U.S. Marshals Capture Two Fugitives in One House

Florence, SC – Jackie Jenkins, 24, and Lorenzo Herion, 20, were arrested in Conway in the afternoon hours of October 7 by U.S. Marshals and partnering law enforcement agencies. Jenkins is charged by the Horry County Police Department with 2 counts of Assault and Battery with Intent to Kill and Burglary. In these instances, it is alleged that in December 2009, Jenkins was involved in a shooting in Loris and in March 2010, Jenkins invaded a home in Little River, shooting a homeowner twice, who survived. Herion is charged by the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office with weapons offenses and the Horry County Sheriff’s Office with failure to stop for a blue light.

The U.S. Marshals led Operation Intercept Fugitive Task Force in Florence, along with SLED, Horry County Police Department, and Conway Police Department developed information that both Jenkins and Herion were living together in Conway at

1226 Parkhill Drive

. U.S. Marshals located Jenkins and Herion inside that residence, placing them into custody without incident. During the arrest a semiautomatic pistol was located and recovered. Both Jenkins and Herion were transported to the Horry County Detention Center.

“After almost a year on the lam, Mr. Jenkins thought that he could out run the U.S. Marshals and our partnering law enforcement agencies; he was wrong. It is the ability of all law enforcement agencies, with a collective effort, that makes capturing fugitives like Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Herion possible. The U.S. Marshals are committed to that partnership and dedicated to ultimately making the community a safer place.” stated Kelvin Washington, U.S. Marshal for South Carolina.

Established in 1789, the United States Marshals Service is the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency. In fiscal year 2009, the Marshals arrested more than 36,400 federal fugitives, clearing 39,400 felony warrants. Marshal’s Service led task forces like South Carolina’s Operation Intercept arrested 90,800 state and local fugitives, clearing 117,000 felony warrants. Locally, Operation Intercept arrested over 2,500 South Carolina fugitives during the same period. More information about the Marshals and other South Carolina fugitives can be found on the web at www.usmarshals.gov.

This article was sponsored by Police Books.

Guilty Pleas in Grampa’s Gunshop Burglary

Madison, Wis. — John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Darren Richardson, 20, Chicago, pleaded guilty yesterday, and Daniel Barlow, 23, Madison, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Madison to stealing 20 firearms from Grampa’s Gun Shop,

1374 Williamson Street, Madison

, on March 13, 2010.

On March 13, two men, one of whom was later identified as Richardson, forcibly entered Grampa’s Gun Shop and forced the owner into a bathroom. The robbers bound the owner’s ankles and wrists with duct tape and made verbal threats. One robber watched the victim owner while the other placed the firearms in a duffel bag. Barlow acted as the getaway driver, and he subsequently drove to Minnesota and sold one of the stolen firearms to a friend. This firearm was recovered and Barlow’s friend implicated Barlow and helped police identify Richardson as a suspect. Additional investigation established probable cause for a search warrant for Richardson’s DNA.

The Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory was able to isolate DNA from the duct tape used to bound the victim’s ankles and wrists and compare it to Richardson’s DNA. The crime lab determined that Richardson was a major contributor to the DNA on the duct tape and that the probability of randomly selecting an individual that could have contributed to this DNA mixture was 1 in 14 million. When Richardson was arrested, he admitted his role in the offense.

In addition to the firearm that was recovered in Minnesota, four more have been recovered in the Chicago area.

U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb scheduled Richardson’s sentencing for December 17, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. Barlow’s sentencing is scheduled for December 7, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. They both face a maximum penalty of ten years in prison.

The charges against Richardson and Barlow were the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.

This article was sponsored by Police Books.

Somerville Man Convicted of Bank Robbery

BOSTON, MA—A Somerville man was convicted today in federal court of robbing East Cambridge Savings Bank.

DANIEL ALMEIDA, 28, formerly of Somerville, was convicted by a jury sitting before U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton of bank burglary. He faces up to 20 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Judge Gorton scheduled sentencing for January 21, 2011.

On the evening of May 25, 2007, an employee of East Cambridge Savings Bank on

Highland Avenue

in Somerville was abducted and forced to enter the bank the following morning, letting her abductor in. The employee was then forced to open the vault and put the cash into two bags. The employee was then duct-taped to a chair in the basement of the bank. Evidence linking Almeida to the crime included admissions he made to an acquaintance and DNA evidence recovered at the scene. The East Cambridge Savings Bank sustained a loss of $308,505 as a result of the crime.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Division; Colonel Marian McGovern, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Chief Michael Cabral of the Somerville Police Department made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. Richardson of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.

This article was sponsored by Police Books.

Career Offender Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Bank Robbery

A federal judge today sentenced Darrin Gray, a career offender with more than 30 prior convictions, to 14 years in federal prison for a bank robbery he committed in Cumberland last year.

United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha announced the sentence, which Chief U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi imposed in U.S. District Court, Providence.

In March, Gray, 45, of no permanent address, pleaded guilty to committing the robbery at a Sovereign Bank branch on

Broad Street

in Cumberland on June 20, 2009. At the plea hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Zechariah Chafee said that Gray went into the bank, showed an employee a note, and shoved her toward a teller station, where he demanded money. He fled the bank with $7,450.

Detectives for the Violent Fugitive Task Force located Gray at a gas station on

Chalkstone Avenue

in Providence three days later. Police tried to block Gray’s vehicle, a Jeep Cherokee, and two officers approached Gray on foot. He drove right at one of the police officers, who was displaying his badge. The officer fired two pistol shots at Gray, who was not injured, fled the gas station in the Cherokee, and sped through local streets before fleeing the vehicle. Police officers arrested him shortly after he fled the vehicle.

At today’s sentencing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Chafee detailed Gray’s long arrest record, which dates back to 1985 and includes convictions for assault, robbery, larceny, shoplifting, and breaking and entering. In a document filed with the court, Mr. Chafee argued for a long prison sentence, noting that Gray had “manhandled a woman” during the robbery, and then after obtaining more than $7,000 from the bank, “treated himself to cocaine and strippers as a reward.”

