U.S. Marshals Task Force Ends Manhunt for Attempted Homicide Suspect

Cleveland, OH – Last night at approximately 11:30 P.M., the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) arrested Anthony Dowell, age 30, after a manhunt that lasted almost five months. Dowell was wanted by the Shaker Heights Police Department for attempted homicide. It is alleged that on Oct. 28, 2012, Dowell shot his friend after a night at the Horseshoe Casino. The incident happened near Kemper Rd. and Larchmere Rd. in Shaker Heights. After the victim was shot, he ran to an RTA bus. Dowell attempted to enter the bus but the driver refused to let Dowell on board. Dowell then fled the area. On Nov. 30th, of last year the Shaker Heights Police Department reached out to the NOVFTF and asked for their assistance in locating and apprehending Dowell.

Yesterday, members of the NOVFTF developed information that Dowell was staying at a home near the 3200 block of E. 130th St. in Cleveland. Task force members responded to the address and set up a perimeter around the home. Officers knocked on the door and after several minutes Dowell surrendered without incident. Dowell was transported to the Shaker Heights Police Department after his arrest.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott said, “This is another great example of how our task force member’s hard work and diligence pays off. This sends a message to all those that try and flee from justice that we will always get our man.”

Anyone with information concerning any wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833). You may also anonymously text in a tip by texting the keyword "WANTED" and your tip to TIP411 (847411), or you can send a web tip at the following webpage http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/oh-n/index.html. Reward money is available and tipsters may remain anonymous.

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force – Cleveland Division is composed of the following federal, state and local agencies: U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Cleveland Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department, Euclid Police Department, Lakewood Police Department, Linndale Village Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, U.S. Secret Service and the Westlake Police Department.

Seven Charged in Scheme to Fraudulently Obtain Prescription Painkiller Pills

A 39-count indictment was filed charging seven people from Cleveland and East Cleveland with various offenses related to a scheme to fraudulently obtain thousands of prescription painkiller pills, law enforcement officials announced today.

Health care fraud and aggravated identity theft charges were also filed against some defendants, who are accused of forging prescriptions for Oxycontin and Percocet pills, hiring people to have them filled at pharmacies throughout the region, and then selling the pills on the street, according to the indictment.

“We have seen a huge increase in prescription drug abuse in Ohio, and this case demonstrates the lengths people will go to defraud and profit from pills,” said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “Instead of dealers shipping in drugs from South America, we now have people forging prescriptions.”

“The abuse of illicitly obtained prescription drugs is reaching epidemic proportions, surpassing that of marijuana, cocaine, and heroin combined,” said Stephen Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cleveland office. “Dismantling illicit drug diversion networks such as the organization charged in this investigation will remain a top FBI priority.”

Those charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute Oxycodone:

■Louis Eppinger, age 53, of Cleveland

■Patricia Arnold, age 61, of Cleveland

■Anthony H. Perry, age 42, of East Cleveland

■Elizabeth A. Davis, age 40, of East Cleveland

■James Byrge, age 62, of Cleveland

■Judy Burrows, age 25, of Cleveland

■Brittany N. Glass, age 22, of Cleveland

Between 2011 and 2012, Eppinger, Arnold, Glass, Perry, Davis, Burrows, and Byrge engaged in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, according to the indictment.

Eppinger obtained blank prescription paper from an unknown source and DEA numbers of various physicians located in Northern Ohio for the purposes of passing fraudulent prescriptions for Oxycontin and/or Percocet, both of which contain oxycodone, according to the indictment.

Eppinger provided the blank prescription paper to Arnold, who forged the prescriptions, according to the indictment.

Eppinger then provided the fraudulent prescriptions to Glass, Perry, and Davis, who served as “walkers” and attempted to pass the prescriptions at pharmacies in Northeast Ohio, including several in Cleveland as well as locations in Shaker Heights, Willoughby, and Garfield Heights, according to the indictment.

Glass, Perry, and Davis then gave the pills to Eppinger, who paid them for passing the fraudulent prescriptions. Eppinger then sold the pills or provided them on consignment to Burrows, Burge, and others, according to the indictment.

