FEDERAL DISTRICT ARCHIVE
District of Arizona
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Arizona U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects over $9 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions on Behalf of U.S. Taxpayers in Fiscal Year 2016Read the Press Release
PHOENIX - U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona collected $9,008,747 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2016. Of this amount, $7,225,134 was collected in criminal actions and $1,783,613 was collected in civil actions.
Additionally, the District of Arizona worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $5,020,530 in cases pursued jointly with those offices. Of this amount, $12,013 was collected in criminal actions and $5,008,516 was collected in civil actions.
Last week, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch announced that the Justice Department collected nearly $15.4 billion in civil and criminal actions in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2016. The $15,380,130,434 in collections in FY 2016 represents more than five times the appropriated $2.93 billion budget for the 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices and the main litigating divisions of the Justice Department combined in that same period.
“Every day, the men and women of the Department of Justice work tirelessly to enforce our laws, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used properly and that the American people are protected from exploitation and abuse,” said Attorney General Lynch. “Today’s announcement is a testament to that work, and it makes clear that our actions deliver a significant return on public investment. I want to thank the prosecutors and trial attorneys who made this year's collections possible, and I want to emphasize that the department remains committed to the well-being of our people and our nation.”
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims’ Fund, which distributes the funds to state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
The largest civil collections were from affirmative civil enforcement cases, in which the United States recovered government money lost to fraud or other misconduct or collected fines imposed on individuals and/or corporations for violations of federal health, safety, civil rights or environmental laws. In addition, civil debts were collected on behalf of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Internal Revenue Service, Small Business Administration and Department of Education.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of Arizona, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $9,132,320 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2016. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-102_FY2016Collections
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Supai Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for RobberyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX– Yesterday, Taylor Nardo Paya, 20, a member of the Havasupai Tribe, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Paya had previously pleaded guilty to robbery.
The robbery occurred on the Havasupai Indian Reservation in December 2015. Paya assaulted the victim in the front yard of a residence before stealing a number of her personal effects.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The prosecution was handled by Christine Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-8233-PCT-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-101_Paya
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Hotevilla Man Sentenced to 37 Months for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – This week, Nicholas Cooper, 32, of Hotevilla, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 37 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Cooper, an enrolled member of the Hopi Tribe, had previously pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms.
Because he had previously been convicted of a felony, Cooper was prohibited from possessing firearms. In December 2014 and January 2015, Cooper possessed two firearms in violation of this prohibition. One of the firearms he possessed had been stolen from another enrolled member of the Hopi Tribe.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Indian Affairs-Office of Justice Services (Hopi Agency). The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Samuels, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-8004-PCT-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-100_Cooper
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Clarkdale Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yesterday, Derek Anson Beecher, 33, of Clarkdale, Ariz., a member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 87 months in federal prison, followed by a term of lifetime supervised release. Beecher had previously pleaded guilty to sexual abuse.
In early 2016, Beecher caused a minor victim to engage in a sexual act. The incident occurred on the Yavapai-Apache Nation Indian Reservation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Yavapai-Apache Nation Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Christina Covault, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-8106-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-099_Beecher
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Fort Defiance Couple Sentenced to Prison for Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – This week, Sylvia Begay, 50, of Fort Defiance, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 28 months in federal prison, followed by a three-year term of supervised release, and ordered to pay more than $2.1 million in restitution. Additionally, Virgil Begay, 53, of Fort Defiance, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 21 months in federal prison, followed by a three-year term of supervised release, and ordered to pay more than $1.3 million in restitution. The Begays had previously pleaded guilty to health care fraud.
The Begays generated millions of dollars in fraudulent payments to themselves by falsely billing Arizona’s Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) for tens of thousands of medical transports that never occurred. AHCCCS is Arizona’s Medicaid agency that offers health care programs to Arizona residents who meet certain income and other requirements. The Begays owned and operated companies that provided non-emergency medical transportation for AHCCCS recipients on the Navajo reservation. From December 2010 through May 2013, Ms. Begay’s company, Hozho Nahasdlii Health Care at Home, submitted more than 24,000 false claims to AHCCCS for medical transports that never occurred, generating approximately $2,174,207 in fraudulent payments from AHCCCS to Ms. Begay. From May 2012 through May 2013, Mr. Begay’s company, Beauty Way Transport, submitted more than 16,000 false claims to AHCCCS for medical transports that never occurred, generating approximately $1,367,588 in fraudulent payments from AHCCCS to Mr. Begay.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Bridget Minder and Peter Sexton, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-08252-GMS-PHX
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-098_Begay
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Arizona Cocaine Suppliers SentencedRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – This week, Pedro Rafael Gonzalez-Zazueta, 39, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 88 months’ imprisonment. Gonzalez-Zazueta had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
On Oct. 16, 2016, Eduardo Robles Luzania, 41, of Avondale, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 108 months’ imprisonment. Luzania had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.
On Sept. 19, 2016, David Lee Richardson, 53, of Gilbert, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton to 36 months’ imprisonment. Richardson had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine.
Beginning in 2013, Gonzalez-Zazueta supplied kilograms of cocaine to California and Arizona. One of his customers was arrested in California in December of 2013.
After the California customer was arrested, Gonzalez-Zazueta began to distribute cocaine to Phoenix area residents, including Richardson and Luzania, between the spring of 2014 and the summer of 2015. Richardson and Luzania then used a courier to transport this cocaine from Arizona to Alabama. After this cocaine was transported to Alabama, Gonzalez-Zazueta received payment for it in Arizona.
As part of this investigation, agents determined that Luzania laundered more than $145,000 in drug proceeds and also attempted to ship methamphetamine to Pennsylvania through the U.S. mail. In addition, during a search of Gonzalez-Zazueta’s residence, agents seized a firearm and approximately $417,000 in U.S. currency.
The investigation in this case was conducted by a collaborative team consisting of multiple agencies, including Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, the Salt River Police Department, and the Apache Junction Police Department. The prosecution was handled by D. J. Pashayan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-1548-PHX-DJH; CR-15-1571-PHX-SRB; CR-16-219-PHX-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-096_Gonzalez-Zazueta
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Laveen Man Sentenced to 65 Months in Prison for Aggravated AssaultRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On Oct. 31, 2016, Verland Anthony Sabori, 35, of Laveen, Ariz., an enrolled member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced by Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 65 months in federal prison, followed by a term of three years of supervised release. Sabori had previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.
