Category: MIL-OSI

Posted on

Convicted Felon Arrested for Shooting of a Federal Officer

Source: US FBI

TUCSON, Ariz. – Jerardo Jay Rosales, 39, of Tucson, was arrested Wednesday and charged in a two-count complaint with Assault on Federal Officer Using a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon and Prohibited Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

The complaint alleges that, on October 17, 2023, Rosales, a convicted felon, shot a federal officer in the left arm with a pistol, then fled in a vehicle. The officer suffered a non-life-threatening injury.

A conviction for Assault on Federal Officer Using a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both, and a maximum term of three years supervised release. A conviction for Prohibited Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon carries a maximum of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both, and a maximum term of three years supervised release.

A complaint 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation is conducting the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Cassell, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
 

CASE NUMBER:           23-02095MJ
RELEASE NUMBER:    2023-165_Rosales

# # #

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.

Posted on

Ganado Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Murder of Grandmother

Source: US FBI

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jedidiah Michael Noble, 35, of Ganado, Arizona, was sentenced on Monday by United States District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to 20 years in prison. Noble pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder.

On January 13, 2021, Noble stabbed his grandmother approximately 50 times, killing her.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer E. LaGrange and Sharon K. Sexton, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
 

CASE NUMBER:           CR-21-08012-PCT-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER:    2023-162_Noble

# # #

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.

Posted on

Phoenix Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Voluntary Manslaughter

Source: US FBI

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Joel James Justin, 32, of Phoenix, was sentenced on Monday by United States District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 120 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

On October 3, 2021, Justin, a member of the Gila River Indian Community, stabbed the victim, killing him. The defendant pleaded guilty on February 7, 2023, to Voluntary Manslaughter.

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

 

CASE NUMBER:           CR-22-00074-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER:    2023-161_Justin

# # #

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.

Posted on

Hacker Sentenced to 30 Months for SIM Swapping Conspiracy Resulting in Theft of Nearly $1 Million in Cryptocurrency

Source: US FBI

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jordan Dave Persad, 20, of Orlando, Florida, was sentenced on Monday by United States District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Persad was also ordered to pay $945,833 in restitution. Persad pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Computer Fraud. 

Between March 2021 and September 2022, Persad and his co-conspirators hacked into victims’ email accounts, hijacked their cell phone numbers, and gained unauthorized access to their online cryptocurrency accounts. As a result of this scheme, often referred to as “SIM swapping,” Persad and his co-conspirators stole close to $1 million worth of cryptocurrency from dozens of victims, including approximately $30,000 from a victim in Arizona. Defendant and his co-conspirators then divided these stolen funds amongst themselves, with Persad keeping around $475,000. Investigators were able to recover some of these funds when they executed search warrants at Persad’s Orlando home.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Chang and Bridget Minder of the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
 

CASE NUMBER:           CR-23-00680-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER:    2023-163_Persad

# # #

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.

Posted on

Tucson Man Arrested for Making Multiple Violent Threats Including a Threat to Place Pipe Bombs on School Buses in Indiana

Source: US FBI

TUCSON, Ariz. – Amir Safavi Farokhi, 28, of Tucson, was arrested last week on a federal complaint and arrest warrant by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Southern Arizona Violent Crime and Gang Task Force for using his telephone in Tucson to make a threat to place pipe bombs on school buses in the Castleton area of Indianapolis, Indiana. Farokhi was also charged with making an interstate threat to rape and murder a female employee of the Bloomington, Indiana Police Department.

The complaint alleges that Farokhi used his telephone in Arizona to call the Indianapolis Police Department, and told police officers they should send officers to a specific location in the Castleton area of Indianapolis because Farokhi planned to place pipe bombs on school buses and shoot any responding police officers. Farokhi also used his telephone in Arizona to transmit a threat to rape and murder an employee of the Bloomington, Indiana Police Department, telling the victim he would wait outside for her at the end of her shift.

