Woman Dubbed the Color Me Bad Bandit Wanted in Connection with Four Credit Union Robberies

Phoenix FBI Special Agent in Charge James L. Turgal, Jr. announced the FBI’s Bank Robbery Task Force is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the Color Me Bad Bandit, an unknown female who has robbed four times in the East Valley.

The Color Me Bad Bandit is described as a white or Hispanic female with dark features, late 20s-early 30s, 5’4”-5’5” tall, 140 lbs, with full lips. She enters the credit unions with a large bag and uses a note to demand money and threaten employees. She then flees on foot from the credit unions.

During the most recent robbery, she wore a long, leopard print cape and carried a large black bag. The Color Me Bad Bandit consistently attempts to conceal her identity by wearing large scarves or hats and sunglasses. She has been dubbed the Color Me Bad Bandit due to her colorful disguises. 

The following credit unions have been robbed:

07/11/12

AZ Federal Credit Union

7202 E. Southern Ave

Mesa, AZ

07/19/12

Mountain America Credit Union

4325 E. Southern Ave

Mesa, AZ

07/31/12

Sun West Federal Credit Union

1253 S. Gilbert Rd

Mesa, AZ

08/16/12

Arizona Federal Credit Union

855 W. Baseline Rd

Tempe, AZ

The Bank Robbery Task Force is comprised of the Phoenix Police Department, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Mesa Police Department, and the FBI.

If anyone has any information regarding the Color Me Bad Bandit, contact the FBI at 623-466-1999 or www.BanditTrackerArizona.com.

Avondale Man Sentenced to 19 Years on Bank Robbery Charges

Driver Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

PHOENIX—On February 13, 2012, Ramiro Adrian Gonzalez, ­31, of Avondale, Ariz., was sentenced to 19 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Martone. Gonzalez had previously pleaded guilty to a multiple-count indictment that charged him with bank robbery, armed bank robbery, and use of a firearm during a crime of violence.

According to Gonzalez’s plea agreement, from Feb. 5, 2011, through March 9, 2011, Gonzalez committed seven bank robberies throughout the Valley. Gonzalez used a handgun in six of those robberies. During the last robbery, on March 9, 2011, Gonzalez received assistance from Michelle Sernas, 29, of Avondale, Ariz., who drove him to the bank, waited outside while he robbed the bank, and then drove him home after the robbery. In connection with that robbery, Sernas entered a guilty plea to aid and abet the use of a firearm during a crime of violence. On Nov. 30, 2011, Judge Martone sentenced her to 10 years in prison.

The United States also seeks information pertaining to the whereabouts of a third individual who is allegedly associated with Sernas. Cynthia Marie Alaniz, 23, of Cashion, Ariz., was indicted on March 23, 2011, on one count of bank robbery and aiding and abetting in CR 11-00552-PHX-JAT. Alaniz is currently a fugitive. If anyone has any information regarding Alaniz’s whereabouts, we would encourage them to contact the FBI at (623) 466-1999.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and its Bank Robbery Task Force. The Bank Robbery Task Force is a partnership of FBI, the Phoenix Police Department, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, the Mesa Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, whose focus is to investigate and apprehend bank robbers in the Phoenix metropolitan area. More information on the Bank Robbery Task Force can be found at www.bandittrackerarizona.com. The prosecution was handled by Alison Bachus, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

2 alien smugglers sentenced to a 17-year combined sentence

PHOENIX — Two Mexican nationals were sentenced Monday to 10 and seven years in jail respectively for harboring illegal aliens for profit and aiding and abetting and transporting illegal aliens for profit, following an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) offices in Washington, D.C., and Phoenix.

 Guadalupe Toribio-Caballero, 25, and Humberto Guzman Caballero, 32, were leaders and managers of a local Phoenix smuggling operation, which specialized in harboring and transporting illegal immigrants from Central and South America, including Brazil, and had been involved in smuggling thousands of people since at least 2008.

According to court documents, on May 10, 2010, the ICE HSI office in Washington D.C., received a phone call from the El Salvadorian Embassy regarding three juvenile aliens, ages 11, 13 and 15, who were being held hostage in Phoenix. The parents of the juveniles, who were living in the D.C.-area, had already paid $19,500 to the human smugglers. The smugglers were extorting an additional $7,500 for the safe release of the children. ICE HSI special agents in Washington, D.C., working with ICE HSI agents in Phoenix, tracked the cell phone numbers used by the smugglers to several addresses in Phoenix.