Eppinger also faces 18 counts of health care fraud for defrauding the Ohio Medicaid program by billing more than $20,000 for prescription painkillers to which he was not entitled, according to the indictment. He is also charged with two counts of aggravated identity theft for using the identities of two people in relation to a felony, according to the indictment.

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any; the defendant’s role in the offense; and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael L. Collyer and Michelle M. Baeppler, following investigation by the FBI’s Cleveland Field Office, with assistance from the Cleveland Police Department, West Shore Enforcement Bureau, Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Tomball Man Pleads Guilty To Involvement In Murder

BEAUMONT, Texas – A 48-year-old Tomball, Texas, man has pleaded guilty to charges related to a 2008 Liberty County homicide, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales of the Eastern District of Texas.

Steven Cooke pleaded guilty to committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity, (VCAR) today before U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone. Specifically, Cooke admitted that he murdered Scott Freeman, 37.

According to information presented in court, Cooke was a general of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT), a race-based state-wide organization which operates inside and outside of state and federal prisons throughout the state of Texas and the United States. The command structure has a militaristic ranking structure. The ABT enforces its rules and promotes discipline among its members, prospects and associates through murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, assault, robbery and threats against those who violate the rules or pose a threat to the enterprise.

In 2002, a division within the ABT resulted in two separate rival ABT factions. Freeman and Cooke each belonged to separate rival factions. At the time of his murder, Freeman was actively recruiting members of the opposing faction to join forces with his rival faction. Cooke’s particular faction had been given a “greenlight” to assault or kill members of the rival faction.

In the early morning hours of Oct. 12, 2008, Cooke, using the ruse that his own vehicle was overcrowded, persuaded Freeman to pull over as both men were traveling in separate vehicles from Cooke’s residence in Rye, Texas to Cleveland, Texas. One of the passengers in Cooke’s vehicle disembarked and sat on the passenger side of Freeman’s truck. Freeman came around the side of his truck to greet Cooke and a co-defendant. At this point, Cooke shot Freeman six times. After Cooke and his co-defendant moved Freeman's body behind Freeman’s vehicle, they fled the scene.

U.S. Attorney Bales expressed his appreciation for the hard work performed by so many officers and agents and added, “In both word and deed, the ABT has consistently demonstrated a flagrant disrespect for the law and a pitiless disregard for the standards and norms of conduct that bind our society together. Scott Freeman’s murder was a completely senseless act of violence that accomplished nothing but to further cement the ABT’s reputation as a loathsome gang dedicated to enforcing a foolish and evil code of conduct.”

“We have now convicted two of the five ABT generals from the Poncho faction. A third general has died from natural causes. This most recent accomplishment signals not only the end of Steven Cooke’s criminal career but underscores our present intention to completely dismantle the ABT’s ability to do harm,” said U.S. Attorney Bales.

Cooke faces Life in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

This case is being investigated by the ATF the Texas Rangers and the Cleveland Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by the Office of the U.S. Attorney in Lufkin, Texas, in full cooperation with the Liberty County District Attorney’s Office.

Man Charged with Bank Robbery

Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, today announced that a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Willie D. Butler, age 25, of Cleveland, Ohio, with the crime of bank robbery.

The indictment alleges that on August 17, 2011, Willie D. Butler robbed the Key Bank, 14006 Kinsman Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, of approximately $1,350 in United States currency.

This case was part of a joint investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cleveland Police Department. The matter was presented to the grand jury by Assistant United States Attorney Duane J. Deskins.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

An indictment is only a charge 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.

Ohio Police Writers

Police-Writers.com, a website dedicated to listing state and local police officers who have authored books, added three police writers from departments in the state of Ohio.

Drafted into the United States Army at age 19, and the height of the 1968 Tet offensive in Vietnam, Joseph Reass found himself suddenly transformed from a naïve teenager into a rifleman in the 25th Infantry Division, 9th Infantry Regiment. Arriving in Vietnam as a Private First Class, he survived a year of combat with the famed “Manchu” Regiment and returned to the United States with the rank of Sergeant. Back at home, he readjusted to civilian life by continuing his education. Earning a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Capital University and a master’s degree from Ohio University in Political Science, Joe put the war behind him and reentered the world.

