District of Arizona

Tucson, Ariz. – Yesterday, former Border Patrol Agent Alex Pena was sentenced to 20 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson. Pena had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import between 60 and 80 kilograms of marijuana, and had resigned from the Border Patrol following his indictment.

     Pena admitted that while assigned to the Nogales Border Patrol Station, he entered into an agreement with other individuals to smuggle marijuana into the United States from Mexico. In the early morning hours of Aug. 2, 2016, Pena drove from his residence in Tucson to the Border Patrol Station while dressed in his Border Patrol uniform. He took a marked Border Patrol vehicle from the parking lot without permission as cover to retrieve marijuana bundles to be brought into the United States by smugglers on foot in a remote area south of Patagonia. Pena drove to that location, arriving there at about 2:30 a.m.  Although no marijuana was recovered, the subsequent investigation indicated that several individuals met Pena at that location. His guilty plea confirmed his agreement to participate in the smuggling plan.

     First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange stated: “It is a sad day when a sworn law enforcement officer violates his oath. But no one is above the law, and our office will vigorously pursue corruption cases to ensure that those responsible for enforcing the law do not flout it.”

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Inspector General. The prosecution was handled by Wallace H. Kleindienst, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:         CR-17-490-TUC-CKJ

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-089_Pena

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TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, Robert Lad Solfisburg, 34, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson to 150 months’ prison.  Solfisburg had previously pleaded guilty to four counts of bank robbery.  

     From December 2016 until March 2017, Solfisburg robbed four U.S. Banks while wearing disguises.  He robbed three in Tucson and a fourth in Tempe, Ariz.  Solfisburg would approach bank tellers while holding a plastic bag and demanding that money be placed inside the bag.  Anywhere from $2,338 to $4,080 was taken per robbery.  Solfisburg successfully robbed all four banks until further investigation revealed his identity and he was apprehended.  Solfisburg was on federal supervision at the time for having committed two prior bank robberies in Phoenix and California.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, Tucson Police Department, Tempe Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The prosecution was handled by Raquel Arellano, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-00569-TUC-CKJ

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-082_Solfisburg

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PHOENIX – Yesterday, Andre Hinton, 36, of McNary, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to eight years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.  Hinton had previously pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, which carries a maximum punishment of eight years in prison.

     In November 2006, Hinton, who was 25 years old, and a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, assaulted his then 16-year-old girl girlfriend, also a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, on the Ft. Apache Indian Reservation, resulting in the victim’s death.  He did not seek medical attention for her, but rather buried her in a shallow grave with the assistance of one of his friends, who was a juvenile at the time.  Hinton and the other individual then disposed of the shovels they used to bury the victim’s body and burned their clothing.  The young victim had been reported missing by her family since October 2006.  Her body was discovered in December 2006 after the juvenile who helped bury her body led law enforcement to her grave.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with early assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the White Mountain Apache Tribal Police Department and other local agencies.  The prosecution was handled by Dimitra Sampson and Anthony Church, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:          CR-16-8238-PCT-DGC

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-082_Hinton

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PHOENIX – On June 18, 2018, Patricia Calderon-Monarrez, 47, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 60 months in prison. Calderon-Monarrez had previously pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Calderon-Monarrez does not have legal status in the United States and is subject to removal from the United States when she is released from prison.

     On Oct. 5, 2017, federal agents approached Calderon-Monarrez in a parking lot while conducting an investigation into a Phoenix-based drug trafficking organization. A subsequent search of Calderon-Monarrez revealed a loaded firearm and ammunition in her purse. When agents searched the vehicle Calderon-Monarrez arrived in, they located more than 20 pounds of methamphetamine with a street value of more than $500,000, multiple brick-shaped packages containing more than nine pounds of cocaine with a street value of almost $100,000, and a backpack containing more than $64,000 in cash.

     The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Glendale Police Department, with assistance from the Phoenix Police Department, as part an operation supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).  The prosecution was handled by Matthew Binford, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-1353-PHX-DLR 

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-088_Calderon-Monarrez

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PHOENIX – An Arizona man was sentenced yesterday in Phoenix, Ariz., for directing distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks at the computer networks of the City of Madison, Wis., announced Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange for the District of Arizona.

     Randall Charles Tucker, aka “Bitcoin Baron,” 23, of Apache Junction, Ariz., was sentenced to serve 20 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes of the District of Arizona.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of over $ 69,300 to the victims of his computer attacks. Tucker had previously pleaded guilty to one count of intentional damage to a protected computer.

     According to admissions made in connection with his plea, between March 9 and March 14, 2015, Tucker executed a series of DDoS attacks against various city websites, including Madison, Wis. A DDoS attack is a malicious attack where illegitimate network traffic is used to slow down or altogether crash a computer server, thereby denying service to legitimate users of the server.  In addition to disabling the City of Madison’s website, the attack crippled the city’s Internet-connected emergency communication system, causing delays and outages in the ability of emergency responders to connect to the 911 center and degrading the system used to automatically dispatch the closest unit to a medical, fire, or other emergency. Tucker, referring to himself as the “Bitcoin Baron,” boasted about his attacks via social media.

     This case was investigated by FBI’s Milwaukee and Phoenix Field Offices, and Arizona’s Department of Public Safety.  Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Knapp of the District of Arizona and Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin also provided substantial assistance in this manner.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-16-01065-PHX-DLR (BSB)

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-081_Tucker

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An Arizona man was sentenced yesterday in Phoenix, Arizona, for directing distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks at the computer networks of the City of Madison, Wisconsin, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange for the District of Arizona.

Randall Charles Tucker, aka “Bitcoin Baron,” 23, of Apache Junction, Arizona, was sentenced to serve 20 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes of the District of Arizona.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of  $69,331.56 to the victims of his computer attacks. Tucker pleaded guilty on April 17, 2017 to one count of intentional damage to a protected computer.

According to admissions made in connection with his plea, between March 9 and March 14, 2015, Tucker executed a series of DDoS attacks against various city websites, including Madison, Wisconsin. A DDoS attack is a malicious attack where illegitimate network traffic is used to slow down or altogether crash a computer server, thereby denying service to legitimate users of the server.  In addition to disabling the City of Madison’s website, the attack crippled the city’s Internet-connected emergency communication system, causing delays and outages in the ability of emergency responders to connect to the 911 center and degrading the system used to automatically dispatch the closest unit to a medical, fire, or other emergency. Tucker, referring to himself as the “Bitcoin Baron,” boasted about his attacks via social media.

This case was investigated by FBI’s Milwaukee and Phoenix Field Offices and Arizona’s Department of Public Safety.  Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Knapp of the District of Arizona and Trial Attorney Laura-Kate Bernstein of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin also provided substantial assistance in this manner.

