with Northcom on their strategy for their border with Guatemala.

And there’ve been some impressive results. Mexican authorities removed the kingpins of the Sinaloa, Zeta and the Gulf cartels.

The U.S. and Mexican militaries learn together, Jacoby said.

“What we’ve cooperated on has helped the Mexican military modernize and become more effective at all of the tasks that they’ve set out for themselves,” he said.

UPS Driver Accused of Stealing Guns from the Shipper and Giving Firearms to Associate for Sale on Streets

July 28, 2014, 11:19 am

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RIVERSIDE, California – A United Parcel Service driver was arrested this afternoon on federal gun trafficking charges for allegedly stealing dozens of guns going through the shipping company’s Ontario hub and providing them to an associate who sold the weapons in underground transactions.

Curtis Hays, 36, of Rancho Cucamonga, was arrested without incident by special agents with the ATF. Hays is expected to be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court.

The associate who allegedly sold some of the firearms – Dennis Dell White Jr., 35, of Moreno Valley – will be summoned to appear in federal court for an arraignment in the coming weeks.

The 16-count indictment, which was filed on July 23, alleges that Hays stole a series of packages containing guns that were supposed to be delivered to Turner’s Outdoorsman in Rancho Cucamonga. The indictment also accused Hays of stealing jewelry and mobile phones that were supposed to be delivered to other retailers, and this merchandise also was allegedly given to White.

Hays allegedly provided the firearms to White, who illegally sold the weapons to other individuals, and some of the guns then were sold to others. The firearms included 12-gauge shotguns and .45-caliber handguns.

Hays and White are charged with conspiracy; six counts of theft of firearms; six counts of receipt and possession of stolen firearms; and two counts of theft, receipt, and possession of good in interstate commerce.

White is additionally charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

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

The conspiracy count carries a statutory maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. The weapons charges each carry a potential penalty of 10 years in prison. The stolen goods charges each carry a maximum possible penalty of five years in prison. And, if convicted of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, White could face up to an additional 10 years in prison.

The investigation into the stolen firearms was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, in conjunction with the Ontario Police Department, the Moreno Valley Police Department and UPS Security.

U.S. Marshals Holding National Jewelry Sale

July 29, 2014, 6:02 pm

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Gold and Silver Bullion and Coins, Loose Diamonds, Fine Jewelry and Watches from Federal Crime Cases Nationwide to be Sold via Live and Web Simulcast Auction

Washington – The U.S. Marshals Service is selling more than 350 lots of gold and silver bullion and coins, loose diamonds, fine jewelry and watches from federal crime cases nationwide in a live and Web simulcast auction Friday, August 1, 2014, at 10:00am EDT in Miami Beach, FL and online at www.txauction.com. A preview will be held Thursday, July 31, 2014, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm EDT at the Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Dr, Rom B118.

The U.S. Marshals Service consolidates pieces from cases nationwide and holds a large auction several times a year. Proceeds generated from the auctions are used to compensate victims of crimes and supplement law enforcement programs.

Some of the cases with assets being sold are as follows:

James Fayed/ e-Bullion of Los Angeles, Calif., participant in fraudulent “e-currency” fraud scheme in the United States and Australia, 131 total lots to include lot 134, 100 $50 Canadian Maple Leaf gold coins (1 Troy oz) with a starting bid of $115,000.

Syed Qaisar Madad, leader of a $30 million Ponzi scheme, 38 total lots to include: lot 266, a 5.25 carat diamond engagement ring with a starting bid of $25,500 and lot 261, a 17” necklace with 28 sapphires and 318 diamonds with a starting bid of $8,000.

Drug-related cases out of Alaska (lot 67), Southern Florida (lot 340) and Eastern New York (lot 92).

For information on the auction, including a catalog, pictures, registration and terms and conditions, go to www.txauction.com or call (512) 251-2780.

For information on the criminal cases in this news release -

Fayed/ e-Bullion : http://www.justice.gov/usao/cac/Pressroom/2012/102.html

Madad: http://www.fbi.gov/losangeles/press-releases/2013/california-man-who-ran-ponzi-scheme-that-caused-more-than-30-million-in-losses-sentenced-to-serve-more-than-12-years-in-prison

The U.S. Marshals Service is responsible for managing and selling seized and forfeited properties acquired by federal criminals through illegal activities. Proceeds generated from asset sales are used to compensate victims, supplement funding for law enforcement initiatives and support community programs. As part of the Department of Justice’s Asset Forfeiture Program, the Marshals currently manage more than 23,000 assets with a value of $2.4 billion.

U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force Arrests York Murder Suspect in Richmond, VA

July 29, 2014, 6:38 pm

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Harrisburg, PA – Today, U.S. Marshal Martin Pane announced the arrest of Jeffrey Reid, a 27-year-old man, on charges of criminal homicide and other related offenses.

On July 28, deputy U.S. marshals and task force officers from the Richmond, VA office arrested Reid without incident in the 2400 block of Venable St in Richmond, VA.

Reid was charged by the York City Police Department in July 2014 with criminal homicide, possession of a firearm, robbery and other related offenses.

The USMS worked jointly in this investigation with personnel from the York City Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Latimore Township Police Department, Adams County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Marshals from the Eastern District of Virginia.

United States Marshal Pane stated, “It is critically important that the U.S. Marshals Service locate and arrest fugitives wanted for violent crimes, especially those who have no regard for human life and who attempt to hide. This capture is a testament of the Task Force’s commitment to make our communities safer and more secure.”

Las Vegas Street Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Racketeering and Drug Charges

July 30, 2014, 7:15 am

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On the second day of his federal jury trial, a Las Vegas Playboy Bloods street gang member pleaded guilty today to racketeering and drug charges, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden of the District of Nevada and Leslie R. Caldwell, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

“We will use federal resources to prosecute street gang members who commit cowardly and horrible crimes in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Bogden.   “I commend the many law enforcement officers who worked on this investigation and assisted us in ensuring a conviction in this case.”