The investigation into the robbery was conducted by Cumberland Police, the Violent Fugitive Task Force, which is staffed by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Rhode Island State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

This article was sponsored by Police Books.

U.S. Army Major Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for False Statements Charge Related to Attempt to Smuggle Currency from Iraq to the United States

WASHINGTON - U.S. Army Major Charles E. Sublett, 46, of Huntsville, Ala., was sentenced today to 21 months in prison for making false statements to a federal agency, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division.

Sublett was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samuel H. Mays in Memphis, Tenn. In addition to his prison term, Sublett was also sentenced to two years of supervised release and was ordered to forfeit $107,900 and 17,120,000 Iraqi dinar. Sublett was indicted on Jan. 5, 2010, following his arrest in Huntsville, and pleaded guilty on July 7, 2010. According to the indictment, Sublett smuggled more than $100,000 in currency, concealed in a shipping package, into the United States from Iraq in January 2005.

According to court documents, Sublett was deployed to Balad Regional Contracting Center on Logistical Support Area (LSA) Anaconda in Iraq from August 2004 through February 2005. LSA Anaconda is a U.S. military installation that was established in 2003 to support U.S. military operations in Iraq. According to the indictment, Sublett served as a contracting officer while deployed to LSA Anaconda. As a contracting officer, Sublett was responsible for, among other things, evaluating and supervising contracts with companies that provide goods and services to the U.S. Army.

Sublett admitted that, on Jan. 11, 2005, he sent a package from Balad, Iraq, to Killeen, Texas, which was seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Memphis. Sublett admitted that, on the international air waybill, he falsely described the contents of the package as books, papers, a jewelry box and clothes with a total declared customs value of $140 when, in fact, Sublett knew the package contained $107,900 in U.S. currency and 17,120,000 in Iraqi dinar. Sublett also admitted that he failed to file a currency or monetary instruments transaction report (CMIR) as required by federal law when transporting currency in amounts of more than $10,000 into or out of the United States. During the plea hearing, Sublett admitted to making false claims to investigators regarding his attempt to bring the currency into the United States in an effort to impede their investigation.

This case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Daniel A. Petalas and Deputy Chief Justin V. Shur of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section. This case was investigated by Army Criminal Investigation Command; Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the FBI; Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation; the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction; and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

This article was sponsored by Police Books.

ATF Los Angeles Hosts Citizens Academy

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — John A. Torres, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Los Angeles Field Division announced the “ATF Citizens Academy” presented by the Los Angeles Field Division began yesterday and is scheduled to run through Nov. 17. The academy’s goal is to create a greater understanding of ATF’s role in the community through education, open discussion and practical exercises.

“The Citizens Academy provides local business, civic, religious and community leaders an inside look at federal law enforcement in general and ATF in particular,” Torres said. “The overall goal is to build relationships and create an understanding between ATF and the community to further assist citizens in making their communities a better and safer place.”

The Citizens Academy is hosted twice a year and is open to approximately 40 students per class. Students must be civic, religious or community leaders, and be at least 21 years old with no felony convictions. The class meets weekly for approximately three hours and lasts seven weeks. Some of the topics covered include:

ATF history, mission and jurisdiction

Firearms/explosives regulations

Federal firearms/explosives licensee inspections

Firearms safety and firearms familiarization/range day

ATF laboratories

Certified explosive specialist program

Explosives detection canine program

Special response team and tactical simulation exercise

Certified fire investigator program

National response team (arson)

The next Citizens Academy is scheduled for spring 2011. For additional information, please contact the Los Angeles Field Division at (818) 265-2500, or visit the Citizens Academy Web page at http://www.atf.gov/field/losangeles/citizens-academy.html

For more information about ATF and its programs visit www.atf.gov.

This article was sponsored by Police Books.

Calvert County Man Indicted for Distribution and Possession of Child Pornography

GREENBELT, MD—A federal grand jury has indicted Lawrence Francis Robinson, age 30, of North Beach, Maryland, today for distribution and possession of child pornography.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Colonel Terrence Sheridan, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.

“Children are sexually abused to produce these images. Anyone who has information about sexual abuse of a child should contact the FBI at (410) 265-8080,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are united in our commitment to combat sexual exploitation of children.”

According to the seven count indictment, on December 31, 2007, Robinson allegedly distributed child pornography, specifically, images documenting the sexual abuse of young males, including prepubescent males. The indictment alleges that two of the distributed images depict unidentified adult males using force to sexually abuse boys. The indictment also alleges that in November and December, 2009, Robinson had child pornography on his computer. The indictment seeks forfeiture of computers and any other property used or intended to be used to distribute and possess child pornography.

Law enforcement discovered the files allegedly sent by Robinson during the forensic analysis of a computer in another case, according to affidavits filed in support of searches of Robinson’s home and computer.

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 (CEOS), 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. Details about Maryland’s program are available at www.justice.gov/usao/md/Safe-Childhood/index.html.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI and Maryland State Police for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacy Dawson Belf and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney LisaMarie Freitas, assigned from the Justice Department Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, who are prosecuting the case.

This article was sponsored by Police Books.

FBI and Local Banks Offer Up to $50,000 for Information on Bank Robbers Dubbed the “Duct Tape Bandits”

Daniel McMullen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Mississippi, announced that a reward of up to $25,000 is being offered by the FBI for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of individuals who may be responsible for as many as three bank robberies in Jackson and one in Kosciusko, Mississippi. In addition to the $25,000 reward, Omni Bank, Trustmark Bank, and Regions Bank are offering another reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of these individuals.

In each of these bank robberies, more than one individual was involved, firearms were used to threaten bank employees, then the bank employees were restrained by the robbers who bound them with duct tape. Because of these and other similarities, the FBI and local authorities are looking into the possibility that two or more individuals are responsible for the robberies of the following four banks:

Omni Bank

1601 East County Line Road

Jackson, Mississippi;

9/9/2010;

Trustmark Bank

6248 Old Canton Road

Jackson, Mississippi;

5/25/2010;

Omni Bank

5005 Old Canton Road

Jackson, Mississippi;

7/29/2009;

Regions Bank

620 Veterans Memorial Drive

Kosciusko, Mississippi

2/22/2006

The suspects are described as black males, both between 5'8" and 6'1" tall, and of slender to average build. They typically disguise their features by using wigs, masks, sunglasses or hoods.