On Dec. 15, 2016, Sabori, a three-time felon, shot the victim, who is also a tribal member, in the back, causing life-threatening bodily injury. The incident occurred within the boundaries of the Gila River Indian Community.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Christina Covault, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-269-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-095_Sabori
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Peach Springs Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Aggravated AssaultRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On Oct. 24, 2016, Lonewolf Deray Havatone, Sr., 34, of Peach Springs, Ariz., a member of the Havasupai Tribe, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 59 months in federal prison, followed by a term of three years of supervised release. Havatone had previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. The 59-month sentence reflects a five-month reduction for the time Havatone spent in tribal custody for the same incident.
On Sept. 23, 2014, Havatone, a convicted felon, assaulted the victim, a member of the Hualapai tribe, by striking her with a rifle and threatening to kill her. He then fled on foot still armed with the rifle, requiring Hualapai Police Department officers to engage in a foot chase to apprehend him. The incident occurred on the Hualapai Nation Indian Reservation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Hualapai Nation Police. The prosecution was handled by Christina Covault, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-8268-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-094_ Havatone
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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U.S. Attorney Announces Efforts to Protect Voters and Prevent Fraud in November 2016 ElectionsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX - United States Attorney John S. Leonardo announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Todd M. Allison will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming Nov. 8, 2016, general elections. AUSA Allison has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the District of Arizona, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
“Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate,” stated United States Attorney John S. Leonardo. “It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination, voter intimidation, or election fraud make that information available immediately to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud, voter intimidation, and discrimination at the polls, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on election day.
Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice.
The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the electoral franchise exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on Nov. 8, 2016, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA Allison will be on duty in this District the entire time that the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: (602) 595-2866.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and any other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (623) 466-1999.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington, DC by phone at 1-800-253-3931 or (202) 307-2767, by fax at (202) 307-3961, by email to voting.section@usdoj.gov or by complaint format at http://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-092_2016 Gen Elections
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Three Members of the Colorado River Indian Tribes Sentenced to Federal Prison for RobberyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, Javen Ann Drennan, 31, of Parker, Ariz. was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 51 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
On July 25, 2016, co-defendant Rikki Alison Drennan, 27, of Parker, Ariz. was sentenced by Judge Steven P. Logan to 50 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and on June 27, 2016, co-defendant Arrow Nicholas Lopez, 19, of Parker, Ariz., was sentenced by Judge Logan to 32 months in prison, having received credit for 14 months served in tribal custody. All three defendants, who are members of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, had previously pleaded guilty to robbery.
On the morning of Dec. 2, 2014, J. Drennan’s employment was terminated at Woody’s gas station in Parker, Ariz., which is located on the Colorado River Indian Tribes Reservation. Later that evening J. Drennan drove R. Drennan and Lopez to Woody’s. R. Drennan and A. Lopez wore dark clothing and covered their faces with bandanas, and Lopez had a knife. When they entered the store to commit the robbery, Lopez held the knife inches from the victim’s waist and told the victim to empty the cash register drawers. R. Drennan stole alcohol and cigarettes and she and Lopez fled the store with approximately $850 in cash. R. Drennan and Lopez got into J. Drennan’s vehicle and fled from Woody’s until they were stopped by Parker Police.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the CRIT Police Department, and the Parker Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Christina J. Reid-Moore, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-0114-PHX-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-093_Lopez_etal
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Phoenix Woman Sentenced to over 12 Months for Failure to Pay Taxes and WagesRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On Oct. 17, 2016, Ismary Diaz, 56, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 12 months and 1 day of imprisonment. Diaz had previously pleaded guilty to willful failure to collect or pay tax and failure to pay minimum wage.
Diaz, from at least 2009 through March, 2013, failed to file accurate tax returns, in order to hide the fact that she was illegally employing undocumented aliens in her five Phoenix area restaurants. Diaz also failed to pay her employees the federal minimum wage required by law. Diaz failed to pay over $288,000 in taxes and over $89,000 in wages.
The investigation in this case was conducted by a collaborative team consisting of multiple agencies, including IRS-CI, DOL, HSI, FBI and the Phoenix Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Monica Edelstein and Robert Brooks, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-455-PHX-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-091_Diaz
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Tohono O’odham Police Detective Receives Award from U.S. Attorney General for Distinguished Service in Community PolicingRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Jessie Gonzales, a detective with the Tohono O’odham Police Department in Arizona, has received the U.S. Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing for criminal investigations.
“I am proud of Detective Gonzales and very pleased that he was recognized by the Attorney General for his efforts and accomplishments in combatting crime and enhancing public safety in the Tohono O’odham community,” said U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. “This is a very prestigious national award and Detective Gonzales is a deserving recipient.”
Detective Gonzales was recognized for his work in criminal investigations. Assigned to crimes against children and sex crimes, Detective Gonzales was sometimes the only detective investigating these cases on the Tohono O’odham reservation, which covers three counties. He consistently went above and beyond the call of duty when conducting investigations. He solved two rape cases during his time in the Criminal Investigations Division, one involving a 10-year-old victim and the other involving a domestic violence-related stabbing.
The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing recognizes individual state, local, or tribal sworn police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in community policing.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-087_AG_Award-Gonzales
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Arizona Indian Tribes and Agencies Awarded over $6.8 Million in Federal Grants to Assist Victims, Promote Public and Officer SafetyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo announced that over $6.8 million in federal grant funds have been awarded to a variety of Arizona-based Indian tribes and associatedagencies. The federal grant awards, which are individually summarized below, are intended to combat crime, assist victims of crime, and promote public and officer safety:
- Pascua Yaqui Tribe: Awarded a total of $1,609,919, through four awards, to support the Comprehensive Tribal Victim Assistance Program and other federal programs and to improve services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault/trafficking, and stalking. (Grant Nos. 2016-VR-GX-K009, 2016-AC-BX-0004, 2016-VI-GX-K006, 2016-TW-AX-0011.)
- Tohono O’odham Nation: Awarded $1,362,142, through three awards, to support the Comprehensive Tribal Victim Assistance Program and other federal programs. (Grant Nos. 2016-TW-AW-0009, 2016-VR-GX-K008, 2016-DJ-BX-0985.)
• Colorado River Indian Tribes: Awarded $991,092 to support the hiring of three officers and the purchase of additional equipment and training. (2016-CTAS-COPS.)
- Hopi Tribe: Awarded $679,065 to ensure crimes against women and girls are aggressively prosecuted. (Grant No. 2015-TW-AX-0037)
- Unified Solutions Tribal Community Development Group, Inc.: Awarded $500,000 to enhance tribal communities’ ability to provide comprehensive and culturally appropriate services to victims of crime, their families, and their communities. (Grant No. 2015-MU-GX-K074.)
- Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community: Awarded $450,000 to support the Comprehensive Tribal Victim Assistance Program. (Grant No. 2016-VR-GX-K006.)
