Las Vegas Top Stories: Man Who Fraudulently Purchased Over 20 Houses in Las Vegas Area Convicted of Federal Mortgage Fraud Charges

LAS VEGAS—A Las Vegas man who recruited straw buyers and used fictitious identities to purchase more than 20 houses in the Las Vegas area in order to obtain millions of dollars of cash from the loan proceeds was convicted by a jury today of conspiracy and fraud charges, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.

Following a seven-day trial, Tarl Brandon, 46, of Las Vegas, was convicted of three counts of conspiracy and 15 counts of wire fraud. Brandon was convicted in three separate cases, which were joined for trial. Brandon faces up 30 years in prison on two conspiracy counts and 20 years in prison on each of the remaining 16 counts, as well as up to $1 million in fines on two counts and $250,000 in fines on the remaining 16 counts. Sentencing is scheduled for September 12, 2012 before U.S. District Judge Kent J. Dawson.

Brandon was resident agent and a managing member of KTB Construction Company, an LLC formed in Nevada. Between June 2004 and March 2008, Brandon and his co-conspirators paid persons to act as straw buyers to apply for mortgage loans to purchase real estate in Las Vegas. Brandon and his co-conspirators also created false identities for their straw buyers. In most instances, they had the straw buyers apply for mortgages for more than one house at a time and concealed from the lenders that they were purchasing more than one property. To induce the lenders to fund the loans, Brandon caused the loan applications and supporting documentation to include false and fraudulent information concerning the straw buyers’ income, assets, employment, and intent to occupy the home. Once the financial institutions funded the loans, the escrow companies made disbursements to Brandon’s shell company, KTB Construction, and paid commissions and fees to co-conspirators who worked in the real estate industry as loan officers. After buying the houses, Brandon failed to make payments on the mortgages and allowed most of them to go into foreclosure. Using this scheme, Brandon engaged in more than 20 different fraudulent mortgage transactions, resulting in total losses to the financial institutions of approximately $8 million.

Three co-defendants pleaded guilty, two of whom testified for the government at trial.

The investigation was led by the FBI and other agencies of the Southern Nevada Mortgage Fraud Task Force, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Secret Service, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, and Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brian Pugh and Kathryn Newman.

Suspect of ATF Las Vegas Investigation Arrested in Murrieta

MURRIETA, Calif. — Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), announced the arrest of Fernando Gallo Tuesday afternoon in Murrieta for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Gallo who is 38 years old was residing at 40120 Calle Yorba Vis, Murrieta, when he was arrested without incident by ATF special agents from the Riverside Field Office. Gallo has been charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm according to a criminal complaint filed in the Federal Judicial District of Nevada. Gallo is in the United States unlawfully according to the complaint and has several aliases to include Fernando Gonzalez, Enrique Gonzalez, Fernando Olvera Gallo, and Ruben Gonzalez.

Gallo will be arraigned in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles Wednesday. Gallo is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions in 1995.

“ATF will continue to be on the frontline combating violent crime by investigating and arresting those individuals who obtain and possess firearms illegally,” said ATF Los Angeles Field Division acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher Shaefer. “This investigation by the Las Vegas field office shows that there are criminals in California still trying to get firearms outside the state. This is a great job by all agencies involved.”

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation was conducted by the ATF with assistance from the Las Vegas Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley Giles.

ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating firearms violations along with arson and explosive incidents. More information on ATF can be found at ATF.gov.

Two Las Vegas Men Sentenced to 20 and 25 Years in Prison for Cocaine Distribution and Money Laundering Conspiracy

WASHINGTON—Two Las Vegas men were sentenced yesterday in the District of Nevada to 20 and 25 years in prison for their roles in an international cocaine distribution and money laundering conspiracy, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden of the District of Nevada announced today.

U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro sentenced Jose Lopez-Buelna, aka “Miguel,” 51, to 20 years in prison, and Erik Dushawn Webster, 47, to 25 years in prison. Lopez-Buelna and Webster were also sentenced to five years of supervised release.

Lopez-Buelna pleaded guilty on Feb. 16, 2011, to conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, conspiracy to launder money, and two counts of money laundering. Webster was convicted by a federal jury on Feb. 18, 2011, of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and conspiracy to launder money.

At the sentencing hearings, the court found that the drug distribution conspiracy in this case involved 150 kilograms or more of cocaine.

According to court documents and trial testimony, from 2007 through October 2009, Lopez-Buelna and co-defendant Jesus Gastelum recruited various individuals, including Webster and others, to drive motor homes outfitted with sophisticated, lead-lined, hidden compartments throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. The hidden compartments were used to store large amounts of cocaine and drug proceeds. Lopez-Buelna and Gastelum ordered the motor home drivers to make stops at various destinations, including Atlanta, Chicago, New York and Montreal, where the cocaine was unloaded and bulk cash was loaded into the hidden compartments. The motor home drivers then transported these proceeds from the cocaine distribution back to Mexico. Testimony at trial also indicated that Webster recruited additional motor home drivers to drive a motor home registered in his name across the U.S./Mexico border and back to various destinations in the United States.