After a 25 year career with Columbus Police Department (Ohio), including 13 years as a criminal investigator, he retired in 1997. Returning to Ohio University as a member of the faculty, he currently teaches in the Bachelor of Criminal Justice Program and is the director of the Southern Ohio Police Training Institute.

Joseph Reass’ first novel is Dragon Men. According to the book description, “In it he depicts real events pulled from long clouded memories of his combat experiences in Vietnam. Pieced together and told by a fictitious protagonist, David Reno, the story brings into perspective, true events, honest, tragic and even humorous that young men of Charlie Company, 4th Brigade, 9th Regiment, faced in the unconventional combat of the Vietnam War.

Along with graphic descriptions of combat and death, there are insights into men who served and how they coped with difficult situations of surviving not only the fighting, but the arduous life in the boonies. Live with young soldiers who deal with extreme situations of war, weather and military life.

It is an honest story that will interest anyone who served in combat, who want an unglorified glimpse of combat life or anyone who likes personal adventures told by real characters.”

David Swords is a retired Police Lieutenant, having served thirty years with the Springfield Police Department (Ohio). Nearly half of his police career was spent as an investigator, working on cases ranging from simple vandalisms to armed robberies and murders. His varied experience has given him a unique understanding of human nature; an understanding that brings the characters of “Shadows on the Soul” to life in the mind of the reader.

In David Swords’ book his proposes the questions what would have happened in the Nazis had won and the United States was occupied territory. According to his book description, “the story takes you with John as he tries his best to live a normal life as a government official in the 1960’s America that might have been - Nazi occupied America. John’s normal life is disrupted as he reluctantly helps a prisoner who has escaped from a labor camp; a man imprisoned for no crime, except the color of his skin.”

Edward A. Stein, Sr., a 35 year veteran of the Cleveland Police Department published an autobiography entitled My Badge is My Intergity.

Police-Writers.com now hosts 420 police officers (representing 183 police departments) and their 894 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.

Crime fiction and other police procedurals

Police-Writers.com, a website dedicated to listing state and local police officers who have authored books, added three writers of crime fiction.

Robert Ruble quit high school to join the United States Marine Corps (USMC), where he was hoping for Korea, but instead was selected to be a Drill Instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD), San Diego. Later he changed his specialty to Tank Crewman. He left the Marine Corps and joined the Tampa Police Department. After a few years as a police officer he re-enlisted in the Marine Corps and served a 20 year career, including two tours in Vietnam.

After retirement from the USMC, he worked for a variety of law enforcement agencies culminating his law enforcement career as the Chief of Police of the Kennesaw Police Department (Georgia). He was their chief from 1980 through 1986. He has written two thrillers - Have No Mercy and Black Rosebud: Have No Mercy II

George Galjan was born in 1942 in Berlin, Germany. In 1956, he immigrated to the United States with his family. After high school, he enlisted in the Navy. He served two tours in Vietnam and later transferred to the Navy Reserves. He retired from the Reserves with the rank of senior chief. In 1969, George Galjan joined the Cleveland Police Department. He retired in 1998, at the rank of lieutenant.

George Galjan’s book, Cops, Donuts and Murder, is a mystery set in the City of Cleveland. As one reviewer/reader remarked, “This is the best mystery book I've read for quite sometime. It is filled with twists and interesting characters. The ending was a total surprise. The book is written using dialog and it is so true-to-life that I couldn't put it down.”

Earl Kratzer is a retired Detective Sergeant from the Cleveland Police Department. During his career he worked on a number of interesting cases and is the recipient of the Rotary Valor Award for Heroism Beyond the Call of Duty. His book, My Baby, My Baby, is a classic police procedural that follows “a fictional account of a child abduction that is set in Cleveland, Ohio. The twists and turns that develop while the detectives are investigating this case, show the reader what actually occurs while following leads a criminal investigation.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 417 police officers (representing 182 police departments) and their 891 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.