- Hopi-Tewa Women’s Coalition to End Abuse: Awarded $336,976 to implement certain provisions of the Violence Against Women Act of 2000, the Justice Act of 2004, and Public Law No. 108-4-5. (Grant No. 2016-IW-AX-0015.)
- Southwest Indigenous Women’s Coalition: Awarded $336,976 to implement certain provisions of the Violence Against Women Act of 2000, the Justice Act of 2004, and Public Law No. 108-4-5. (Grant No. 2016-IW-AX-0012.)
- Yavapai-Apache Nation: Awarded $184,680 to support Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking and the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. (Grant No. 2016AW-BX-0024.)
- White Mountain Apache Tribe: Awarded $150,000 to support Sex Offender, Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking and the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. (Grant No. 2016-AW-BX-0025.)
- Salt River Police Department: Awarded a total of $141,032, through two awards, to support the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act and the Comprehensive Tribal Victim Assistance Program. (Grant Nos. 2016-AW-BX-0012, 2016-VR-GX-K006.)
- Navajo Nation: Awarded $48,831 to implement Moral Reconation Therapy in its probation and parole services. (2016-DJ-BX-0919.)
- San Carlos Apache Tribe Police Department: Awarded $22,246 for the purchase of ammunition, approved firearms, and training. (2016-DJ-BX-1000.)
- Gila River Indian Community: Awarded $20,150 to improve officer safety by purchasing ballistic vests. (2016-DJ-BX-0510.)
“These funds support the basic operational needs of each of the Arizona-based tribes and agencies named in this release,” said U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. “These grants will enhance our efforts to reduce crime and increase public safety in Indian Country. We encourage all agencies to be proactive and apply for future law enforcement grant funding through our Office of Justice Programs.”
The grant funds identified above were supplied by a variety of federal awarding agencies, all of which are components of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (“OJP”).
Information about Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov
Information about Bureau of Justice Assistance and its programs can be found at: https://www.bja.gov/Default.aspx
Information on the Office on Violence against Women can be found at:
https://www.justice.gov/ovw/grant-programs
Information on the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency can be found at:
http://www.ojjdp.gov/
Tribal training and technical assistance
https://www.justice.gov/tribal/training-and-technical-assistance
Additional tribal training and technical assistance:
- Unified Solutions: http://www.unified-solutions.org/
- U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Indian Affairs: www.bia.gov
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-090_IC GRANTS
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Tohono O’odham Man to Serve 46 Months in Prison for Stabbing Another Tribal MemberRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, Lauterio Keanu Ace Valenzuela, 24, of Tucson, Ariz, a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 46 months in prison. Valenzuela had previously pleaded guilty to an assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
On Oct. 18, 2015, Valenzuela stabbed another Tohono O’odham Nation member following an argument. The incident occurred in the San Xavier District within the Tohono O’odham reservation. The victim was stabbed several times in the arm and suffered a laceration to the ear. The injuries were not life-threatening. Valenzuela was on federal supervision at the time of the assault. He absconded following the assault and was arrested two months later.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Tohono O’odham 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-15-2147-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-089_Valenzuela
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Yavapai Regional Medical Center to Pay $5.85 Million to Resolve False Claims AllegationsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yavapai Regional Medical Center (Yavapai), an Arizona not-for-profit community health system, has agreed to pay the United States $5.85 million to resolve claims that it violated the False Claims Act by misreporting data about the hours worked by its employees on its annual cost reports, which improperly inflated the amount of money it received from the Medicare program.
“The United States Attorney’s Office has invested and will continue to invest significant time, effort, and resources in successfully enforcing the False Claims Act to hold health care providers, including hospital systems, accountable for false billings,” said U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. “False bills to the Medicare program threaten the viability and effectiveness of the program, undermine public confidence, waste precious taxpayer dollars, and will not be tolerated.”
“Falsifying records and extracting unwarranted funds from Medicare will be detected and stopped,” said Christian J. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge for the Los Angeles Region of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “Medicare funds are intended to care for patients, not line the pockets of providers who submit false claims.”
The United States alleged that between 2006 and 2009, Yavapai misreported the hours worked by its employees, which inflated the wage index for the Prescott, Arizona area. The United States alleged that the artificially inflated wage index was used by the Medicare program when it calculated the amount of the payments it made to Yavapai. The United States also alleged that as a result of Yavapai’s false claims, federal health care programs paid substantially more than was warranted. The settlement is neither an admission of liability by Yavapai, nor is it a concession by the United States that its claims are not well founded.
The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed in April 2016 by Gregory Kuzma under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private citizens to bring civil actions on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona and is captioned United States ex rel. Kuzma v. Yavapai Regional Medical Center (CV-16-08072-PCT-JAT). Mr. Kuzma will receive $1.17 million as his share of the settlement payment that resolves the qui tam suit he filed.
The case was handled by the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, and the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General.
Individuals with information regarding fraud, waste, or abuse related to Medicare or other federal programs are encouraged to file a complaint with the United States Attorney’s Office through the office’s website, http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/, or by calling (602) 514-7500.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-088_ Yavapai Regional Medical Center
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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Arizona Agencies Awarded over $9 Million in Federal Grants to Combat Crime, Assist Victims, and Promote Public and Officer Safety.Read the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo announced that over $9 million in federal grant funds have been awarded to a variety of Arizona-based state, local, and non-profit organizations. The federal grant awards, which are individually summarized below, are intended to combat crime, assist victims of crime, and promote public and officer safety:
• Rocky Mountain Information Network: Awarded $4,740,957 to offer support to regional law enforcement agencies, critical analytical and investigative support services, and de-confliction to enhance officer safety. (Grant No. 2015-RS-CX-0003)
• Maricopa County: Awarded $1,064,609 to support its probation, prosecution, enforcement, forensic, and prevention programs, with the goal of preventing and controlling crime and increasing officer safety. (Grant No. 2016-DJ-BX-0801)
• Arizona Governor’s Office: Awarded $828,727 to support its Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention program. (Grant No. 2016-JF-FX-0013)
• Arizona Department of Corrections: Awarded $742,528 to assist in formulating a comprehensive response to the increasing number of people who are released from prison and jails. (Grant No. 2016-RV-BX-0001)
• Against Abuse, Inc.: Awarded $599,494 to improve the response of civil and criminal systems to families of domestic violence. (Grant No. 2016-FJ-AX-00002)
• Southwest Center for Law and Policy: Awarded $450,000 to assist and support victims of crime. (Grant No. 2016-TA-AX-K014)
• National Advocacy & Training Network: Awarded $349,445 to provide aid to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalkers. (Grant No. 2016-WH-AX0013)
• Arizona Coalition To End Sexual Assault And Domestic Violence: Awarded $239,532 to administer the State and Territorial Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Coalition Program. (Grant No. 2016-MU-AX-0002)
“These funds support the basic operational needs of each of the individual agencies named in this release, within our District,” said U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. “These grants will enhance our District’s efforts to reduce crime and increase public safety. We encourage all agencies to be proactive and apply for future law enforcement grant funding through our Office of Justice Programs.”
