Going Back to College

Going back to college to get a degree is something that many people in the work force have dreamed about. But for many people, it just wasn't plausible. Maybe it was because of money, or distance or time. Thankfully, now with programs being available online to distance learners to be completed at their own pace, more and more people are going back for that degree that they always wanted.

Distance education programs and online learning are helping those in the work force to get the training that they need to turn their job into a career. Even now, more and more universities are beginning to offer online programs and scholarships for distance learners. Grants are also available to those who are looking to further their career outside of a traditional brick and mortar college.

Choosing the right career is all about choosing the right degree. It is important to research the career path you are interested in, so that you know exactly what sort of academic credentials that you will need to get ahead in your field. These will differ slightly based on your location, and what exactly that you want to do. For instance, to become a private investigator in some counties you will need to find criminal justice graduate programs. In others, you may only need an Associates degree to get the exact same position.

A good online degree program should be transparent and easy to understand. Before ever signing up, you should know exactly what courses you will be required to take, and approximately how long it will take you to finish the program. Of course, with many programs offering students the chance to work at their own pace, these numbers may be relative. But an average completion time can give you an idea of about how long you will be going to school before you get your degree.

The Third Annual Summit on Preventing Youth Violence

Courtesy of Assistant Attorney General Karol Mason

For the past two days an extraordinary group of people gathered to understand and to develop strategies to address a serious and complicated problem: the surge in violence committed by and – perhaps more troubling – against our young people.

The impact of this violence is greater than it appears on the surface. We can see the immediate physical damage it does, and we know it causes emotional trauma in the kids it touches. But we don’t always appreciate the full toll it takes on a child’s body and mind and on the families and communities he or she belongs to. A growing body of research in developmental psychology and neuroscience is showing us that trauma does great harm to the brain and can have life-long consequences. But there is good news, too. Just as research is showing us the extent of the negative effects of violence, it is also shedding new light on what we can do to counter those effects.

Attorney General Eric Holder and Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council Cecilia Munoz stressed the Administration’s commitment to this crucial issue as they opened the third annual Summit on Preventing Youth Violence, where mayors, police chiefs and youth from 10 cities shared their strategies to reduce violence and gang activity and mitigate its impact on our children.

Thursday morning, youth leaders told participants what they are doing in their communities to ensure brighter futures for themselves and their peers. The youth were from Chicago, Memphis, Tenn., New Orleans, Philadelphia, and Salinas and San Jose, Calif., the communities involved in the Administration’s violence prevention initiatives, including the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention, Defending Childhood, Community-Based Violence Prevention and Striving To Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere (STRYVE).

Later, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Mary Lou Leary led mayors and other city leaders from Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Memphis, Salinas and San Jose in a discussion about putting and keeping in place a comprehensive plan to address youth violence. The officials described how they align this work with other federal initiatives and how federal efforts are helping them achieve success and confront remaining challenges.

No discussion of a public safety issue can take place without considering the role of the media. What makes the news? What are people talking about on television and in print and social media? Why does it matter? A panel of journalists and youth leaders tackled these questions and more as they discussed how media coverage of youth violence affects the community’s response – and how the media can be utilized to build support for prevention and promote positive social change in a community.

Other workshops and panels during the two-day meeting addressed such issues as faith-based and law enforcement partnerships, street outreach programs like Cure Violence and CeaseFire, the essential need for public/private partnerships and more. Near the end of the summit, an interactive panel discussion helped participants understand trauma’s impact on child and adolescent development. A trauma-informed approach to violence holds tremendous promise because it focuses our collective efforts on a major root cause of violence and clearly outlines when and how we can respond to get young people off the path of poor choices and self-destructive behaviors.

The exhaustive examination of the problem of youth violence from so many angles left all participants with a renewed sense of purpose, and belief that, collectively, we are on the right path towards removing this social scourge from our communities.