The complaint further alleges that Farokhi’s course of threatening behavior extended to two Tucson-area hospitals as well.  On October 21, Farokhi is alleged to have called Tucson ER Hospital and threatened to shoot hospital staff and patients. On October 22 and 23, he is alleged to have made similar threats to Northwest Hospital in Tucson.

A complaint 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 United States will have up to 30 days from arrest to seek an indictment of Farokhi.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, as part of the FBI’s Southern Arizona Violent Crime and Gang Task Force, conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, is handling the prosecution.
 

CASE NUMBER:           23-07725MJ
RELEASE NUMBER:    2023-166_Farohki

# # #

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.

Posted on

Ahoskie Man Sentenced to 8.5 Years for Violent Armed Robbery of Verizon Store

Source: US FBI

NEW BERN, N.C. – An Ahoskie man was sentenced to 102 months in prison for the armed robbery of a Verizon Store and the use of a firearm during and in relation to the robbery.  On June 11, 2024, Marcus Lee Deloatch pled guilty to the charges.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Deloatch, age 40, forced his way into the store through the back door as the manager was closing for the night on December 21, 2023. Deloatch, who was a former employee of the store, pistol-whipped the manager, knocking her to the ground and then went to the front of the store where the register was located. He pointed his firearm at another employee while he grabbed $1,200 out of the register. During the encounter Deloatch complained that the store owed him his last paycheck for $200. Deloatch then fled out the rear of the store. Both victims recognized their former coworker and police were able to quickly find and arrest Deloatch, who commented that he had not planned on getting locked up until after Christmas.

Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The FBI and Ahoskie PD investigated the case. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Phil Aubart  prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-CR-11-FL.

Posted on

Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Felony Charges for Actions During January 6 Capitol Breach

Source: US FBI

            WASHINGTON – An Arizona man pleaded guilty today to two felony charges for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

            Jacob Zerkle, 51, of Bowie, Arizona, pleaded guilty to assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and civil disorder, both felonies, before U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton. Zerkle is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 22, 2024.

            According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Zerkle traveled to Washington, D.C., where Congress was scheduled to convene to certify the results of the 2020 election and where related protests were scheduled to occur in the surrounding area. Mr. Zerkle entered the restricted area of the Capitol Grounds near the Peace Circle and walked to an area near the base of the Northwest Staircase, even though the Grounds were closed to the public that day. While there, Mr. Zerkle repeated the chants of other protestors, including chants like “hang ‘em high.”

            At approximately 2:00 p.m., Mr. Zerkle assaulted a line of Metropolitan Police Department officers who had arrived at the Northwest edge of the grounds in order to assist and reinforce U.S. Capitol Police (USCP), who were outnumbered by the amassing crowd on the West Plaza of the Capitol. Between 1:59 and 2:04 p.m., as the officers attempted to navigate through the crowd to the West Plaza, Zerkle, as well as other individuals in the crowd, physically engaged with the officers and intentionally made physical contact with at least three officers, which included placing his hands on the officers and forcibly pushing. Zerkle also yelled at the officers that they were “traitors.”

            Because of Mr. Zerkle’s and other rioters’ conduct, the officers were delayed in responding to the Capitol Building as ordered.

            Zerkle was arrested on March 15, 2022, in Arizona.

            This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.

            This case is being investigated by the FBI Phoenix and Washington Field Offices, which identified Zerkle as #335 in its seeking information photos. The Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police provided valuable assistance.

            In the 33 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,100 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 400 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

            Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

Posted on

Tucson Man Arrested for Mass Shooting Threat at University of Arizona

Source: US FBI

TUCSON, Ariz. – Michael Lee, 27, of Tucson, was arrested yesterday on a federal complaint warrant by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Southern Arizona Violent Crime and Gang Task Force for transmitting threats through interstate communications for threatening to commit a mass shooting at the University of Arizona. 

The complaint alleges that Lee transmitted threats to commit a mass shooting at the university in a group chat on Snapchat. Lee is not a student at the university but expressed a desire to get revenge on “all the chads and stacies!!” “Chads” and “stacies” are commonly used terms by self-described involuntary celibates (incels). Lee made further reference to incel ideology, and finished the conversation by stating “im gonna do it guys, my mind is made up and there’s nothing u can do or say to stop me.”

