SaturdaySunday 181920212223012345 http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/news.html News releases from the Southern District of California News http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/images/casdbldgrss.jpg http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/news.html Fri, 21 Feb 2014 17:22:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0221-ValorSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0221-ValorSent.pdf San Diego biomedical device manufacturer Valor Medical, Inc. was fined $250,000 today by U.S. District Judge Dana M. Sabraw for intentionally withholding unfavorable test results from the Food and Drug Administration about products under development for the treatment of aneurysms. Valor had been seeking FDA approval to proceed with clinical trials of the devices in question, including one intended for use in blood vessels in the brain, known as Neucrylate AN, and one intended for use in blood vessels near the heart, called Neucrylate AVM. But the actual preclinical test results would have cast doubt on the safety of Neucrylate, so the company concealed the results. Fri, 21 Feb 2014 17:18:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0221-BurdineSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0221-BurdineSent.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that Alvarado Medical Plaza Pharmacy, Inc. was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Janis L. Sammartino to repay Medicare over $1 million, and to pay a $10,000 fine, following its conviction of federal Health Care Fraud for billing Medicare for unapproved oncology drugs. The pharmacy had admitted that between May 2010 and June 2011, it ordered $752,688.00 of prescription oncology drugs from Quality Specialty Products (QSP) in Canada. Thu, 20 Feb 2014 16:49:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0220-AzanoIndict.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0220-AzanoIndict.pdf San Diego – Mexican businessman Jose Susumo Azano Matsura was charged in an indictment unsealed today with making an illegal campaign contribution to a San Diego mayoral candidate. Azano, 48, was arrested by FBI agents at his Coronado home Wednesday morning. He was arraigned in federal court this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mitchell D. Dembin. Today’s indictment makes it clear that Azano was the foreign national responsible for the $120,000 illegal campaign contribution to a San Diego mayoral candidate referred to in prior court records. According to federal law, it is illegal for a foreign national to donate to political campaigns in the U.S. Wed, 19 Feb 2014 17:05:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0219-LeePlea.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0219-LeePlea.pdf San Diego, CA - United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Brian Lee of San Diego County pleaded guilty today to participating in a scheme he created to obtain over $1 million from accounts he had opened on behalf of any elderly couple. Lee entered his guilty plea to one count of wire fraud before Magistrate Judge Jan M. Adler, and is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Court Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz on May 16, 2014 for sentencing. In approximately June 2004, a San Diego couple hired Lee to create trusts and corporations on their behalf, and to control bank accounts he opened in the name of the various entities. As Lee admitted in today’s hearing and in court documents, between 2004 and 2012, he made unauthorized transfers of the couple’s funds, through interstate transactions, into other bank accounts over which he had exclusive control. Mon, 10 Feb 2014 17:33:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0211-CarreonSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0211-CarreonSent.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that today Hector Manuel Carreon, a former nurse’s assistant in San Diego, was sentenced by United States District Judge John A. Houston to serve 50 years in federal prison based on Carreon’s convictions for sexual exploitation of a child, attempted sexual exploitation of a child, and receipt and possession of child pornography. Carreon was convicted after a trial by the Court in July 2013. Judge Houston also ordered a lifetime of supervised release and mandatory sex offender registration. Carreon has been in custody since his arrest by Special Agents with the Homeland Security Investigations in June 2012. Mon, 10 Feb 2014 16:04:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0210-OsarioSentTerryCase.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0210-OsarioSentTerryCase.pdf Manuel Osorio-Arellanes, age 37, was sentenced to 30 years in prison today in United States District Court in Tucson, AZ, for the first degree murder of United States Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, announced Laura E. Duffy, United States Attorney for the Southern District of California. Agent Terry was shot and killed on December 14, 2010, when the defendant and four others engaged in a firefight with Border Patrol agents. According to the plea agreement entered in October 2012, Manuel Osorio-Arellanes admitted that during the evening of December 14, 2010, he and others were in the United States for the purpose of robbing drug traffickers of their contraband. While Agent Terry was engaged in the performance of his official duties, members of the defendant’s group exchanged gun fire with agents and one of the shots fired by a member of the defendant’s group killed Agent Terry. Thu, 6 Feb 2014 14:46:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0206-RafieeIndict.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0206-RafieeIndict.