Markette Tillman, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of RICO conspiracy and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, and is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kent J. Dawson on Oct. 28, 2014.   Tillman faces up to 20 years in prison on each count, as well as fines of up to $1 million.   The jury trial began yesterday, July 28, 2014, and the government had called seven witnesses to testify.   Tillman is the remaining gang member to be convicted out of 10 charged in a RICO indictment filed in 2008.

According to the guilty plea agreement and evidence produced at trial, the Bloods are a nationally-known criminal street gang whose members engage in drug trafficking and acts of violence.   The Playboy Bloods is a local “set” or affiliate of the Bloods, with local control and operation within the Las Vegas metropolitan area.   The Playboy Bloods operate primarily in the Sherman Gardens Annex, a public housing complex, located at the corner of Doolittle and H Streets in Las Vegas, and commonly called the “Jets.”   On or about Jan. 20, 2004, Tillman aided and abetted the murder of a security guard at the Jets.   The guard approached Tillman and several other Playboy Bloods and told them to leave the property.   An argument ensued, and the guard rode away on his bicycle to get help.   One of the Playboy Bloods fired a gun at the guard, hitting him two times and killing him.   Tillman admitted that he aided and abetted the murder of the guard and acted deliberately and intentionally with extreme disregard for human life.   Tillman further admitted that he agreed with other members of the Playboy Bloods to manufacture and distribute narcotics, primarily crack cocaine, and to operate drug houses within the Playboy Bloods’ turf.   Tillman specifically admitted to distributing in excess of 280 grams of crack cocaine.   Tillman also admitted that he distributed crack cocaine to another person on about Jan. 3, 2007, at one of the drug houses.

Nine other defendants who have been convicted and sentenced, as follows:

 

·          Jacorey Taylor, aka “Mo-B,” 31, convicted by a jury of engaging in a racketeering conspiracy, committing violent crimes in aid of racketeering activity, using a firearm during a crime of violence, participating in a drug conspiracy, and possessing crack cocaine with the intent to distribute and sentenced to life in prison Oct. 21, 12013.

 

·          Steven Booth, aka “Stevie-P,” 27, pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy involving two murders and was sentenced to 20 years in prison on April 10, 2013

 

·          Reginald Dunlap, aka “Bowlie,” 30, pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy involving one murder and was sentenced to 20 years in prison on April 9, 2013

 

·          Demichael Burks, aka “Mikey P,” 29, pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy and was sentenced to 6½ years in prison on Dec. 3, 2010  

 

·          Anthony Mabry, aka “Akim Slim,” 43, pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy and was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Oct. 20, 2010

 

·          Delvin Ward, aka “D-Luv,” 37, pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy and was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Sept. 17, 2010

 

·          Terrence Thomas, aka “Seven,” 40, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and was sentenced to 10 years in prison on June 16, 2010

 

·          Sebastian Wigg, aka “Rock,” 36, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and was sentenced to five years in prison on March 29, 2010

 

·          Fred Nix, aka “June P,” 36, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and was sentenced to five years in prison on March 29, 2010  

 

The cases were investigated by the FBI’s Las Vegas Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes officers from the North Las Vegas Police Department and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas D. Dickinson and Phillip N. Smith, Jr., and Kevin L. Rosenberg, Trial Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice Organized Crime and Gang Section.

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ATF Offers Reward In Gun Store Burglary

July 30, 2014, 1:26 pm

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ATF and Firearms Industry Offer Reward in Pleasant Grove Firearms Theft

PLEASANT GROVE, Ala. — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in conjunction with the Pleasant Grove Police Department and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) — the trade association for the firearms industry announced a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the theft of firearms from Pleasant Grove Gun Supply, a federal firearm licensee (FFL). ATF is offering a reward in the amount of $1,500, which will be matched by the NSSF for a total reward of $3,000. This reward is part of a larger national cooperative initiative between the NSSF and ATF in which NSSF matches ATF reward in cases involving the theft of firearms from federally licensed firearms retailers. ATF works closely with members of the firearms industry to curb the criminal acquisition and misuse of firearms.

On Dec. 3, 2013, the Pleasant Grove Gun Supply, 839 Park Drive, Pleasant Grove, Ala. was burglarized and a total of seven firearms were reported stolen to the Pleasant Grove Police Department.

Anyone with information about this crime should contact the ATF at (800) ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867).

Defendant Prosecuted as Part of Federal “Worst of the Worst” Anti-Violence Initiative

July 30, 2014, 1:37 pm

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Armed Career Criminal from Roswell Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms and Drug Trafficking Charges

ALBUQUERQUE – Raymond Lariva, 30, of Roswell, N.M., pleaded guilty this morning in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to federal firearms and drug trafficking charges. The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, 5th Judicial District Attorney Janetta B. Hicks, Special Agent in Charge Bernard J. Zapor of the Phoenix Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Phil Smith of the Roswell Police Department.

U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez said that Lariva was prosecuted as part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets “the worst of the worst” offenders for federal prosecution. Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.

"We are pleased to join our federal partners in removing these violent offenders from our community," said 5th Judicial District Attorney Janetta B. Hicks.

ATF Special Agent in Charge Bernard J. Zapor said taking violent criminals off the streets and putting them behind bars has always been a focus of ATF. “We commend the agents and officers who repeatedly risk their lives to remove these violent offenders from our communities. I wish to recognize the leadership of U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez and his office for their relentless prosecution of these violent offenders.”