PHOENIX – Today, Bronston Begay, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 36 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role in a vehicle theft on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.  Begay also received a consecutive eight-month sentence for violating his supervised release.  Earlier this month, Judge Tuchi sentenced 19-year-old co-defendant Zachary Wyatt Bahe to 24 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release for his role in the vehicle theft. 

     On July 27, 2017, the defendants and two others were hitchhiking on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.  After being picked up by the victim, Bahe placed a fake gun to the victim’s head as they ordered the victim out of the vehicle.  Begay then drove the vehicle away from the scene, leading law enforcement on high-speed chases in both Arizona and New Mexico before being apprehended.  Both defendants are enrolled member of the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Navajo Nation Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Christine Ducat Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-8190-PCT-JJT

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-087_Begay_Bahe

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PHOENIX – Last week, Kiana Walker, 29, of Supai Village, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen M. McNamee to 18 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release.  Walker had previously pleaded guilty to assault on a federal officer.

     On Nov. 19, 2016, a Bureau of Indian Affairs Officer arrested Walker, who was pregnant at the time, for public intoxication in violation of the Havasupai Tribal Code.  After being arrested, Walker screamed racial profanities at the officer and assaulted him, including dropping to the ground and kicking the officer.  Later, when the officer took Walker to the nearby clinic for a precautionary medical evaluation, Walker pushed the officer against a wall and kicked him again. The incident occurred on the Havasupai Reservation.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Samuels, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-16-8300-PCT-SMM

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-083_Walker

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PHOENIX – Today, Antwan Raoul Crook, 21, of Peach Springs, Ariz., and a member of the Hualapai Indian Tribe, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 41 months in prison, followed by a term of five years of supervised release.  Crook had previously pleaded guilty to arson.  

     On March 25, 2017, Crook who was intoxicated became angry with the victim and intentionally set fire to her home.  The fire caused extensive fire and water damage and rendered the home uninhabitable.  The victim is also a member of the Hualapai Indian Tribe, and the arson occurred on the Hualapai Indian Reservation.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Hualapai Nation Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution was handled by Christina J. Reid-Moore, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-08204-PCT-DJH 

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-085_Crook

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PHOENIX – Today, Sanjay Nelson, 25, of Chinle, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for recklessly killing a man on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.  Nelson had previously pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. 

     The incident occurred on May 1, 2017, when Nelson’s sawed-off shotgun accidentally discharged as the victim was handing the firearm back to Nelson.  The victim died as a result of injuries sustained from the gunshot wound.  Both Nelson and the victim were enrolled member of the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The prosecution was handled by Christine Ducat Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-8312-PHX-JJT

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-086_Nelson

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PHOENIX – Last week, Jonathan Frank Davis, 38, of Los Angeles, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 78 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a five year term of supervised release.   Davis had previously pleaded guilty to transportation of individuals to engage in prostitution. 

     In Nov. 2014, Davis transported the victims from California to Arizona to have them engage in acts of prostitution.  Davis was previously convicted of attempted pimping of a minor in Los Angeles County Superior Court and is currently serving a six year prison sentence for that crime.  Davis’s federal sentence will run consecutively to his state sentence.  

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Scottsdale Police Department with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Human Trafficking Task Force.   The prosecution was handled by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Brown and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Brooks and Margaret Perlmeter, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:                 17-CR-841-PHX-DGC

RELEASE NUMBER:          2018-84_Davis

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PHOENIX  – Yesterday, Frank Junior Young, 23, of Page, Ariz., and a member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Stephen M. McNamee to 144 months in prison, followed by a term of 15 years of supervised release.  Young had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual abuse.   

     On Feb. 19, 2016, Young sexually abused the victim by using force and threats. The victim is also a member of the Navajo Nation and the assault occurred on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Department of Law Enforcement.  The prosecution was handled by Christina J. Reid-Moore, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-17-08033-PCT-SMM 

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-080_Young

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PHOENIX – Today, George Alonzo Renteria, 30, of Sacaton, Ariz., and a member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to life imprisonment for first degree murder, with a consecutive sentence of ten years for committing the murder with a firearm.  Renteria had previously been convicted at a jury trial of first degree murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and discharging a firearm in a crime of violence.

     On Feb. 17, 2014, Renteria shot and killed a fellow member of the Gila River Indian Community.  Renteria encountered the victim in Chandler, Ariz., and convinced him to get into a car Renteria was driving.  Renteria then drove the victim to a deserted field on the Gila River Indian Community and shot him to death with a handgun.  Renteria was in the midst of a violent crime spree, having perpetrated a vehicle theft and an armed home invasion in the hours leading up to the murder.

     During the trial, the victim was described by fellow community members as a gentle, well-liked, and kind-hearted man who went out of his way to help those around him.  Renteria, on the other hand, is a longtime member of a street gang with a violent criminal history.  At the time he murdered the victim, Renteria was on federal supervised release for a prior robbery conviction.

     The investigation was conducted by the Gila River Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine D. Keller and William G. Voit, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-16-00407-GMS

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-079_Renteria

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PHOENIX – Yesterday, Senior U.S. District Judge James A. Teilborg sentenced David Dwight Reynolds, 30, of Glendale, Ariz., to 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release.  The Court also ordered him to pay nearly $2.2 million in restitution. Reynolds had previously pleaded guilty to embezzlement.

     Evidence showed that between 2013 and 2016, Reynolds in his capacity as an Information Technology (IT) network engineer for Swift Transportation Company used his position to embezzle millions of dollars. Reynolds did so by using a corporate credit card to make fraudulent purchases. Reynolds altered invoices to conceal his fraudulent purchases. Reynolds purchased IT equipment for personal use and had it shipped to his office at Swift. Eventually, Reynolds began purchasing personal items like cellphones, office furniture, televisions, cameras, computers, welding and manufacturing equipment, and gun accessories. Reynolds then had items shipped to his home. Reynolds also set up a shell company to fraudulently have payments made to the company. He had a debit card attached to the account and used the fraudulently diverted money to pay his personal credit card bills, his wife’s tuition, among other personal and family expenses. In total, Reynolds embezzled nearly $2.2 million. In addition, he failed to report the embezzled money on his taxes. Based upon unreported taxable income, he owed an income tax in the amount of $355,720.

     “The defendant breached his position of trust to illicitly enrich himself and his family,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange.  “Embezzlement may be a more refined way of stealing, but it is still stealing and a serious crime that our office will vigorously prosecute.  We applaud the efforts of the IRS-Criminal Investigation and FBI in bringing this defendant to justice.”

     “Reynolds orchestrated a sophisticated scheme to embezzle over $2 million from his employer then took steps to conceal his theft,” stated IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Ismael Nevarez Jr. “We hope this investigation is a wake-up call to all businesses, whether large or small, to be sure they have precautions in place to prevent this from happening to them."