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Hassan Rafiee and his son, Idin Rafiee, were arraigned today before United States Magistrate Judge Barbara L. Major in federal court in San Diego on an indictment charging them and a third man, Majid Nouri, with conspiracy to evade U.S. economic sanctions against Iran. Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ("IEEPA"), and a series of Presidential Executive Orders, the United States has imposed economic sanctions against Iran. With limited exceptions, the sanctions generally prohibit U.S. persons from exporting, selling, and supplying goods, technology or services to Iran, or even facilitating such transactions. Thu, 6 Feb 2014 10:02:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0206-CrystalPalaceIItakedown.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0206-CrystalPalaceIItakedown.pdf Forty-five people with links to six criminal street gangs have been charged with gun and methamphetamine-trafficking crimes in indictments unsealed this week. Following a yearlong investigation and a three-day gang sweep that concluded this morning, 40 defendants were in custody and 52 weapons were taken off the streets. A coalition of local, state and federal agents also conducted searches at eight locations – including sites in Linda Vista, Midtown, City Heights, Mid City, Clairemont Mesa and Oak Park. Many of these locations are homes where drugs and guns were stored or sold – including an apartment across the street from Hoover High School. Agents and detectives seized $47,600 in cash at a house in Oak Park this morning, bringing the total of cash seized to almost $60,000. Mon, 3 Feb 2014 17:24:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0203-AirplaneSmugglingPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0203-AirplaneSmugglingPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Philip Kubeck, Roselia Kubeck, and Earl Allen pleaded guilty Friday morning in federal court in San Diego to conspiracy to bring in illegal aliens for financial gain, harbor illegal aliens, and transport illegal aliens. All three entered their guilty pleas before U.S. Magistrate Judge David H. Bartick. As described in their plea agreements, Philip Kubeck, Roselia Kubeck, and Earl Allen were involved in a smuggling scheme in which illegal aliens were smuggled into the United States through a hole in the International boundary fence, were harbored at a house located on North 8th Street, in El Centro, California, and then transported further into the United States via private airplane in order to bypass Border Patrol checkpoints. Fri, 31 Jan 2014 17:46:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0131-SomaliTerrorismSent2.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0131-SomaliTerrorismSent2.pdf Ahmed Nasir Taalil Mohamud, a cabdriver from Anaheim, was sentenced today to six years in prison for his part in a San Diego-based conspiracy to provide material support to the terrorist group al-Shabaab. Nasir is the last of four defendants to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey T. Miller. The others were sentenced in November 2013, including San Diego cabdriver Basaaly Saeed Moalin to 18 years in prison; Mohamed Mohamed Mohamud, the imam at a popular mosque frequented by the city’s immigrant Somali community, to 13 years in prison; and Issa Doreh, who worked at a money transmitting business that was the conduit for moving the illicit funds, to 10 years in prison. Fri, 31 Jan 2014 17:34:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0131-PendletonPlea.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0131-PendletonPlea.pdf Six former government contractors and a former Defense Department employee who called himself the “Godfather of Camp Pendleton” have entered guilty pleas in federal court in connection with a scheme involving bribery and kickbacks at federal facilities. The guilty pleas, which also include two corporations, took place over a span of 10 days, culminating with the admissions today of subcontractors Paul Dana Kay of PK Excavation and Manuel Ramirez of MRN Construction, Inc., before U.S. Magistrate Judge David H. Bartick to Anti-Kickback Act violations. Thu, 30 Jan 2014 17:28:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0130-KelsoGuiltyPlea.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0130-KelsoGuiltyPlea.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Kevin Kelso pled guilty today in federal court before Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo to charges of wire fraud stemming from his employment as a senior finance executive at the Westin San Diego, from which he stole more than a half a million dollars. According to court records, Kelso was an employee of Interstate Hotels & Resorts and worked as Westin San Diego’s Director of Finance between December 2010 and September 2012. Kelso utilized this position to embezzle funds from the Westin to pay for his own personal expenses. Thu, 30 Jan 2014 17:24:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0130-ValorGuiltyPlea.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0130-ValorGuiltyPlea.pdf San Diego biomedical device manufacturer Valor Medical, Inc, (“Valor”) and four of its employees admitted today that they failed to provide the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) with required information that would have cast doubt on the safety of Neucrylate, a product intended to treat aneurysms. According to court documents, in 2007, Valor commissioned two preclinical tests on Neucrylate, a mouse lymphoma assay (MLA) and a chromosomal assay (CAA), both of which contained unfavorable results. Although Valor acknowledged receiving the reports, the company failed to include the results of the MLA and CAA testing when it submitted an application to the FDA for an investigational device exemption in September 2010. This failure represents a violation of the federal criminal statutes as all defendants admitted that the report was required to have been included with Valor’s application