MIL Security Engine-1

Source: US FBI

LITTLE ROCK, AR—Special Agent in Charge (SAC) James Dawson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Little Rock Field Office is pleased to announce the 2020 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award will be presented to Dr. Rajesh Nayak, a valued member of the FBI Little Rock InfraGard group.

“Dr. Nayak’s work in promoting FBI partnerships within our community is outstanding,” said SAC Dawson. “As an FBI ambassador in Arkansas, his ability to educate businesses, organizations, and neighbors on the multitude of threats we work helps protect our state. FBI Little Rock cannot fulfill our mission of protecting the American people without Arkansans like Dr. Nayak.”

Dr. Nayak’s tireless work with FBI Little Rock’s InfraGard program actively encourages the sharing of cyber-threat information with community and business leaders. The information he circulates in Arkansas educates and protects numerous businesses, hospitals, and schools from malicious cyber actors. Additionally, Dr. Nayak’s informed articulation of the threats Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) pose encourages businesses and private organizations to contact FBI Little Rock for targeted briefings.

“I am incredibly humbled and honored to be the recipient of the FBI’s DCLA award,” said Dr. Nayak. “As President Roosevelt once stated, ‘This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.’ I share this recognition with the FBI Little Rock Field Office staff and members of the FBI Citizens Academy. They work tirelessly with the community groups, businesses, and the public to disseminate critical infrastructure threat information— thereby protecting Americans and safeguarding our way of life. I am exceptionally gratified working with these honorable men and women who strive every day to make our community a better and safer place to live.”

The FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award was formally created in 1990 to honor individuals and organizations for their efforts in combating crime, terrorism, drugs, and violence in the United States. Every year, FBI field offices throughout the country select a community partner to receive the prestigious award. Last year’s Arkansas recipient was Sophia Said, an advocate for hate crime and terrorism education throughout law enforcement organizations and within various communities.

FBI Little Rock congratulates Dr. Rajesh Nayak and thanks him for his work in protecting our Arkansas communities.

Source: US FBI

      LITTLE ROCK—Law enforcement authorities have announced the results of a targeted effort to curb violent crime in Little Rock. “Operation Ceasefire” took place each day last week and resulted in 61 arrests of some of Little Rock’s most wanted. These efforts are part of a series of law enforcement actions that combine federal, state, and local resources to reduce gun crime.

      Beginning on June 7 and continuing through the rest of last week, law enforcement identified the most violent targets in the Little Rock area, focusing on individuals who had active warrants for their arrests. The United States Marshals Service, Little Rock Police Department (LRPD), and the FBI’s Gang Enforcement Task Force—known as GETROCK—combined their resources to identify, locate, and arrest 61 wanted individuals in the Little Rock area.

      Those arrested were wanted for crimes including capital murder, rape, aggravated assault, battery, terroristic act, aggravated robbery, and various drug and other charges. Approximately 10 of these targets were arrested for federal indictments charging them with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The 61 people who were arrested have been charged with 78 total felonies and 27 total misdemeanors. During the arrests, authorities seized 12 firearms and $16,095 in cash associated with criminal activity.

      Statistics collected by LRPD indicate violent crime has increased 16% from 2020 to 2021. These arrests are part of a continued effort to combat violent crime in the Little Rock area and were conducted by the United States Marshals Service, the FBI GETROCK task force and their participating agencies: LRPD, Arkansas State Police, North Little Rock Police Department, Arkansas Department of Community Corrections, Pine Bluff Police Department, and Arkansas Air National Guard Counter Drug Unit.

      An indictment contains only allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at

https://www.justice.gov/edar

Twitter:

@EDARNEWS

Source: US FBI

FORT SMITH – A Fort Smith physician, Donald E. Hinderliter, was sentenced today to 4 years in federal prison followed by 1 year of supervised release on one count of Distribution of a Controlled Substance without an Effective Prescription. The Honorable Judge P. K. Holmes III presided over the sentencing hearing in the U.S. District Court in Fort Smith.

According to court documents, Hinderliter, 85, of Fort Smith, pleaded guilty to a felony Information charging unlawful distribution of a controlled substance namely, alprazolam. From approximately January 2016 and through November 8, 2018, Hinderliter was an owner and practitioner at Hinderliter Pain Clinic that operated as a pain management clinic in Barling, Arkansas. In May 2017, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) received several anonymous complaints that Hinderliter was operating a “pill mill” under the name Hinderliter Pain Clinic. The complaints stated that Hinderliter and his associate, Dr. Cecil W. Gaby, charged cash, prescribed hydrocodone and benzodiazepines in the same amount to patients regardless of a particular patient’s prognosis or need, and that patients traveled great distances within the state of Arkansas and surrounding states seeking large quantities and dangerous combinations of oxycodone, hydrocodone, alprazolam, and methadone, among other controlled substances. As part of the plea, Hinderliter admitted that he prescribed opioids and benzodiazepines to more than 150 individuals, often not for a legitimate medical purpose and not in the usual course of professional practice. Specifically, on October 17, 2016, Hinderliter prescribed 84 alprazolam 2mg pills, a Schedule IV controlled substance to a patient that was not for a legitimate medical purpose and not in the usual course of professional practice.

On May 27, 2021, Dr. Cecil W. Gaby was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment for his role in the Hinderliter Pain Clinic and Gaby Medical Clinic in Fort Smith, Arkansas. On the same date, Dr. Robin Cox was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment for distribution of opioid medications outside legitimate medical practice at an unrelated clinic in Rogers, Arkansas.

U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), DEA Diversion Little Rock, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS), Arkansas State Medical Board and the Fort Smith Police Department investigated the case.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Gardner and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Carter prosecuted the case for the United States.

Source: US FBI

            LITTLE ROCK—A former Little Rock gang leader of the Wolfe Street Crips has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his role in a marijuana conspiracy as well as possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Thursday afternoon, United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker sentenced Machita Mitchell, Jr., aka “Frog”, 45, to 180 months’ imprisonment.

            The case is the result of an investigation by the Little Rock Police Department (LRPD) with assistance from Arkansas Community Corrections into a drug conspiracy involving members of the Wolfe Street Crips. In June 2017, probation officers and LRPD conducted a home visit at Mitchell’s residence. Mitchell was on active supervision with a search waiver on file. Officers located four firearms, a gallon size bag of marijuana, and several trash bags full of marijuana. Mitchell admitted the marijuana was his and that he possessed the firearms to protect the marijuana and the money he made from it.

            Mitchell was charged in January 2018 with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. In exchange for his October 2019 plea to the conspiracy and the firearm charge, the possession of marijuana charge was dropped.

            In February 2016, Mitchell was accused of making threats to kill two individuals and brandishing a firearm. Testimony from a LRPD detective indicated that Mitchell had made these threats over allegations that someone had stolen cash and marijuana. Mitchell was charged and arrested, and further investigation revealed he bribed the two individuals he threatened to drop their complaints against him in exchange for cash.

            Mitchell also faces state charges of capital murder and aggravated robbery, to which he had pled not guilty and which he contests, stemming from the shooting death of a 14-year-old boy who was present in an apartment that allegedly contained marijuana.

            In addition to the 15-year prison sentence, Judge Baker sentenced Mitchell to serve three years of supervised release. The investigation was conducted by the FBI GETROCK Task Force and the Little Rock Police Department with assistance from Arkansas Community Corrections.

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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at

https://www.justice.gov/edar

Twitter:

@EDARNEWS

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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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