These robbers have displayed weapons in all of the robberies listed above and should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 601-948-5000.

This article was sponsored by Police Books.

New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Using Deceased Brother’s Identity and Stealing Federal Funds

NEW ORLEANS, LA—LIONEL PERKINS, JR., age 56, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty in federal court today before U. S. District Judge Lance M. Africk to charges relating to his usage of his deceased brother’s identity to obtain thousands of dollars of federal benefits and his fraudulent application for and receipt of storm-related federal benefits in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, announced United States Attorney Jim Letten.

According to court documents, in 1988, PERKINS used the identity of his deceased younger brother to apply for a Social Security Number. Using his brother’s identity and the fraudulently obtained Social Security Number, PERKINS applied for and received over $40,000 worth of federal benefits, including supplemental security income benefits, health care benefits through the Medicaid program, FEMA benefits, and food stamps. Using the false identity, PERKINS also filed a civil complaint against the Social Security Administration in federal court. Additionally, PERKINS applied for, and received, multiple driver’s licenses in Louisiana and Mississippi in the name of his deceased brother.

Furthermore, after Hurricane Katrina devastated the New Orleans area, the defendant filed an application in his own name for a Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan assistance representing that he owned a property located in the 2300 block of

General Taylor Street, New Orleans, Louisiana

, and that the property was his primary residence when Hurricane Katrina struck. PERKINS admitted that he fraudulently represented that he was a full-time resident of the General Taylor Street property, when, in fact, he had been living at and receiving Section 8 Housing Assistance to live in a home located on Rousseau Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the time of the storm. As a result of this false representation, PERKINS was authorized to receive $170,900.00 from the SBA, for which he was not entitled.

PERKINS also admitted that he used a similar scheme to defraud the Louisiana Road Home Program and as a result of the misrepresentations, he was awarded a Road Home grant of $150,000. In total, PERKINS was authorized to receive nearly $400,000 in federal benefits through his various fraudulent actions.

PERKINS further admitted that, after being charged with the aforementioned federal crimes, PERKINS instructed two associates to hide incriminating documents from law enforcement authorities.

PERKINS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of up to 65 years, a total fine of $1,500,000.00 and three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. Sentencing has been scheduled for January 13, 2011.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, U. S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, United States Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, and the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg, Matthew S. Chester, and Brian M. Klebba.

This article was sponsored by Police Books.

Baltimore Man Sentenced to Prison for Scheme to Fraudulently Obtain Work Visas for Immigrants

BALTIMORE, MD—U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz, sentenced Ahfaz Ahmed, age 46, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to one month in prison, followed by five months of home detention as part of two years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit labor certification fraud in a scheme in which Ahmed charged immigrants thousands of dollars to fraudulently obtain work visas for them.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Special Agent in Charge William Winter of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Homeland Security Investigations; and Robert L. Panella, Special Agent-in-Charge for the Washington Region of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General - Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations.

According to Ahmed’s guilty plea, he was a naturalized United States citizen born in Pakistan and was the President of Super Technologies, Corp. located in Baltimore. Ahmed submitted numerous applications to the Department of Labor (DOL) seeking certification to employ alien workers at Super Technologies, providing false information regarding jobs he alleged were to be filled by alien workers at Super Technologies. In fact, those jobs did not exist.

Once Ahmed received certification from the DOL to fill the positions at Super Technologies, he filed petitions seeking to fraudulently sponsor immigrant or non-immigrant aliens on work-related visas. In some instances, those visas would enable the affected alien to apply for lawful permanent resident status. In exchange for his fraudulent sponsorship, Ahmed charged each alien a fee of anywhere from $8,000 to $10,000. He charged a similar amount to file renewal applications and petitions with the DOL and INS/USCIS to extend the aliens’ work-related visas based on their alleged employment at Super Technologies.

In most instances, the aliens obtained legitimate employment with other employers after obtaining their fraudulent visas through Ahmed. In order to make it appear as though the alien workers were actually working at Super Technologies, Ahmed required that each alien pay his “salary” to Ahmed through monthly checks or wire transfers into Ahmed ’s Super Technologies bank account. Once monies were received, Ahmed would use those funds to cut a “paycheck” to the alien for his alleged wages at Super Technologies, in order to conceal the fact that the Super Technologies employment alleged in the fraudulent forms filed with the DOL and INS/USCIS did not exist. These alleged “paychecks” also documented certain “miscellaneous deductions” which were kept by Ahmed from the monies provided to him by each alien. These “deductions” constituted ongoing payments by each alien of Ahmed’s fees for the fraudulent sponsorship, as well as payments for employer-related expenses and taxes such as Social Security and Medicare.

Ahmed fraudulently sponsored at least four individuals for temporary work visas (known as H-1B visas) based on false labor certifications filed by Ahmed with the DOL.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General - Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigation, for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Christine Manuelian, who prosecuted the case.

This article was sponsored by Police Books.

FBI Honors Montana Doctor for Protecting Native American Children

Dr. Earl Sutherland, Jr. to receive FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award

Presentation of Award:

Date: Thursday, October 7, 2010

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Where: United States Attorney’s Office

Former Western Federal Savings Bank Building

2929 3rd Avenue North

, 3rd Floor Conference Room

Billings, Montana

(406) 248-8487 –Billings, Montana FBI Office

Special Agent in Charge James S. McTighe of the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office is proud to present the 2010 Director’s Community Leadership Award to Earl Sutherland, Jr., Ph.D. The FBI chose Dr. Sutherland for his work in protecting Native American children who are victims of sexual abuse and other violent acts. As a clinical child psychologist, Dr. Sutherland provides diagnostic and treatment services designed to stop the cycle of violence.