The grant funds identified above were supplied by a variety of federal awarding agencies, all of which are components of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (“OJP”).
Information about Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov
Information about Bureau of Justice Assistance and its programs can be found at: https://www.bja.gov/Default.aspx
Information on the Office on Violence against Women can be found at:
https://www.justice.gov/ovw/grant-programs
Information on the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency can be found at:
http://www.ojjdp.gov/
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-085_GEN GRANTS _1
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Mesa Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, Roberto Carlos Lopez, 30, of Mesa, Ariz. was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 84 months in prison, followed by a term of lifetime supervised release. Lopez had previously pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.
During the investigation, it was discovered that Lopez possessed 4 images and 296 videos of child pornography.
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. The prosecution was handled by Christina J. Reid-Moore and Rachel R. Stoddard, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-0796-PHX-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-083_Lopez
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Pakistani National Extradited and Sentenced for Attempting to Export Sensitive Technology for Pakistani MilitaryRead the Press Release
Syed Vaqar Ashraf, 71, of Lahore, Pakistan, was sentenced today to 33 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez of the District of Arizona. Ashraf previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to export defense controlled items without a license.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin and U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo of the District of Arizona made the announcement.
Ashraf attempted to procure gyroscopes and illegally ship them to Pakistan so they could be used by the Pakistani military. In an effort to evade detection, Ashraf arranged for the gyroscopes to be purchased in the name of a shell company and caused the gyroscopes to be transshipped to Belgium. Ashraf then traveled to Belgium to inspect the gyroscopes and arrange for their final transport to Pakistan.
On Aug. 26, 2014, Ashraf was arrested by the Belgium Federal Police at the request of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents, who had been conducting an undercover investigation of Ashraf’s activities.
HSI and Belgium Federal Police investigated the case. Trial Attorney Elizabeth Cannon of the National Security Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen Brook and Beverly Anderson of the District of Arizona prosecuted the case.
Arizona Real Estate Developer Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Falsifying Bankruptcy RecordRead the Press Release
An Arizona real estate developer was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for submitting false statements in his bankruptcy petition with the intent to conceal assets and property transfers from the bankruptcy trustee.
Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo of the District of Arizona and Acting Inspector in Charge Daniel A. Adame of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group made the announcement.
Alexander Papakyriakou, aka Alex Papas, 62, of Phoenix, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Susan R. Bolton of the District of Arizona, who will impose restitution at a hearing on Oct. 21, 2016. Papakyriakou pleaded guilty on Feb. 9, 2016, to one count of falsification of records in bankruptcy.
According to admissions made in connection with his plea agreement, in 2011, Papakyriakou filed a voluntary bankruptcy petition in which he claimed he had less than $1 million in assets and over $144 million in liabilities. In connection with his bankruptcy petition, Papakyriakou filed a statement of financial affairs (SFA), a declaration under penalty of perjury, about his assets and property transfers, which he admitted that he knew contained false entries and concealed his assets and transfers.
As part of his guilty plea, Papakyriakou admitted that at the time of the filing of the SFA, he had transferred all of his significant holdings into the names of other entities while still maintaining control of those entities by proxies. According to the plea agreement, these assets included an approximately $4.995 million beach house in Laguna Beach, California; a warehouse; several vintage collector automobiles; and funds from bank accounts. Papakyriakou further admitted that he filed the falsified SFA with intent to impede, obstruct or influence an investigation or the proper administration of his bankruptcy case.
The USPIS Criminal Investigations Group investigated the case. Trial Attorney Sarah Hall and Senior Litigation Counsel David Bybee of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Former Fraud Section Senior Litigation Counsel Jack Patrick provided substantial assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond Woo of the District of Arizona also provided assistance in this matter.
Navajo Man Sentenced to 19 Years for Child MolestationRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, Raymond S. Tsosie, 53, of Burnside, Ariz., a member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 229 months in prison. Tsosie had previously pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact with a child under the age of 12 years old.
Tsosie’s conduct included sexually abusing a five-year-old girl, an eight-year-old girl, and a nine-year-old girl in 2014. Tsosie was also ordered to have 20 years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment, which will include sex offender treatment and registration. All victims are members of the Navajo Nation and all incidents occurred on the Navajo Reservation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Gayle L. Helart, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-08165-PCT-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-065_ Tsosie
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Tohono O’odham Woman Sentenced to Prison for Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On Aug. 15, 2016, Monique Pablo-Johnson, 47, of Sells, Ariz., a member of Tohono O’odham Indian Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez to 11 years in custody. Pablo-Johnson had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter.
On June 6, 2013, Pablo-Johnson was under the influence of alcohol and cocaine while driving on SR 86, near Sells, on the Tohono O’odham Nation. Pablo-Johnson had three passengers in the car: her 25-year-old daughter, 7-week-old granddaughter, and adult male cousin. Pablo-Johnson was driving extremely recklessly, well over the speed limit and on the wrong side of the road. As an oncoming vehicle drew near, Pablo-Johnson swerved to her side of the road and lost control. Her car flew off of the road and struck the side of a hill. Pablo-Johnson’s daughter and granddaughter were ejected from the vehicle as they were not wearing seatbelts nor in a child restraint seat, and died from their injuries at the scene. Pablo-Johnson moved from the driver’s seat to the front passenger seat after the crash, and falsely claimed to the police that her daughter was the driver at the time of the crash.
At sentencing, Judge Marquez sentenced the Pablo-Johnson to eight (8) years of imprisonment for the death of Pablo-Johnson’s seven-week-old granddaughter and three (3) more consecutive years for the death of her daughter. In pronouncing the sentence, the Judge noted that her job was to protect the public from incapacitated drivers like Pablo-Johnson and to warn others that that there are consequences for driving while impaired.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Tohono O’odham Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Serra M. Tsethlikai, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-1361-TUC-RM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-063_ Pablo-Johnson
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Tucson Alien Smugglers Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, William Ken Huebbe, 31, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 11 years in prison. Huebbe had previously pleaded guilty to transportation of illegal aliens resulting in death. His co-defendant, Robert Evan Butcher Jr., 26, also of Tucson, Ariz. was previously sentenced to 48 months in prison.