under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic ACT (“FDCA”). Thu, 30 Jan 2014 17:21:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0130-MenchacaSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0130-MenchacaSent.pdf This morning in federal court in San Diego, former Marine watch commander Luis Gilbert Menchaca was sentenced to prison for his role in a fraud and bribery scheme at Marine Corp Air Station (MCAS) Miramar. As part of the scheme, Menchaca – while serving as a watch commander for the military police at Miramar – paid thousands of dollars in bribes to another Marine in order to obtain tens of thousands of dollars in fraudulent lodging reimbursements. U.S. District Judge Dana M. Sabraw sentenced Menchaca to two years in prison followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered him to pay restitution to the Marine Corps in the amount of $37,632. Wed, 29 Jan 2014 12:49:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0129-BednarekPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0129-BednarekPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Jeffrey Bednarek, a former employee at the California Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”) in El Cajon, California, pleaded guilty late yesterday to his aggravated role in a conspiracy to commit bribery and identification document fraud, bribery, and witness tampering. Bednarek entered his guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo. According to the plea agreement, Bednarek was a Licensing Registration Examiner at the El Cajon DMV who was responsible for conducting driving tests for driver’s license applicants. Bednarek admitted that, beginning in at least April 2009, and continuing up to at least April 26, 2012, he conspired with his co-defendants to commit federal program bribery and identification document fraud. Wed, 29 Jan 2014 12:31:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0129-KellerGuiltyPlea.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0129-KellerGuiltyPlea.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that insurance broker Jeffrey B. Keller appeared in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo and admitted deceiving life insurance companies so that they would issue more than $80 million worth of policies to unqualified applicants who had no intention of paying the policy premium. In return, Keller obtained over $3 million in commissions. As set forth in the Plea Agreement, Keller employed multiple means to deceive the life insurance companies. Initially, he recruited elderly individuals to apply for “free” life insurance policies with death benefits ranging from $2 million to $10 million. Keller then submitted fraudulent applications to the insurance companies by intentionally omitting or falsifying the applicant’s net worth, income, or source of premium payments. Tue, 28 Jan 2014 18:39:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0128-HoHumBanditplea.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0128-HoHumBanditplea.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Adam Lynch pled guilty this afternoon in federal court in San Diego to seven counts of bank robbery. Lynch, dubbed the “Ho Hum Bandit” for his reportedly nonchalant manner in robbing banks, committed a string of bank robberies in San Diego beginning in February 2010. Lynch entered his guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge David H. Bartick. As described in his plea agreement, Lynch committed his first bank robbery on February 27, 2010, robbing a US Bank in San Diego. He thereafter went on a spree of robberies in the area, committing his seventh on June 5, 2010. Wed, 22 Jan 2014 18:54:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0122-CampaignFinanceCortes.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0122-CampaignFinanceCortes.pdf Marco Polo Cortes, a San Diego-based lobbyist, made an initial appearance in federal district court today on charges that he conspired to finance political campaigns using money from an illegal foreign source. Cortes was arrested by FBI Agents on Tuesday, January 21, 2014 in the Little Italy section of San Diego, pursuant to an arrest warrant. According to the complaint, filed by an FBI Special Agent and unsealed by U.S. Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo, Cortes conspired with Ravneet Singh and Ernesto Encinas—each of whom were named in a similar complaint unsealed yesterday—to funnel more than $500,000 of illegal foreign money into San Diego municipal and federal campaigns, primarily in 2012 and 2013. The source of the illegal foreign money, the complaint stated, was a person referred to as “the Foreign National.” Wed, 22 Jan 2014 18:48:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0122-MinkowPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0122-MinkowPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that former convict, turned fraud investigator and pastor, Barry Minkow, admitted embezzling and defrauding the San Diego Community Bible Church (“SDCBC”) and its congregation out of more than $3 million. Minkow, who is currently in custody after his conviction on unrelated securities fraud charges, entered a guilty plea today in federal court in San Diego before the Honorable William Gallo, United States Magistrate Judge. Tue, 21 Jan 2014 18:35:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0121-RavneetSingh.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0121-RavneetSingh.pdf Ravneet Singh, the proprietor of Washington, D.C.-based ElectionMall, Inc., was arraigned today on charges that he conspired to finance political campaigns using money from an illegal foreign source. Singh was arrested by FBI Agents on Friday, January 17, 2014, pursuant to an arrest warrant. According to the complaint, filed by an FBI Special Agent, unsealed by U.S. Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo, Singh conspired with former San Diego Police detective Ernesto Encinas and others to funnel more than $500,000 of illegal foreign money into San Diego municipal and federal campaigns, primarily in 2012 and 2013. Singh’s company, ElectionMall, Inc., was also charged as a defendant. Fri, 17 Jan 2014 18:27:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0117-CasiasBrosSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0117-CasiasBrosSent.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Judge John A. Houston imposed custodial sentences on twin brothers Anthony Donald Casias and Leo Ronald Casias, Jr. for defrauding local sports fans through their company, “L & T Sports Events, Inc.” Anthony Casias received a sentence of 36 months in custody and 3 years of Supervised Release. Leo Casias was sentenced to 33 months in custody and 3 years of Supervised Release. Thu, 16 Jan 2014 18:28:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0116-KSylvesterPlea.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0116-KSylvesterPlea.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Kathryn Sylvester of San Diego pleaded guilty today to participating in a mortgage fraud conspiracy in which she and several co-conspirators caused over $6 million in losses associated with various properties in San Diego County and elsewhere. Sylvester entered her guilty plea to one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud before Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo, and is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Court Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo on April 1, 2014 for sentencing. Tue, 14 Jan 2014 18:32:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0114-PRVectorDPA.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0114-PRVectorDPA.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that San Diego-based Vector Planning & Services, Inc. (“Vector”) entered into an agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office in which it admits to criminally defrauding the Defense Department, and in which it agrees to pay restitution. Vector, which also has offices in Chantilly, Virginia, entered the agreement this afternoon in federal court in San Diego before U.S. Magistrate Judge William McCurine, Jr. As part of the agreement, referred to as a deferred prosecution agreement, Vector admitted that its former CEO and majority owner submitted five years’ worth of false cost claims to the Defense Department, resulting in losses to the Defense Department of over $3.6 million. Thu, 9 Jan 2014 14:32:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0109-FLUCollectionsPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0109-FLUCollectionsPR.pdf U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that the Southern District of California collected $15,576,798.02 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2013. Of this amount, $11,799,803.27 was collected in criminal actions and $3,776,994.75 was collected in civil actions. Additionally, the Southern District of California worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $12,727,907.87 in cases pursued jointly with these offices. This amount was collected in joint civil actions. Wed, 8 Jan 2014 18:03:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0108-OpCorridor.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0108-OpCorridor.pdf Twenty-two people, including suspected drug traffickers and associates of the Mexican Mafia prison gang, are charged in numerous indictments and complaints unsealed today with crimes ranging from racketeering conspiracy to heroin and methamphetamine dealing. The indictments are the result of “Operation Corridor,” a continuing investigation involving a team of federal, state, and local agencies focusing on the activities of the Mexican Mafia operating in the Southern District of California. So far the investigation has resulted in the charging of 68 people since April 2012. Wed, 8 Jan 2014 15:08:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0108-PR_PittmanIndict.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0108-PR_PittmanIndict.pdf Twenty-four alleged North Park gang members and associates are charged in an indictment unsealed today as members of a racketeering conspiracy that involved cross-country sex trafficking of underage girls and women plus murder, kidnapping, robbery and drug-related crimes. Early this morning detectives and agents from the San Diego Police Department and the FBI, with assistance from other agencies, made 17 arrests in San Diego, Arizona and New Jersey and served 11 search warrants in San Diego and Arizona. Four defendants were already in custody on other charges. The local defendants are scheduled to make their first court appearances tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Major. Three defendants are fugitives. Fri, 3 Jan 2014 17:54:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0103-ChinoArrestPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0103-ChinoArrestPR.pdf Jose Rodrigo Arechiga-Gamboa, also known as “Chino Antrax” and “Norberto Sicairos-Garcia,” was arrested Monday, December 30, 2013, at the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, Netherlands at the request of the United States. A federal grand jury in San Diego returned a sealed indictment on December 20, 2013, charging Arechiga-Gamboa with Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances Intended for Importation and Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances. That same day, the Clerk of the Court issued a sealed warrant for his arrest. The indictment was unsealed today. Fri, 3 Jan 2014 17:48:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0103-RoseSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2014/cas14-0103-RoseSent.pdf Real estate agent Teresa Rose, of Ramona, California, was sentenced today to 