In April 2007, Dr. Sutherland started the Child and Adolescent Referral and Evaluation Centers (CARE) on the Crow Indian Reservation. In January 2010, he started a second CARE Center on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. Both facilities are located in Southeastern Montana.

“By recognizing Dr. Sutherland with the Director’s Community Leadership Award for his work at the Child and Adolescent Referral and Evaluation Centers, we hope in some small way to convey our profound gratitude to Dr. Sutherland for his life-changing contributions to Native American children traumatized by sexual abuse and violence,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge James S. McTighe.

The CARE Center puts the needs of young victims first. Dr. Sutherland ensures they receive immediate counseling, determines how they have been victimized, and develops an appropriate treatment plan to address the psychological and physical well-being of the child. He also involves non-offending family members in the process. “Think about not only the emotional trauma, but the physical and spiritual trauma that develops from sexual abuse. Having the ability to help a child and their family cope with that is a wonderful opportunity,” said Dr. Sutherland.

Furthermore, the CARE Center works with a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals, law enforcement personnel, and prosecutors to investigate cases. Team members include the Bureau of Indian Affairs Social Services and Office of Justice Services, tribal prosecutors, Indian Health Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Attorney’s Office. A victim and their family members have an opportunity to meet and talk to everyone who is involved in their case, which can help them to better understand the medical, investigative and court process.

The goal of the CARE Center is to help nurture and heal children who have been traumatized by violence. Because of the center’s success, Native American adults, who were sexually or physically abused as children are now coming forward to seek treatment as well.

The Director’s Community Leadership Award is one way FBI Special Agents in Charge thank individuals or organizations for their tremendous efforts. Created in 1990, this special award is presented on behalf of the Director of the FBI to honor organizations and individuals like Dr. Earl Sutherland for their commitment to their communities.

This article was sponsored by Police Books.

Eighty-nine Law Enforcement Officers and 42 Others Indicted for Drug Trafficking Crimes in Puerto Rico

WASHINGTON—Eighty-nine law enforcement officers and 44 others in Puerto Rico have been charged in 26 indictments unsealed today and returned by a grand jury in San Juan, Puerto Rico, during the month of September 2010, Attorney General Eric Holder and U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez of the District of Puerto Rico announced today.

The defendants face charges ranging from conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, attempt to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, and use of a firearm during the commission of a drug trafficking offense. The offenses charged cover a period from in or about July 26, 2008 until Sept. 21, 2010.

The arrests today are the result of Operation Guard Shack, the largest police corruption investigation in the history of the FBI. Close to 750 FBI agents were flown in to Puerto Rico from across the country to assist in the arrests early this morning. Currently 129 individuals are in custody and four subjects remain at-large.

“The Justice Department’s commitment to rooting out and eradicating alleged corruption in our law enforcement ranks has never been stronger,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “This department has one message for anyone willing to abuse the public trust for personal gain: you will be caught, you will be stopped and you will be punished.”

The indictments unsealed today are the result of 125 undercover drug transactions conducted by the FBI in several locations in Puerto Rico, from July 2008 until September 2010. The defendants’ participation in the drug transactions consisted of providing armed protection to a drug dealer during the sale of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine. In exchange for their security services during the undercover drug transactions, the defendants, a majority of whom are law enforcement officers, received payments ranging from $500 to $4,500 per transaction.

The law enforcement officers indicted today are from the following agencies: 60 defendants from the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD); 16 defendants from various municipal police departments; and 12 officers from the Puerto Rico Corrections Department. The remaining defendants include: three Puerto Rico National Guard soldiers; two U.S. Army officers; eight former law enforcement officers; one administrative examiner in child support matters; one employee from the Social Security Administration; and 30 civilians.

“These indictments demonstrate the commitment of the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Puerto Rico to eradicate corruption in our law enforcement ranks. We cannot help but be appalled at the criminal conduct charged today against those who have sworn to serve and protect the citizens of Puerto Rico. The people of Puerto Rico deserve and expect better, and today we send a clear message. We will continue working side by side with the many honest members of Puerto Rico’s law enforcement agencies in our fight against drug trafficking, violent crime and corruption in the island,” said U.S. Attorney Rodríguez-Vélez.

“Public corruption does not just strike at the heart of good government. It also jeopardizes the security of our communities and our nation,” said FBI Executive Assistant Director Shawn Henry, Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch. “It erodes public confidence and undermines the strength of our democracy. The FBI is fully committed to pursuing allegations of public corruption and we will work closely with the Department of Justice to bring charges when necessary.”

The 61 indicted defendants from the Puerto Rico Police Department are: Omar Pérez Prado; Lt. Ángel Torres Figueroa; Carlos Fontanez Mercado, aka “Machazo;” Yacira Vélez Milian; Heriberto Cruz Vargas aka “Yopi;” Giovanni Cubertier Morales; Armando Valle Vicenty; Melvin Acevedo Hernández; Jeff Marrero Malpica; José Fuentes-Fuentes; Nelson Álvarez Mendoza; Obed Acevedo Ranero; Joel Hernández Hernández; David González Pérez; Israel Rullan Santiago; Eusebio Hernández Nieves; Xavier Álvarez Pérez; Ángel Acevedo Pérez, Ángel Rivera Ortiz, aka “Kento;” Samuel Acevedo Rivera; Pedro A. Morales Cintrón; Michael Forestier Figueroa; Juan Cruz Ramos, aka “Tito K9;” Jorge Rosado García; José R. Sánchez Quiñones; Rafael Figueroa Quiñones; Mayra Jiménez Pacheco; Juan D. Santiago Rosado; Rolando Nieves Valentin; Brenda Acosta Andújar; Javier A. Díaz Castro; Arnold E. Benítez Rivera; Rafael Rodríguez Valentin; Ramón Benítez Falcón; Carlos M. Méndez Pérez; Juan Hernández Vega; Daviel Salinas Acevedo; Pedro Ayala Rivera; Yamil M. Navedo Ramírez; Ivan Santiago-Cruz; Daniel E. Ocasio Figueroa; Rafael Bautista Santiago; Isaías Reyes Arroyo; Sgt. Luis E. Pérez Ortiz; Hector Hernández Aguilar; Karla M. Colón Bracero; Jim Santana Ramírez; Jayson Acevedo; José L. Salva Negrón; Milton L. Martínez Matos; Luis A. González Torres; Miguel Santiago Cordero; Alberto De La Rosa Reyes; José B. Vargas Torres; Hector López Terrón; Johanna Caraballo López; Silverio Vera Monroy; Juan Jusino Ramos; Raúl Vega Sosa; Jonathan Ortiz Muñiz; and Hector Olivero Alicea.