Court records reflect that Lariva was arrested in Roswell on state charges in Dec. 31, 2012, after he attempted to avoid capture on an outstanding state warrant. On Oct. 15, 2013, Lariva was transferred to federal custody to face related federal charges in a criminal complaint that had been filed in Jan. 2013. The state charges subsequently were dismissed in favor of federal prosecution.

According to court filings, on Dec. 31, 2012, an officer of the Roswell Police Department came upon Lariva while responding to a call. The officer, who recognized Lariva and was aware of a pending warrant for his arrest, attempted to make contact with Lariva. Lariva took off running and a foot chase ensued. During the chase, Lariva threw a small black pouch over his shoulder followed by a phone case, identification card and other items. After Lariva was arrested, officers retrieved the black pouch which contained numerous small baggies containing methamphetamine. On Jan. 3, 2013, after reviewing recorded telephone calls made by Lariva while in state custody, officers found a loaded pistol and Lariva’s cellphone on the rooftop of a building in the area in which the pursuit had taken place.

Lariva was indicted on Jan. 15, 2014, and charged with (1) being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; (2) using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; and (3) possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The indictment alleged that Lariva committed the offenses charged in Chaves County, N.M., on Dec. 31, 2012. At the time, Lariva was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of robbery, possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy to commit burglary and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

During today’s proceedings, Lariva entered a guilty plea to the three-count indictment without the benefit of a plea agreement.

Lariva has been in federal custody since his arrest and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. Lariva faces an enhanced sentence of not less than 15 years to life in prison on the felon in possession and methamphetamine charges based on his status as an armed career offender. He also will be sentenced to a mandatory five years in prison for using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime which must be served consecutive to the prison sentence imposed on the other two charges.

This case was investigated by the Roswell office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Roswell Police Department with assistance from the 5th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

41 Linked to El Monte Street Gang Charged in Federal Racketeering Indictment that Alleges Murders, Robberies and Narcotics Trafficking

July 31, 2014, 3:31 pm

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LOS ANGELES – More than 400 law enforcement officers this morning conducted an operation that led to the arrest of 17 members and associates of the El Monte Flores gang, an organization that takes direction from the Mexican Mafia prison gang and controls criminal activity in the cities of El Monte and South El Monte.

Those taken into custody today are among 41 defendants named in a 167-page racketeering indictment that alleges “El Monte Flores gang members commit crimes, including acts of violence (ranging from battery to murder), drug trafficking offenses, robbery, burglary, carjacking, witness intimidation, kidnapping, weapons trafficking, credit card fraud, identity theft, and hate crimes directed against African-Americans who might reside or be present in the cities of El Monte and South El Monte in an effort to rid these cities of all African-Americans.”

Other gang-related crimes are outlined in the 62-count indictment, including the execution of a former Mexican Mafia member and the fatal shooting of four others in an El Monte residence in 1995. The indictment also outlines an ongoing dispute involving members of the Mexican Mafia who are attempting to exercise control over the gang. One of those Mexican Mafia members – James “Chemo” Gutierrez, 52, who is currently in federal custody after his supervised release following a 20-year sentence in a federal homicide case was revoked – is the lead defendant in the indictment. Other Mexican Mafia members serving life prison terms are not charged in the indictment, but they are listed as co-conspirators.

The gang maintains a significant presence at the Boys & Girls Club of America – San Gabriel Valley Club on Mountain View Road, where gang members openly sold drugs, held gang meetings and even held a car wash fundraiser, according to the indictment. Members of the gang also regularly use and threaten to use violence to extort “taxes” from drug dealers at “Crawford’s Plaza” (at Valley Boulevard and Garvey Avenue) and the “Klingerman” apartments, as well as from fraudulent document vendors who operate at Crawford’s Plaza. The indictment further alleges several incidents dating back to early 2001 in which African-American victims in El Monte were attacked, threatened and subjected to racial epithets.

The investigation into the El Monte Flores gang was conducted by a task force that included the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; IRS – Criminal Investigation; and the El Monte Police Department.

According to the indictment that was unsealed this morning, El Monte Flores, which has an estimated 800 members, operated as a criminal enterprise that used violence and intimidation to exercise authority in the area it claimed. The multi-generational gang was formed in the 1960s, and since then it has controlled the drug trade in El Monte and South El Monte.

The defendants named in the federal indictment face various charges, including conspiracy to engage in racketeering activity in violation of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act; violent crimes in aid of racketeering; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute controlled substances; using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence or drug trafficking; weapons charges; conspiracy to launder money; and being an illegal alien after previously being deported.

Those taken into custody today are expected to be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in court.

If they are convicted, all of the defendants would face up to 20 years for the RICO and potentially decades more depending on which additional offenses they are charged with. One defendant – Johnny Mata, 33, of Baldwin Park, California – faces a potential death penalty if he is convicted of being the shooter in the slaying of a rival gang member in Baldwin Park on Christmas Eve in 2010.

If they are convicted, all of the defendants would face up to 20 years for the RICO and potentially decades more depending on which additional offenses they are charged with. One defendant – Johnny Mata, 33, of Baldwin Park, California – faces a potential death penalty if he is convicted of being the shooter in the slaying of a rival gang member in Baldwin Park on Christmas Eve in 2010.

In addition to the law enforcement agencies who conducted the investigation, several agencies provided substantial assistance during this morning’s takedown, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Irvine Police Department, the Covina Police Department, the Montebello Police Department, the Azusa Police Department, the Baldwin Park Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Defendant Extradited to Face Charges in Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry Murder Case

July 31, 2014, 8:46 pm

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Ivan Soto-Barraza, who is charged with the first degree murder of United States Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, was extradited to the United States from Mexico today, announced Attorney General Eric Holder and U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy of the Southern District of California.