On Jan. 8, 2015, Huebbe was driving a car on a two-lane road outside Three Points, Arizona. He and a co-defendant, Robert Evan Butcher Jr., were smuggling two unauthorized aliens towards Tucson. Huebbe panicked when he recognized an unmarked Border Patrol unit and fled at an extremely high rate of speed. Huebbe recklessly swerved into oncoming rush hour traffic and collided head-on with another motorist. The passenger in the other car, an 80-year-old woman, was killed instantly. The victim’s daughter, who was the driver, sustained massive injuries but survived after first responders extracted her. The co-defendant and the aliens also sustained serious injuries. Huebbe fled into the desert on a broken foot and was captured by Border Patrol agents shortly afterwards.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Border Patrol and the Pima County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Josh A.C. Ackerman, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-230
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-062_Huebbe
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Tuba City Man Sentenced to Nearly 20 Years in Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact of a MinorRead the Press Release
PHOENIX - Yesterday, Rodney Begay, of Tuba City, Ariz., a member of the Navajo Indian Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 235 months in prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. Begay had previously pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact of a minor.
The case involved the sexual abuse of 3 different girls, from 2005 to 2012, two also members of the Navajo Indian Nation-one non-native, occurring on the Navajo 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 Sharon K. Sexton, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-08175-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-060_Begay
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Smoke Signal Man Sentenced to 24 Years for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On Aug. 8, 2016, Michael K. Judy, 62, of Smoke Signal, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 24 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Judy had previously pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor.
According to the plea agreement, on or between April 18, 2001, and April 17, 2003, Judy, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, knowingly engaged in a sexual act with the female victim, who was eight or nine years old at the time. In 2014, the victim, now an adult, along with five others, also members of the Navajo Nation, reported multiple instances of sexual abuse on the Navajo Reservation by Judy during their childhoods. In total, the reported abuse spanned nearly three decades.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Christina Covault, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-8060
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-061_Judy
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Fort Defiance Man Sentenced to 63 Months for Violent AssaultRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, Ryan Haskie, 29, of Fort Defiance, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Rosenblatt to a total of 63 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Haskie had previously pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury and admitted to violating his terms of supervised release in a previous case.
In October 2015, Haskie, a member of the Navajo Nation, violently assaulted an elderly man, also a member of the Navajo Nation, in the Fort Defiance community.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Samuels, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-8243-PCT-PGR-1 and CR-12-8178-PGR-2
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-063_Haskie
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Man from Second Mesa Sentenced to 14 Years for Violent AssaultRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – This week, Johnathan Quavehema, 23, of Second Mesa, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 14 years of imprisonment. Quavehema had previously pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit murder.
In October 2015, Quavehema, who is a member of the Hopi Tribe, violently assaulted a female member of the Hopi Community. During the assault, Quavehema restrained the victim from leaving her home and threatened to kill her.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs-Office of Justice Services (Hopi Agency). The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Samuels, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-8003-PCT-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-059_Quavehema
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Bowie Man Sentenced for Illegally Removing Artifacts from Prehistoric Native American SiteRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. - David James Ioli, 69, of Bowie, Ariz., was sentenced today by U.S. Magistrate Judge D. Thomas Ferraro to five years of probation and ordered to pay over $8,000 to the Bureau of Land Management after previously pleading guilty to unlawfully removing ancient Native American artifacts from an archaeological site on public land.
On multiple occasions in April and May 2012, Ioli visited the Nine Mile Archaeological Site, which is owned and managed by the BLM, near Bowie. Archaeologists date the site to the late Mogollon to early Salado period, which would make it between a thousand and eight hundred years old. During his visits, Ioli excavated and removed numerous artifacts, including pottery, arrowheads, and grinding stones known as manos and metates. Judge Ferraro ordered the repayment of $8,707 to compensate the BLM for both the restoration and repair of the site and the loss of scientific knowledge caused by the removal of the artifacts from their archaeological context. As an additional condition of probation, Ioli is not permitted to enter lands owned by the BLM, the National Park Service, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Ioli was also required to turn over to the BLM all the artifacts he took and all the tools he used to remove them.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Land Management. The prosecution was handled by Brian R. Decker, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-336-TUC-CKJ(DTF)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-058_Ioli
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Fredonia Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Sexually Molesting Minor Victim on Kaibab ReservationRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On July 25, 2016, Christopher Nigel Benn, 24, of Fredonia, Ariz., an enrolled member of the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indian Tribe, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton to 25 years’ imprisonment after Benn had previously pleaded guilty to one count of abusive sexual contact of a minor. The Court also imposed a lifetime term of supervised release to follow Benn’s term of imprisonment.
The investigation revealed that Benn sexually abused the minor victim, who was under the age of 12, on the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indian Reservation in 2013.
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-15-8092-PCT-SRB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-057_BENN
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U.S. Attorney Announces “Be Here for Kids” Child Safety Event in TucsonRead the Press Release
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, July 29, 2016 at the Foothills Mall, in Tucson, Ariz. The event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 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. Families also are encouraged to take 25 minutes to talk to their children about abduction, safety prevention, and good digital citizenship online.
“The annual ‘Be Here For Kids’ national child safety campaign provides a good reminder for children and families about digital safety in the online world and overall as children prepare to go back to school in the coming weeks.” said United States Attorney John S. Leonardo. “This event is designed to increase awareness among parents and children of the potential threats to child safety present in daily life, including the Internet, and to help equip them to better avoid those threats.”
This year’s event is being presented in partnership with several federal and local law enforcement agencies, as well as the Children’s Advocacy Center, Pima County Attorney’s Office, and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. Interactive children’s self-defense demonstrations by Ko Sho Martial Training Institute will take place throughout the day, and Marana Police Department will also be providing free digital child identification kits during the event.
For more information on NCMEC, visit www.missingkids.com. For more information about the Take 25 campaign, visit www.Take25.org. For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-56__Be Here For Kids
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Former Bureau of Prisons Employee Sentenced for Sex OffenseRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On July 18, 2016, James Toadvine, Jr., 50, of Goodyear, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 12 months in prison. Toadvine had previously pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact with an inmate under his supervision.
Toadvine worked as a Recreational Specialist at the Bureau of Prisons’ women’s camp in Phoenix, Ariz. Between January and April, 2015, Toadvine engaged in sexual contact with a female inmate who he supervised at the camp. Judge Humetewa, in imposing the prison term, noted that inmates in a prison setting are a vulnerable population.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. The prosecution was handled by Gayle L. Helart, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-2:15-cr-01535-DJH-1
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-055_Toadvine
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Chinle Bank Robber Sentenced to over 12 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Yesterday, Kristopher Andrew Jaramillo, 39, of Albuquerque, N. M., not a member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 151 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Jaramillo had previously pleaded guilty to bank robbery.
