Acting Secretary Pekoske Directs TSA to Mitigate Spread of COVID-19 Through the Transportation System

 

Today the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security announced the issuance of a National Emergency Determination to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.  This determination enables TSA to implement President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel. TSA will require individuals to wear a mask at TSA screening checkpoints and throughout the commercial and public transportation system. Imposing these proven public health measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 will mitigate the safety and security threat COVID-19 poses to transportation and contribute to the overall national effort to reduce the transmission of the disease.

$2K Reward Offered in Indianapolis Burglary

 INDIANAPOLIS — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the National Shooting Sports Foundation – the trade association for the firearms industry – are announcing a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individuals responsible for the burglary of 500 Guns, located at 3602 W 16th St, Indianapolis, Indiana. ATF and NSSF are jointly offering a potential total reward of up to $2,000.

In the early morning hours of January 22, at least one unknown suspect drove a vehicle into the wall of the business to gain entry and stole 10 firearms before leaving the scene.

This burglary is being investigated by ATF’s Columbus Field Division jointly with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

Anyone having information about this incident should contact ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (888-283-8477). Individuals may also email ATFTips@atf.gov, or contact ATF through its website at www.atf.gov/contact/atf-tips. Tips may also be submitted to ATF using the ReportIt® app, available on both Google Play and the Apple App Store, or by visiting www.reportit.com.

This reward is part of a larger national cooperative initiative between the NSSF and ATF in which NSSF matches ATF rewards in cases involving the theft of firearms from federally licensed retailers. ATF works closely with the members of the firearms industry to curb the criminal acquisition and misuse of firearms.

ATF National Response Team Activated to Join the Investigation of Fire that Injured 4 Firefighters

 Chula Vista, California – The National Response Team (NRT) of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with ATF special agents from the Los Angeles Field Division, were activated to join the investigation of the fire that occurred Monday at Action Footwear, 655 H St., Chula Vista, California, injuring four firefighters from Chula Vista Fire Department.  

Initially an ATF Certified Fire Investigator responded to the scene to assist Chula Vista Fire Investigators with the origin and cause investigation. Based upon the size of the building, the amount of fire damage, and the firefighter injuries, Chula Vista Fire Department requested the assistance of ATF’s NRT. 

“The City of Chula Vista appreciates the support of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,” said CVFD Fire Chief Harry Muns. “It’s important to determine the cause of the fire and this effort requires additional resources.”

The NRT started processing the scene today. The NRT members will be working jointly with the ATF Los Angeles Field Division, and the Chula Vista Fire Department’s Fire Investigation Team. 

“ATF is committed to working alongside Chula Vista Fire Department to determine the origin and cause of this fire that injured firefighters,” said Special Agent in Charge of ATF Los Angeles Field Division Monique Villegas. “ATF will provide whatever resources are necessary to thoroughly investigate and provide answers.”

The NRT provides an immediate and sustained nationwide response capability, deploying within 24 hours of notification, with state-of-the-art equipment and qualified ATF personnel.

The NRT works in conjunction with other investigators to reconstruct the scene, identify the seat of the blast or origin of the fire and determine the cause of an incident. In the case of bombings and arsons, NRT members gather evidence to support criminal prosecutions. 

A deployed NRT is generally broken down into two components — a group that processes the scene and an investigative-lead element. In the course of the overall investigation, both components coordinate daily to ensure investigative continuity. 

In 1978, ATF developed the NRT to bring its expertise to federal, state and local investigators in meeting the challenges faced at the scenes of significant explosives and arson incidents. This is the fifth NRT activation this fiscal year and 868th callout since the inception of the program. 

The NRT consists of four teams organized geographically to cover the United States. The teams are each composed of veteran special agents who have post-blast and fire origin-and-cause expertise; forensic chemists; explosives enforcement officers; fire protection engineers; accelerant detection canines; explosives detection canines; intelligence support, computer forensic support and audit support. Further complementing the teams’ efforts are technical, legal and intelligence advisers. Moreover, a fleet of fully equipped response vehicles strategically located throughout the United States is available to provide logistical support. 