     Corporate embezzlement causes serious harm to businesses, investors, and the overall economy.  The FBI will continue to investigate and work with the United States Attorney's Office to prosecute those who steal or divert funds from their intended use," said Michael DeLeon, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Phoenix Field Office.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The prosecution was handled by Kevin M. Rapp Assistant United States Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:                      CR-17-00764- JAT-PHX           

RELEASE NUMBER:              2018-078_ Reynolds

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PHOENIX – Yesterday, Ali Vahdani Pour, 28, an Iranian national, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas Rayes to 137 days in prison. Pour had previously pleaded guilty to false swearing in an immigration matter. 

     In his plea agreement, Pour admitted having lied on his asylum application.  Specifically, Pour admitted he falsely denied having served in the Iranian military and falsely denied having received refugee status in another country.  Pour further admitted to having served in the Iranian military and to having received refugee status in Italy prior to seeking asylum in the United States.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Joseph E. Koehler, Assistant U.S. Attorney, and Ryan Goldstein, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-1598-PHX-DLR 

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-077_Pour

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PHOENIX – Yesterday, Alvaro Sabori, 43, of Santan, Ariz., a member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced by U.S. District Diane J. Humetewa to 18 months in prison. Sabori had previously pleaded guilty to false declaration to the grand jury.   

     On Oct. 23, 2016, a man was found dead on the side of the road in Sacaton, Ariz., from an apparent gunshot wound to the head.  Based on information from a witness, Sabori was subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury regarding the investigation into this killing.  Sabori lied to the grand jury about the shooting, which had occurred at his home earlier in the evening.  One year later, Enrique Bandin was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the killing of that victim at Sabori’s home.  

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Raynette Logan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-1482-PHX-DJH  

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-076_Sabori

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     TUCSON, Ariz. - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, is hosting the ‘Be Here for Kids’ event on Friday, June 8, 2018 at the University of Arizona’s Student Recreation Center, located at 1400 E. 6th Street.  The event will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

     The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) created the ‘Be Here for Kids’ campaign to promote awareness about all child safety issues.  The campaign is designed to help parents and others teach children to be aware, alert, and cautious to potential threats and to provide steps that children can take to stay safe, both on the Internet and in daily life.

     This year’s event is being presented in partnership with the University of Arizona Youth and Activities Department of Campus Recreation. Agencies participating in the event include, but are not limited to, The Arizona Rangers, Arizona Poison & Drug Information Center, Be Smart Gun Safety, Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona, MADD, Pima County Sheriff’s Office, Red Cross, and UMC Banner Child Life Program and Volunteer Resources, along with several local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

     There will be several special four legged guests attending this year’s event. McGuff the Crime Dog, ATF’s Kira, Border Patrol’s Beny, and Tucson Police Department’s Luna. A few activities of interest include Ko Sho Martial Training Institute’s interactive self-defense demonstration at 1:30. Beginning at 2:30, Tucson Fire Department will have a wet-down for the children. After the event, there will be a presentation for children and parents to discuss the importance of good online citizenship and protecting yourself from online predators.

     For more information on NCMEC, visit www.missingkids.com. For more information about the Be Here for Kids campaign, visit www.missingkids.com/behereforkids. For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. 

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-075_Be Here for Kids_Tsn

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PHOENIX – Attorney General Jeff Sessions and First Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange for the District of Arizona announced that the Department of Justice is taking a dramatic step to increase resources to combat violent crime, enforce our immigration laws, and help roll back the devastating opioid crisis.

     In the largest increase in decades, the Department of Justice is allocating 311 new Assistant United States Attorneys to assist in priority areas. Those allocations are as follows: 190 violent crime prosecutors, 86 civil enforcement prosecutors, and 35 additional immigration prosecutors. Many of the civil enforcement AUSAs will support the newly created Prescription Interdiction & Litigation Task Force which targets the opioid crisis at every level of the distribution system.

     "Under President Trump's strong leadership, the Department of Justice is going on offense against violent crime, illegal immigration, and the opioid crisis—and today we are sending in reinforcements," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. "We have a saying in my office that a new federal prosecutor is 'the coin of the realm.'  When we can eliminate wasteful spending, one of my first questions to my staff is if we can deploy more prosecutors to where they are needed. I have personally worked to re-purpose existing funds to support this critical mission, and as a former federal prosecutor myself, my expectations could not be higher. These exceptional and talented prosecutors are key leaders in our crime fighting partnership. This addition of new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions represents the largest increase in decades."

     The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona will receive 10 of the newly-created positions.  “We are very grateful to be receiving such a dramatic infusion of prosecutorial and enforcement resources,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Strange.  “Our office is dedicated to securing the border, combatting the violent crime that plagues our cities and tribal communities, and addressing the opioid crisis in Arizona.  These additional attorneys will allow us to make even greater strides in these important areas to enhance the safety of our communities.”

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-074_ AUSAs

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TUCSON, Ariz. – On May 29, 2018, Osmar Bustamante-Figueroa, 21, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 65 months’ imprisonment.  Bustamante was the third of three defendants convicted of crimes involving producing and passing counterfeit U.S. currency and unlawfully possessing firearms.  Bustamante’s co-defendants, Clinton Young, 43, of Irving, Texas, and Jose Manuel Valenzuela, 19, of Tucson, Ariz., had previously pleaded guilty and been sentenced to 15 and 16 months in prison, respectively, for conspiracy to pass or possess counterfeit currency.

     Beginning in early 2016, Bustamante and Young began counterfeiting Federal Reserve Notes, which Bustamante and Valenzuela used to purchase firearms from private individuals selling firearms via online advertisements.  Between March and June of 2016, Bustamante and his co-conspirators passed more than $50,000 worth of counterfeit currency to at least sixteen identified victims in exchange for various firearms. At the time of these transactions, Bustamante was under indictment on State (Arizona) felony drug charges. 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the United States Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Tucson Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Rosaleen O’Gara and Angela W. Woolridge, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:                   CR-17-00486-TUC

RELEASE NUMBER:           2018-073_Bustamante-Figueroa etal

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TUCSON, Ariz. – On May 25, 2018, Miguel Ochoa-Ruiz, 39, of Concord, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge Frank R. Zapata to 48 months’ (4 years) imprisonment.  Ochoa-Ruiz had been previously been found guilty following a trial of smuggling goods from the United States and conspiracy.  Ochoa-Ruiz’s co-defendant, Ana Guadalupe Carillo-Villa, 23, of Tucson, Ariz., had also previously been sentenced to a total of 48 months’ imprisonment by U.S. Chief District Court Judge Raner C. Collins, after pleading guilty to smuggling goods from the United States, conspiracy, and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

