Category: MIL-OSI

Source: US FBI

Source: US FBI

TUCSON, Ariz. – A federal grand jury in Tucson returned a six-count superseding indictment yesterday against Eric Ridenour, 58, of Douglas, for Arson of Property Used in Interstate Commerce, Obstruction of Free Exercise of Religious Beliefs by Fire, and Using Fire to Commit Federal Felony.

The superseding indictment alleges that Ridenour burned down two historic churches in Douglas: Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church and First Presbyterian Church. Both churches are located on Church Square, in a historic district in the border town of Douglas, approximately two hours southeast of Tucson. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, it is the only block in the nation containing churches from four different denominations: Southern Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Methodist. According to the superseding indictment, further investigation and evidence elicited in court testimony alleges that Ridenour intentionally started the fires in both churches because of his hostility toward their progressive doctrines, particularly their practice of having women and members of the LGBTQ community serve as church leaders. Ridenour was arrested on May 23, 2023, and charged by complaint with maliciously damaging or destroying both buildings by means of fire, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 844(i). On June 22, 2023, he was initially indicted on two counts of the same.

A conviction for Arson of Property Used in Interstate Commerce carries a minimum penalty of five years imprisonment and maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A conviction for Obstruction of Free Exercise of Religious Beliefs by Fire carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A conviction for Using Fire to Commit Federal Felony carries a penalty of 10 years in prison. A second conviction for Using Fire to Commit Federal Felony carries a penalty of 20 years in prison. Any conviction and subsequent mandatory term of imprisonment under Using Fire to Commit Federal Felony shall run consecutively to any other conviction.

An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Douglas Police Department are handling the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Rossi, District of Arizona, Tucson, and Ben Goldberg, District of Arizona, Phoenix, are handling the prosecution.
 

CASE NUMBER:           CR 23-00908-TUC-SHR
RELEASE NUMBER:    2023-152_Ridenour

# # #

For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

Source: US FBI

TUCSON, Ariz. – Alan Flores, 53, of Sells, Arizona, was sentenced on Monday by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker to 107 months in prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. Flores pleaded guilty to Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury to a Child Under the Age of 16 Years and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

On September 17, 2021, Flores, an enrolled member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, assaulted a 12-year-old juvenile by stabbing the juvenile in the face with a knife. Flores, who is a convicted sex offender, also failed to abide by his registration requirements and was not living at the address listed on his sex offender registration documents. These offenses occurred on the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Tohono O’odham Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances M. Kreamer Hope, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
 

CASE NUMBER:           CR 22-1321-TUC-JCH
RELEASE NUMBER:    2023-151_Flores

# # #

For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

Source: US FBI

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Fernando Ray White, 42, of Santan, Arizona, a member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced on Monday by United States District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 210 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. On December 9, 2019, White shot the victim multiple times, killing her. The defendant pleaded guilty on July 14, 2023, to Second Degree Murder.

The Gila River Police Department and the FBI conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Raynette Logan and Vinnie Lichvar, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-21-00766-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER:    2023-143_White

# # #

For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

Source: US FBI

ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man was sentenced on Friday by U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Kindred to seven years in federal prison for carjacking a vehicle with a minor inside it.  

According to court documents, Maquire Malo Levi, 24, spotted a running vehicle in the Dimond Center parking lot in November 2019. Levi got into the driver’s seat of the car and began to drive away. A 16-year-old-boy in the back seat of the vehicle punched the defendant at which point Levi elbowed the boy in the face. The boy then opened the back door and jumped out of the moving vehicle as Levi sped off. He later abandoned the car, and his DNA was found on the steering wheel and shifter. Levi was indicted on federal carjacking charges in January 2021.

“Levi’s callous, reckless, and dangerous actions certainly merit this significant sentence,” said U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr. of the District of Alaska. “This prosecution and sentence will make Alaska safer and should deter future similar conduct.” 