On Oct. 26, 2015, Jaramillo entered the Wells Fargo Bank located on the Navajo Nation Reservation in Chinle, Ariz., and gave the bank teller a note demanding money and instructed her not to alert the police. The bank teller complied and gave Jaramillo over $1800 from her drawer.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Navajo Nation Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Kiyoko Patterson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-08236-PCT-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-054_Jaramillo
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Man Receives Prison Sentence for Exposing Himself on AirplaneRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On June 20, 2016, Craig Dewalt, 61, of Cave Creek, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge John Z. Boyle to serve two days in prison, given three years’ probation, and ordered to pay a $2,500 fine. Dewalt was previously found guilty at a bench trial of committing lewd, indecent, or obscene acts on an aircraft.
On Feb. 27, 2015, while on a Southwest Airlines flight from Burbank, Calif., Dewalt twice exposed his genitalia while seated in a window seat. This exposure was observed by the female seated next to him. The female passenger testified at trial and suffered emotional trauma from Dewalt’s conduct.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Phoenix Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Lisa E. Jennis and Abbie Broughton Marsh, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: MJ-15-08513-JZB-1
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-053_Dewalt
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Tohono O’odham Man Sentenced to over Eight Years Prison for Assault with a FirearmRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On June 17, 2016, Robert Kenneth Cooley, 46, of South Hickiwan, Ariz., and a member of the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge Frank R. Zapata to serve 99 months in prison for assault with a dangerous weapon and the use of a firearm during a crime of violence. Cooley had previously pleaded guilty to these offenses.
On June 9, 2014, in South Hickiwan, Ariz., on the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation, Cooley, a convicted felon, discharged a handgun outside of his residence. The victim, a neighbor of Cooley, and also a member of the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation, heard the gunshots and went outside to determine what was happening. As the victim walked toward Cooley, Cooley pointed his handgun at the victim’s face and threatened him. The victim feared for his life and immediately returned to his residence where his wife called 911. Cooley was located and arrested three days later.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Tohono O’odham Police Department 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-14-2148-TUC-FRZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-052_Cooley
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Undocumented Alien Sentenced to 15 Months’ Imprisonment for Assaulting a Douglas Border Patrol AgentRead the Press Release
TUCSON – On May 27, 2016, Juan Pablo Vasquez-Campos, 38, of Aguas Calientes, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cyndy K. Jorgenson to 15 months’ imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. Vasquez-Campos had previously pleaded guilty to assault on a federal officer and illegal re-entry.
Vasquez-Campos resisted arrest and scuffled with a Border Patrol agent in the desert terrain near Douglas, Ariz. During the struggle, Vasquez-Campos struck the agent with his elbow in an effort to avoid apprehension.
The investigation in this case was handled by the United States Border Patrol. The prosecution was handled by Raquel Arellano, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-00533-TUC-CKJ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-051_Vasquez-Campos
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Whiteriver Man Sentenced to 188 Months in Prison for Abusive Sexual ContactRead the Press Release
PHOENIX– Yesterday, Mitchell Clawson, 30, of Whiteriver, Ariz., a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 188 months in prison. Clawson had previously pleaded guilty to one count of abusive sexual contact.
Clawson pleaded guilty to sexually abusing an eight year old female, also a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, while she slept. The incident occurred on the Fort Apache Reservation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the White Mountain Apache Tribal Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Anthony Church, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-01374-PHX-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-050_Clawson
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Tribal Fiduciary Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Seven-Year Scheme to Steal More Than $260,000 from Vulnerable Members of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian CommunityRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Yesterday, Freida Ann Battise-Moore, 55, of Avondale, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 30 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay over $260,000 in restitution. Battise-Moore had previously pleaded guilty to theft or embezzlement from an Indian tribal organization.
“Ms. Battise-Moore violated the trust of the Community and its members, so the Community petitioned the court that she be incarcerated for her crime. The Community takes this matter very seriously and has taken the necessary steps that it will not happen again,” said Delbert Ray, Sr., President, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
In 2001, Battise-Moore—a law school graduate and a member of the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Tribe—was hired by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community to serve as the court-appointed representative for the tribe’s incapacitated and incompetent members. In this sensitive role as “public fiduciary,” Battise-Moore was responsible for handling all of her clients’ financial affairs (i.e., receiving their Social Security, commercial and agricultural lease, and other payments and using the proceeds to pay their rent, medical bills, and other expenses). Beginning in 2006, Battise-Moore began stealing from some of her clients. Her misconduct went undetected until September 2013, at which point she was fired. A subsequent audit showed that Battise-Moore had stolen more than $260,000 from 49 clients and had spent the proceeds on expensive sports tickets and gambling, among other things. Judge Logan enhanced Battise-Moore’s sentence in recognition of the vulnerability of the victims and the fact that Battise-Moore had abused a position of trust.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Salt River Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Dominic Lanza, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-130
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-049_Battise-Moore
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Tumacacori Man Sentenced for Operating Human-Smuggling House with “Deplorable Conditions”Read the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, Henry Joe Kane, 52, of Tumacacori, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Chief Judge Raner C. Collins to two years in prison. Kane had previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to harbor illegal aliens for profit, a felony. Kane’s prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release.
In the summer and fall of 2015, agents arrested a series of people driving cars through the Border Patrol checkpoint on I-19 near Amado with undocumented aliens smuggled within. Agents were able to trace the smuggled people back to the Kane residence in Tumacacori. On Dec. 3, 2015, agents executed a search warrant on the Kane residence and found Kane along with six undocumented aliens - one of them an unaccompanied minor - who were staying there temporarily before being smuggled further north. The aliens were kept in what Judge Collins characterized as “deplorable conditions,” with rodent and pet droppings, along with evidence of cockroaches, accumulated throughout the trash-strewn residence. Kane was receiving payment from smugglers to keep people in the house.
The investigation was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security–Homeland Security Investigations. The prosecution was handled by Brian R. Decker, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-2330-TUC-RCC (LAB)
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-047_Kane
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Former Director of Phoenix VA Hospital SentencedRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – Today, Sharon M. Helman, 45, of Surprise, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to a term of two years’ probation. Helman previously pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a government agency, a felony offense.
“It is crucial that government officials, who are entrusted with authority over taxpayer-funded government agencies, provide accurate information when completing financial disclosure reports,” stated U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. “Today’s outcome appropriately holds the defendant responsible for failing to report tens of thousands of dollars of gifts from a lobbyist while she was serving as the head of the Phoenix VA facility.”
