Auburn Man Sentenced on Child Pornography Charges

MONTGOMERY, AL—Douglas Burl Breland, 50, of Auburn, Alabama, was sentenced to serve 60 months in federal prison for possessing child pornography, United States Attorney George L. Beck, Jr., announced today. Breland pled guilty to the charges back in June 2012. The sentence of five years was handed down by United States District Judge William K. Watkins.

The investigation of Breland began in November 2010, when officers with the Auburn Police Department found a flash drive in Breland’s residence that contained over 2,000 images depicting children being sexually abused and raped. When questioned, Breland admitted that he was in possession of child pornography. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children was able to identify the child victims in 2,186 images Breland possessed.

“Child pornography is a despicable crime that destroys children, families, and the community,” said U.S. Attorney Beck. “Let me be clear—my office will vigorously prosecute those predators who steal a child’s youth and innocence.”

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 that aims to combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, 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.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Auburn Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Nathan D. Stump and Jared H. Morris prosecuted the case.

Monroe County Man Indicted for Fraud Related to False Claims of Owning Billions of Dollars Worth of Oil and Negotiable Bank Instruments

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Richard J. Harley, of Shawnee on Delaware, Pennsylvania, was indicted today by a federal grand jury in a 23-count indictment charging 15 counts of wire fraud, two counts of bankruptcy fraud, five counts of making false statements on bankruptcy schedules, and one count of bank fraud.

According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, the indictment alleges that Harley defrauded various investors and attempted to defraud various financial institutions by soliciting money based on false claims of ownership of 10 million barrels of oil in Texas worth in excess of $700 billion, as well as claiming authority over Federal Reserve instruments worth more than $1 billion.

The investigation commenced after one of Harley’s victims sued Harley in the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County and obtained a judgment against Harley and Harley’s company, RJH, for over $1 million. Further investigation by the FBI revealed that several other individuals were defrauded by Harley and that Harley had attempted to deposit two fraudulent $500 million checks into various financial institutions in an effort to secure loans.

The indictment also alleges that Harley filed three petitions in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in 2010, 2011, and 2012, making various false statements relating to his assets and liabilities, as well as RJH’s assets and liabilities, in an attempt to cover-up his schemes.

Harley faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on each wire fraud charge, up to five years’ imprisonment on the bankruptcy fraud and false statements charges, and up to 30 years’ imprisonment on the bank fraud charge. Arraignment on the charges will occur at a later date to be set by the court.

The case was investigated by the FBI and is assigned to Senior Litigation Counsel Bruce Brandler.

An indictment or information is not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made by the grand jury and/or United States Attorney against a defendant. A charged defendant is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the United States has proven the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt or until the defendant has pled guilty to the charges.

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Lukeville CBP Officers Seize 206 Pounds of Pot

Lukeville, Ariz. — Two women were arrested yesterday in separate incidents for allegedly attempting to smuggle nearly $106,000 worth of marijuana into the United States through the Lukeville Port.

Customs and Border Protection officers referred Maria Del Refugio Gonzalez, 37, of Rocky Point, Mexico, for secondary inspection of her Toyota truck when she attempted to enter the United States. During a routine search of the vehicle, officers located 102 packages of marijuana inside the truck’s spare tire and cargo area. The drugs, weighing nearly 123 pounds, have an estimated value of more than $64,000. 

Last night, officers referred Cruz Urbina Hernandez, 47, of Tempe, Ariz., and traveling with her children, for a secondary inspection of her Dodge SUV when she attempted to enter the United States. Officers searching the vehicle located 27 packages of marijuana weighing 83 pounds, and valued at nearly $42,000, hidden in the spare tire and doors.

In each incident, the vehicles and drugs were processed for seizure. Gonzalez and Hernandez were arrested and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations. Gonzalez’ children were released without further incident.

Individuals arrested may be charged by complaint, the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity, which raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within Customs and Border Protection tasked with an anti-terrorism mission at our nation’s ports. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the United States while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. Their mission also includes carrying out border-related duties, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control, and protection of our Nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Border Patrol Puts Aggravated Felon Behind Bars

Tucson, Ariz. – A 24-year-old man from Mexico City, apprehended by Nogales Station Border Patrol agents in November 2011, was sentenced August 24 to 40 months of confinement.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted Arturo Hernandez-Garcia, previously convicted on felony charges for illegally re-entering the United States. During processing in November, agents using the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) learned Hernandez-Garcia was convicted in 2007 in Salt Lake City for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. 

Following the Border Patrol’s initial processing, the case was submitted to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution. Hernandez-Garcia will be formally removed from the U.S. following his 40-month incarceration and is now banned for life from any legalization process.

All illegal immigrants apprehended by the Border Patrol undergo criminal history checks using IAFIS. This vital tool accesses criminal records throughout the United States, enabling agents to quickly identify violent criminals and wanted persons.

The Tucson Sector Border Patrol is committed to ensuring America’s borders remain safe and that dangerous individuals are prevented from making it further into the interior of the United States and into our communities.

As part of a targeted enforcement strategy, the Tucson Sector places individuals into impact programs designed to influence their decision not to commit a subsequent illegal entry. One impact program involves individuals with prior criminal convictions being prosecuted in federal court.

Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity and remain anonymous by calling the Border Patrol at (877) 872-7435 toll free.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control, and protection of our Nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.