The author is the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice

U.S. Marshals End Elusive Home Invasion Suspect's Run

Winston Salem, NC –This afternoon at 1:15 PM, Andrew Michael Brackman, a 20 year old, white male was taken into custody by members of the U.S. Marshals Joint Fugitive Task Force (JFTF). Brackman was wanted by the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office for first-degree Burglary, Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon and first-degree Kidnapping.

Brackman was alleged to be the final suspect in the August 16th home invasion off of Riverwood Drive in Southmont. Those previously arrested were Kaylle Michelle Wilkins, 25, and Charles Dietz, 23, both of 7168 Shallowford Road in Winston Salem, and Cole McKay Parris, 23, of 111 Peacock St. The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office alleged in arrest warrants that four people armed with handguns broke into a home on Riverwood Drive between the hours of 4:45 and 5:02 am August 16th. The warrants stated they took 10 firearms, $30,000 in cash, and jewelry in the value of $60,000 by threatening the use of a handgun and kidnapped one of the residents.

After eluding several law enforcement agencies and numerous acquaintances of Brackman concealing his whereabouts, a request was made by the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office for the Greensboro U.S. Marshals Service to assist in Brackman’s apprehension. The JFTF set up surveillance for multiple hours at his girlfriend’s home of 5297 Jay Bird Lane. After a brief stand-off, Brackman was arrested without incident and transported to the Davidson County Jail.

The U.S. Marshals Joint Fugitive Task Force for the Middle District of North Carolina is comprised of investigators from the U.S. Marshals Service, Chapel Hill Police Department, Durham Police Department, Greensboro Police Department, High Point Police Department, Winston Salem Police Department, Alamance County Sheriff’s Office, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety Probation and Parole Division and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Los Gueros Mexican Drug Trafficking Organization Targeted

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced the designation of six companies and five individuals linked to the Mexican drug trafficking organization Los Gueros.  The individuals designated today are key family members and associates of Los Gueros’ leaders who are acting on behalf of the organization, including Juana Olivera Jimenez, Rosalina Rodriguez Olivera, Felipe Reyes Magana, Juan Carlos Duran Nunez, and Andres Martin Elizondo Castaneda.  The designated businesses are owned or controlled by Los Gueros, and/or by individuals acting on their behalf, and are suspected of being used by the group to launder their illicit proceeds. 

“Drug trafficking organizations’ main motivation in the illegal drug trade is making money, and they will go to any length to hide, disguise and safeguard their drug profits,” said DEA’s Acting Deputy Chief of Operations for the Office of Financial Operations, Brian McKnight.  “Today’s designations will have a direct impact on the businesses owned by Los Gueros and the flow of illicit money.  It strikes a powerful blow at the illegal proceeds and exposes the international businesses they used to hide their drug profits.”

“Today’s designation of Los Gueros’ business network follows the arrest and extradition to the United States of two of its leaders.  This action will further damage Los Gueros’ business empire and impede its ability to reap benefits from the drug trade,” said Treasury’s Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Adam J. Szubin. 

This action, pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act), generally prohibits U.S. persons from conducting financial or commercial transactions with these designees, and also freezes any assets they may have under U.S. jurisdiction.

Based in Guadalajara, Mexico, Los Gueros is responsible for transporting multi-ton quantities of narcotics into the United States.  By using aliases and listing close family members and associates on the deeds of their companies, Los Gueros has been able to hide ownership interest in companies and properties for many years.   The businesses designated today include: the Mexican tequila company, Casa El Viejo Luis Distribuidora (a.k.a. Tequila El Viejo Luis); its two parent companies, Grupo Comercial Rool and Rancho El Nuevo Pachon; a distribution company in Germany, ROOL Europe; and two other related entities based in Mexico, Operadora y Administradora de Restaurantes y Bares Rudu and Asesoria y Servicios Administrativos, Tecnicos y Operativos Durel. 