     On July 7, 2016, Ochoa-Ruiz purchased 2,000 rounds of rifle ammunition and 248 high-capacity rifle magazines in Phoenix.  He and Carillo-Villa transported these items to Nogales, Ariz., where Carillo-Villa attempted to smuggle them across the border into Mexico.  Customs and Border Protection officers stopped Carillo-Villa at the Port of Entry and intercepted the ammunition and magazines in her vehicle.  Ochoa-Ruiz returned to Phoenix the next day and purchased an additional 11,000 rounds of ammunition, which he again drove to Nogales in attempt to smuggle it into Mexico.  Law enforcement agents stopped Ochoa-Ruiz before he attempted to leave the United States and seized the ammunition.  Evidence obtained in the subsequent investigation established that Ochoa-Ruiz and Carillo-Villa had conspired to smuggle ammunition into Mexico on at least four prior occasions. 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from Customs and Border Protection, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  The prosecution was handled by Angela W. Woolridge, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:                   CR-16-1475-TUC-FRZ

RELEASE NUMBER:           2018-072_Ochoa-Ruiz

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TUCSON, Ariz. – On May 22, 2018, Ryan Bono, 37, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James A. Soto to 87 months in prison. Bono previously pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of knowing access of child pornography. Bono’s term of imprisonment will be followed by lifetime supervised release, with stringent sex offender conditions, including the condition that he register as a sex offender.

     A 2017 investigation by HSI revealed that Bono had been distributing sexually explicit images of children online using file-sharing software.  A search of Bono’s computers and media storage devices revealed that he had downloaded hundreds of images and videos depicting sexual abuse of pre-pubescent children.  In handing down the sentence, the Court found that Bono posed a danger, in part because he had placed himself around children by working as a middle school teacher and soccer coach.

     This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Tucson Office. The prosecution was handled by Carin C. Duryee, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-0686-TUC-JAS   

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-070_Bono

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PHOENIX – Yesterday, Jose Manuel Lara, Jr., 20, of Camp Verde, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 36 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.  The original sentence of 45 months was reduced by nine months to reflect credit for time Lara Jr., served in tribal custody for the same offense.  Lara, Jr. had previously pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon.

     On June 25, 2017, Lara, Jr., an enrolled member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, assaulted the victim, also a member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, by running him over with a vehicle.  The victim suffered serious bodily injury and required multiple surgeries.   

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Yavapai-Apache Nation Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Christina Covault, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-8203-PCT-DGC  

RELEASE NUMBER:    2017-069_Lara

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TUCSON, Ariz. – On May 16, 2018, Wayne Montierth, 54, of Safford, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James A. Soto to serve 210 months in prison.  After a trial, a jury found Montierth guilty of four counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.  Montierth’s term of imprisonment will be followed by lifetime supervised release with stringent sex offender conditions, including the requirement that he register as a sex offender.

     A 2015 investigation by the FBI revealed that Montierth had been distributing sexually explicit images of children online using file-sharing software.  A search of Montierth’s computer revealed thousands of images and videos depicting child sex abuse.  In handing down the sentence, the Court found that the evidence showed Montierth had engaged in an on-going pattern of activity involving sexual abuse of children.

     This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sierra Vista Office. The prosecution was handled by Carin C. Duryee, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-15-02103-TUC-JAS 

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-066_Montierth

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PHOENIX – Today, Larrissa Helen Smith, 29, of Kayenta, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for a car accident that resulted in injuries to four minor children.  Smith had previously pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. 

     During the early morning hours of March 20, 2017, Smith was driving on Highway 163 on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation when she caused her Chevy Tahoe to go airborne and then crash into a dirt embankment.  The vehicle contained four unrestrained children, all of whom suffered injury as a result of the crash.  Laboratory testing revealed both alcohol and methamphetamine in Smith’s system at the time of the accident.  Smith is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The prosecution was handled by Christine Ducat Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-08153-PCT-DLR

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-068_Smith

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TUCSON, Ariz. – Today, Jason Matthew Wells, 50, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez to 51 months’ imprisonment.  Wells had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of armed bank robbery and aiding and abetting.  

     During Oct. 2017, while wearing a disguise, Wells robbed a credit union and a Wells Fargo Bank with the use of a simulated handgun.  He fled the banks and entered a waiting vehicle driven by his accomplice, Richard Dennis Langlois.  After the robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank, a lengthy car chase by local law enforcement ensued.  Langlois eventually stopped the stolen vehicle he was driving and abandoned the vehicle.  Wells was caught after a foot chase in which he ran through neighborhoods and dropped a bag containing over $10,000 in cash, his wallet, and his cellular telephone.  Cash from the robbery was strewn all over a backyard he fled through during the foot chase.  Officers found more cash, disguises, and an air pistol in the abandoned vehicle.  Langlois got away, but was apprehended a few weeks later.  Both confessed to their involvement in the robberies.

     Langlois, 55, also of Tucson, Ariz., also previously pleaded guilty to two counts of armed bank robbery, aiding and abetting, and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez on Feb. 9, 2018, to 80 months’ imprisonment.  Langlois had a more extensive criminal history. 

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pima County Sheriff Department, and Tucson Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Raquel Arellano, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-16-2237-TUC-RM (BGM)     

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-067_Wells

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PHOENIX - On May 11, 2018, Tara Kathleen Valencia, 38, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 51 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Valencia had previously pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return with the Internal Revenue Service, wire fraud, and failure to appear in court (bail jumping). Valencia was also ordered to pay $852,253 in restitution.

     Between 2006 and 2012, Valencia had been employed in Phoenix by Arizona Exterminating Company (AEC) as the HR Administrator. During this time, she embezzled $852,253 from the company by using business credit cards and checks for her own personal use. Some of her unlawful personal expenses included a home, medical and insurance expenses, food, maid services, salon and fitness expenses, home renovations, and a swimming pool and spa for her personal residence. Valencia concealed her scheme to defraud by doctoring credit card and checking account records to make it appear as if these expenses were legitimate expenses incurred by the company.

     In addition, Valencia filed false federal income tax returns for the 2008 through 2011 tax years wherein she failed to report her proceeds from the scheme to defraud.

     Following her arrest on the indictment on July 20, 2015, Valencia was released on her own personal recognizance to reappear in Court, as required. In the Fall of 2015, Valencia fled to Mexico where she remained a fugitive from justice. The U.S. Marshals Service eventually located Valencia in Mexico where she was arrested by the Mexican authorities on Nov. 5, 2017, and was returned to the United States.

     Valencia was ordered to pay $852,253 in restitution to AEC and $252,806 to the Internal Revenue Service in back income taxes plus penalties and interest.