15 months in custody by U.S. District Judge John A. Houston for her role in an investment and mortgage loan fraud scheme that generated tens of millions of dollars in fraudulent loans and millions in illegal kickbacks to the participants. In addition, Rose was ordered to pay more than half a million dollars in restitution to victims of the offense. Thu, 19 Dec 2013 18:30:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1219-RosasMurderRamirezSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1219-RosasMurderRamirezSent.pdf Jose Luis Ramirez-Dorantes was sentenced today to 55 years in prison for his participation in the July 2009 robbery and murder of United States Border Patrol Agent Robert Rosas, Jr. Ramirez, a 46-year-old Mexican national, pleaded guilty on January 10, 2013, admitting he was one of five armed individuals who conspired to rob a Border Patrol agent of his night vision device, which resulted in Agent Rosas being fatally shot during a struggle. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and kidnaping and use and carrying of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. Tue, 17 Dec 2013 18:21:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1217-BeliveauPlea.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1217-BeliveauPlea.pdf A special agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) pleaded guilty today to participating in a massive international fraud and bribery scheme, admitting he shared with a foreign Navy contractor confidential information about ongoing criminal probes into the contractor’s billing practices in exchange for prostitutes, cash and luxury travel. U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy of the Southern District of California and Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division made the announcement after the plea was entered before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jan Adler. The plea is subject to acceptance by U.S. District Judge Janis Sammartino. Sentencing was set for March 7 at 9 a.m. before Judge Sammartino. Mon, 16 Dec 2013 18:03:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1216-VillarealHerediaSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1216-VillarealHerediaSent.pdf Armando Villareal Heredia, who was extradited to the United States from Mexico last year to face federal racketeering and drug charges, was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for his role as a leader in the Fernando Sanchez Arellano (FSO) drug trafficking organization and his participation in cartel activities such as murder, kidnapping and the importation and sale of methamphetamine. Mon, 16 Dec 2013 17:52:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1216-RizzoSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1216-RizzoSent.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that John G. Rizzo, the CEO of iTrackr Systems, was sentenced to 30 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Larry Alan Burns for illegally manipulating the stock market in connection with millions of shares of his Florida-based company. Judge Burns also sentenced Rizzo to pay restitution to the victims in the amount of $2,669,353. As set forth in his Plea Agreement, in early 2006, Rizzo agreed to raise money for a Florida software company called iTrackr, which developed software to track inventory of electronics, such as the Xbox or other gaming systems, at retail stores. Mon, 16 Dec 2013 17:50:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1216-PetersonSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1216-PetersonSent.pdf Today United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced the sentencing of Brian Nels Peterson, the head of a mortgage company called Terra Finance in San Diego, California, for originating millions of dollars in fraudulent mortgage applications generated between 2005 and 2007, many for properties in two neighborhoods in San Diego County. District Court Judge John A. Houston sentenced Peterson today to 41 months in custody, ordered him to pay a $50,000 fine, and ordered restitution in the amount of $542,075 to Citi Mortgage. Fri, 6 Dec 2013 15:32:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1206-MitchellSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1206-MitchellSent.pdf James Rick Mitchell, a retired teacher and counselor in the San Diego Unified School District, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino to 84 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for a child pornography offense. He is expected to self-surrender to serve his sentence by February 7, 2014. According to documents filed in court, Mitchell collected 947,542 images and 4,751 videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Mitchell was identified as a collector of child pornography in an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Service into a commercial distributor of child pornography images and videos. Thu, 5 Dec 2013 17:52:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1205-CynthiaSommerPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1205-CynthiaSommerPR.pdf A federal judge today dismissed a lawsuit against the federal government filed by Cynthia Sommer, widow of U.S. Marine Sgt. Todd Sommer, rejecting claims that Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents acted with negligence and malice in the investigation that eventually resulted in her conviction for his murder. A jury in state court convicted Sommer of first-degree murder in 2007, but the trial judge overturned the verdict, ruling that prosecutors' description of her party "lifestyle" following her husband’s death in 2002 was so inflammatory that it deprived Sommer of a fair trial. In preparation for a retrial, additional tissue samples were tested, and experts found no arsenic. The District Attorney ultimately dismissed the murder case without prejudice. Wed, 4 Dec 2013 17:20:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1204-BurdinePR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1204-BurdinePR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that Alvarado Medical Plaza Pharmacy, Inc. (“Alvarado Pharmacy”) and its owner, William Burdine, pleaded guilty to healthcare fraud charges involving the illegal importation and sale of unapproved cancer drugs to Medicare patients in San Diego. Alvarado Pharmacy and Burdine entered the pleas before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nita L. Stormes, and are scheduled to return to court on February 21, 2014, for a sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino. The guilty pleas must be accepted by Judge Sammartino before becoming final. Wed, 4 Dec 2013 16:31:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1204-PhillipsPlea.