Today's designation would not have been possible without the joint effort and support of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

“Transnational criminal organizations are only as effective as their cash flow,” said ICE HSI Executive Associate Director James Dinkins.  “Along with our partners, HSI is committed to making it as difficult as possible for kingpins to disguise their ill-gotten profits behind the façade of legitimate business.”

In May 2009, the Eastern District of New York charged the organization’s leaders Esteban and Luis Rodriguez Olivera with narcotics trafficking and money laundering.  According to the indictment, Los Gueros imported more than 100,000 kilograms of cocaine into the United States between 1996 and 2008.  In 2007, Esteban and Luis Rodriguez Olivera were charged in the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia with drug trafficking in relation to a 2006 Mexican Navy seizure of over five tons of cocaine.  Esteban and Luis Rodriguez Olivera were later extradited to the United States.  

In February 2011, OFAC designated Los Gueros and its four leaders, Esteban Rodriguez Olivera, Luis Rodriguez Olivera, Miguel Rodriguez Olivera and Daniel Rodriguez Olivera as specially designated narcotics traffickers pursuant to the Kingpin Act. 

Since June 2000 the President has identified 103 drug kingpins and OFAC has designated more than 1,300 businesses and individuals.  Penalties for violations of the Kingpin Act range from civil penalties of up to $1.075 million per violation to more severe criminal penalties.  Criminal penalties for corporate officers may include up to 30 years in prison and fines of up to $5 million.  Criminal fines for corporations may reach $10 million.  Other individuals face up to 10 years in prison and fines for criminal violation of the Kingpin Act pursuant to Title 18 of the United States Code.

U.S. Marshals Track Down Tucson Sex Offender In Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Tucson, AZ – Yesterday, Dennis Marklin Foster, age 66, was arrested abroad after several months of running from law enforcement officials as fugitive from justice. In 1985, Foster faced a felony conviction of sexual contact with a minor and was sentenced to a term in prison, in addition to sex offender registration requirements. Foster is required to register as a sex offender for life.

In December 2012, Foster was allegedly charged with ten counts of sexual exploitation of a minor after the Tucson Police Department conducted a search warrant of his residence. Foster was released on Pre-Trial Release Supervision and is now allegedly in violation of various conditions of his release. His alleged violations include; failure to maintain contact with his pre-trial services manager and failure to reside at the last known address.

In April 2013, an arrest warrant was issued for Foster by the Pima County Superior Court. The U.S. Marshals led Violent Offender Task Force, Child Predator Apprehension Team was requested by the Tucson Police Department to be the investigative agency responsible for locating and arresting the convicted sex offender and pretrial absconder, Dennis Foster.

In May 2013, the U.S. Marshals requested the assistance of the public and media with locating Foster. Deputy U.S. Marshals and Taskforce Officers assigned to the investigation worked all leads thoroughly and completely but were unable to locate Foster. Further investigation revealed that Foster fled the United States and was hiding in Mexico. The U.S. Marshals Mexico Investigative Liaison (MIL) Team was briefed on the information and began trying to locate Foster in Mexico.

Yesterday morning, Mexican officials from Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico came into contact with Foster and notified the MIL Team of his location. Foster was turned over to Mexican Immigration and was deported through Los Angeles, California where he was arrested by members of the U.S. Marshals led Pacific Southwest Regional Task Force and booked into the L.A. County Jail to await his extradition back to Arizona.

“Law enforcement is more efficient, and provides better service to the citizens they serve, when they develop good work relationships with their criminal justice partners. The partnerships such as the one the U.S. Marshals have with the Republic of Mexico is invaluable when it comes to arresting dangerous criminals and sexual predators,” said David P. Gonzales, U.S. Marshal for the District of Arizona.

Charges will be considered against individuals who hindered and/or provided false information during the course of the investigation.

