MIL Security Engine-1

Source: US FBI

FAYETTEVILLE – On January 15, 2025, Benjamin Coney, age 30, and Emily Grace Brinley, age 26, both of Conway, Arkansas, were sentenced to a combined 378 months in prison without the possibility of parole after being found guilty of Online Enticement of a Minor in violation of federal law. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing, which was held in the U.S. District Court in Fayetteville.

According to court documents, in November of 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, began an undercover investigation targeting online predators seeking minors for sexual activity. Between November 19, 2023, to November 27, 2023, a male and female couple, later identified as Coney and Brinley, messaged an undercover FBI officer posing as the mother of two young girls. In messages sent by the couple, they detailed their intended abuse of the two young girls and arranged to drive from Conway to Bentonville to engage in the sexual acts. When the couple arrived at the pre-arranged meeting location, they were met by law enforcement officers and immediately taken into custody. Among the items located in their vehicle were sexual aides and lubricant.

Coney and Brinley were indicted by a Grand Jury in the Western District of Arkansas in May of 2024. Benjamin Coney entered a plea of guilty in September of 2023 and was sentenced to 210 months imprisonment to be followed by 25 years of supervision. Emily Grace Brinley entered a plea of guilty in July of 2023 and was sentenced to 168 months to be followed by 15 years of supervision.

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

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Benton County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Williams prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

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

Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.

Source: US FBI

        WASHINGTON – An Arkansas man was sentenced to prison today after he pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. 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.

        David Camden, 45, of Tontitown, Arkansas, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, 12 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $7,000 in fines and restitution by U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan.

        According to court documents, Camden traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally on Jan. 6, 2021, and to protest the results of the 2020 presidential election.  After the rally, Camden approached the U.S. Capitol building and entered the restricted perimeter near the West Front of Capitol grounds. There, Camden climbed a media tower assembled for the upcoming Inauguration and waved a flag.

        At approximately 1:20 p.m. – nearly twenty minutes after rioters initially breached the restricted grounds, Camden approached a bike rack barricade separating police officers from rioters on the Capitol’s West Front. Camden then yelled at officers and forcefully pushed a bike rack barricade into a line of U.S. Capitol Police Officers. In response, officers successfully repelled Camden’s advance and deployed a chemical irritant in Camden’s direction to preempt further aggression.

        After this incident, Camden remained on Capitol grounds and joined other rioters on the West Plaza. At approximately 2:11 p.m., Camden deployed a fire extinguisher toward a police line assembled to stop rioters from advancing on the Capitol.

        The FBI arrested Camden on July 1, 2024, in Arkansas.

        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 Western District of Arkansas.

        This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Little Rock and Washington Field Offices. Camden was identified as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #286 on the FBI’s seeking information images. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

        In the 48 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,583 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 600 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.

Source: US FBI

      LITTLE ROCK—Joseph Riggins, Jr., will spend 25 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl that resulted in a person’s death. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down on Wednesday by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr.

      On November 29, 2023, Riggins, 33, of Little Rock, Arkansas, pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Judge Moody also sentenced Riggins to three years supervised released. Riggins was indicted on April 5, 2023, on one count of knowingly and intentionally distributing a mixture and substance containing fentanyl that resulted in death. The maximum penalty Riggins faced was not less than 20 years to life in prison and a fine of $1,000,000. There is no parole in the federal system.

      An investigation revealed that on July 31, 2022, Riggins engaged in a series of text messages with D.M. about Riggins trading heroin to D.M. in exchange for sex. On August 1, 2022, Riggins met with D.M. at a local motel in North Little Rock, Arkansas, where Riggins provided D.M. with a controlled substance containing fentanyl. D.M. later used that controlled substance in the motel room. The following day, August 2, 2022, motel staff members found D.M. deceased inside her motel room. D.M.’s body was subsequently transported to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for forensic analysis. An autopsy later determined that D.M.’s death was caused by a mixed drug toxicity of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. The fentanyl in D.M.’s body at the time of examination was at a level significantly higher than where lethal levels of fentanyl typically begin, according to the medical examiner who conducted the autopsy.