     This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation in Tucson, the United States Postal Inspection Service in Tucson, and the U.S. Marshals Service in Phoenix. The prosecution was handled by Wallace H. Kleindienst and Carolyn Nedder, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBERS:         CR 15-0314-PHX-DJH/CR 16-1097-PHX-DJH  

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-065_Valencia

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PHOENIX – On May 14, 2017, Robert Wayne Long, 24, of Sacaton, Ariz., a member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced by U.S. District Douglas L. Rayes to over 22 years in prison. Long had previously pleaded guilty to second degree murder.  At the time of the offense, Long was on Federal Supervised Release for assault resulting in serious bodily injury. 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Raynette Logan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-487-PHX-DLR   

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-064_Long

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TUCSON, Ariz. - Today, Alberto M. Michel, 41, of Casa Grande, Ariz., was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge David C. Bury. Michel had previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic marijuana and one count of accepting a bribe as a public official. He received a sentence of 90 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release and a $24,000 forfeiture judgment.

     In his plea agreement, Michel admitted that while employed as a United States Border Patrol Agent, with the Tucson Sector Border Patrol Intelligence Unit, he participated in a drug conspiracy by providing surveillance during drug smuggling efforts. Additionally, Michel provided assistance regarding law enforcement interdiction efforts. He also agreed to receive cash payments equal to $40 per pound of marijuana smuggled and received a total of $24,000 during the course of the conspiracy.

     On Aug. 3, 2017 and Aug. 7, 2017, Michel received cash payments totaling $12,000 for agreeing, as a sworn public official, to violate his sworn duty to investigate and interdict narcotics smugglers.

     Michel had been employed with United States Border Patrol since 2009. By 2016, he had been promoted to an enhanced role with the Tucson Sector Border Patrol Intelligence Unit, where he had a higher security clearance and had access to information regarding high-level law enforcement and national security operations and techniques.

     Co-defendants Eunice M. Lopez and Marco Antonio L. Bustamante are scheduled for Change of Plea Hearings on May 15, 2018. 

     The investigation was conducted by members of the Southern Arizona Corruption Task Force that consists of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security - Office of the Inspector General, Customs and Border Protection – Office of Professional Responsibility, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Office of Professional Responsibility, and Tucson Police Department. Prosecution was handled by Sarah B. Houston and Gordon E. Davenport III, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:            4:17-CR-01733-DCB-JR  

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-063_ Michel_etal

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PHOENIX – On May 14, 2017, Bernard Joseph Lee Marrietta, 25, of Coolidge, Ariz., a member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 60 months in prison. Marrietta had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  At the time of the offense, Marrietta possessed a DPMS, model A-15, 5.56/.223 rifle, and methamphetamine. 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Raynette Logan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-1675-PHX-JJT    

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-062_Marrietta

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PHOENIX – Yesterday afternoon, Devan Edward Leonard, 28, Kyle Filbert Gray, 26, and Lucille Jean Leonard, 48, members of the Navajo Nation, of Lukachukai, Ariz., were sentenced by United States District Judge David G. Campbell following their respective guilty pleas to RICO conspiracy for their participation in the violent Red Skin Kingz (“RSK”) criminal gang.  Devan Leonard, the leader of RSK, was sentenced to 50 years’ imprisonment; Kyle Gray was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment; and Lucille Leonard was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. 

            Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Elizabeth A. Strange, First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Arizona, FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael DeLeon, District of Arizona, and Colonel Frank Milstead, Arizona Department of Public Safety announced the sentencings.  FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael DeLeon also expressed his appreciation to the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety and the Arizona Department for Public Safety for their partnership and significant assistance during the investigation.

“The investigation and prosecution of these RSK gang members required tremendous work by FBI, Arizona DPS, Navajo Nation DPS, and the prosecution team,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange. “I applaud their dedication and perseverance in obtaining the sentences imposed today.  This case is a testament to our office’s commitment to use every available resource to combat gang violence in Arizona and to bring justice to the victims of violent crime.”   

            As detailed in the Second Superseding Indictment, Devan Leonard, Kyle Gray, and Lucille Leonard are members of the RSK.  RSK operated on the eastern side of the Navajo Nation in the District of Arizona.  RSK was responsible for at least three murders, attempted murder, aggravated assaults, carjacking, kidnappings, sexual assaults, and drug trafficking, amongst other crimes. 

            On or between Dec. 12 and Dec. 13, 2014, Devan Leonard and another RSK member shot and killed two men and then transported their bodies to a remote “wash” in Lukachukai, Ariz., on the Navajo Indian Reservation, where the bodies were dismembered, burned, and buried to conceal the killings.

            On Dec. 16, 2014, Kyle Gray and Devan Leonard shot and killed another victim immediately following a drug trafficking transaction.  Later, Devan Leonard and Kyle Gray transported the victim’s body to a remote sheep camp on the reservation, where they dismembered and burned the victim’s body as they forced the victim’s girlfriend to watch.

            Lucille Leonard held a leadership role in RSK, mostly participating in and overseeing RSK’s drug trafficking activities, including the collection of debts owed to RSK.

           The Second Superseding Indictment in this matter was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, and the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dimitra Sampson and Tracy Van Buskirk of the District of Arizona, and Trial Attorneys Kelly Pearson and Hans Miller of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, prosecuted the case.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-15-8076-PCT-DGC (JZB)     

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-061_ RSK

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On May 9, three members of Red Skin Kingz, also known as RSK, were sentenced to prison following their respective guilty pleas to RICO conspiracy for their participation in the violent RSK criminal street gang. 

Devan Edward Leonard, 28, of Lukachukai, Arizona, the leader of RSK, was sentenced to 50 years in prison; Kyle Filbert Gray, 26, of Lukachukai, Arizona, was sentenced to 30 years in prison; and Lucille Jean Leonard, 48, of Lukachukai, Arizona, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.  All defendants were sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell in the District of Arizona 

Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange for the District of Arizona, Special Agent in Charge Michael DeLeon of FBI’s Phoenix Field Office and Colonel Frank Milstead of the Arizona Department of Public Safety announced the sentencings.  The Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety also provided significant assistance during the investigation.

As detailed in their three plea agreements, Devan Leonard, Kyle Gray, and Lucille Leonard are members of the RSK.  RSK operated on the eastern side of the Navajo Nation in the District of Arizona.  RSK was responsible for at least three murders, attempted murder, aggravated assaults, kidnappings, and drug trafficking, amongst other crimes. 

On or between Dec. 12 and Dec. 13, 2014, Devan Leonard and another RSK member shot and killed two men, in Lukachukai, Arizona on the Navajo Indian Reservation, where the bodies were dismembered, burned and buried, to conceal the killings.