 

Agent Terry was fatally shot on Dec. 14, 2010, when he and other Border Patrol agents encountered Soto-Barraza and others in a rural area north of Nogales, Arizona. Of six defendants charged so far, two have pleaded guilty and two are awaiting trial.

 

“This marks another step forward in our aggressive pursuit of those responsible for the murder of Agent Brian Terry, who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving his country,” said Attorney General Holder. "We will never stop seeking justice against those who do harm to our best and bravest."

 

“This extradition is another major development in the pursuit of justice for Agent Terry and his family,” said U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy. “As we continue to make significant progress in this case, we are constantly motivated by the memory of Agent Terry and his sacrifice for our country.”

Soto-Barraza is scheduled to be arraigned in federal district court in Tucson, Arizona, on August 1, 2014. The indictment charges Soto-Barraza and others with first degree murder, second degree murder, conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, attempted interference with commerce by robbery, use and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer. In addition to the murder of Agent Terry, the indictment alleges that the defendants assaulted Border Patrol Agents William Castano, Gabriel Fragoza and Timothy Keller, who were with Agent Terry during the firefight.   

 

On July 20, 2012, in order to seek the public’s assistance, Department of Justice officials announced a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to the arrest of four fugitives: Jesus Rosario Favela-Astorga, Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes, Lionel Portillo-Meza and Soto-Barraza. Portillo-Meza was captured in Mexico in September 2012 and extradited to the U.S. from Mexico on June 17, 2014. Soto-Barraza was captured in Mexico in September 2013.   Favela-Astorga and Osorio-Arellanes are fugitives.

 

A fifth defendant, Manuel Osorio-Arellanes, pleaded guilty to first degree murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison in February 2014. A sixth defendant, Rito Osorio-Arellanes, who was in custody at the time of Agent Terry’s murder, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and was sentenced to eight years in prison in January 2013.  

 

This case is being prosecuted in federal court in Tucson by attorneys from the Southern District of California, Special Attorneys Todd W. Robinson, David D. Leshner, and Fred Sheppard.   The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is recused.   This case is being investigated by the FBI. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided assistance with the extradition.

 

The public is reminded that an indictment is a formal charging document and defendants are presumed innocent until the government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

National Leader of “Trinitarios” Gang Sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court to 19 Years in Prison

August 1, 2014, 12:29 pm

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Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that LEONIDES SIERRA, a/k/a “Junito” – the former national leader of the “Trinitarios,” a violent street and prison gang comprising primarily individuals of Dominican descent – was sentenced yesterday in Manhattan federal court to 19 years in prison for his role as the leader of a massive, multi-year racketeering conspiracy. Sierra is currently serving 221/2 years to life in prison in New York State as a result of his 1989 conviction of intentional murder. Sierra’s federal sentence will run consecutively to the New York State term of imprisonment.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “When Sierra created the Trinitarios Gang on Rikers Island in 1992, a dangerous and bloodthirsty organization was born, responsible for overwhelming violence both on the streets of New York and other cities, and inside the prison system. With Sierra’s conviction, the Trinitarios Gang lost its founder and leader. Sierra’s conviction and sentence are capstones to this Office’s five-year effort to dismantle the Trinitarios. The sentence imposed ensures that Sierra will not see the light of day for many years to come. It should also serve to remind members and leaders of other violent gangs that we will continue to work to bring them to justice.”

In imposing sentence, United States District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer told the defendant: “Instead of putting up a stop sign, you gave the Trinitarios a green light to commit violence by your actions. Your actions sent the message to these gang members that retribution, violence, and hits are OK.” Judge Engelmayer told Sierra that he had “no right to decide who lived or who died,” and that his actions were “wrong, destructive to society, and to the Dominican community.”

According to the Indictment, and other documents filed in the case, as well as statements made during the sentencing proceedings:

SIERRA, with two others, created the Trinitarios Gang on Rikers Island in 1992, in order to protect prison inmates of Dominican descent from other competing violent gang members. The Trinitarios quickly morphed into a violent organization both in the prison system and on the streets, as its members began to be released from prison and continued their membership. SIERRA managed and led the Trinitarios while he was an inmate at various New York State prisons, including, at the time of his arrest in this case, Attica Correctional Facility. SIERRA ordered numerous acts of violence (referred to as “green lights” in the gang’s parlance) against other inmates in the New York State prison system, and, in connection with his guilty plea in this case, also admitted that in 2011, he conspired to murder another member of the Trinitarios Gang who was at liberty in the community. Sierra targeted this victim because the victim refused to acknowledge Sierra as the gang’s Supreme Leader. Sierra and his co-conspirators were arrested in this case before their plan could come to fruition.

In his capacity as the gang’s leader, Sierra also ordered the establishment of a Central Committee, which was responsible for conveying Sierra’s orders and messages to the gang’s top

leadership on the street, among other things. During the time Sierra served as the gang’s national leader, Trinitarios members operating in the Bronx and Manhattan were responsible for

numerous homicides and non-fatal shootings, targeting both other members of the Trinitarios and members of rival gangs. Specifically, this Office has charged members and associates of the Bronx Trinitarios Gang with committing nine homicides between 2005 and 2010, and members and associates of the Manhattan Trinitarios Gang with committing one homicide in 2006.

Since 2009, as part of “Operation Patria” and “Operation Green Haze,” this Office has charged at least 147 members and associates of the Trinitarios Gang.

Mr. Bharara praised the work of the New York City Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Services.

The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nola B. Heller, Micah W.J. Smith, Jessica Ortiz, Sarah Krissoff, Timothy D. Sini, Ryan Poscablo, and Rachel Maimin are in charge of the prosecution.

Black P-Stones Gang Member Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison on Racketeering Conspiracy and Firearms Charges

August 1, 2014, 3:38 pm

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Marcellus Williams, aka “Math,” “P-Shooter” and “Manny,” 27, of Newport News, Virginia, was sentenced today to serve 30 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for engaging in numerous gang-related crimes as a ranking member of the Black P-Stones, including shootings of rival gang members, robberies and drug dealing.