      The investigation was conducted by the North Little Rock Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Gordon.

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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

X (formerly known as Twitter):

@USAO_EDAR 

Source: US FBI

TEXARKANA – A Colombia County, Arkansas man was sentenced today to 140 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing methamphetamine in south Arkansas.  The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing, which took place in the United States District Court in Texarkana. 

According to court documents, Joseph Edward Lowe, age 37, of Magnolia, Arkansas, sold high-purity methamphetamine during multiple ‘controlled buy’ operations conducted by state and federal investigators in 2021 and 2022. A federal grand jury indicted Lowe in September 2022, and he later pleaded guilty to two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine on October 10, 2023.  Lowe’s sentence was enhanced due to his status as a Career Offender.  There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Magnolia Police Department, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Jones prosecuted the case for the United States.

Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.

Source: US FBI

FAYETTEVILLE – A federal jury convicted a Newport, Arkansas man yesterday of Conspiracy to Distribute more than 400 grams of a Mixture or Substance Containing Fentanyl.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) initiated an investigation into a drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing fentanyl pills in Fayetteville, Arkansas from May to June 2023. The investigation identified Claude Dukes, Jr., age 42, of Newport, Arkansas, as the source of supply for fentanyl being distributed by co-conspirator, Justin Alexander Ellis, age 36, of Fayetteville.  The pills distributed by this group contained fentanyl made or pressed to look like M-30 Oxycontin prescription pills. Dukes was found to be responsible for over 400 grams of fentanyl distributed in the conspiracy through his own conduct and the conduct of co-conspirators.

Duke is scheduled to be sentenced on a later date. Conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl is punishable by a minimum term of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum of life. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Justin Ellis pleaded guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl on February 28, 2024, and is awaiting a sentencing date. Distribution of Fentanyl is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 20 years. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case and were assisted by the following agencies: Benton County Drug Unit, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Rogers Police Department, Bentonville Police Department, Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Arkansas Department of Corrections Division of Community Corrections, and the Newport, Arkansas Police Department.  

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sydney Stanley, Kevin Eaton, and Dustin Roberts prosecuted the case.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov. 

Source: US FBI

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Aliyah Robyn Stalder, 24, of Seattle, Washington, was sentenced last week to three years of probation by United States Magistrate Judge Alison S. Bachus for assaulting a flight attendant while on board a commercial flight. During her term of probation, Stalder will not be permitted to travel by commercial aircraft without prior approval and must pay a $5,000 civil penalty imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Stalder was also ordered to pay over $8,000 in restitution for her actions. Stalder pleaded guilty on November 14, 2024, to Assault by Striking, Beating, or Wounding on an Aircraft.

On February 9, 2023, Stalder boarded a commercial flight from Seattle to Phoenix. During the flight, Stalder attempted to open multiple cabin doors and ultimately had to be restrained by members of the flight crew and other passengers. During the struggle to restrain Stalder, she assaulted one of the flight attendants.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Phoenix Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
 

CASE NUMBER:           CR-24-00031-PHX-ASB
RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-011_Stalder

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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 X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

Source: US FBI

The FBI is issuing this Public Service Announcement to warn the public that scammers exploit mass casualty events and disasters, such as the New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans and the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles, to commit fraud by soliciting fake charitable donations to support victims or their families. Scammers may pose as disaster relief agencies to collect personal information, conduct charitable fraud schemes, or commit fraud against disaster assistance programs. Scammers may also impersonate official entities, celebrities, influencers, or other individuals. For example, a scammer might pose online as a high-profile victim to solicit donations. Artificial Intelligence (AI) may be used to increase perceived legitimacy of a fraud or impersonation.