The 16 indicted defendants who are municipal police officers are: Andy Alejandrino Sánchez; Arcadio Hernández-Soto; Raquel Delgado Marrero; Ángel L. Rivera Claudio; Joel Omar Aldarondo-Montalvo; Neftali Valentin-Fred; José O. Maldonado García; Luis Joel Avilés Rullan; Mark Anthony Ortiz; Luis Román Herrera; Gabriel Lozada Torres; Onel Saavedra González; Rose M. Serrano Vargas; Wilfredo González Lagares; Francisco J. Riesta Natal; and Jose Pérez Pérez.

The 12 indicted defendants who are officers in the Puerto Rico Corrections Department are: Christian Díaz Maldonado; Olvin García Huertas; José L. Román Méndez; Ruben Maldonado Torres; Radamés Cortez Ozoa; Carlos M. Rosado López; Omar Torres Ruperto; Carlos M. Linares Vega; Bernis González Miranda; José R. Bermúdez Quiñones; Joel Díaz Nieves; and Bernardo Cruz Trujillo.

The remaining 44 defendants are: Carlos Figueroa Cruz; Anthony Cruz; Miguel Sánchez Román (U.S. Army, former San Juan Municipal); Rodolfo E. Torres Negrón; Melquiades Álvarez Mendoza; Juan Carlos González Ortiz; Nelmic De La Cruz Raposo; Jesús LNU; Axel González Terron; Juan Cruz Tapia (Social Security Office); Edgar Rafael Rivera De Jesús (retired PRPD); Idanis García Morales (child support examiner); Christian Sotomayor Filomeno; Omar Cajigas; Abimael Hernández Rivera; Pedro González-Cruz; Rubin A. Maisonet De Jesús;Wayne Cedeño Amador; Josué Ramírez González; Oscar E. Ramos Rodríguez; Antonio L. Román Reyes; Yancy Toro Espiet; Alex O. Cordero Cortez, aka “Omar De La Cruz;” Luis Vélez-Concepción; Billy Hernández; Edward Quiñones (former PRPD); Christian A. Núñez-Reverón, aka “Kelvin Nuñez,” Roberto Molina (retired PRPD); Francisco Manzano López (former PRPD); Abraham Sánchez (National Guard); Hector Hernández-Aldarondo; Rafael E. Pérez Rivera; Sgt. Abraham González Sánchez (National Guard); Wendell Rivera Ruperto, aka “Arsenio Rivera,” (former PR Department of Corrections); David Maldonado (National Guard); Juan C. Ramos-Vargas, aka “Joseph Avilés;” Frederick Santos Ortiz, aka “Roberto Ortega;” Yoana Sierra Padilla (former PRPD); Julio Gómez-Lloréns; Ricardo Amaro-Santiago; Eliezer Pagán Medina; and Sgt. Ricardo Vázquez (U.S. Army Recruiter); Rafael Ureña Rivera, aka “Indio (former PRPD);” and William Rivera García (former municipal officer).

If convicted the defendants are facing sentences ranging from 10 years, up to life in prison.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Courtney Coker and Jacqueline Novas. The case is being investigated by the FBI San Juan Field Office.

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

This article was sponsored by Police Books.

OPERATION GUARD SHACK: Historic Takedown in Puerto Rico

Early this morning the FBI launched a massive public corruption takedown in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as our agents fanned out across the island to begin arresting 133 subjects—the majority of them police officers.

In what is likely the largest police corruption case in the FBI’s history, nearly 1,000 Bureau personnel from 50 of our 56 field offices were in San Juan for the takedown.

By late morning, as U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney for Puerto Rico Rosa Rodriguez-Velez, and FBI officials were announcing the operation at a press conference in Washington, members of our Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) and SWAT operators had already arrested 129 subjects in a seamless and successful operation.

Those charged with drug trafficking crimes and the use of a firearm in the commission of those crimes include 61 officers from the Puerto Rico Police Department, 16 officers from other municipal police departments, a dozen Puerto Rico Department of Corrections officers, members of the National Guard, and two U.S. Army soldiers. They all face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

“The actions of these individuals proved they were not worthy of the title of public servant,” said Luis Fraticelli, special agent in charge of our San Juan office. “They violated the public’s trust by using their authority for personal gain.”

The case, dubbed Operation Guard Shack, began more than two years ago, when then-FBI Special Agent Jose Figueroa Sancha began an investigation into corrupt San Juan police officers.

One of our undercover agents posing as a dealer selling multiple kilos of cocaine put the word out that he needed security during drug deals. Many of those who responded were cops. They actively took part in the transactions by carrying weapons and patting down the drug buyers—who were actually FBI informants. For their protection efforts, the cops were paid between $500 and $4,000 for each drug deal. In all, more than $500,000 was paid in protection money.

Figueroa Sancha—now chief of the Puerto Rico Police Department—knew of the continuing investigation and said from the FBI command post this morning, “All the officers arrested during today’s takedown did not honor or value the significance of working for the Puerto Rico Police Department.”

The operation began at 3 a.m., when 65 tactical teams hit the streets. But the takedown represented the work of more than just HRT and SWAT. On hand were a range of Bureau personnel—crisis negotiators, evidence response team members, canines and their handlers, and some 80 medical personnel from first responders and nurses to a trauma surgeon and a veterinarian.