Gastelum was charged with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, conspiracy to launder money, money laundering and other charges. He remains a fugitive in this case.

Another co-defendant charged in the conspiracy, Adolph Vargas, aka “Adolph Vargas Ibarra,” aka “Al,” pleaded guilty in January 2011 to conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one count of money laundering. Vargas was sentenced in November 2011 to 97 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release.

On July 22, 2011, the court entered a final forfeiture order in the case against all of the defendants. The forfeiture order included two recreational vehicles, two .38 caliber semi-automatic pistols, various vehicles and more than $4 million, all of which represented drug proceeds that law enforcement recovered during the course of the investigation of this case.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Marty Woelfle and Margaret Honrath of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, with substantial assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada.

Men Sentenced for Credit Card Fraud Conspiracy

LAS VEGAS—Three men charged in December 2008 with stealing identities and using counterfeit credit or debit cards to withdraw money at ATMs and defraud businesses in Las Vegas of over $600,000, were sentenced today to prison for their guilty pleas to conspiracy, fraud, identity theft, and money laundering offenses, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.

“Identity theft and credit/debit card fraud is a significant problem in Nevada,” said U.S. Attorney Bogden. “Federal, state and local investigators are continually working together to catch the individuals who are stealing personal identifying information and using it to manufacture counterfeit cards. To protect yourself, review activity on your financial accounts regularly and report any fraudulent activity as soon as possible in order to assist the authorities identify and prosecute these thieves.”

Arman Palikyan, 30, of Las Vegas, his brother, Hagob Palikyan, 33, of North Hollywood, California, and Ilyad Nazzal, 37, of Las Vegas, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kent J. Dawson. Arman Palikyan was sentenced to 5½ years in prison and three years of supervised release for his guilty plea to trafficking in counterfeit access devices, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to commit money laundering; Hagob Palikyan was sentenced to two years in prison and one year of supervised release for his guilty plea to aggravated identity theft; and Nazzal was sentenced to 1½ years in prison and three years of supervised release for his guilty plea to conspiracy to commit money laundering. All three were also ordered to pay $225,332 in restitution.

Four other defendants in the case have also pleaded guilty. Armen Ambartsumyan was sentenced on May 17, 2011, to 42 months in prison; Danimyar Dosunkulov was sentenced on June 6, 2011, to 18 months in prison; Gary and Artur Ambartsumyan are scheduled to be sentenced on July 8, 2011. A fifth defendant, Vakhtang Gasparian, is a fugitive.

The defendants caused “skimming” equipment to be used by others at commercial businesses in and around Las Vegas to capture credit and debit card account information and personal identification numbers. The defendants then used the information to manufacture counterfeit credit and debit cards, which were used to fraudulently obtain money from ATM machines and money orders from Wal-Mart Neighborhood Markets in Las Vegas. The defendants relocated the scheme from California to Las Vegas to evade law enforcement and regulatory authorities.

The investigation was sponsored by President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes. For more information on the task force, visit www.stopfraud.gov.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly M. Frayn.

Las Vegas Cops

Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added three police officers from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department: Kim Thomas, Gordon Yach and Harry Fagel.

Kim Thomas is a detective with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, currently assigned to the forgery detail. His other investigative assignments included a joint operation with the FBI targeting an organized crime group of Eastern Europeans who defrauded $34 million from stolen credit cards. Kim Thomas, a former U.S. Air Force enlistee has also been a construction worker, limosine driver and worked in executive protection. In 1992, at the age of 36, Kim Thomas entered the police academy. A sixth-degree black belt in Katai-te Ryu karate, Kim Thomas scored 100 percent on the Metro physical test even though he was one of the older members of his police academy class.

Kim Thomas is the author of the novel Vegas: One Cop’s Journey. According to the book description, “Cam Madden had a good job and a carefree bachelor lifestyle when he impulsively tried out for the police academy of the Las Vegas PD. Now that he's mastered the theories of law enforcement his education in its realities begins with field training and an ugly suicide call. Learning the lessons of the street leaves scars on Cam's ego, but it's even rougher on his off-duty relationships with women. It doesn't matter until he falls for Karrie Mae, a paramedic, whereupon making it work becomes all important. Their romance grows in a world of burglars, bums, purse snatchers, drug dealers, and homicidal idiots, no two of them alike but each to be dealt with according to endless regulations, some of which cannot work without being severely bent.”

Gordon Yach is a 27 year veteran of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Office. During his career, he worked patrol, detectives, vice, narcotics and intelligence. He rose through the ranks and eventually retired as the Director of the Detention Services Division. He is the author of Las Vegas... a Cops View Of... the Glamour, Glitz, Graft, Good & Evil of Sin City.

Harry Fagel has lived in Las Vegas for 30 years. He is a Police Officer with Las Vegas Metropolitan police Department. According to Harry, he has also been a “bartender, a black jack dealer, a college student, and a madman.” Harry Fagel is the author of Street Talk. According to the book description, “Take a ride with Officer Harry Fagel through the streets of Las Vegas as he weaves his black and white from glass - littered alleys to high end mega-resorts pausing along the way to show you a world from the emotionally charged, highly visual perception of a street cop gone poet or maybe poet gone street cop.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 640 police officers (representing 281 police departments) and their 1367 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

All Crooks Welcome, and other stories.

Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added three police officers: John “Jack” Miller, Robert Sims Reid and Marc C. Barry.

John "Jack" Miller applied his first career in Law Enforcement and Criminal Investigations to his second career of Casino Games and their protection. Jack Miller was a Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) conducting investigations of felony crimes. These investigations also included counter-intelligence and counter-espionage investigations.

After retiring from the military, Jack Miller joined the Clark County District Attorneys office as a Special Investigator of "white collar" and conspiratorial crimes. He worked with undercover teams from the local Police and the FBI conducting burglary stings. He then joined the Nevada State Gaming Control Board (GCB) as an Enforcement Agent. He was certified by Nevada State and Federal Courts as an Expert witness during trials of gambling cheats.

John “Jack” Miller is the author of Cold War Warrior, All Crooks Welcome and Master Cheat! According to the book description of the true story, All Crooks Welcome, “the Las Vegas police are plagued with burglaries. Two detectives devise an ingenious scheme to combat the thieves and burglars. Pose as fences and buy the evidence from the crooks. With the help of the District Attorney’s office and the FBI, the sting is on. Join with the undercover law enforcement personnel as they solve the problems associated with a scheme never tried before. Be there as the crooks arrive with their ill-gotten gains. Enjoy the wrap-up party where the thieves expect one thing and get another.”

Robert Sims Reid was a detective for the Missoula Police Department (Montana). He is the author of six novels: Benediction, Cupid, Wild Animals, The Red Corvette, Max Holly and Big Blue Sky. According to Publisher’s Weekly, The Red Corvette is about “Old murder, old men and a sleepy Midwestern town whose French name suggests deep-rooted evil frame Reid's latest well-crafted mystery featuring retired Rozette, Montana, policeman Leo Banks. Sarah and Gerry Heyman, who were, respectively, Leo's major love and his best friend in college in the '60s, unexpectedly visit Rozette during a summer trip out West with their children. A few months later, Sarah calls to ask Leo to investigate Gerry's murder in the southern Illinois town of Mauvaisterre. Lots of small-town atmosphere, another death and the sins of fathers and sons lead to a rousing nighttime stampede during a harvest fair and a credible resolution”

Marc C. Barry was a police officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for 11 years. He started his career in July of 1989 as a patrolman on the streets of Las Vegas. Throughout his career he has been assigned to various select details such as: Organized Crime Bureau, Undercover Street Crimes Unit, Violent Crimes Federal Task Force and many others.

Marc Barry holds a number of accredited instructor certifications such as: Police Officer Standards Training/State Law Enforcement Instructor, NRA Tactical Police Firearms Instructor, Close Quarters Battle Instructor, H&K Master Sub-Machine Gun Instructor, State Law Enforcement Counter Terrorism Instructor, Urban Assault Tactics Instructor and various others. Marc Barry has directly trained over 2500 police officers, law enforcement agents and military Special Forces world-wide. Marc Barry is the author of Society's Warrior Class: Inside a Policeman's Mind.

Police-Writers.com now hosts 637 police officers (representing 281 police departments) and their 1363 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

Police Writers Wanted for TRUE BLUE II

Police-Writers.com, a website dedicated to listing state and local police officers who have authored books, announced that one of the listed authors, Lieutenant Randy Sutton, has begun work on his latest book by collecting stories written by, and about, police officers.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Lieutenant Randy Sutton, who published TRUE BLUE, Police Stories by Those Who Have Lived Them (2003) has announced that he is collecting stories by active duty and former police officers for a second edition of the acclaimed book. More than $30,000 was donated to the NY Police and Fire Widows and Children’s Fund as a result of royalties from sales of the books which are still available in hard cover and paperback in bookstores and at AMAZON.COM; as is his latest book, A Cop’s Life. Lieutenant Randy Sutton is going to donate partial proceeds from the second edition to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund in Washington D.C. and the book will be used as a fund raising tool by the organization.

“The written word is the most powerful tool we possess” Sutton said in his announcement, “and through our words, we create unity amongst ourselves and build bridges of understanding to the people that we serve.”

According to Sutton, stories can be anywhere between two to ten pages in length and the subjects can be amusing, sad, serious or whimsical. “Police work brings out all of our emotions” says Sutton, “and the stories in the book will simply reflect that. I’m looking for cops who have something to say, regardless of their writing experience.” Lieutenant Randy Sutton is especially interested in stories about fallen officers for the section entitled “Officer Down.” “There can be no better tribute to the police officers who gave their lives than to have their stories memorialized forever in this book.” Sutton said.

To submit a story, you can contact Sutton at www.truebluestories.com or send a hard copy to him at 2250 E. Tropicana Ave. PMB 19-735 Las Vegas NV 89119. Please include your contact information.

Police-Writers.com now hosts 576 police officers (representing 242 police departments) and their 1216 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.