Criminals have used past crises as opportunities to target members of the public with fraudulent donation schemes. Scammers take advantage of catastrophic incidents—such as mass casualty events, terrorist attacks, war, natural disasters, or pandemics—to pose as charitable entities providing humanitarian aid or developing fundraising efforts, including monetary and cryptocurrency donations. Charitable fraud schemes associated with natural disasters are a common occurrence online as well as through in-person collection drives.

In 2024, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received more than 4,500 complaints reporting approximately $96 million in losses to fraudulent charities, crowdfunding accounts, and disaster relief campaigns.

Tips to Protect Yourself

• Do your own research before you donate to anything. Confirm the validity of any charitable opportunity. Best practices include, but are not limited to:
  • Verifying charities by researching the charity online to see if there are news articles, reviews, or posts linking the charity to fraud; checking to see if the charity is registered with your state’s charity regulator, if available; and checking the Internal Revenue Service’s website (https://www.irs.gov) to see if the charity is registered.
  • Validating that crowdfunding efforts are supporting the beneficiaries advertised; researching who is behind the crowdfunding request; researching who the request is intended to benefit and if the need is legitimate; and reverse searching images and stories associated with the request, as scammers will often copy and paste material stolen from others.
• Be suspicious of online communications claiming to be from individuals affected by the events and seeking immediate financial assistance.
• Recognize that pressure to “act fast” might be a sign of a scam.
• Do not send payments to unknown individuals or organizations asking for financial assistance.
• Do not communicate with or open texts, posts, e-mails, attachments, or links from unknown individuals posing as entities soliciting charitable donations or humanitarian aid.
• Review email headers and domain information to evaluate legitimacy. Emails from official organizations almost never come from free email services. IP addresses can reveal if the information is originating from overseas. Domain names and IP addresses’ current registration information may be available through the registry at lookup. ICANN.org if it was not restricted by the domain or IP address owner.
• If an unknown individual contacts you, do not release any financial or personal identifying information (PII), and do not send any money.
• If you have already donated funds and believe you are a victim of a scheme, do not pay additional fees or taxes to obtain a refund of your money. Do not pay for any services that claim they can recover lost funds.
• Do not use debit, gift, or prepaid cards for payment.

Report It

If you believe you have been a victim of a financial Internet scam or a fraudulent scheme related to New Year’s Day or other mass casualty events, please file a report with the FBI’s IC3 at www.ic3.gov. If possible, include the following:

• Identifying information about the individuals or charity, including name, phone number, address, e-mail addresses, social media handles, etc.
• Financial transaction information, such as the date, type of payment, amount, account numbers involved, name and address of the receiving financial institution, and receiving cryptocurrency addresses.
• Describe your interaction with the individual, including how contact was initiated, such as the type of communication, the purpose of the request for money, how you were told or instructed to make payment, what information you provided to the criminal actor, and any other details pertinent to your complaint.

Additional Resources

Source: US FBI

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Julius Darnell Dixon, 54, of Phoenix, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Steven P. Logan to 51 months in prison, followed by 60 months of supervised release, for providing contraband to federal inmates and for a supervised release violation. On October 21, 2024, Dixon pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The guilty plea also constituted a violation of Dixon’s supervised release for an earlier bank robbery conviction (CR-99-00516-PHX-SPL).

Between February 2023 and April 2024, Dixon conspired with federal inmates at various institutions to mail books to them from bookstores in the Phoenix area containing hidden Suboxone strips. Dixon’s method of using unwitting bookstores to mail the books circumvented prison security, as the books appeared to be purchased by the inmates directly from the bookstores. Investigators identified Dixon by locating communications between Dixon and the inmates after two mailings were intercepted by prison staff. The packages were traced to bookstores in the Phoenix area, where Dixon had given his phone number and, for one mailing, his name and email address.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Bureau of Prisons, conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick E. Chapman, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
 

CASE NUMBER:          CR-24-00942-PHX-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-003_Dixon

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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 X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

 

Source: US FBI

PHOENIX and TUCSON, Ariz. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced the results of the last four years of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

In the District of Arizona, the OCDETF program is a collaboration between the United States Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Diplomatic Security Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The collaboration has resulted in 536 defendants being charged in 174 separate indictments since January 2021.