The United States will have 30 days from arrest to indict Lee. A complaint 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the University of Arizona Police Department, as part of the FBI’s Southern Arizona Violent Crime and Gang Task Force, conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Rossi, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
 

CASE NUMBER:           23-02094MJ
RELEASE NUMBER:    2023-160_Lee

# # #

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.

Posted on

Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Violent Crime Spree

Source: US FBI

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Elan David Nash, 36, of Polacca, was sentenced on September 25, 2023, by United States District Judge Steven P. Logan to 25 years in prison. Nash previously pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder, Kidnapping, and Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury of an Intimate Partner. 

During a violent crime spree in November of 2019, Nash shot and killed a woman on the Hopi Indian Reservation. Soon after that incident, Nash picked up another woman from the side of the road and forced her into his vehicle. He drove her to a remote area of the Hopi Indian Reservation, where he robbed her. After a pursuit by tribal law enforcement, Nash abandoned the vehicle he was driving, leaving behind evidence related to the murder. The investigation into these crimes also revealed that on December 3, 2019, on the Navajo Nation, Nash assaulted his then girlfriend, leaving her with substantial injuries. Nash pleaded guilty to all three charges in a single plea agreement combining three separate cases.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from Hopi Law Enforcement Services and the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBERS:         CR-22-8088-PCT-SPL
                                       CR-22-8089-PCT-SPL
                                       CR-23-8063-PCT-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER:    2023-159_Nash

# # #

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.

Posted on

Two Sentenced in Dark Web Identity Theft and Retail Fraud Conspiracy

Source: US FBI

RALEIGH, N.C. – Two New York men were sentenced for fraud they committed against major retailers while living in Raleigh.  Kavon Kerrick Robinson, 25, was sentenced to 42 months in prison, and Christopher Anthony Hilaire, 27, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for their respective roles in the crime.  Both men were also ordered to pay $32,736.74, in restitution.  In July 2024, Robinson pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, and Hilaire pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

“Retail return frauds, including double-dipping schemes like this one, cost retailers billions of dollars in losses every year,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “These schemes drive prices higher for the rest of us and harm everyday consumers whose credit card information is stolen to facilitate the scheme. We are proud to partner with the NC Retail Merchants Association to raise awareness of these scams and bring them to a stop.”

“Schemes such as retail return fraud are just one example of organized retail crime in North Carolina. North Carolina’s retailers are appreciative of U.S. Attorney Easley’s commitment to fighting organized retail crime in Eastern North Carolina and his willingness to take an aggressive stance against well-organized professional theft networks that prey on North Carolina businesses,” said Andy Ellen, president and general counsel of the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association. “Organized retail crime is not only a crime against property, but a crime against people, often tied to other serious crimes such as opioids, identity theft, and human trafficking. It is very important that offenders be prosecuted to the fullest extent of North Carolina’s law for the good of the economy and the safety of our communities.”

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Robinson and Hilaire lived together in Raleigh from April 2022 until November 2022.  During this time, Robinson would purchase stolen credit card information from the dark web using cryptocurrency.  Robinson, Hilaire, and others would use that stolen information to make online purchases from a variety of major retailers (including Lowe’s Home Improvement, Home Depot, Michaels, and Walmart), restaurants, and gas stations.  For items purchased from major retailers, Robinson would focus on certain items he knew he could resell.  For example, Robinson purchased a large number of Google Nest thermostats from Lowe’s Home Improvement because he had a buyer for those items.  Sometimes, Robinson would travel to New York to sell the items.  In other instances, he would return the items to obtain a cash refund.  In addition to assisting Robinson and obtaining goods for his own use, Hilaire would provide instructions to others regarding how to execute similar schemes.

Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the cases and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad DeVoe prosecuted the cases.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 5:23-CR-22 and 5:24-CR-46.