And none of those people or their equipment—including armored Humvees, helicopters, and 250 rental cars—would have been in place if not for the logistical experts who worked around the clock in the days leading up to the takedown.

“A lot of planning went into this,” Fraticelli said, “and a lot of very capable people ‘what if’d’ the operation in every conceivable way.”

“This case sends a powerful message,” said Special Agent Alex Zappe, who worked the investigation from the beginning. “Corruption among our public officials—especially police officers—cannot be tolerated.”

This article is sponsored by Police Books.

Eastern Iowa store owner sentenced to 37 months for trafficking in counterfeit goods

DAVENPORT, Iowa - A store owner from Clinton, Iowa, was sentenced on Friday to 37 months in federal prison for trafficking in counterfeit goods. The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Charles Edwin Sampson-Snyder, 56, was also sentenced Oct. 1 by U.S. District Judge John A. Jarvey to serve two years of supervised release after he is released from custody. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt, Southern District of Iowa.

"Selling and purchasing counterfeit goods is not a victimless crime," said Michael Vail, resident agent in charge of ICE HSI in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. "Counterfeiting commercial products undermines the economy, robs American jobs, stifles innovation, and promotes other types of crime. Our agents are committed to protecting the good names, reputations and trademarks of American business interests."

"By this prosecution, we underscore our commitment to vigilantly protect the value of product ingenuity and creativity with a strong and coordinated response through our federal and local partners," said U.S. Attorney Klinefeldt.

As part of his guilty plea and plea agreement entered on Feb. 25, 2010, Sampson-Snyder admitted that he operated and conducted business as Bama & Heather Clothing and then Bama's Clothing, which were clothing and apparel stores, located on

5th Avenue South

in Clinton, Iowa.

Sampson-Snyder was the buyer for the business and purchased more than $100,000 worth of counterfeit merchandise to sell in Clinton, Iowa. During searches in 2007 and 2009, federal agents working with local law enforcement recovered numerous counterfeit items including the following counterfeited brand names: Coach, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Baby Phat, Breitling and Nike clothing, jewelry, watches and leather goods.

This investigation was conducted by the Clinton Police Department and ICE HSI.

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American Public Overwhelmingly Responds to DEA Prescription Drug Take-Back Effort

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Drug Enforcement Administration today announced the overwhelmingly successful results of the first-ever national prescription drug “Take-Back” campaign. The American public turned in more than 242,000 lbs of prescription drugs for safe and proper disposal. More than 4,000 take back sites were available in all 50 states this past Saturday, and Americans responded in huge numbers.

“The Take-Back Campaign was a stunning nationwide success that cleaned out more than 121 tons of pills from America’s medicine cabinets, a crucial step toward reducing the epidemic of prescription drug abuse that is plaguing this nation,” said DEA Acting Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. “Thanks to our state and local law enforcement and community partners—and the public—we not only removed these dangerous drugs from our homes, but also educated countless thousands of concerned citizens about the dangers of drug abuse.”

Congress cleared legislation for the President on Wednesday that will allow DEA to create a framework for a permanent solution for prescription drug disposal. Currently, there are no legal means to transfer possession of certain prescription drugs for disposal. Until permanent regulations are in place, however, DEA will continue to hold one-day take-back programs.

“I applaud Congress for recognizing the magnitude of this threat to public health and safety and passing the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which will provide Americans with safe, environmentally sound ways to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs,” said Leonhart.

“I commend the DEA under Acting Administrator Leonhart’s leadership for its efforts in coordinating this important nationwide prescription drug take-back effort” said Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Kerlikowske.  “More than 70 percent of people who abuse prescription drugs get them from friends or family – often from the home medicine cabinet.  Expanding take-back efforts nationwide is a key strategy in preventing prescription drug diversion and abuse, while safeguarding the environment.” 

DEA and other law enforcement working at disposal sites around the country reported huge turnouts of people ridding their medicine cabinets of unused or unwanted drugs. For example, in Troy, Missouri, a man literally brought his kitchen drawer full of medication to the collection site to empty. At another site in Jacksonville, Ill., a woman brought in nearly 50 years’ worth of medicines for disposal.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. More than seven million Americans abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. And every day, on average, 2,500 teens use them to get high for the first time, according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

Other participants in this initiative include the Partnership for a Drug-Free America; the International Association of Chiefs of Police; the National Association of Attorneys General; the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy; the Federation of State Medical Boards; and the National District Attorneys Association.

4 companies and their employees charged in avoiding treasury reporting requirements

BALTIMORE - A federal grand jury has returned three indictments today against the owners of three liquor stores for structuring the bank deposits of their businesses in order to avoid reporting the money to the U.S. Treasury Department. A fourth indictment was returned today against a car dealership and its employee for failing to file a required form reporting the receipt of more than $10,000 in cash represented to be drug proceeds for the purchase of a car. And a civil complaint was also filed seeking forfeiture of money held in a bank account of another liquor store, in connection with the structuring of cash deposits in banks by breaking up large cash transactions into multiple small deposits. The businesses charged today were the result of a joint investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Office of Criminal Investigation.

The indictments and complaint were announced by U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; IRS Criminal Investigations Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Sparkman and ICE HSI Special Agent in Charge in Baltimore William Winter.

"Individuals and businesses that fail to file the required treasury forms for large cash transactions create a vulnerability that may allow criminals to spend their illicit cash proceeds without detection by law enforcement," said Winter. "Homeland Security Investigations will continue to target individuals and businesses that engage in this type of activity."

"People who earn money through criminal activity, or who lie to the IRS to evade taxes, usually deal in cash and try to avoid leaving a paper trail," said U.S. Attorney Rosenstein. "Federal law requires large currency transactions to be reported in order to create a paper trail that law enforcement can follow, and businesses that break up their cash deposits to avoid currency reporting requirements face federal criminal prosecution."

"Financial institution reporting requirements can expose structuring activity and put tax dollars back into strengthening the U.S. economy," stated Sparkman. "The IRS-Criminal Investigation, along with our fellow law enforcement agencies, are determined to financially disrupt such schemes against our economy."