Representative cases from the OCDETF program over the past four years include:

United States v. Nestor Hernandez-Morales: Hernandez-Morales pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Activity, and Attempted Smuggling of Firearms to Promote Drug Trafficking Activity on June 18, 2024, for his role in buying and arranging delivery of high-caliber weapons and ammunition to Mexican drug cartel members. On November 19, 2024, Hernandez-Morales was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

United States v. Jose Raul Diaz-Acedo: In January 2024, Homeland Security Investigations interdicted an arsenal of weapons and ammunition set to be smuggled into Mexico, including: AR-15 rifles, over 25,000 rounds of military caliber ammunition (including 1,800 rounds of .50 BMG), and 50 auto sears designed to convert rifles into fully automatic machine guns. Diaz-Acedo, the driver of this load, was sentenced to 37 months in prison on December 5, 2024.

United States v. Keivin Crosswell-Cervantes et. al: Three co-conspirators admitted that they delivered approximately 400,000 blue fentanyl pills, approximately 20,000 multi-colored fentanyl pills (“skittles”), and approximately 25 pounds of methamphetamine to undercover officers on September 22, 2022. Law enforcement officers also seized an AK-47-style pistol, a .45 caliber Kimber 1911 semi-automatic pistol with two magazines, and a .45 caliber FN semi-automatic pistol. See October 11, 2022 press release. Keivin Crosswell-Cervantes was sentenced to 17 years in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine. Carlos Alberto Castro-Ruiz was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison and Alexander Ortega-Islas was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

United States v. Maria Mendoza-Mendoza: Maria Mendoza-Mendoza, aka “La Guera,” was a high-level, Honduran-based human smuggling coordinator who, along with co-conspirators throughout Central America, Mexico, and the United States, was responsible for facilitating the illegal entry, transport, and harboring of numerous undocumented noncitizens. Mendoza-Mendoza was extradited from Honduras to the United States to face charges in June 2023. After pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit, Mendoza-Mendoza was sentenced to 10 years in prison in May 2024.

United States v. Jesus Ernesto Dessens-Romero: A federal jury convicted Dessens-Romero for his role as a human smuggling foot guide in an incident involving a migrant death. Dessens-Romero led a group of migrants on a perilous route through the mountains. When the victim became extremely ill, Dessens-Romero left her behind and continued with the other migrants until they were picked up by unidentified co-conspirators. The victim died; her remains were not discovered until nine months later. Dessens-Romero was convicted at trial and sentenced to 10 years in prison in July 2024.

United States v. Peter Vega: A federal grand jury indicted Vega for his role as a leader of a drug trafficking organization that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl throughout the United States. Vega coordinated the shipping of methamphetamine and transportation of fentanyl and the laundering of the proceeds from the drug sales. After being indicted, Vega fled to Mexico. Through international cooperation, Vega was apprehended in Mexico and deported back to the United States in January 2023. Vega pleaded guilty to drug and laundering charges and was sentenced to 15 years in prison in June 2024.

United States v. Luis Salvador Flores: In October 2022, Luis Salvador Flores was sentenced to 84 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release, after previously pleading guilty to Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon. Law enforcement officers from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department stopped Flores for a suspected traffic code infraction as he was driving to oversee a methamphetamine sale in Tucson. Inside of Flores’s vehicle, officers found numerous weapons, as well as magazines and ammunition. Flores intended to provide “security” for the drug deal, which was anticipated to involve approximately 200 pounds of methamphetamine. The intended transaction never occurred because Flores was intercepted by the law enforcement officers as he was enroute to the drug deal location.

United States v. Hector Francisco Ramirez-Roman: Ramirez-Roman, a commercial truck driver, pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of a Mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Methamphetamine. He had attempted to transport 332 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine in the gas tank of his tractor-trailer, but U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents discovered the methamphetamine when he was stopped for inspection as he was crossing from Mexico into the United States. In July 2023, he was sentenced to 108 months in prison, followed by 48 months of supervised release.