 On May 11, 2010, ICE HSI agents in Phoenix rescued the three juvenile aliens, and with the help of the Phoenix Police Department, discovered 16 other victim hostages at a Phoenix "drop-house," including a 10-year-old female from Brazil. The hostages were from Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, El Salvador, and Brazil. They told law enforcement that they had been smuggled into the United States, and were being held against their will in the house until their families paid their smuggling fees.

 The other victims, including the juveniles, were held hostage at a "drop-house" where the defendants threatened the victims, menaced and physically intimidated them, and kept them in a locked house in order to compel their family members to pay the smuggling fee.

On May 20, 2010, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a three count indictment against the defendants, charging them with violations of conspiracy to commit hostage taking, hostage taking, and harboring illegal aliens for profit. On Dec. 29, 2010, the federal grand jury added an additional count of transporting illegal aliens for profit.

The investigation was conducted by ICE HSI offices in Phoenix, Washington D.C./Virginia, with assistance from ICE HSI offices in Boston and New York City. The prosecution was handled by Walter Perkel and Howard Sukenic, assistant U.S. attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

Phoenix-Area Bank Robber Arrested and Charged

PHOENIX—A federal grand jury has returned a 16-count indictment against Cristian Alfredo Urquijo, 39, of Calif., for bank robbery, armed bank robbery, and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence. Urquijo was charged for his role in 12 bank robberies, from September 2010 through July 2011, during which he was dubbed the “black binder bandit” for his possession of a black binder during a majority of the robberies. Urquijo has been detained pending trial by order of the Court; his arraignment is set for August 31, 2011, before U.S. Magistrate Judge James F. Metcalf.

A conviction for bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. A conviction for armed bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of up to 35 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. A conviction for the use of a firearm during a crime of violence carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the assigned judge will consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI’s Bank Robbery Task Force, which includes the FBI, Phoenix Police Department, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, and Mesa Police Department. The Gilbert Police Department made the arrest. The prosecution is being handled by Tracy Van Buskirk and Melissa Karlen, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER: CR-11-1624-PHX-SRB

RELEASE NUMBER: 2011-184(Urquijo)

National Metal Theft Investigations Seminar

Stolen: Aluminum - Brass - Bronze - Copper - Platinum

Date: September 23-24, 2008
Location:
The Regal Sun Resort
In The Walt Disney World Resort
Orlando, Florida 32830
Phone: 800-624-4109
Web: http://www.regalsunresort.com
Room Rate: $105.00
Seminar Fee: $295.00
Seminar Website: http://www.iapci.org/seminar-one/index.php

New Annual Metal Theft Investigations Seminar is restricted to law enforcement, public utilities, and corporate security. Please attend to network and develop strategies to combat one of the hottest and fastest-growing crimes!

Groups Attending Include:
Allegheny Power;
AT&T Corporate Security;
Con Edison Company of NY;
CSX Railroad Police Department;
Dallas Police Department Metal Theft Unit;
Embarq Corporate Security;
First Energy Corp;
Fort Worth Police Department, Texas, Metal Theft Unit;
Houston Police Department, Metal Theft Unit;
Lowe's Companies Inc.;
Macon - Middle Georgia Metal Theft Committee;
Oregon Joint Metals Task Force;
Phoenix Police Department, Arizona, Metal Theft Unit;
Southern California Edison, Corporate Security;
Travis CO TX Metal Theft Task Force;
Verizon Corporate Security;
Xcel Energy;

For More Information
http://www.iapci.org/pages-main/index.php
Not-For-Profit law enforcement Educational Association
If you can't attend the seminar join our association membership dues are FREE!

Two Cops and a Civilian

Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added one civilian police official and two police officers who have authored books: Stephen M. Hennessy; Wendell Godfrey; and, LeMay Johnson.

Stephen M. Hennessy is a thirty five year law enforcement veteran serving in progressively responsible management and leadership positions with the FBI, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, and the Phoenix Police Department (Arizona). During his career he coordinated complex criminal investigations for many years as well as was responsible for a forensic laboratory, a statewide computer history and information system, and other administrative areas of law enforcement organizations such as finance, budget, research, and legislative matters. He holds a master's degree in curriculum and instruction and a doctorate in educational leadership.

Stephen M. Hennessy is the author of Thinking Cop, Feeling Cop: A Study in Police Personalities. According to the book description, “a groundbreaking resource for police executives, officers on the street, media representatives, trainers and others involved in the fields of civil and criminal justice. This book explores the roles of personality types and how they affect the daily lives of law enforcement officials. Stephen Hennessy breaks down the communication patterns and management styles necessary to be a successful police officer and discusses the strengths and weakness of each style. This insightful book opens doors to understanding the role of women in law enforcement and highlights ways to deal with conflicts police officers may have with other professions.”