The federal, state, and local agencies that comprise the Arizona WANTED Violent Offender Task Force (Tucson Metro Division) include: U.S. Marshals Service; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Arizona Department of Public Safety; Pima County Adult Probation Office; Arizona Department of Corrections; Tucson Police Department; U.S. Border Patrol; Pima County Sheriff’s Department; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The Big Apple Wasn't Big Enough to Hide

Albuquerque, NM – On March 5, 2013, a State of New Mexico arrest warrant was issued for the arrest of Edwin Vasquez-Zamora, charging him with Criminal Sexual Penetration of a Minor, Criminal Sexual Contact of a Minor, and First Degree Kidnapping. Vasquez-Zamora allegedly sexually assaulted 3 children all under the age of 13. Albuquerque Police Department Detectives interviewed Vasquez-Zamora earlier this year; it is believed shortly after the interview Vasquez-Zamora fled New Mexico.

September 12, 2013, Deputies had information that Vasquez-Zamora either fled to Virginia or New York. Marshals in New Mexico requested the assistance of Deputies in Virginia and within hours the Marshals Service was knocking on doors in Eastern Virginia. Vasquez-Zamora was not found to be in Virginia, which left only New York for him to hide.

September 19, 2013, Marshals developed information where Vasquez-Zamora was hiding among the millions of people living in New York. Earlier this morning, the Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force was able to locate and apprehend Edwin Vasquez-Zamora living in the town of Brentwood on Long Island. Vasquez-Zamora is awaiting extradition back to New Mexico.

On September 10, 2013, Detectives from the Albuquerque Police Department and Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, and Deputies from the United States Marshals Service South West Investigative Fugitive Team (SWIFT) task force, joined forces to target Albuquerque’s most dangerous sexual predators. Edwin Vasquez-Zamora was placed at the top of the list for dangerous sexual predators. Over the last 10 days, the United States Marshals Service utilized task forces across the country to investigate leads in 3 states in an attempt to apprehend Vasquez-Zamora as quickly as possible. District of New Mexico, United States Marshal Conrad Candelaria said "If these horrific charges are proven to be true, then the SWIFT and the Albuquerque Police Department have once again helped to make our community safer by taking a sex offender off of the street. Those that prey upon children have no room in a any society. Hopefully the victims in this case will sleep just a little better tonight knowing the suspect is behind bars".

Last week, SWIFT task force targeted and arrested Steven Anaya. Anaya was charged with Criminal Sexual Penetration of a Minor under 13 and Kidnapping. Anaya’s second victim came forward and reported the incident after seeing Anaya on television when he was arrested and charged in June 2013 for sexually assaulting another young girl.

Former Tuscaloosa Police Sergeant Sentenced to Ten Years for Sexually Assaulting Woman in Custody

Jason Glenn Thomas, 35, a former City of Tuscaloosa Police sergeant in Tuscaloosa, Ala., was sentenced today to serve ten years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for sexually assaulting a Tuscaloosa woman in violation of federal civil rights laws.  A special assessment of $100.00 was also imposed.

 

Thomas pleaded guilty on April 18, 2013 to willfully violating the civil rights of a woman in his custody.   According to court documents filed in connection with his guilty plea, Thomas admitted that shortly after midnight on May 28, 2011, he stopped and detained a female pedestrian without placing her under arrest.  Thomas then transported the woman in a department issued patrol vehicle to a remote area and sexually assaulted her.

 

“Officers who sexually assault individuals in their custody defy the public trust bestowed upon law enforcement officials, and their actions will not be tolerated,” said Jocelyn Samuels  Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.  “The Justice Department will continue to investigate and prosecute law enforcement officials that violate their oath to protect their communities.”

 

“Although most police officers serve and protect the public with integrity, we remain deeply committed to prosecuting those few who, as defendant Thomas did, dishonor their badge by using it to take advantage of those they are sworn to protect” said Joyce White Vance, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama.

 

This case was investigated by the Tuscaloosa resident agency of the FBI’s Birmingham Field Office, and was prosecuted by Trial Attorney D.W. Tunnage of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney George Martin for the Northern District of Alabama.