“The FBI recognizes and appreciates the tremendous sacrifice and service our veterans have made for our country. With this in mind, we conducted a thorough and extensive investigation of the allegations surrounding the Phoenix VA. Our investigation revealed that the former director of the Phoenix VA Medical Center failed to report gifts as required under federal law and this outcome holds the defendant accountable,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael D. Deleon.
"Financial disclosure requirements are critical to ensuring that VA is able to assess any potential conflict of interest that VA executives may have," stated Michael E. Seitler, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Northwest Field Office. "In this case, Ms. Helman's failure to fully disclose her financial relationships, called into question her actions and decisions as a VA executive."
Helman was director of the Phoenix VA hospital from February 2012 to December 2014. Federal law required Helman to annually complete and file a financial disclosure report and to disclose, among many other things, gifts received during the applicable calendar year. In March 2014, Helman submitted a financial disclosure in which she falsely reported that she received no gifts during 2013. That report was false because during 2013 Helman had, in fact, received gifts totaling more than $19,300. The gifts included an automobile, a check for $5,000, concert tickets, and two round-trip airline tickets.
Helman also filed a false report for 2012, failing to report four gifts of a total value of more than $2,000. Furthermore, although she did not file a financial disclosure report for 2014, Helman received six gifts valued at more than $27,700 between January 2 and July 1 of that year.
All of the gifts were from a former high-level VA employee who once served as Helman’s supervisor. During 2012-2014, that person was an executive consultant, and later vice president, of a consulting and lobbying firm that assisted companies in expanding their business with the VA. Had Helman properly reported the gifts and their source, the VA would have done a conflict-of-interest analysis to determine whether her acceptance of the gifts was permitted under applicable laws and regulations.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of the Inspector General. The prosecution was handled by Frank T. Galati, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-00245-PHX-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-046_Helman
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Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On May 11, 2016, Glen Kevin Winfrey, 33, of Yuma, Ariz., was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Frank R. Zapata to 15 years in prison. Winfrey had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography. Winfrey’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.
While on active duty as a United States Marine on Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Winfrey took three surreptitious video recordings of a 10 year old girl. He then culled still images from those recordings and produced composite images of the child with a superimposed image of an adult male which were arranged to appear as though they were engaged in sex. Winfrey’s laptop also contained approximately 120 images of child pornography.
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 Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. The prosecution was handled by Lawrence C. Lee, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-01436-TUC-FRZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-045_Winfrey
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Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced to over Ten Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On May 9, 2016, David Lee Frater, 63, of Mesa, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 125 months in prison followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. Frater had previously pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.
In 2014, a detective in New Zealand encountered a user on a popular file-sharing software who was distributing images of child pornography. Through this investigation, it was learned that the individual was Frater, who had also been advertising child pornography under alternate online personas. Frater was an unregistered sex offender who had previously been convicted of possession of child pornography and annoying or molesting a child under 18. A search warrant was executed at Frater’s residence which revealed he was in possession of over 28,000 images and 713 videos of child pornography, some of which depicted prepubescent minors and sadistic or masochistic conduct. In sentencing Frater, Judge Campbell indicated that child pornography is a “scourge of society” that preys on helpless victims and to traffic the materials “fuels the fire that is consuming many 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 Investigations as assisted by the New Zealand Customs Service and other law enforcement agencies in New Zealand. The prosecution was handled by Rachel Reames Stoddard, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-1517-PHX-DGC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-044_Frater
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Navajo Man Sentenced to 108 Months’ Imprisonment for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On May 9, 2016, Douglas Lawrence Bedell, Jr., 31, of Dilkon, Arizona, a member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 108 months’ imprisonment. Bedell had previously pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
On Jan. 4, 2015, Bedell killed the victim, Brian Lee, also, a member of the Navajo Nation, by stabbing him in the throat. The incident occurred on the Navajo Reservation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. The prosecution was handled by Cassie Bray Woo and Brandon Brown, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-8023-PCT-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-043_Bedell
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Former Phoenix Chiropractor Sentenced to Prison for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – On May 9, 2016, Dr. Randal Curtis Pruitt, 44, of Salt Lake City, Utah, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 18 months in prison. Pruitt was also ordered to pay $478,549 in restitution and perform 100 hours of community service while serving a three-year term of supervised release upon release from prison. Pruitt had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud.
“Patients seeking medical treatment expect the utmost discretion from health care professionals, who are persons they entrust with some of their most personal information. Dr. Pruitt abused his special position of trust and today was appropriately held accountable for his conduct,” stated United States Attorney John S. Leonardo.
Pruitt, while operating the Arizona Back Institute in Phoenix in 2010 and 2011, defrauded Synchrony Bank (formerly GE Money Bank) and JP Morgan Chase by assuming the identity of 56 patients and obtaining credit card accounts or lines of credit in their names. Once the credit accounts were obtained, Pruitt submitted false claims for services he had not performed or double billed for services for which he had already been paid. As part of his restitution, Pruitt was also ordered to repay 17 patients who had paid for services but did not receive them after he closed his practice. Pruitt’s license was previously revoked by the Arizona Board of Chiropractic Examiners. At sentencing, Judge Humetewa noted that Pruitt has yet to repay any of his creditors or patients.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Phoenix Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Frederick A. Battista, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-838-01-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-042_Pruitt
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Southern Arizona Alien Smugglers Sentenced to Lengthy Prison TermsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, Fidel Mancinas-Franco, 51, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, and Jose Villela-Lopez, 53, of Cananea, Sonora, Mexico, were sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Raner C. Collins to 96 to 120 months in prison, respectively. Mancinas-Franco and Villela-Lopez previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bring in, transport, and harbor unauthorized aliens. Another co-defendant who played a lesser role in the conspiracy, Fernando Diaz-Gonzalez of Cananea, Sonora, Mexico, previously pleaded guilty to the same charge and received a 48-month sentence.
“The defendants participated in an alien-smuggling ring that displayed callous disregard for the lives of the persons being smuggled,” said U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. “Yesterday's lengthy sentences send a strong and unambiguous message that such conduct will not be tolerated and will be punished severely.”
“Yesterday’s sentencing is a result of the successful collaboration efforts driven by HSI, Border Patrol and our state, local and foreign partners, that disrupted and dismantled this human smuggling network,” said Matthew C. Allen, special agent in charge for HSI Phoenix. “This investigation was highlighted by innovative tactics and cooperation protocols that led to the dismantling of a prolific human smuggling organization in the U.S., Mexico and Guatemala. This case makes it abundantly clear that, through our joint law enforcement investigations, human smugglers looking to operate and profit in our communities will be brought justice.”
