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
Friday, September 27, 2013
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
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.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
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.
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Sticks and Stones: Amateur Sleuth Mystery Novel
The September 28, 2013 episode of
American Heroes Radio features a conversation with law enforcement professional
Liz Martinez the author of Sticks and Stones.
Program Date: September 28, 2013
Program Time: 1500
hours, PACIFIC
Topic: Sticks and
Stones: Amateur Sleuth Mystery Novel
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lawenforcement/2013/09/28/sticks-and-stones-amateur-sleuth-mystery-novel
About the Guest
Bettye Paige is the pen name for
author Liz Martinez, who was an investigator for state agencies in both New
York and Arizona, and who served as an Auxiliary Police Officer for the NYPD.
She is an Organized Retail Crime expert and a retail security consultant as
well as the author of the book "The Retail Manager's Guide to Crime and
Loss Prevention." Liz has co-edited the anthologies "Indian Country
Noir," "Hit List: The Best of Latino Mystery," and "Cop
Tales 2000." Her short stories have also appeared in the anthologies
"Manhattan Noir" and "Queens Noir," as well as other
venues. Liz Martinez’ new book is Sticks and Stones.
Listeners can sign up to be
notified when "Sticks and Stones" will be offered as a free Kindle
download on the Web site at www.SticksAndStonesEBook.com or by sending their
e-mail address to author@BettyePaige.com.
Sticks and Stones is an
amateur-sleuth mystery novel about the underground sex trade in pre-9/11 New York
City. Add in the Russian Mafiya, sex slaves, and a dead military officer who
happens to be a client of the dominatrix heroine, and you have an explosive
story that explores themes hidden from everyday view. The book includes the
bonus short story "Prowling Wolves," about the Iwo Jima flag-raiser,
Pima Indian Ira Hayes. "Sticks and Stones" is available in both
paperbook and ebook formats.
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
from the Archive:
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD
(ret.), MPA
909.599.7530
Facebook Event:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