On Dec. 16, 2014, Kyle Gray and Devan Leonard shot and killed another victim immediately following a drug trafficking transaction.  Later, Devan Leonard and Kyle Gray transported the victim’s body to a remote sheep camp on the reservation, where they dismembered, and burned the victim’s body.

Lucille Leonard held a leadership role in RSK, mostly participating in and overseeing RSK’s drug trafficking organization, including the collection of debts owed to RSK.

The second superseding indictment in this matter was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, and the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dimitra Sampson and Tracy Van Buskirk of the District of Arizona, and Trial Attorneys Kelly Pearson and Hans Miller of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section prosecuted the case.

PHOENIX – This week, Thane Epefanio, 45, of Avondale, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to two years in prison for embezzling money from the Hopi Mission School located on the Hopi Reservation in Kykotsmovi, Ariz.  Epefanio had previously pleaded guilty to money laundering and wire fraud. 

     Epefanio served as the Superintendent and Administrator of the Hopi Mission School, a private, charitable school funded primarily with donations and through participation in government programs.  Beginning in 2012, Epefanio used his position and influence to embezzle school funds and also directed staff to provide him money to create the appearance that the funds were being used to operate the school.  Epefanio obtained almost $1 million to support his gambling habit and to pay for personal expenses. 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Social Security Administration, Inspector General Office of Investigation.  The prosecution was handled by Monica B. Edelstein and Natalie Huddleston, Assistant U.S. Attorneys.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-16-08241-PCT-SPL 

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-060_Epefanio

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PHOENIX– Yesterday, Daniel Sherman Lejero, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 33 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.  Lejero had previously pleaded guilty to two accounts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. 

     On March 26, 2015, an intoxicated Lejero crashed a speeding vehicle that contained two minor children. The children, who are both members of the Gila River Indian Community, were ejected from the vehicle and suffered serious injuries.  At the time of the car accident, Lejero had two prior DUI convictions and was driving on a suspended license.  Lejero is an enrolled member of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and the accident took place within the Gila River Indian Community.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Christine Ducat Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-17-00711-PHX-JJT

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-059_Lejero

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PHOENIX – This week, Juan Mark Sayegh, 44, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 48 months’ imprisonment and ordered to forfeit approximately $1.7 million in cash, real property, and other assets.  Sayegh had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance analogue and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

     A controlled substance analogue is a substance that is intended for human consumption and is substantially similar in chemical structure and pharmacological effect, or intended effect, to any drug scheduled under the federal Controlled Substances Act, like cocaine, methamphetamine, JWH-018, Methcathinone, or Methylone.

     Sayegh owned and operated Greenlight Distribution in Phoenix, Ariz., from July 2010 through July 2012.  Greenlight manufactured and distributed designer synthetic drugs.  Specifically, Greenlight manufactured and distributed synthetic cannabinoid products (commonly referred to as “spice”) under the brand names Mary Jane’s Potpourri and Mary Jane’s Private Reserve.  Greenlight also manufactured and distributed synthetic cathinone products (commonly referred to as “bath salts”) under the brand names Go Fast Carpet Deodorizer and Quick Clean Carpet Deodorizer.  These synthetic drugs were manufactured with chemicals imported from China and were designed to be smoked or ingested in order to get users high.  These designer drugs were intentionally and falsely mislabeled as innocuous household products that were “not for human consumption” in order to circumvent federal consumer and drug laws.  The products were sold to stores and individuals across the United States for great profit.

     The operations at Greenlight ceased on July 25, 2012, when the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant at several locations associated with Greenlight and its employees as part of Operation Logjam.  Operation Logjam was a U.S. Department of Justice -coordinated investigation of synthetic drug manufacturers and distributors across the United States.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Phoenix, Milwaukee, and Kansas City field offices, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Phoenix field office, and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office in Kansas under the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program. The prosecution was handled by Lacy Cooper, D.J. Pashayan, and Mark Wenker, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:                   CR-16-00506-PHX-DGC (DKD)

RELEASE NUMBER:           2018-057_ Sayegh

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PHOENIX – This week, U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell sentenced William “Larry” Dorsey, 56, of Chandler, Ariz., to 36 months in prison and three years of supervised release. The Court also ordered Dorsey to pay $7.3 million in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. Dorsey had previously pleaded guilty to tax evasion.

     Dorsey owned and operated several professional employment organizations, including Pinnacle Employee Group, Inc. (PEG) and Pinnacle Planning Group, Inc. (PPG), which contracted with small business owners to provide payroll services.  Dorsey, through PEG and PPG, collected federal employment taxes from his clients but, instead of paying the taxes over to the IRS as he contracted to do, kept a significant portion of the taxes for his own personal use and to fund other business ventures.  To conceal his theft, Dorsey filed false employment tax returns with the IRS, which underreported the taxes due from PEG and PPG.  From 2011 through 2014, Dorsey underreported and underpaid approximately $7.3 million in federal employment taxes due and owing by PEG and PPG.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Bridget Minder and Peter Sexton, Assistant United States Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:                   CR-18-00128-DGC-PHX

RELEASE NUMBER:           2018-058_Dorsey

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TUCSON, Ariz. – On May 2, 2018, Marc Ryan Shipley, 34, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge David C. Bury to 96 months’ imprisonment.  Shipley had been previously found guilty following trial of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon.

     Shipley had been convicted in 2007 of the felony offenses of conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official and interference with commerce by extortion, and as a result was prohibited by law from possessing firearms and ammunition.  However, in March of 2016, Shipley entered Benson Justice Court with a handgun and was removed by courthouse security.  Later that same month, Shipley was in an automobile accident and was armed with a pistol in a holster on his hip and another firearm in his vehicle.  In April of 2016, ATF agents questioned Shipley about his possession of firearms.  At that time Shipley had another loaded pistol in his vehicle.  Agents obtained a search warrant for Shipley’s house, where they found eight more firearms, 1,754 rounds of ammunition, and several high capacity firearm magazines. 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Tucson Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Angela W. Woolridge, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:                   CR-16-01061-TUC-DCB

RELEASE NUMBER:           2018-056_Shipley

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TUCSON, Ariz. – On Tuesday, May 1, 2018, Anthony James Lane, 51, of Tucson, Ariz., originally from Missouri, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson to 120 months’ imprisonment.  Lane had previously pleaded guilty to eleven counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery.  

     During a six-month crime spree involving six states, Lane robbed and attempted to rob twelve banks with the use of a simulated handgun.  He was dubbed the “Barrel Chested Bandit” due to descriptions provided by witnesses.  He stole over $74,000 from the banks.  The guilty plea resolves the investigations conducted by six law enforcement agencies.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and various state law enforcement agencies in six different states.  The prosecution was handled by Carmen F. Corbin and Raquel Arellano, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-17-00483-TUC-CKJ

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-054_Lane

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PHOENIX– On April 30, 2018, Adrian Dann, 41, of Pinon, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 37 months’ imprisonment. Dann had previously pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.  