Other activations of the NRT in Southern California include: the July 2020 USS Bonhomme Richard fire that left extensive damage to the U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship docked off Naval Base San Diego; the May 2020 Boyd Street fire in downtown Los Angeles tragically injuring 12 firefighters; the March 2019 fire at Off Road Warehouse in San Diego; and the 2019 Labor Day fire on the dive boat Conception killing 34 people while the ship was anchored off Santa Cruz Island.

NIJ Journal 282: Serial Killer Connections Through Cold Cases

 

There is a cold case crisis in the United States. In 1965, approximately 80% of homicide cases were cleared, according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, but in 2017 only about 60% of homicide cases were resolved. Focusing investigative efforts on cold cases and apprehending repeat offenders can prevent future crimes and protect possible victims, thus saving the community the immense cost of these crimes. NIJ has a long history of supporting efforts to help solve cold cases include funding of law enforcement agencies for reviewing old cases, testing of DNA samples, research into criminal behavior and psychological profiles, and support for prosecution of cold cases. READ THE ARTICLE

Grand Jury Indicts Danville Sex Offender for Alleged Violation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act

 PEORIA, Ill. – The grand jury yesterday returned an indictment that charges David W. Morlan, 66, of Danville, Ill., with failure to register and update his address as required by the federal Sex Offender Notification and Registration Act (SORNA.)

The indictment against Morlan alleges that from June to December 2020, Morlan, a convicted sex offender, failed to update his registration. Morlan was arrested on Jan. 8, 2021, and charged in a criminal complaint. The affidavit filed in support of the complaint alleges that Morlan was convicted in Vermilion County, Ill., in September 2006, for aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor, a five-year-old victim. Further, the indictment alleges that Morlan, who had registered his address in Indiana, was living in Danville, Ill., but had not updated his registration.

During a court appearance on Jan. 13, 2021. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long, in Urbana, Morlan was ordered to remain detained in U.S. Marshals Service custody.

If convicted, the penalty for violation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act is up to 10 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly M. Peirson is representing the government in the prosecution which was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Danville Police Department.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Orlando Man Sentenced To 18 Years For Distributing, Receiving, And Possessing Images And Videos Depicting The Sexual Abuse Of Children

 Orlando, Florida – United States District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Ryan Rusty Rodriguez (45, Orlando) to 18 years in federal prison for distributing, receiving, and possessing images and videos depicting children being sexually abused. Rodriguez was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release upon the completion of his prison sentence and to register as a sex offender.

A federal jury had found Rodriguez guilty on October 29, 2020.    

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, during an undercover online investigation, FBI agents discovered that Rodriguez was using peer-to-peer networks to download and distribute child sex abuse materials over the internet. When agents executed a search warrant at Rodriguez’s home, he attempted to hide a hard drive as the agents were knocking on his door. Rodriguez also used his training in computers and specialized software to attempt to erase the evidence of his offenses. A subsequent forensic examination of Rodriguez’s computer media revealed evidence of thousands of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.

 This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John Gardella, Shawn Napier, and Ilianys Rivera Miranda.  

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

Henryetta Resident Pleads Guilty To Abusive Sexual Contact Of A Child In Indian Country

 MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Eco Hutke Haney, age 23, of Henryetta, Oklahoma entered a guilty plea to Attempted Sexual Abuse in Indian Country, Sexual Abuse in Indian Country, and Abusive Sexual contact of a child in Indian Country. Each count is punishable by any period of any term of years of imprisonment or for life, a fine up to $250,000.00, or both.

The Information alleged that on or about January 29, 2017, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Indian Country, the Defendant, an Indian, did knowingly engage and attempt to engage in a sexual act as defined in Title 18, United States Code, Section 2246, to wit: penetration, however slight, between the penis and the anus of C.B., who was, as the defendant well knew, at that time incapable of appraising the nature of the conduct, physically incapable of declining participation in the aforementioned sexual act, and who was physically incapable of communicating unwillingness to engage in the aforementioned sexual act. 