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente of the Eastern District of Virginia and Special Agent in Charge Royce E. Curtin of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office made the announcement after sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.

According to a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, Williams was a “First Superior” in the Black P-Stones, a violent street gang also referred to as the P-Stone Bloods and Cobra Stones.   The Black P-Stones operated primarily in the Beechmont, Courthouse Green and Woodview neighborhoods in the Denbigh area of Newport News, Virginia, and its members engaged in various criminal activities including murders, robberies, drug trafficking and obstruction of justice.   As a First Superior, Williams directed and participated in the gang’s criminal activities, including robberies, attempted murder and marijuana sales.

According to the statement of facts, on April 27, 2008, Williams and other Black P-Stones members participated in a broad-daylight shooting on Warwick Boulevard in Newport News targeting a rival gang member.  The rival was shot twice and injured in his mouth, neck and shoulder.

Additionally, on Dec. 10, 2008, Williams and other Black P-Stones members retaliated against a rival gang member who exhibited disrespect toward Williams’s girlfriend.   Approximately seven to eight bullets were fired at the rival gang member’s home in Williamsburg, Virginia, with bullets ripping through the living room and front door while two people were inside.

Further, on March 9, 2009, Williams and other Black P-Stones members shot at the home of a rival gang member in retaliation for a previous altercation.   The rival gang member and another individual were inside of the home during the shooting, and one bullet nearly struck one of the people inside.

Williams was charged in a superseding indictment on Dec. 9, 2013, and pleaded guilty on April 15, 2014, to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of possessing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

The investigation was led by the FBI’s Safe Streets Peninsula Task Force, with the assistance of the Newport News Police Department, James City County Police Department, and the Virginia State Police.   The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Louis A. Crisostomo and Marianne Shelvey of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt of the Eastern District of Virginia.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Finds Pattern and Practice of Excessive Force and Violence at New York City Jails on Rikers Island That Violates the Constitutional Rights of Adolescent Male Inmates

August 4, 2014, 1:02 pm

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Attorney General Eric Holder and United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara announced today the completion of the Justice Department’s multi-year civil investigation pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (“CRIPA”) into the conditions of confinement of adolescent male inmates on Rikers Island.   The investigation, which focused on use of force by staff, inmate-on-inmate violence, and use of punitive segregation during the period 2011-2013, concluded that there is a pattern and practice of conduct at Rikers Island that violates the rights of adolescents protected by the Eighth Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.   The investigation found that adolescent inmates are not adequately protected from physical harm due to the rampant use of unnecessary and excessive force by New York City Department of Correction (“DOC”) staff and violence inflicted by other inmates.   In addition, the investigation found that DOC relies too heavily on punitive segregation as a disciplinary measure, placing adolescent inmates in what amounts to solitary confinement at an alarming rate and for excessive periods of time.   Many of the adolescent inmates are particularly vulnerable because they suffer from mental illness.

 

Attorney General Eric Holder said: “The extremely high rates of violence and excessive use of solitary confinement for adolescent males uncovered by this investigation are inappropriate and unacceptable.   The Department of Justice is dedicated to ensuring the effectiveness, safety and integrity of our criminal justice systems.   Going forward, we will work with the City of New York to make good on our commitment to reform practices that are unfair and unjust, and to ensure that – in all circumstances, and particularly when it comes to our young people – incarceration is used to deter, punish, and ultimately rehabilitate, not merely to warehouse and forget.”

 

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “As our investigation has shown, for adolescents, Rikers Island is a broken institution.   It is a place where brute force is the first impulse rather than the last resort; where verbal insults are repaid with physical injuries; where beatings are routine while accountability is rare; and where a culture of violence endures even while a code of silence prevails.   The adolescents in Rikers are walled off from the public, but they are not walled off from the Constitution.   Indeed most of these young men are pre-trial detainees who are innocent until proven guilty, but whether they are pre-trial or convicted, they are entitled to be detained safely and in accordance with their constitutional rights – not consigned to a corrections crucible that seems more inspired by Lord of the Flies than any legitimate philosophy of humane detention.   These young men, automatically charged as adults despite their age under New York law, may be on an island and out of sight, but they can no longer remain out of mind.   Attention must be paid immediately to their rights, their safety and their mental well-being, and in the wake of this report we will make sure that happens one way or another.”

 

In its report to the City of New York, made public today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office notes that “a deep-seated culture of violence is pervasive throughout the adolescent facilities at Rikers, and DOC staff routinely utilize force not as a last resort, but instead as a means to control the adolescent population and punish disorderly or disrespectful behavior.”  

 

The following statistics are illustrative:

 

·          In FY 2012, there were 517 reported staff use of force incidents in an average daily adolescent population of 791 in the Robert N. Davoren Center (RNDC) and Eric M. Taylor Center (EMTC), the two facilities that house the most adolescents.   These incidents resulted in 1,059 injuries.  

 

·          In FY 2013, there were 565 reported staff use of force incidents in an average daily population at these same two facilities of 682, resulting in 1,057 injuries.  

 

·          In FY 2013, there were 845 reported inmate-on-inmate fights involving adolescents in the RNDC and EMTC.  This marked an increase from the 795 reported fights in FY 2012.

 

·          During the period April 2012 through April 2013, adolescents sustained a total of 754 visible injuries, according to Department of Health and Mental Health (DOHMH) data. 

 

·          Adolescents in RNDC and EMTC sustained a total of 96 suspected fractures from September 2011 through August 2012, according to DOHMH data.

 

·          In FY 2013, adolescents were taken to get emergency medical services 459 times.