     In June 2017, Dann drove a truck in a reckless manner and struck the victim, a member of the Navajo Nation, resulting in multiple fractures to his ankle, foot, and leg. Dann is also a member of the Navajo Nation.

     Navajo Nation Criminal Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. The prosecution was handled by Kiyoko Patterson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-17-8174-PCT-DGC 

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-055_Dann

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PHOENIX – Yesterday, Lambert Ten Hosteen, 30, of Pinon, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 6 years’ imprisonment.  Hosteen had previously pleaded guilty to assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.

     On May 17, 2017, officers of the Navajo Nation Police Department were contacted with reports that Hosteen was firing a shotgun and fighting with another person in the area of Pinon, Ariz.  When officers arrived, Hosteen pointed the loaded weapon at them and threatened several times to shoot them.  In response, one officer fired at Hosteen, striking him in the hand.  After Hosteen was taken into custody, officers discovered that the shotgun was a homemade destructive device, which is illegal to possess under the National Firearms Act.  Hosteen and the officers are all members of the Navajo Nation, and the offense occurred on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.

     The investigation was conducted by agents of both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).  The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney William G. Voit, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR 17-08195-GMS

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-053_ Hosteen

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TUCSON, Ariz. – This week, Dwight Phillip Bivens, 29, of Fresno, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Raner C. Collins to 63 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release.  Bivens had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of Hobbs Act Robbery.

     On May 28, 2016, Bivens and three other persons entered a Tiffany & Co. jewelry store in Tucson, Ariz., stole a diamond solitaire ring, and assaulted a security guard before getting away.  Later that day, Bivens and the three men entered a Nordstrom department store in Scottsdale, Ariz., and stole several designer handbags after verbally threatening a store manager.  On the same day, Bivens and the three men entered a Helzberg Diamond Outlet store in Glendale, Ariz., and stole several high-end watches after pepper-spraying the store employees.  Bivens later pawned the watches in Fresno, Calif.  The victims’ financial losses totaled more than $130,000.

     A co-defendant, Mitchell Ray Finley, is pending sentencing after pleading guilty to two counts of Hobbs Act Robbery.  His sentencing is set for Aug. 6, 2018.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, the Scottsdale Police Department, the Glendale Police Department, and the Fresno Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Lauren G. LaBuff, Fred A. Cocio, and Rui Wang, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:            CR 17-01145-TUC-RCC (DTF)  

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-052_ Bivens_etal

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PHOENIX – This week, Omar Dixon, 37, of Tuba City, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen M. McNamee to 84 months’ imprisonment. Dixon had previously pleaded guilty to robbery. 

     On Sept. 20, 2015, Dixon and two codefendants entered the Tuba City Shell gas station wearing disguises.  Dixon forcibly restrained the gas station attendant with a knife, while his codefendants seized the cash register, cigarette packs, and a security monitor.  Dixon and his two codefendants then fled the scene in a waiting vehicle.  Dixon was apprehended shortly after the robbery, in possession of two pocket knives, $130, and two unopened cigarette packs.  All defendants are members of the Navajo Nation.

     The investigation in this case was conducted the Tuba City Police Department, the Tuba City Criminal Investigators’ Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Jonathan R. Hornok, Cassie Bray Woo, and Roger Dokken, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-16-8247-PHX-SMM

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-050_Dixon

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PHOENIX – Last week, Desmond Anthony Lomayaktewa, 27, of Second Mesa, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 105 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release.  Lomayaktewa, an enrolled member of the Hopi Tribe, had previously pleaded guilty to four counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

     The charges to which Lomayaktewa pleaded guilty stemmed from four incidents in which Lomayaktewa was found possessing methamphetamine on the Hopi Indian Reservation, all between August 2016 and March 2017.  Three times, Lomayaktewa possessed firearms as well.  Lomayaktewa admitted that he sold methamphetamine on the Hopi Indian Reservation throughout this time period and that he carried firearms for protection during and in relation to his methamphetamine trafficking activity.  In total, law enforcement seized over 300 grams of methamphetamine and four firearms from Lomayaktewa.

     Lomayaktewa is the third defendant in recent months to receive a significant sentence for selling methamphetamine on the Hopi Indian Reservation.  On March 5, 2018, Johnny Baird, 31, was sentenced to 20 months in prison.  On April 2, 2018, Lawrence Maho, 54, a resident of Holbrook, Ariz. and an enrolled member of the Hopi Tribe, was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

     The investigations in all three cases were conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services (Hopi Agency), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.  The prosecutions were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Samuels, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-17-8115-PCT-JJT

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-051_Lomayaktewa

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PHOENIX – Yesterday, Kendale Johnson, 28, of Shiprock, N.M., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 37 months’ imprisonment.  Johnson had previously pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting an assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.

     On July 4, 2017, an Arizona DPS Officer, who was cross-commissioned with the Navajo Division of Public Safety, attempted to pull Johnson over for speeding on a stretch of State Route 98 near Kaibeto, Ariz., on the Navajo Nation Reservation.  Johnson refused to pull over and instead instigated a high-speed chase that continued for at least 10 miles at speeds of 80-90 miles per hour.  During the chase, Johnson and a passenger in his vehicle threw several rocks back at the pursuing patrol vehicle.  Johnson initially escaped, but he was swiftly located and taken into custody.  Johnson is a member of the Navajo Nation.

     The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney William G. Voit, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-17-08175-SPL

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-049_Johnson

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PHOENIX– Yesterday, Veronica Castro, 44, of Glendale, Ariz. was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 20 months in prison and was ordered to pay $1,145,392 in restitution.  Castro had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud along with co-defendant Yomtov Scott Menaged.  Menaged was previously sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment for his role in the bank fraud and other associated schemes.  

     Castro was a long time employee of Menaged who owned and operated retail furniture stores in the Phoenix area.  Castro helped Menaged operate an elaborate identity theft scheme involving purported customers of the various retail furniture stores.  Menaged obtained personal identification information of recently deceased individuals and used their information to submit false credit card applications to banks.  Castro created false and fraudulent credit applications and receipts listing the same names and personal identification information to submit to the banks in an attempt to conceal the fraud after payments were issued on the fraudulent accounts.  In fact, no real furniture purchases ever took place.  The scheme resulted in a more than $1 million loss to the bank. 

     The investigation in this case was conducted by Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Monica B. Edelstein, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-17-000680-PHX-GMS           

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-047_Castro

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PHOENIX – Last week, Ronald Amaguin Dallas, 28, of Glendale, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 120 months’ imprisonment.  Dallas had previously pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography. 