“This individual’s complete disregard for public safety and senseless violence committed against innocent bystanders, is patently unacceptable,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office.  “The FBI and our partners will continue working in lockstep to get dangerous individuals like this off our streets and hold them accountable for their crimes.”

The FBI and Anchorage Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Ivers and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kayla Doyle prosecuted the case.

###

Source: US FBI

ANCHORAGE – A federal jury convicted an Anchorage man on Friday for sex trafficking a minor and production and possession of child pornography.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jayshon Moore, aka “China,” 39, began having sexual encounters with the minor victim when she was 15 years old. In 2018, he created numerous sexually explicit videos of the minor which were saved on social media. Moore possessed two videos of child pornography in his Snapchat account. In the spring of 2019 Moore sex trafficked the minor victim, setting prices, arranging transactions and taking the money she earned from commercial sex acts.

Moore was previously convicted of drug trafficking and firearms offenses, and he was arrested in June 2019 after violating terms of his supervised release. Law enforcement executed a search of Moore’s residence and found additional evidence of sex trafficking. Moore was indicted by a grand jury in February 2020.

“The exploitation of a minor for profit is a heinous crime requiring a staggering disregard for the safety and welfare of the victim,” said U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr. for the District of Alaska. “Victims often suffer the trauma caused by sex trafficking for their entire lives. This conviction will protect others from Moore’s predatory conduct and sends a message we will not tolerate such abuse.”

“Moore engaged in the commercial sexual exploitation of a child. He demonstrated no regard to that child’s age, suffering, or safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners are absolutely committed to identifying and rescuing victims of sex trafficking and bringing their traffickers to justice.”

He faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the Anchorage Police Department investigated the case. The task force marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children through sex trafficking, as well as to identify and recover victims.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Ivers and Michael Ebell are prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines 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.justice.gov/psc.

###

Source: US FBI

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Today, a federal grand jury indictment was unsealed charging a Birmingham lawyer with child exploitation offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.

The two-count indictment filed in the U.S. District Court charges Chase Tristian Espy, 36, with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and possession of child pornography arising out of events that occurred from March 2021 to August 2021. 

The  attempted coercion and enticement of a minor charge carries a statutory imprisonment range of ten years to life and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for child pornography is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Birmingham FBI’s Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force (CEHTTF) investigated the case along with the Homewood Police Department and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).  Assistant U.S. Attorneys R. Leann White and Jonathan Cross are prosecuting the case.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. 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, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

An indictment contains only charges.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

Source: US FBI

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr. are committed to protecting older adults by raising awareness of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation in the Northern District of Alabama.

“Unfortunately, some of the most vulnerable among us, our senior citizens, are a prime target of elder abuse, in all its forms. It is important that we inform and educate our older population about the scams that target them,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said.  “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to prosecute those who prey on senior citizens in the Northern District of Alabama.”

“Seniors are often targeted because they tend to be trusting and polite,” SAC Sharp said.  “They also usually have financial savings, own a home, and have good credit—all of which make them attractive to scammers. I want to encourage all seniors and their caregivers to remain vigilant and educate yourself on the most prolific scams.  Finally, if any person believes they are the victim of, or have knowledge of fraud involving an elderly person, regardless of the loss amount, they should immediately report it to the FBI.”

Each year, June 15^th is recognized as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. This day provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the abuse, neglect, and fraud schemes committed against older Americans.

Elder abuse is a serious crime against some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens, affecting at least 10% of older Americans every year. The effects of financial crimes can be physically and emotionally devastating.  Just in Alabama, in 2021, over 1100 Alabama seniors reported being victims of elder fraud with losses of over $17 million.

Some of the most common scams targeting older Americans include:

• Romance scam: Criminals pose as interested romantic partners on social media or dating websites in order to obtain money from the victim.
• Tech support scam: Criminals pose as technology support representatives and offer to fix non-existent computer issues, such as computer viruses or hacked accounts.
• Grandparent Scam: Criminals pose as a relative, usually a child or grandchild, claiming to be in immediate financial need.
• Governmental impersonation scam:  Criminals pose as government employees and threaten to arrest or prosecute victims unless they agree to pay.