According to the eight count indictment returned against a liquor store in Capitol Heights, Md., doing business as Flavors of the South, from September 2008 to February 2010, store owner Jin I. Park, 42, of Pasadena, Md. repeatedly deposited business receipts in bank accounts in amounts less than $10,000, in order to avoid the legal requirement that the bank report transactions involving more than $10,000 in a single day with the IRS. The deposits were generally made at the bank's branch location in Glen Burnie, Md. and other deposits were made at the branch in Severn, Md. Park is alleged to have illegally deposited a total of $2,150,375 under this structuring scheme.

A similar structuring scheme was allegedly used from December 2006 to February 2010 by Jong C. Kim, 51, owner of KJ Market, Inc., doing business as GNG Village Liquors located on

Edmonston Avenue

in Baltimore. According to the nine count indictment, Kim illegally structured the deposit of a total of $2,482,770 in business receipts at the same, or different, banks.

From August 2008 to December 2009, Jin Ho Kim, owner of Kim's RP Liquors, Inc., doing business as Randallstown Plaza Liquors, located on Offutt Road in Randallstown, Md. and structured the deposit of a total of $591,200 in business receipts at the same or different banks, according to the 41 count indictment.

A civil forfeiture complaint was filed seeking the forfeiture of $61,772 seized on March 10, 2010 from a bank account in the name of Frederick M. Chung, trading as M&L Canton Discount Liquors, located on O'Donnell Street in Baltimore. According to the civil complaint, from January 2008 to March 2010, Chung deposited $587,075 in cash into two bank accounts, generally in the amount of $9,000 divided between the two accounts on the same day, and never exceeding $10,000 on a single day, in order to avoid the Treasury reporting requirement.

Finally, a three count indictment was returned against Fuentes Brothers Auto Sales, Inc., a car dealership located on

Dorsey Run Road

in Jessup, Md. and employee Nubia Fuentes, for money laundering and failing to file a form reporting the receipt of more than $10,000 in cash. On June 22, 2010 an undercover law enforcement agent went to the car dealership and told Nubia Fuentes that he wanted to pay cash to buy a car, but was involved in drug trafficking and did not want paperwork filed with the government that would identify him as a person paying cash for a car. Nubia Fuentes allegedly assured the undercover agent that no reports would be filed other than the forms needed to document the sale to the Motor Vehicle Administration. The agent paid $11,378 in cash for a car, and the car dealership did not file a form, as required by law, with Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN form) regarding cash transactions in which more than $10,000 is received.

Banks and other financial institutions are required to file a report with Treasury any time a customer conducts a cash transaction involving more than $10,000 in a single day. Merchants such as car dealerships similarly are required to file a report with Treasury any time a customer pays for merchandise with more than $10,000 in currency in a single transaction. Knowingly structuring currency transactions with the intent to evade the reporting requirement is a federal offense.

The individual defendants named in the three indictments involving the liquor stores face a maximum sentence of five years in prison for attempting to cause a financial institution to fail to file a currency report and for structuring currency deposits. Nubia Fuentes faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for money laundering and five years in prison for failing to file the FinCEN form.

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Former junior high school music teacher sentenced to 7.5 years in prison

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A former music teacher was sentenced Tuesday to 7½ years in federal prison for possessing and receiving child pornography via the Internet. The sentence resulted from an investigation conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

William Harold Laursen, 57, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced in the Western District of Missouri Oct. 5 to 90 months in federal prison without parole. Laursen, a professional jazz pianist, was a music teacher at Kansas City Academy in Kansas City, Mo., and at CS-1 Junior High School in Prairie Village, Kan.

The court also ordered Laursen to pay $5,000 in restitution to one of his victims, who has been identified as the subject of a nearly two-hour movie that Laursen admitted to downloading over the Internet on Christmas Eve 2007. The victim, who was 10 or 11 years old at the time, was videotaped while being subjected to multiple acts of sexual abuse by her father, including bondage. Laursen viewed this movie, as well as other movies of the same victim, multiple times over a period of months, and never deleted them from his computer. The victim is asking that every person who knowingly possesses these images be made jointly and severally liable with all other possessors to provide restitution for counseling costs, attorney's fees, and other expenses. Under the court's order, Laursen will only have to pay $3,000 in restitution if he pays the full amount within 30 days.

Laursen pleaded guilty on June 23, 2009 to five counts of receiving child pornography over the Internet and one count of possessing child pornography. He admitted to viewing online child pornography almost on a daily basis, from January 2007 to February 2008, using the same computer that he shared with his teenage daughter. Laursen's collection of child pornography exceeded 5,000 images and 70 movies. This conservative estimate only includes the files that were still active on Laursen's computer, and marks the point at which the reviewing law enforcement agent stopped counting. Laursen's digital collection is among the largest in the history of child exploitation prosecutions in the Western District of Missouri.

Laursen was contacted by ICE HSI agents during an investigation into commercial child pornography websites that required visitors to pay for subscriptions to access the member-restricted sites. Laursen admitted that he purchased access to a website that allowed him to download child pornography. The government has cited credible evidence that Laursen purchased two monthly subscriptions to additional child pornography websites in September 2006, about a month before his teenage daughter moved in with him.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katharine Fincham, Western District of Missouri, prosecuted the case.

This investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders, and child sex traffickers. Since Operation Predator was launched in July 2003, ICE agents have arrested more than 12,800 individuals.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.

For the most up-to-date ICE information, sign up for ICE e-mail alerts. You may also visit us on Twitter and YouTube.

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Conscience of a Dead Killer

On October 7, 2010, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole features a conversation with Deputy Gary Delfino, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department (ret.) the author of Conscience of a Dead Killer.

Program Date: October 7, 2010
Program Time: 1600 hours, PACIFIC
Topic: Conscience of a Dead Killer
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lawenforcement/2010/10/07/conscience-of-a-dead-killer

About the Guest
Deputy Gary Delfino, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department (ret.) worked 27 years in law enforcement. During his career, he worked patrol and swift-water rescues along the Russian River. In addition to publishing about combat tactics, he has published several online short stories, including: Mister Wonderful Go to Hollywood, Through the Eyes of an Extra and An Insane Day with Shelley Duvall. Gary Delfino is the author of Conscience of a Dead Killer and co-author (along with Robert B. Baird) of the screenplay by the same name.