     Over the course of at least a year, Dallas downloaded and distributed child pornography through bit torrent file sharing.  After undercover agents downloaded child pornography from Dallas’s IP address, they obtained a warrant to search his home.  During the search, agents seized several devices containing video files and hundreds of images depicting child pornography. 

     This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon M. Brown and Gayle Helart.    

CASE NUMBER:           CR-17-01248 (SPL)       

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-045_Dallas

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TUCSON, Ariz. – Today, Travon Jarvel Jackson, 37, of Tampa, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez to 15 years’ imprisonment.  Jackson had been previously found guilty following trial of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; and interstate transportation for prostitution.

     Between May and August of 2016, Jackson manipulated and coerced the victim, a woman from Tampa, Fla., into performing acts of prostitution in both Florida and Arizona.  Jackson posted advertisements for the victim on www.Backpage.com and kept all of the money derived from the victim’s acts of prostitution.  Jackson controlled the victim by withholding food, money, and property from her in order to coerce her into performing commercial sex acts, and physically assaulted her to gain her compliance.  Jackson forced the victim to travel to Tucson against her will, where he continued to use her to engage in prostitution for which he kept the profits.  The victim escaped Jackson by contacting a human trafficking victim rescue service, which she had seen advertised on a billboard, from a motel room in Tucson where Jackson had been keeping her to perform acts of prostitution.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations, and the Tucson Police Department, working collaboratively under the Southern Arizona Anti-Trafficking Unified Response Network (SAATURN).  The prosecution was handled by Angela W. Woolridge, Adam D. Rossi, and Karen E. Rolley, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:                  CR-16-01704-TUC-RM

RELEASE NUMBER:           2018-046_Jackson

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PHOENIX– In the first quarter of 2018, federal and state prosecutors and their law enforcement partners combined resources to investigate and prosecute opioid cases throughout Arizona.  The goal of this surge was to disrupt opioid trafficking throughout the state while promoting case coordination and intelligence sharing between federal, state, and local law enforcement.  During this surge period, the Task Force prosecuted over 90 heroin and opioid traffickers and diverted over 300 people suffering from substance abuse for drug treatment.  Law enforcement seized nearly 300 pounds of heroin, 80 pounds of fentanyl, and tens of thousands of fentanyl pills that were manufactured to appear to be OxyContin.  Of particular note, this surge led to the prosecution of a Tucson dealer whose heroin caused the death of a victim, the prosecution of a Phoenix medical professional who was purchasing OxyContin and morphine from a patient at a medical facility, and an interdiction of a large load of pure fentanyl powder in Mohave County.   The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration also continued its efforts and initiated over 25 new opioid trafficking investigations.

     “The opioid epidemic is a significant public safety concern that continues to kill a record number of Arizonans,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange.  “In the last three months, our office has devoted additional resources to assist federal and state law enforcement to enforce our drug laws.  This surge of resources and coordination with our federal and state law enforcement partners will continue until significant strides are made in disrupting the flow of heroin and fentanyl into our communities and schools.” 

     “The relationship between the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and our Federal and local law enforcement partners is as strong as it has ever been,” said Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich. “By collaborating together, we are working towards a common goal of dismantling large scale opioid trafficking operations from Arizona communities.”

     “This successful operation has highlighted two continuing truths: 1- law enforcement in Arizona at the federal, state, and local level are committed to combining our resources to offer treatment alternatives to those in need of substance abuse help while also interdicting the sales and distribution of deadly heroin, fentanyl, and counterfeit opioids into our community and 2 -  heroin and fentanyl traffickers continue to seek to exploit Arizona as a major thoroughfare for drug trafficking to the detriment of Arizonans and the Arizona legislature should give us the tools we are asking for to deal with this clearly identified threat,“ said Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery.

     “Opioid overdoses kill 115 Americans every day,” said Doug Coleman, Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Phoenix Division.  “The DEA in Arizona will target those who prey on the addiction of others by illegally distributing opioids, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure these criminals face justice.”

     The removal of unused prescribed opioids from the public is also a vital component of the Department of Justice’s overall strategy to reduce opioid abuse.  This strategic component is crucial due to the significant rise in the manufacture and distribution of fentanyl pills that mimic the look of OxyContin pills.  If you have unused prescription opioids or other prescription drugs in your home, and want to dispose of them safely, please take advantage of the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Takeback Day on Saturday, April 28, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.    Collection sites will be set up throughout the state on that day to provide the public with a safe, convenient, and responsible way of disposing of prescription drugs.  Please go to www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/ to find the nearest collection site.

     The members of this DOJ-led Opioid Task Force include the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, the Pima County Attorney’s Office, the Phoenix Police Department, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Postal Service, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-048_ Opioid Task Force

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TUCSON, Ariz. – On April 18, 2018, Steve Martan, 58, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson to 15 months’ imprisonment.  Martan had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a federal official by threatening.

     On May 2, 4, and 10, 2017, Martan left a total of six threatening messages for Congresswoman Martha McSally on her congressional office voicemail.  Martan was identified through caller identification and subscriber information and was in possession of the phone used to leave these messages when he was arrested on May 11, 2017.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the United States Capitol Police.  The prosecution was handled by Angela W. Woolridge, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:                   CR-17-0857-TUC-CKJ

RELEASE NUMBER:           2018-043_Martan

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PHOENIX – Earlier this month, Douglas Dane Jones, 41, of Tsaile, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 20 years’ imprisonment, to be followed by lifetime supervised release with mandatory sex offender registration and conditions.  Jones had previously pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor and production of child pornography.

     Jones sexually abused the victim over the course of several months in 2017.  Jones also produced child pornography.  The victim’s family brought the matter to the attention of law enforcement authorities.  Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation promptly began an investigation, which led to Jones’ arrest and prosecution.  Jones and the victim are both members of the Navajo Nation, and the abuse occurred both within the Navajo Nation Reservation and outside of it, including in the city of Chandler, Ariz.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Chandler Police Department, with the assistance of other federal, state, and tribal agencies.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney William G. Voit, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-17-08031-DJH

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-042_ Jones

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TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, James Dewayne Munkus, 55, of St. David, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Raner C. Collins to 108 months’ imprisonment.  Munkus had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery.

     Using a fake bomb, Munkus robbed an eastside branch of Pima Federal Credit Union on January 9, 2017, taking over $3,000.  Five days later, Munkus used a handgun to rob an eastside branch of US Bank of over $64,000.  Law enforcement officers apprehended Munkus in Gadsden, Ala., on March 21, 2017.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Tucson Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Matthew C. Cassell, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:                  CR-17-0639-TUC-RCC-DTF

RELEASE NUMBER:           2018-041_ Munkus

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