 

·          In FY 2013, there were 1,118 emergency alarms in the RNDC and EMTC adolescent housing areas, or on average more than three alarms each day. 

 

The report makes the following specific factual determinations:  

 

·          Force is used against adolescents at an alarming rate and violent inmate-on-inmate fights and assaults are commonplace, resulting in a striking number of serious injuries, including broken bones and lacerations requiring stitches;

 

·          Correction officers resort to “headshots,” meaning blows to an inmate’s head or facial area;

 

·          Force is used as punishment or retribution;

 

·          Force is used in response to inmates’ verbal altercations with officers;

 

·          Use of force by specialized response teams within the jails is particularly brutal;

 

·          Correction officers attempt to justify use of force by yelling “stop resisting” even when the adolescent has been completely subdued or was never resisting in the first place; and

 

·          Use of force is particularly common in areas without video surveillance cameras.

 

The report further identifies the following systemic deficiencies that are largely responsible for the excessive and unnecessary use of force by DOC staff.   Many of these systemic deficiencies also lead to the high levels of inmate-on-inmate violence.   These deficiencies include:

 

·          Inadequate reporting by staff of the use of force, including false reporting;

 

·          Inadequate investigations into the use of force;

 

·          Inadequate staff discipline for inappropriate use of force;

 

·          An inadequate classification system for adolescent inmates;

 

·          An inadequate inmate grievance system;

 

·          Inadequate supervision of inmates by staff;

 

·          Inadequate training both on use of force and on managing adolescents; and

 

·          General failures by management to adequately address the extraordinarily high levels of violence perpetrated against and among the adolescent population.  

 

Finally, DOC’s use of prolonged punitive segregation for adolescent inmates is excessive and inappropriate.   Adolescent inmates, many of whom have mental illnesses, are routinely placed in what amounts to solitary confinement for weeks and sometimes months at a time.   On any given day in 2013, 15-25 percent of the adolescent population were in punitive segregation, often for infractions involving non-violent conduct.   According to census data for December 16, 2013, well over half the adolescents in punitive segregation on that day were serving sentences for rule infractions of 60 days or more.  

 

The report also sets forth the following 10 categories of remedial measures necessary to address the constitutional violations identified:

 

1.       House adolescent inmates separately in a DOC jail not physically located on Rikers Island;

 

2.       Increase the number of cameras in adolescent areas;

 

3.       Revise use of force policy to clarify prohibited conduct;

 

4.       Ensure that staff submit complete, accurate, and prompt use of force reports, and institute a zero-tolerance policy for failing to report;

 

5.       Ensure that use of force incidents are investigated thoroughly and promptly, and hold staff accountable for biased or incomplete reports and investigations;

 

6.       Ensure that inmates are adequately supervised, intervene to de-escalate fights, and transfer vulnerable or otherwise at risk inmates to alternative housing units;

 

7.       Improve officer training programs on use of force, conflict resolution, reporting use of force, and handling of the adolescent population;

 

8.       Ensure that staff are held accountable and disciplined for the use of excessive and unnecessary force;

 

9.       Develop alternative disciplinary strategies that do not involve lengthy isolation, and prohibit the placement of adolescents with mental health disorders in solitary confinement;

 

10.   Develop and implement a strategic plan to create an institutional culture that does not tolerate violence and holds staff accountable for excessive or unnecessary use of force.

 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York looks forward to engaging in discussions with the City to make system-wide changes that will safeguard the constitutional rights of adolescents, and prevent them from continuing to suffer unnecessary harm while in City custody.  

 

U.S. Attorney Bharara thanks the Board of Correction for the assistance it provided in connection with the Office’s investigation.

 

This case is being handled by the Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.   Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily E. Daughtry and Jeffrey K. Powell are in charge of the case.

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Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Scheme to Rob Drug Dealers and Sell Their Cocaine

August 4, 2014, 1:24 pm

≫ Next: Six Alleged Members of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation Gang Indicted Gang Allegedly Responsible for Multiple Murders in Illinois, Indiana, and Florida Five alleged members of the violent Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation gang have been indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida for their roles in multiple murders. A sixth alleged gang member was indicted for unlawfully possessing a firearm. Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer and Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of the FBI’s Miami Field Office made the announcement. “According to charges unsealed today, members of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation committed multiple murders and racketeering crimes, injecting violence and chaos into communities in Chicago, Miami and Indiana,” said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell. “Gang violence is a serious, nationwide problem, and the Department pursues a nationwide strategy, working with federal, state, and local law enforcement to dismantle the gangs and stop the bloodshed.” The indictment returned by a federal grand jury on July 31, 2014, and unsealed today charges Jose Herrera, aka “Spyro,” 27, Leonel Carrera, aka “Leo,” 25, Victor Lopez, aka “Magic,” 28, Ramon Madruga, aka “Porky,” 28 and Alex Enrique Somarriba, aka “A-Rock,” 27, all of Miami, with conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, including murder. Brandon Foeman, aka “Drama,” 28, of Weston, Florida, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The six defendants are in custody. According to the indictment, Herrera, Carrera, Lopez, Madruga and Somarriba are members of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation, which is a nationally-known organized street gang that originated in the northwest side of Chicago and spread to other regions of the United States, including South Florida. Members and associates of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation allegedly engaged in acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, battery, aggravated battery, and aggravated assault, as well as narcotics distribution and other criminal activities. Specifically, the indictment charges that the gang is responsible for three murders in Miami, one in Chicago and one East Chicago, Indiana, including the murders of Rivky Josma on Aug. 4, 2006,Hockynson Sanchez on Nov. 20, 2007, and Mauricio Waikay on Feb. 25, 2011. This case is being investigated by the FBI field offices in Miami and Chicago, and the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives field offices in Merrillville, Indiana, along with the Miami-Dade Police Department, the City of Miami Police Department, the Chicago Police Department, the Franklin Park, Illinois, Police Department, and the East Chicago Police Department. The Florida Department of Corrections and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office assisted with this case. The case is being prosecuted by Joseph A. Cooley and Rebecca A. Staton of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, as well as the Forfeiture Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana and the State Attorneys’ Offices for Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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CAMDEN, N.J. B A Pennsylvania man was sentenced today to 180 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to rob a drug stash house in order to sell the stolen cocaine, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Ralph Dennis, 35, and conspirator Terrance Hardee, a/k/a “Fat Cat,” 37, both of Philadelphia, were previously convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit robbery and one count of conspiracy to possess more than five kilograms of cocaine with intent to distribute. Dennis was also found guilty of using and carrying a firearm during a violent crime. The jury returned the verdict on the second day of deliberations following a three-week trial before U.S. District Judge Joseph E. Irenas, who imposed Dennis’ sentence today in Camden federal court.