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1204-PhillipsPlea.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy today announced that Eric Phillips of Oceanside, California, appeared in federal court before Magistrate Judge Nita L. Stormes and pled guilty to participating in a scheme to defraud clients of Georggin Law who were seeking to repair their credit histories. Defendant pled guilty to one count of Mail Fraud, and was ordered to return to court on February 24, 2014, before District Judge Michael M. Anello for sentencing. Tue, 3 Dec 2013 18:01:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1203-Singh_HearnSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1203-Singh_HearnSent.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy today announced the sentencing of two defendants who participated in an Oceanside telemarking operation dubbed “1st American Law Center.” Defendants Shelveen Shraneel Singh and Johnathon Daniel Hearn were each sentenced yesterday to nine years and two years in prison, respectively, before District Court Judge Roger T. Benitez for their roles in defrauding more than 4,000 desperate homeowners who were seeking to modify their mortgages. All told, the operation resulted in victim losses of over $11 million. Mon, 2 Dec 2013 17:01:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1202-RussellSentPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1202-RussellSentPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that Las Vegas resident Eric Russell was sentenced by the Honorable Roger T. Benitez to time served (approximately six months) in custody for dumping thousands of gallons of raw sewage on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in Imperial County. Russell, who has been in custody since June 2013 after absconding from authorities, was also ordered to pay $21,244.19 in restitution. Mon, 25 Nov 2013 17:06:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1125-HagenSentPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1125-HagenSentPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that United States District Court Judge M. James Lorenz sentenced La Jolla resident Mark Hagen to serve six months in prison for bankruptcy fraud. Hagen pleaded guilty to fraudulently concealing assets in bankruptcy proceedings, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 152(1), on September 12, 2013. According to Mr. Hagen’s plea agreement, Hagen admitted to knowingly and fraudulently defrauding the Bankruptcy Court and his creditors by hiding and lying about more than $45,000 in federal tax refunds. Wed, 20 Nov 2013 11:18:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1120-OutofReachPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1120-OutofReachPR.pdf U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy will host a special screening of “Out of Reach,” a short documentary about prescription drug abuse created by a teen filmmaker, on Wednesday evening, November 20, at Junipero Serra High School. This is the first “Out of Reach” screening to take place on the West Coast. Cyrus Stowe, a 17-year-old high school student, interviews friends, classmates, community members and others about prescription drug abuse and their views of what it means to abuse prescription drugs. It was created in collaboration with director Tucker Capps (of A&E’s “Intervention”) and The Partnership at Drugfree.org's Medicine Abuse Project. Mon, 18 Nov 2013 17:02:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1118-SomaliTerrorismSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1118-SomaliTerrorismSent.pdf Basaaly Saeed Moalin, a cabdriver who was convicted by a federal jury of providing material support to the terrorist group al-Shabaab, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey T. Miller to 18 years in prison. Also sentenced at the same hearing were Mohamed Mohamed Mohamud, the imam at a popular mosque frequented by the city’s immigrant Somali community, to 13 years in prison; and Issa Doreh, who worked at a money transmitting business that was the conduit for moving the illicit funds, to 10 years in prison. Thu, 14 Nov 2013 16:06:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1114-RodriguezPerezSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1114-RodriguezPerezSent.pdf Marcos Rodriguez-Perez was sentenced today to 56 years in prison for his participation in the July 2009 robbery and murder of United States Border Patrol Agent Robert Rosas, Jr. Rodriguez-Perez, a 28-year-old Mexican national, pleaded guilty in August, admitting he was one of three gunmen who lured the agent into a trap to steal his night-vision goggles and then fatally shot him during a struggle. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and kidnaping, robbery of personal property of the United States, and use and carrying of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. United States District Judge M. James Lorenz also ordered that Rodriguez’s sentence run consecutive to a two-year sentence Rodriguez is currently serving for violating his supervised release from a prior alien smuggling conviction. Prosecutors noted in court that because Rodriguez is almost 29 years old, the combined sentences likely mean Rodriguez will spend the rest of his life in prison. Wed, 6 Nov 2013 15:06:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1106-SANCHEZGDMAPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1106-SANCHEZGDMAPR.pdf A third senior U.S. Navy official was charged in a complaint unsealed today with accepting prostitutes, luxury travel and $100,000 cash from a foreign defense contractor in exchange for classified and internal U.S. Navy information, announced U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy and Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. U.S. Navy Commander Jose Luis Sanchez, 41, was arrested in Tampa, Florida, this morning and made his initial appearance in federal court in the Middle District of Florida this afternoon. The United States will seek removal of Sanchez to San Diego to face charges. Mon, 4 Nov 2013 15:40:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1104-CuadraSentPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1104-CuadraSentPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Jaime Cuadra, the former Chief Financial Officer of Oceanic Enterprises, Inc., was sentenced today by United States District Judge Marilyn L. Huff to serve 41 months in custody based on his conviction of wire fraud and filing a false federal income tax return. The charges stemmed from Cuadra’s embezzlement of $1,089,813.26 from Oceanic and its parent company, Umami Sustainable Seafood, Inc., a San Diego-based, publically traded company. Mon, 21 Oct 2013 17:01:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1021-MirwaniSentPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-1021-MirwaniSentPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that Los Angeles-based businessman Sunil Jiwat Mirwani was sentenced to 27 months in prison for evading customs duties on more than $30 million in Chinese-made wearing apparel. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Michael M. Anello, also required Mirwani to forfeit his interest in over $30,000 in cash, the contents of a Hong Kong-based bank account—plus an inventory of more than 220,000 pairs of blue jeans valued at more than $1 million. Mon, 30 Sep 2013 17:15:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0930-ArmstrongSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0930-ArmstrongSent.pdf Mary Armstrong, the mastermind of a $100 million mortgage fraud that generated almost $15 million in illegal kickbacks, was sentenced today to 100 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John A. Houston. Armstrong’s former boyfriend, William Fountain, was sentenced on Friday to serve 42 months in prison for his participation in the scheme. In addition, both Armstrong and Fountain were ordered to pay more than $500,000 in restitution to victims of the offense. Thu, 26 Sep 2013 15:15:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0926-IDTheftIndict.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0926-IDTheftIndict.pdf A massive case of organized tax and bank fraud culminated today with the unsealing of four federal grand jury indictments accusing 55 people of participating in one or more illicit schemes, including the theft of more than 2,000 identities that were used to claim more than $20 million in bogus IRS tax refunds. As a result the IRS paid out more than $7 million – even issuing payments in the names of dead people. Tue, 24 Sep 2013 11:29:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0924-YinGuiltyPleaPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0924-YinGuiltyPleaPR.pdf Former Merrill Lynch Stock Broker Gary Yin pled guilty today and admitted obstructing justice and laundering money for former Qualcomm Executive Vice President and President of Global Business Operations, Jing Wang (charged elsewhere). According to his plea agreement, Yin agreed to assist Jing Wang in concealing Wang’s illegal insider trading using a secret, nominee brokerage account at Merrill Lynch. Yin also agreed to Wang’s request that he obstruct an ongoing SEC investigation into Wang’s activities, and to launder the proceeds of Wang’s insider trading. Mon, 23 Sep 2013 14:29:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0923-WindyCityPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0923-WindyCityPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that twin brothers Anthony Donald Casias and Leo Ronald Casias, Jr., pled guilty to a scheme to defraud local sports fans through their company, L and T Sports Events, Inc. According to court documents, clients of L and T Sports paid in advance for travel, lodging, transportation, and game tickets to out-of-town sporting events, such as San Diego Chargers away games, other NFL games, and collegiate sporting events. Mon, 23 Sep 2013 14:25:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0923-HensleySent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0923-HensleySent.