Mancinas-Franco and Villela-Lopez were part of a conspiracy to smuggle unauthorized aliens into the United States from Mexico and to transport and harbor those aliens within the United States. Most of the smuggled aliens hailed from Central and South America. Mancinas-Franco and Villela-Lopez knew that the aliens, once in the United States, would be transported on the floor of overloaded sport-utility vehicles whose rear seats had been removed. On three separate instances in 2009, large groups of aliens who were being smuggled by Mancinas-Franco’s and Villela-Lopez’s organization were killed or injured as a result of this dangerous transportation method. First, on June 6, 2009, 11 smuggled aliens were killed during a rollover incident near Sonoita, Ariz. Second, on July 19, 2009, another group of 11 smuggled aliens were endangered during a rollover crash in southern Arizona. The members of the alien-smuggling ring collected over $110,000 in smuggling fees and Mancinas-Franco and Villela-Lopez were required to forfeit those proceeds at sentencing.
The investigation in this case was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE/ HSI) in Douglas, Ariz., U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Border Patrol (CBP/BP) Tucson Sector, ICE/HSI Attaché Mexico City, ICE/HSI Attaché Hermosillo, and ICE/HSI Attaché Guatemala City. Special appreciation is owed to the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the government of Mexico, and the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance in the extradition process. The prosecution was handled by Sandra M. Hansen and Carmen F. Corbin, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-11-1755-TUC-RCC / CR 09-1879-TUC-RCC
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-040_Mancinas-Franco_Diaz-Gonzalez et al
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Tohono O’odham Man to Serve a Combined Sentence of 39 Months of Imprisonment for Domestic Violence AssaultRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – On May 2, 2016, Kyle Wesley Street, 29, of Sells, Ariz., a member of the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 27 months of imprisonment, consecutive to a tribal sentence of 12 months’ incarceration. Street had previously pleaded guilty to assault of an intimate partner by attempted strangulation.
On Oct. 17, 2014, Tohono O’odham police officers responded to a 911 call about a domestic incident involving attempted strangulation where victim lost consciousness during the assault. Citing prior instances of domestic violence by Street upon the victim, the need to protect the public and the victim from further acts of domestic violence, and noting that the defendant had served 12 months of tribal custody for the offense, the court sentenced Street to 27 months in prison with a term of supervised release to follow. The total tribal and federal sentence for the offense is 39 months of imprisonment. The victim is also a member of the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Tohono O’odham 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-15-00434-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-041_Street
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Navajo Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Federal Prison for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
PHOENIX - Yesterday, Kenneth Parker, of Keams Canyon, Ariz., a member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 23 years in prison, followed by a term of 5 years of supervised release. Parker had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual abuse of a minor.
The case involved the sexual abuse of multiple victims, also Navajo Nation members, over nearly 30 years, from 1987 through 2015. All incidents occurred on the Navajo Nation.
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 Sharon K. Sexton, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR- 158101-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-038_Parker
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Gila River Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact with a MinorRead the Press Release
PHOENIX - Today, Donald Wade Pablo, of Blackwater, Ariz., a member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 180 months in prison, followed by a term of lifetime supervised release. Pablo had previously pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact with a minor.
Between Aug. 1, 2013 and Nov. 2, 2014, within the Gila River Indian Community, Pablo sexually abused the victim who was under the age of 12 and also a member of the Gila River Indian Community.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Christina J. Reid-Moore, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-0385-PHX-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-038_Pablo
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Fort Apache Man Sentenced to Prison for Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On April 18, 2016, Jerome Remijo Reano, 21, of Whiteriver, Arizona, a member of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton to 336 months in federal prison to be followed by lifetime supervised release. Reano had previously pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse.
The investigation revealed Reano had sexually abused two minors, and the abuse occurred on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation where the victims were also member/eligible.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the White Mountain Apache Tribal Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Anthony W. Church, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-08073-PCT-SRB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-036_ Reano
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Cove Man Sentenced to 80 Months in Prison for Assault with a Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
PHOENIX – On April 27, 2016, Sterling Sonny Yazzie, 41, of Cove, Arizona, a member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 80 months in prison. Yazzie had previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.
On July 27, 2015, Yazzie engaged in a verbal and physical fight with the victim, also a member of the Navajo Nation. Yazzie grabbed an axe and struck the victim in the leg and body with the axe handle. The victim suffered severe pain and numerous large contusions on his legs that made it extremely difficult for him to walk. The incident occurred on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Kiyoko Patterson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-15-8189-PCT-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-037_Yazzie
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Man Sentenced to 150 Months in Prison for Child Pornography and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, Tule Israel Alonso-Castaneda, 27, of Douglas, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David C. Bury to serve 150 months in prison. Alonso-Castaneda had pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Alonso-Castaneda’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.
On Dec. 8, 2010, Alonso-Castaneda was arrested at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint when the vehicle he was driving was found to contain 87 pounds of marijuana. In addition to finding the load of drugs he intended to traffic, Border Patrol agents also found cell phone containing images of child pornography. After the defendant was placed on pretrial release for the drug offense on Dec. 13, 2010, he absconded to Mexico until he was re-arrested on June 13, 2014. On Nov. 30, 2011, Alonso-Castaneda was indicted for child pornography offenses by a Federal Grand Jury after the investigation revealed that he was actively trading images of child sexual abuse with a group of other like-minded individuals.
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 Nogales Border Patrol and Department of Homeland Security - Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Nogales, Arizona. The prosecutions were handled by Carin C. DuryJe and Gordon E. Davenport, III, District of Arizona, Tucson.
CASE NUMBER: CR-11-00050-DCB
CR 11-04067-DCB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-032_Alonso-Castaneda
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Golden Valley Woman Sentenced for Mail Theft in Mohave CountyRead the Press Release
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Yesterday, Nicole Leigh Davis, 35, of Golden Valley, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton to 12 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Davis previously pleaded guilty to one count of felony possession of stolen mail.
The investigation was initiated by the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, which was investigating a stolen travel trailer in which Davis was living. Davis was found to be in possession of over 300 pieces of stolen mail, including numerous stolen credit cards, identification cards, and Social Security cards.
“Unscrupulous people like Ms. Davis, who steal the identities of others and use them for personal gain, cause not only financial loss but also great inconvenience to innocent people in the community. We will do all we can under the law to insure that such people are held accountable as was Ms. Davis,” stated United States Attorney, John Leonardo.
"This sentence should serve as a strong deterrent to others who would consider stealing another's identity," said Inspector in Charge Keith Fixel. "The U.S. Postal Inspection Service remains dedicated to our mission of protecting our nation's mail system from criminal misuse."
The investigation in this case was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by the Flagstaff U.S. Attorney’s Office.
CASE NUMBER: CR-16-08010-1-PCT-SRB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2016-031_Davis
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