United States v. Martin Garcia-Velazquez, et al.: Garcia-Velazquez was convicted of Conspiracy to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit for his leadership role in organizing the transportation of at least 1,000 undocumented noncitizens from the Mexico border to houses in and around Phoenix over several years. In March 2024, he was sentenced to 90 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. As a result of this multi-year investigation, federal agents seized and forfeited over $1 million, numerous firearms, with accompanying magazines and ammunition, and five vehicles.

United States v. Enrique Flores-Diaz, et al.:Flores-Diaz pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl for his part in a plan to sell approximately 90,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl with three other persons. In February 2023, Flores-Diaz was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison. In December 2023, one co-conspirator was sentenced to 144 months in prison, for his role in the plan to distribute the counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and his unlawful possession of a firearm.

United States v Dennis Kelly, et al.: A federal grand jury indicted Kelly and multiple co-conspirators for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine, and International Money Laundering in May of 2022. Kelly supervised and directed several co-conspirators to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl on his behalf between November 2020 and August 2021. Kelly pleaded guilty to all three charges and received a sentence of 14 years in prison in June 2024.

United States v Jesus Hector Lagarda-Gil: Lagarda-Gil was sentenced to 11 years in prison in January of 2024 after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. Lagarda-Gil negotiated and coordinated the delivery of over 300 pounds of methamphetamine to undercover agents during a four-month period in 2022.

United States v. Charles Corey McCoy: In June 2023, McCoy was sentenced to 180 months in prison and five years of supervised release. McCoy had previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams of More of Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering in November 2022.

United States v. Oscar Martinez-Miranda et al.: A federal grand jury indicted Martinez-Miranda and Jesus Ruiz-Reyes in March 2023 for Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Heroin. Investigators seized over 52 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1.3 kilograms of cocaine, and 1 kilogram of heroin. Both defendants pleaded guilty in 2023. Martinez-Miranda was sentenced to 108 months in prison in January 2024 and Ruiz-Reyes was sentenced to 96 months in prison in May 2024.

United States v. Yvette Porras-Ochoa: Porras-Ochoa was indicted by a federal grand jury for her role as a supervisor of a drug trafficking and money laundering organization involved in the distribution of cocaine and prescription drugs. Porras-Ochoa pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Cocaine, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Prescription Controlled Substances Oxycodone and Promethazine-Codeine, and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering in August 2024. She was sentenced to 15 years in prison in December 2024.

United States v. Gabriel Vejar-Cota: A federal grand jury indicted Vejar-Cota who was involved in the operation of a stash house in Phoenix where investigators recovered 49.855 kilograms of cocaine, 14.82 kilograms of methamphetamine, approximately two kilograms of fentanyl, approximately one kilogram of heroin, $19,970, and two firearms. Vejar-Cota pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of a Mixture or Containing a Detectable Amount of Cocaine and 50 Grams or More of a Mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Methamphetamine in October 2023. He was sentenced to over 10 years in prison in April 2024.

United States v. Jose Angel Rodriguez: A federal grand jury indicted Rodriguez for his role as a supervisor of a drug trafficking and money laundering organization involved in the cross-country distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Rodriguez pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 40 Grams or More of a Mixture or Containing a Detectable Amount of Fentanyl and 50 Grams or More of a Mixture or Containing a Detectable Amount of Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering in December 2023. He was sentenced to 108 months in prison in October 2024.

United States v. Sally Joyce Nyemba: Nyemba – who was a practicing defense attorney – was indicted by a federal grand jury for her role in negotiating the purchase of two pounds of methamphetamine and 4,000 fentanyl-laced pills. Nyemba pleaded guilty to Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine in August 2023. She was sentenced to 18 months in prison in April 2024.