These tips could help you or someone you know from becoming a victim:

• Resist the pressure to act quickly.  Criminals create a sense of urgency to instill fear and the need for immediate action.
• Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, mailings, and door-to-door service offers
• Never provide any personally identifiable information.
• Never wire money to persons or businesses you have only met online.  Verify any email request for money
• Do not open emails or click on attachments or links you do not recognize or were not expecting.
• Research online and social media advertisements before purchase to determine if a product or company is legitimate.
• Stop communication with the perpetrator, but expect that the criminal will continue to attempt  contact.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has prosecuted and continues to prosecute elder abuse cases in the Northern District of Alabama.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Crosby is the district’s Elder Justice Coordinator. She is responsible for prosecuting elder abuse cases, conducting public outreach and awareness activities related to elder abuse, serving as legal counsel for the district on matters relating to elder abuse, and ensuring collection of data required by the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act.

For elder abuse resources in the State of Alabama visit – https://go.usa.gov/xJTQG.  To learn more about the ways you can assist in our efforts to prevent fraud, neglect, and abuse of elders visit  www.elderjustice.gov.

If you believe you or someone you know may have been a victim of elder fraud, contact the FBI Birmingham Field Office at 205.326.6166. You can also contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311 or file a complaint FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center – www.ic3.gov.

Source: US FBI

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – On Tuesday, a father and son appeared in court on charges stemming from a  bank fraud scheme in which they provided fraudulent information to financial institutions for the purpose of obtaining loans, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.

U.S. District Judge Annemarie C. Axon sentenced Christopher A. Montalbano, 39, of Vestavia, to 180 months in prison and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $11,924,471.00.  Montalbano pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering in November 2021.

“Today’s sentence demonstrates that schemes to defraud federally-insured financial institutions are serious crimes that carry significant penalties,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “This defendant caused a multi-million-dollar loss to the victims. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to hold perpetrators of these fraud schemes accountable and use all tools at our disposal to recover their ill-gotten gains.”

“Montalbano deserves every day of this sentence, as he went to great lengths to cover up his massive fraud scheme,” SAC Sharp said.   “Hopefully, Montalbano enjoyed the short time he had with the luxury items he purchased with money he swindled from  federally insured banks, as he will now pay for his crimes with years behind bars. American citizens can be assured that the FBI will continue to pursue predators who drag down our economy by deception for their own personal gain.”

According to the sentencing memo, between 2016 and 2020, Montalbano engaged in a bank fraud scheme targeting financial institutions insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Company (FDIC) and the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) in multiple states including Alabama.  Montalbano, through his shell companies, and/or known associates, fraudulently obtained millions of dollars in loans from at least twenty different financial institutions by submitting fraudulent information and supporting documentation on more than 140 loans. Montalbano obtained these loan proceeds in his personal name, through a shell company, or in the name of a co-conspirator. Montalbano specifically used the loan proceeds to pay for an extravagant lifestyle which included traveling on a private jet aircraft, employing private pilots, employing a personal assistant, purchasing multiple high-end vehicles including Lamborghinis and Ferraris, and purchasing multiple real properties, including a residential home in a gated community, a lake house, and farmland.

To further facilitate the bank fraud scheme, Montalbano created internet websites for some of his shell companies including Land Work Tractor & Equipment (LWT&E), previously located in Florida and then Vincent, Alabama. On the LWT&E website, Christopher Montalbano posted photographs of agricultural and construction equipment, UTVs and boats which were purportedly in LWT&E’s possession and for sale. However, the majority of these photographs were copied and taken from the internet websites of legitimate equipment dealers. As a further part of the scheme, Christopher Montalbano purchased adjoining properties totaling approximately 150 acres in Vincent, Alabama, where LWT&E was purportedly located. Christopher Montalbano then gated the private access road(s) which both prevented unscheduled access, and severely limited the lenders’ ability to verify LWT&E’s possession of the equipment being sold and/or the validity of the equipment pictures on LWT&E’s internet website.