In 1981, Wendell Godfrey graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a BS in Criminal Justice. He has served most of his adult life as a police officer with small, medium and large departments. His last law enforcement assignment was as the chief of police of the Florence Police Department (Mississippi). He is the author of Valley of the Shadow: The Maelstrom.

According to the description of Wendell Godfrey’s book, “a thriller crime novel written by a veteran Police Chief like none other you've read. If your idea of motorcycle gangs is limited to Hell's Angels and Bandidos, think again. If you think identity theft, kidnapping, and missing children only happen in big cities and police stories, brace yourself. In a child abduction drama written by a real cop, feel the cut of the knives and hear the blaze of the guns as outlaw bikers ride their way through a murder mystery in which only superior police tactics have any chance to prevail.”

LeMay Johnson writes under the pen name of Jon LeMay. He spent thirty years with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office (Minnesota). He retired as a captain. He is the author of Frogtown. According to one reviewer, Frogtown is “Earthy and realistic, this novel has all the elements to keep the reader interested page after page. Written by a veteran law enforcement officer adds a depth to the story making it all the more fascinating. Seldom does one get to enter the complex world of cops on the street with such insight. Hard to put down.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 625 police officers (representing 274 police departments) and their 1337 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.

Arizona, Arkansas and Georgia

Police-Writers.com is a website dedicated to listing state and local police officers who have authored books. Four police officers from Arizona, Arkansas and Georgia was added to the website: Bryan Muth; Frank Gillette; Cory Harris; and, Harold Goldhagen.

Bryan Muth was a police officer for the Phoenix Police Department (Arizona). After his retirement in 2005, he began working as a private investigator in the Phoenix area. Bryan Muth is the author of Judging the Police. According to the book description, “the post Rodney King era police officer is more tenuous fearful of citizen complaint or prosecution than ever before in history. The "L" word (liability) is fast becoming the first concern of a cop not public safety. Officers are being reviewed through citizen groups, ADHOC committees, or civil juries whose members only yesterday told a police officer "I wouldn't do your job for a million bucks". Offenders as young as ten years old are trying to intimidate an officer from doing his job by demanding to talk to the officer's supervisor. Unfortunately, it is working! You are not as safe from crime as you would think or that police administrators and politicians would like you to believe.”

Bryan Muth is currently working on his second book, How Near Anarchy. A portion of the proceeds from his second book are slated to go a law enforcement legal defense fund based in Washington, DC, that defends police officers from unwarranted prosecution.

Frank V. Gillette retired from the Arizona Department of Public Safety. He is the author of two books, A Cop’s Diary and Pleasant Valley. In addition to his writing, he apparently stayed alert and involved. According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety monthly newsletter, in August 1984, Frank Gillette was gathering firewood west of Young Airport when he saw a large aircraft making its final approach. Frank Gillette also noted unusual activity on nearby roads. He called a narcotics officer and reported the activity, leading to one of the largest cocaine seizures in Arizona history; over 1,370 pounds with a street value of $148 million.

Cory B. Harris has over 13 years of military and law enforcement experience. He has served with The United States Air Force, Little Rock Police Department (Arkansas), United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the United States Marshal Service. He has law enforcement training and experience in field training, crime prevention, investigations, operations, apprehension, and protection. He is also a recipient of the Little Rock Police Department’s Medal of Merit. Moreover, he is the first law enforcement official from the state of Arkansas to be added to the website.

Cory B. Harris is the author of Zipper Le Series One: Outlook on Leadership And Liability Issues in the Criminal Justice System. According to the book description, Cory B. Harris’ book, “takes you behind the badge to examine tough issues in the criminal justice system. It tackles civil liability, race, and leadership issues to name a few from the outlook of the author. The author gives examples using his own experiences that are simple and easy to understand to give the reader unique insight. The book contains many case studies, and stories that are interesting yet they have a simple meaning. The book explores how different groups of people look at these issues in different ways, as well as how important it is for criminal justice officials to stay mentally fit.”

Harold Goldhagen is a retired captain from the Atlanta Police Department. He is also the author of Signal 63: Officer Needs Help. According to the book description, “As the Civil Rights Movement changed everything, Atlanta, Georgia could be any city. Cops are cops; people are people; crime is crime. Serving in the police is tough, and Officer Harold's circumstances were anything but ordinary.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 557 police officers (representing 231 police departments) and their 1174 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.