Hardee awaits sentencing.

According documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:

In June and July of 2012, Dennis and Hardee planned a gunpoint robbery of a drug stash house. They prepared to steal multiple kilograms of cocaine from the drug dealers at the location, then sell it themselves to make a profit.

During the investigation, Dennis was recorded discussing his willingness to kill anyone they found inside the house as they were robbing it. Hardee was recorded talking about his role – tying up the house’s occupants with zip ties.

Special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) arrested the pair when they arrived in Maple Shade, New Jersey, on July 16, 2012, on their way to the robbery location, with Dennis carrying a gun. Dennis and Hardee also brought gloves, and zip ties were found in the car they drove to Maple Shade.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Irenas sentenced Dennis to five years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited ATF special agents in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Robin Shoemaker, with the investigation leading to today’s sentence.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacqueline M. Carle and Matthew T. Smith of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.

Six Alleged Members of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation Gang Indicted Gang Allegedly Responsible for Multiple Murders in Illinois, Indiana, and Florida Five alleged members of the violent Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation gang have been indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida for their roles in multiple murders. A sixth alleged gang member was indicted for unlawfully possessing a firearm. Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer and Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of the FBI’s Miami Field Office made the announcement. “According to charges unsealed today, members of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation committed multiple murders and racketeering crimes, injecting violence and chaos into communities in Chicago, Miami and Indiana,” said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell. “Gang violence is a serious, nationwide problem, and the Department pursues a nationwide strategy, working with federal, state, and local law enforcement to dismantle the gangs and stop the bloodshed.” The indictment returned by a federal grand jury on July 31, 2014, and unsealed today charges Jose Herrera, aka “Spyro,” 27, Leonel Carrera, aka “Leo,” 25, Victor Lopez, aka “Magic,” 28, Ramon Madruga, aka “Porky,” 28 and Alex Enrique Somarriba, aka “A-Rock,” 27, all of Miami, with conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, including murder. Brandon Foeman, aka “Drama,” 28, of Weston, Florida, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The six defendants are in custody. According to the indictment, Herrera, Carrera, Lopez, Madruga and Somarriba are members of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation, which is a nationally-known organized street gang that originated in the northwest side of Chicago and spread to other regions of the United States, including South Florida. Members and associates of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation allegedly engaged in acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, battery, aggravated battery, and aggravated assault, as well as narcotics distribution and other criminal activities. Specifically, the indictment charges that the gang is responsible for three murders in Miami, one in Chicago and one East Chicago, Indiana, including the murders of Rivky Josma on Aug. 4, 2006,Hockynson Sanchez on Nov. 20, 2007, and Mauricio Waikay on Feb. 25, 2011. This case is being investigated by the FBI field offices in Miami and Chicago, and the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives field offices in Merrillville, Indiana, along with the Miami-Dade Police Department, the City of Miami Police Department, the Chicago Police Department, the Franklin Park, Illinois, Police Department, and the East Chicago Police Department. The Florida Department of Corrections and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office assisted with this case. The case is being prosecuted by Joseph A. Cooley and Rebecca A. Staton of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, as well as the Forfeiture Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana and the State Attorneys’ Offices for Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

August 4, 2014, 4:14 pm

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Gang Allegedly Responsible for Multiple Murders in Illinois, Indiana, and Florida

Five alleged members of the violent Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation gang have been indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida for their roles in multiple murders.  A sixth alleged gang member was indicted for unlawfully possessing a firearm.

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer and Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of the FBI’s Miami Field Office made the announcement.

“According to charges unsealed today, members of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation committed multiple murders and racketeering crimes, injecting violence and chaos into communities in Chicago, Miami and Indiana,” said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell.  “Gang violence is a serious, nationwide problem, and the Department pursues a nationwide strategy, working with federal, state, and local law enforcement to dismantle the gangs and stop the bloodshed.”

The indictment returned by a federal grand jury on July 31, 2014, and unsealed today charges Jose Herrera, aka “Spyro,” 27, Leonel Carrera, aka “Leo,” 25, Victor Lopez, aka “Magic,” 28, Ramon Madruga, aka “Porky,” 28 and Alex Enrique Somarriba, aka “A-Rock,” 27, all of Miami, with conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, including murder.  Brandon Foeman, aka “Drama,” 28, of Weston, Florida, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The six defendants are in custody.

According to the indictment, Herrera, Carrera, Lopez, Madruga and Somarriba are members of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation, which is a nationally-known organized street gang that originated in the northwest side of Chicago and spread to other regions of the United States, including South Florida.   Members and associates of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation allegedly engaged in acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, battery, aggravated battery, and aggravated assault, as well as narcotics distribution and other criminal activities.  Specifically, the indictment charges that the gang is responsible for three murders in Miami, one in Chicago and one East Chicago, Indiana, including the murders of Rivky Josma on Aug. 4, 2006,Hockynson Sanchez on Nov. 20, 2007, and Mauricio Waikay on Feb. 25, 2011.