According to the book description of Conscience of a Dead Killer, “Is there life after death? According to religious beliefs, there is. Heaven waits for believers, and Hell waits for those who are evil. For the evil convicted killer, BILLY BOYLE, there is a fate worse than Hell. After his execution he meets his Spirit Guide. He discovers his divine punishment. He will be going back in time, and going back in time to witness the life of his first victim, his late wife Susan. As an unseen ghost from the future, Billy is now forced to watch her grow into the beautiful woman, who he will marry and ultimately murder on their honeymoon for money. Also, Billy's Ghost gets one little bonus: He now has a conscience. After witnessing his evil act, Billy's Spirit is once again hurled back in time in order to watch the life and death of yet another victim. This is where things change for Billy. Billy's Ghost discovers that for some strange reason, a famous retired FBI agent can see and hear him where no one else can. Together, they earnestly work to stop the living killer from murdering his four victims. Unfortunately, stopping the evil and ruthless Billy Boyle, is no easy task.”

About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lawenforcement/2010/10/07/conscience-of-a-dead-killer

Listen from the Archive:
http://www.americanheroesradio.com/conscience_dead_killer.html

Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530

Austin Area Man Sentenced in Cyanide Hoax Case

United States Attorney John E. Murphy announced that in Austin, 24-year-old Gary Dale Horton, II, of Jonestown, Texas, was sentenced to two years in federal prison in connection with an cyanide hoax in May 2010.

In addition, United States District Judge Sam Sparks ordered that Horton reimburse Williamson County law enforcement $12,600, pay a $7,778.32 fine and be placed under supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.

According to court records, on May 22, 2010, while in state custody in Williamson County, Horton provided false information to special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding the possession, receipt and transfer of a 25-pound load of cyanide. Horton told agents that he acquired the cyanide in 2009 from an individual who wanted to get rid of it. Horton also mentioned to agents that a friend, who had been storing the cyanide for approximately a year, was attempting to broker a deal for the cyanide with someone Horton described as paranoid and hated the government. Upon receiving this information, FBI agents mobilized significant resources to address the possible existence and/or transfer of a large quantity of cyanide. Three days later, Horton admitted to investigators that he fabricated the entire cyanide story.

On August 4, 2010, Horton pleaded guilty to one count of false information and hoaxes.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation together with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. In addition, other agencies who responded during the search for the purported cyanide include: Williamson County Hazardous Materials Response Team, Georgetown Police Department, Austin Police Department Bomb Squad and the Texas National Guard 6th Civilian Support Team. Assistant United States Attorney Gregg Sofer prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.

Lowell, Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty To Bank Robbery

PORTLAND, ME—Thomas E. Delahanty II, United States Attorney for the Maine, has announced that Robert Ferguson pleaded guilty today in United States District Court in Bangor to 11 counts of bank robbery. The pleas were accepted by Chief Judge John Woodcock.

Mr. Ferguson began his bank robbing spree throughout the northeast on April 9, 2010 in Buffalo, New York. During April, May, June, and July, he robbed ten additional banks and credit unions in Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. His spree ended with a robbery at the Bangor Savings Bank in Orono, Maine on July 13, 2010.

The Orono Police Department, the Bangor Police Department and the FBI responded to the robbery of the Bangor Savings Bank. Thanks to information received from several concerned citizens in Bangor and the good cooperative work of the local police and FBI, Ferguson was ultimately taken into custody the morning of July 14, 2010, the day after he robbed the Bangor Savings Bank. He has been held in custody since that time.

After Ferguson was in custody, the FBI took the lead in coordinating the various investigations in the other cities. Special Agent Margaret Cronin and her team got search warrants, did critical interviews, and synthesized the evidence collected by all the other law enforcement agencies. Based on the strength of that collective evidence, Ferguson chose to plead guilty to these eleven robberies.

Ferguson’s robberies were remarkably consistent. He would enter a bank, demand money, make reference to a gun or showed a gun, and threaten to kill or harm the banks’ employees if they did not do what he asked. He intimidated roughly twenty tellers into turning over the bank or the credit union’s money. He wore various disguises and he always left on foot and walked to a vehicle some distance away from the bank or credit union. Bank robbery, especially where a gun is used, is particularly traumatizing to the bank’s employees and members of the public who may be present. “We treat bank robberies very seriously in the State of Maine, and at sentencing this office intends to request that the court impose a significant sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Delahanty. A sentencing date has not been set. Ferguson will continue to be held in custody.

U.S. Attorney Delahanty stated, “I want to thank the US Attorney’s Offices in Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and the Western District of New York and the many district attorneys, county attorneys and States attorneys in the affected districts for their cooperation in resolving these cases.

I want to especially thank the police departments in Buffalo, Burlington, Tewskbury, Tyngsboro, Fitchburg, North Attleboro, Warwick, Londonderry, Hampstead, and Merrimack for their solid police work and for their willingness to cooperate with each other.

The law enforcement agencies in Maine – the Orono Police, the Bangor Police and the FBI – did outstanding work in responding to the Bangor Savings Bank robbery and coordinating the evidence and putting this case together.

Finally, I want to credit the concerned citizens from Bangor and Orono who provided critical information that allowed the police to make the arrest of Robert Ferguson. Maine is a small state, and it is heartening to see that the people of Maine are willing to step forward and contact police when they think have evidence. It made the difference in this case.

I also want to recognize Assistant United States Attorney Nancy Torresen who handled the prosecution of this case from the beginning and was instrumental in coordinating the prosecution in these six states.”

Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for New England stated, “Working collectively across multiple states, we shared information and collaborated on strategy with the singular goal of solving this string of bank robberies. The outstanding joint investigative work done by each of the agencies demonstrates the bond that we in law enforcement have forged in New England.”