Gus Montalbano, 77, of Vestavia, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Annemarie C. Axon to conspiring with Christopher Montalbano to commit bank fraud.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robin B. Mark and Kristen Osborne are prosecuting the cases.

Source: US FBI

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – On National Missing Children’s Day, U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge ­Johnnie Sharp, Jr. share tips on how to keep children safe both in the online and offline worlds. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25, 1983, the first National Missing Children’s Day in memory of Etan Patz, a 6-year-old boy who disappeared from a New York City street corner on May 25, 1979. National Missing Children’s Day is dedicated to encouraging parents, guardians, caregivers, and others concerned with the well-being of children to make child safety a priority.

“As a parent of young children, I am concerned about providing a safe environment for children.  As the U.S. Attorney, I also realize that there are predators who work overtime to take advantage of children’s vulnerabilities,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will do our part to prosecute those who victimize our children, and we urge parents and caregivers to do their part through education and awareness.”

“It’s an unfortunate reality that every year, thousands of children become victims of crime, whether through kidnappings, violent attacks, sexual abuse, or online predators,” SAC Sharp said. “While I want to encourage parents to stay vigilant in protecting their children, the citizens of North Alabama can rest assured knowing that the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue those who would take advantage of our most vulnerable population.”

As the school year draws to a close, many parents are planning for their children’s summer activities. Whether a child is spending the summer at home with parents, or away from home at a summer program, the following safety tips will help ensure that children are being cared for under the watchful eyes of trusted and vetted adults.

• Know your childcare providers. Choose babysitters, nannies, and tutors with care. Obtain references from family, friends, and neighbors. Observe the interaction with your children and ask your children how they feel about your childcare provider. Do background screening and reference checks. 
• Check out camps and summer programs before enrolling your children. Ask if a background screening check is completed on the individuals working with the children. Talk to your children about safety and encourage them to tell you or another trusted adult if anyone or anything makes them feel sad, scared, or confused. Teach them it is okay to tell you what happened, and they will not be “tattletales” for telling.

Another thing to be mindful of is online safety.  During the summer, children will have an increased online presence. The following safety tips will help educate parents and prevent children from becoming victims of child predators and sexual exploitation.

The most important advice for parents is to have open and ongoing conversations about safe and appropriate online behavior. Other advice to consider:

• Educate yourself about the websites, software, games, and apps that your children use.
• Check their social media and gaming profiles and posts. Make sure they use privacy settings to restrict access to their online profiles.
• Monitor your children’s use of the Internet; keep electronic devices in an open, common room of the house.
• Explain to your kids that once images or comments are posted online, they can be shared with anyone and never truly disappear.
• Make sure children know that anyone who asks a child to engage in sexually explicit activity online should be reported to a parent, guardian, or other trusted adult and law enforcement.
• Make it a rule with your kids that they can’t arrange to meet up with someone they met online without your knowledge and supervision.
• The FBI has seen a huge increase in the number of cases involving children and teens being threatened and coerced by adults into sending explicit images online—a crime called sextortion. For more information visit https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/sextortion.

Child Exploitation is a serious federal crime, carrying severe federal penalties. Some cases carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has prosecuted and continues to prosecute child exploitation cases in the Northern District of Alabama.

To help in child abduction recoveries, the FBI has developed the Child ID app, which provides an effective way for parents and guardians to keep their child’s pictures and information on hand in case he or she goes missing. The app also includes safety tips for parents to help keep their kids out of harm’s way. The app is free, and, in the event a child goes missing, parents and guardians can quickly e-mail the photos and information to authorities. No information about you or your child will be collected or stored by the FBI. To download the Child ID app, go to iTunes Apps Store on your iPhone or Play Store on your Android phone.

For more information on the FBI’s guidance on child exploitation and protecting your kids visit https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/protecting-your-kids.

If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. To alert the FBI Birmingham Office, call 205-326-6166. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org.