United States v. Heriberto Lopez-Landeros: Lopez-Landeros was responsible for importing large amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin from Mexico and transporting these drugs across the United States. He recruited semi-truck drivers to transport the drugs. During the investigation, agents seized 83 kilograms of methamphetamine, 12 kilograms of fentanyl, and 645 grams of heroin. Lopez-Landeros pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine in August 2024. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison in November 2024.
 

RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-004_OCDETF Program

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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 X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

Source: US FBI

TUCSON, Ariz. – Eric Duane Ridenour, 58, of Douglas, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 438 months in prison. On July 11, 2024, Ridenour was convicted at trial of six arson and hate crimes counts stemming from the burning of two churches on May 22, 2023.

In 2023, Ridenour burned down two churches in Douglas, Arizona: Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church and First Presbyterian Church. The churches were located on Church Square, a historic district in the border town of Douglas, approximately two hours southeast of Tucson. It is believed to have been the only intersection in the nation containing churches from four different denominations: Southern Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Methodist. Trial testimony established that Ridenour intentionally started the fires in both churches because of his hostility towards their practice of having women and members of the LGBTQ community serve in church leadership roles. Ridenour was arrested on May 23, 2023.

“This is a case about two separate arsons and the motivations behind each,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “Defendant burned a church because he disagreed with its position that women and LGBTQ individuals may serve as ministers, and then he burned a second church, in the same historic square, for the same reason. Destruction of religious institutions is abhorrent to our Constitution. I add my voice to the prayers for healing in the Douglas community.”

“ATF is dedicated to protecting the rights of all Americans. We strongly share the same concerns of United States Attorney Restaino and the community. The sentencing of Ridenour is a testament to the collaborative work between all agencies involved in this investigation,” said ATF Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Brendan Iber. “We are proud to provide the expertise of the ATF Certified Fire Investigators (CFI) to assist in this prosecution. We remain committed to seeking justice and ensuring the safety of our community”.

“There is no way to undo the damage Mr. Ridenour caused with his hateful and violent behavior, but we hope this sentence provides some measure of comfort,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Jose A. Perez. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and ensure those who perpetrate such acts of hate are held accountable.”

Vindicating the victim churches’ rights in this case is part of a larger initiative implemented by this Office. With the creation of a Civil Rights unit in the Civil Division, and the designation of a hate crimes coordinator in the Criminal Divisions, U.S. Attorney Restaino has made the prosecution of hate crimes and the protection of civil rights a cornerstone of his tenure in the Office.

On the civil side, the Office’s two civil rights AUSAs have participated in round tables, community meetings, and convenings with community and faith leaders and city and county officials to listen to community concerns and inform the communities about the work of the Office. On the criminal side, as part of the first cohort announced by Attorney General Merrick Garland in September 2022, the Office has participated in the Department’s United Against Hate (UAH) initiative, an effort designed to address and prevent unlawful acts of hate. For its UAH efforts, the Office has held five large-scale events, presenting on the importance of hate crime reporting to various underrepresented and often-targeted communities in Phoenix and Tucson. The purpose of the events was to hear from each community about its fears and concerns, start a dialogue between the communities and law enforcement, and get the USAO out into the communities it serves.

The initiative has also resulted in increased civil rights prosecutions. Hate crimes and other bias incidents are unique because they have a devastating impact on entire communities. The USAO prosecuted Eric Celaya for providing guns to a person who then used them to shoot two Jewish community members in California. Celaya pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight months in prison. The Office indicted Mark Adams Prieto for selling guns that he believed would be used in a mass shooting to incite a race war. In addition to hate crime charges, the Office has also prosecuted law enforcement agents for harming those they are sworn to protect, such as former Customs and Border Protection Officer Aaron Mitchell, convicted at trial for Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law arising out of the kidnaping and sexual assault of a cross-border student. This Office remains committed to investigating all potential hate crimes and color of law violations, and working closely with local and federal law enforcement to determine whether charges are appropriate.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Douglas Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Austin Fenwick, Ben Goldberg, and Adam Rossi, District of Arizona, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:           CR 23-00908-TUC-SHR
RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-001_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 X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.