This case is being investigated by the FBI field offices in Miami and Chicago, and the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives field offices in Merrillville, Indiana, along with the Miami-Dade Police Department, the City of Miami Police Department, the Chicago Police Department, the Franklin Park, Illinois, Police Department, and the East Chicago Police Department.  The Florida Department of Corrections and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office assisted with this case.

The case is being prosecuted by Joseph A. Cooley and Rebecca A. Staton of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, as well as the Forfeiture Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana and the State Attorneys’ Offices for Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Two Milwaukee Men Indicted in Sex Trafficking Conspiracy and Related Trafficking Offenses

August 5, 2014, 3:22 pm

≫ Next: Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Gun Charge

≪ Previous: Six Alleged Members of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation Gang Indicted Gang Allegedly Responsible for Multiple Murders in Illinois, Indiana, and Florida Five alleged members of the violent Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation gang have been indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida for their roles in multiple murders. A sixth alleged gang member was indicted for unlawfully possessing a firearm. Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer and Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of the FBI’s Miami Field Office made the announcement. “According to charges unsealed today, members of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation committed multiple murders and racketeering crimes, injecting violence and chaos into communities in Chicago, Miami and Indiana,” said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell. “Gang violence is a serious, nationwide problem, and the Department pursues a nationwide strategy, working with federal, state, and local law enforcement to dismantle the gangs and stop the bloodshed.” The indictment returned by a federal grand jury on July 31, 2014, and unsealed today charges Jose Herrera, aka “Spyro,” 27, Leonel Carrera, aka “Leo,” 25, Victor Lopez, aka “Magic,” 28, Ramon Madruga, aka “Porky,” 28 and Alex Enrique Somarriba, aka “A-Rock,” 27, all of Miami, with conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, including murder. Brandon Foeman, aka “Drama,” 28, of Weston, Florida, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The six defendants are in custody. According to the indictment, Herrera, Carrera, Lopez, Madruga and Somarriba are members of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation, which is a nationally-known organized street gang that originated in the northwest side of Chicago and spread to other regions of the United States, including South Florida. Members and associates of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation allegedly engaged in acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, battery, aggravated battery, and aggravated assault, as well as narcotics distribution and other criminal activities. Specifically, the indictment charges that the gang is responsible for three murders in Miami, one in Chicago and one East Chicago, Indiana, including the murders of Rivky Josma on Aug. 4, 2006,Hockynson Sanchez on Nov. 20, 2007, and Mauricio Waikay on Feb. 25, 2011. This case is being investigated by the FBI field offices in Miami and Chicago, and the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives field offices in Merrillville, Indiana, along with the Miami-Dade Police Department, the City of Miami Police Department, the Chicago Police Department, the Franklin Park, Illinois, Police Department, and the East Chicago Police Department. The Florida Department of Corrections and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office assisted with this case. The case is being prosecuted by Joseph A. Cooley and Rebecca A. Staton of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, as well as the Forfeiture Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana and the State Attorneys’ Offices for Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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Today, a federal grand jury in Milwaukee returned a 15-count superseding indictment charging two Milwaukee men, Paul Carter aka “Pimpin’ Paul” and David Moore aka “King David” with conspiracy, sex trafficking and related offenses spanning from the years 2007 to 2013.

 

Carter, 44, and Moore, 46, both of Milwaukee, were each previously indicted, Carter for two counts of sex trafficking and Moore for sex trafficking, conspiracy and solicitation of a crime of violence.   The 15-count indictment returned today charges the two defendants jointly in four additional counts of conspiracy, sex trafficking, and labor trafficking, and charges each defendant with additional sex trafficking offenses, for a total of six additional counts against defendant Carter and eight additional counts against defendant Moore.   Both defendants are charged with sex trafficking of both adults and minors.  

 

If convicted, Carter and Moore each face a sentence of up to life imprisonment.  

 

The case was investigated by the Human Trafficking Task Force for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, which includes law enforcement officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation and the Milwaukee Police Department.   The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karine Moreno-Taxman of the Eastern District of Wisconsin and Trial Attorney Daniel H. Weiss of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.

 

An indictment is merely an accusation, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Gun Charge

August 7, 2014, 12:20 pm

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BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Alexy Diaz, 31, of Buffalo, N.Y., pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by an armed career criminal, before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, a maximum of life, a fine of $250,000 or both. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney George C. Burgasser, who is handling the case, stated that on November 22, 2011, the defendant possessed a firearm at 1160 Kensington Avenue in Buffalo. Diaz was previously convicted of three violent felony or serious drug offenses in state court making him and armed career criminal.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 25, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.

Murder for Hire Co-Defendants Sentenced to 15 and 10 Years in Prison

August 7, 2014, 12:28 pm

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Wendy Annette Moore, age 38, and Christopher Austin Latham, age 51, both of Sullivan’s Island, were sentenced for their roles in a Murder for Hire plot that took place in April 2013.

Following a February 2014 jury trial Moore was convicted of Conspiracy and Use of Interstate Facilities in the Commission of Murder for Hire under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1958(a), 1958(b); Solicitation of Murder for Hire under 18 U.S.C. § 373; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence under 18 U.S.C. §924(c). Latham was convicted of a single count of Use of Interstate Facilities in the Commission of Murder for Hire under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1958(a). Both were sentenced this week by United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel. Moore was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, followed by 3 years supervised release. Latham was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.

The convictions and sentences are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Federal Bureau of Investigations; and the City of Charleston Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Nathan Williams and Rhett DeHart of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.