The Information further alleged that on or about January 29, 2017, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Indian Country, the Defendant, an Indian, did knowingly engage and attempt to engage in a sexual act as defined in Title 18, United States Code, Section 2246, to wit: penetration, however slight, of the anal opening by finger of C.B., who was, as the defendant well knew, at that time incapable of appraising the nature of the conduct, physically incapable of declining participation in the aforementioned sexual act, and who was physically incapable of communicating unwillingness to engage in the aforementioned sexual act. 

The Information further alleged that on or about January 29, 2017, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Indian Country, the defendant, an Indian, did knowingly engage in and cause sexual contact as defined in Title 18, United States Code, Section 2246, to-wit: intentionally and directly touching the anus and buttocks of C.B., a person who had not yet attained the age of 12 years, with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, and arouse and gratify the sexual desire of any person. 

The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

The Honorable Kimberly E. West, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin D. Traster represented the United States.

New Study Shows Tragic Impact of Turning Roadways into Speedways

 

Statement by Jonathan Adkins, Executive Director, Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Drivers are addicted to speed, and we unfortunately see the deadly results every day on roadways across the country. The auto industry has made tremendous gains making vehicles more crashworthy, but this new study from AAA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows how the impulse to speed and the trend of rising speed limits are canceling out those safety advances, with deadly consequences. Even small increases in speed can cause major, traumatic injuries and turn survivable crashes into lethal ones. During the pandemic, this problem has only worsened and our roadways have turned into speedways. Speeding is especially deadly for teen drivers. They are more likely than any other age group to die in speeding-related crashes, as confirmed by our report released this week with Ford Motor Company Fund. Most teen drivers do not start out speeding, but as they gain confidence behind the wheel, their travel speeds are likely to increase and be exacerbated by other drivers on the road. For teens, keeping up with traffic – even if it means going well over the speed limit – becomes the norm. Therefore, as speed limits rise, so too does the risk for our most inexperienced drivers.  The AAA/IIHS study makes clear the deadly consequences of higher speed limits and reaffirms the need to comprehensively address the issue of speeding on our roadways.   # # #

 

About GHSA The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. GHSA provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy, enhance program management and promote best practices. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans. Visit www.ghsa.org for more information or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GHSAhq or follow us on Twitter @GHSAHQ.

Local men charged with CVS and Randalls pharmacy burglaries

 HOUSTON – Four men are in custody and two are at large in relation to the theft of various opioids and stimulants such as OxyContin and Adderall, respectively, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

A federal grand jury returned the sealed indictment Oct. 20, 2020, which was unsealed today, charging Houston residents Drexel Andre Ferguson, 32, Tyshawndre Dameion Mathis, 23, Frederick Bernard Eli, 28, Kenneth Ray Griffin, 33, Latrell Rayshod Phillips, 25, and Devon Lee Hailey, 42. With the exception of Hailey and Griffin, the others have already made appearances and remain in custody pending further criminal proceedings.

Griffin and Hailey are considered fugitives and warrants remain outstanding for their arrests. Anyone with information about their whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 713-693-5000.

The seven-count indictment alleges three pharmacy burglaries, possession with intent to distribute Schedule II opioids and stimulants and conspiracy to do so.

Ferguson, Mathis, Eli and Phillips allegedly burglarized two Randalls pharmacies Nov. 4, and 11, 2017, respectively. The indictment also charges Ferguson, Griffin and Hailey with the burglary of a CVS pharmacy April 10, 2018.

The charges allege the theft of various Schedule II opioids such as Hydrocodone, Hydromorphone, Oxycodone and OxyContin in addition to stimulants including Amphetamine, Adderall, Dextroamphetamine, Mydayis, Lisdexamfetamine and Vyvanse.

Each man is charged with possession with intent to distribute the opioids and stimulants stolen from the pharmacies, respectively, as well as conspiracy to possess and distribute the substances collectively stolen from all three pharmacies.

For his charges, Hailey could be sentenced up to 30 years in prison, while the others face a potential 20-year-sentence.

The FBI’s multi-agency gang task force conducted the investigation which included police departments in Houston and Baytown and Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Kusin and Christine Lu are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.