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that Timothy James Hensley was sentenced to serve 70 months in federal prison, in addition to five years of supervised release, and to register as a sex offender, by United States District Court Judge Irma E. Gonzalez. Hensley, a former local middle school teacher at Bell Middle School, in San Diego, pled guilty on May 16, 2013 to a five count indictment charging him with receipt and possession of child pornography. Mon, 23 Sep 2013 14:20:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0923-AFKARIANPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0923-AFKARIANPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Adel Afkarian and Atef Afkarian each entered a guilty plea in federal court in San Diego today to count one of an information charging them with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, in connection with a fraud scheme involving sales of million-dollar homes in San Diego and Del Mar, California. Mon, 23 Sep 2013 11:48:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0923-WangPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0923-WangPR.pdf Jing Wang, a former Executive Vice President and President of Global Business Operations for Qualcomm, Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM) was charged with insider trading in shares of both Qualcomm and Atheros Communications, Inc. (“Atheros”) using a secret brokerage account and an offshore shell company in the British Virgin Islands (“BVI”). Wang, 51, of Del Mar, is also charged with conspiring with his brother, co-defendant Bing Wang, and his former Merrill Lynch stock broker, Gary Yin, to obstruct an ongoing SEC investigation, and laundering the proceeds of his insider trading using a second offshore shell company and secret brokerage account. Thu, 19 Sep 2013 18:31:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0919-SeskiPleaSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0919-SeskiPleaSent.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that Jan C. Seski, M.D. and Associates, P.C., an oncology practice based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to a criminal charge of having caused the introduction of an unapproved drug into interstate commerce and was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine. Magistrate Judge Karen S. Crawford also ordered the defendant to place ads in two medical journals, warning of the dangers of unapproved drugs. Tue, 17 Sep 2013 17:31:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0917-COPS_Awards_2013.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0917-COPS_Awards_2013.pdf The Department of Justice awarded grants totaling $925,235 to two cities in the Southern District of California, aimed at creating six new law enforcement positions, announced United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy. The Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides salaries and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years. Grantees for the 2013 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and community policing plans. Tue, 17 Sep 2013 17:04:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0917-GDMA_PR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0917-GDMA_PR.pdf Three individuals – a commander in the United States Navy, a special agent for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the CEO of a multinational defense contractor – were charged in criminal complaints unsealed today in connection with two separate bribery schemes. The complaints allege that Leonard Glenn Francis, the CEO of Singapore-based Glenn Defense Marine Asia Ltd. (GDMA), paid U.S. Navy Commander Michael Vannak Khem Misiewicz and NCIS Supervisory Special Agent John Bertrand Beliveau II with luxury travel and prostitutes in exchange for confidential information and other assistance in relation to hundreds of millions of dollars in Navy contracts. Mon, 16 Sep 2013 18:10:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0916-AllenSentPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0916-AllenSentPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy and Federal Housing Finance Agency Inspector General Steve A. Linick announced that John Allen, a mortgage loan processor based in Laguna Hills, was sentenced today to one year in custody by U.S. District Court Judge John A. Houston for his participation in an investment and mortgage loan fraud scheme that generated nearly $15 million in kickbacks. Fri, 13 Sep 2013 16:40:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0913-TaliaGuiltyPleaPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0913-TaliaGuiltyPleaPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Nawal Talia of Spring Valley pled guilty today and admitted recruiting patients as part of a multi-year fraud scheme to falsify medical certifications to the federal government. As revealed in her guilty plea, Talia recruited patients for the mastermind of the health care fraud scheme, Dr. Roberto Velasquez. Earlier this year, Velasquez was sentenced to 21 months in prison, and ordered to pay more than $1.5 million in restitution to the Social Security Administration — the largest single restitution order in Social Security’s history. Fri, 13 Sep 2013 16:32:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0913-SheriffDeputySentPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0913-SheriffDeputySentPR.pdf A former reserve Imperial County Sheriff’s Deputy was sentenced today to serve a term of 30 months in prison for smuggling illegal aliens, including a minor, in the trunk of her car as she drove through a Border Patrol checkpoint wearing her uniform and department-issued firearm. While serving as a reserve Deputy Sheriff of Imperial County, Elizabeth Hernandez and her co-defendant, Edna Yanie Calderon, were arrested on April 17, 2013 for transporting illegal aliens. On June 25, 2013, Hernandez and Calderon pled guilty to transporting illegal aliens, and consented to the forfeiture of proceeds and assets associated with their crimes. Thu, 12 Sep 2013 17:35:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0912-MartellDavisPlea.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0912-MartellDavisPlea.pdf Martell Davis, who was wearing a T-shirt that read "I MAKE PIMPIN' LOOK EASY…" when he arrived to pick up his 17-year-old prostitute from a hotel and was arrested, admitted in federal court today that he was, indeed, a pimp. Davis pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruben B. Brooks to transportation of a minor to engage in prostitution. In his plea agreement, Davis admitted that he acted as pimp for a 17-year-old girl when he drove her from San Diego to Yuma, Arizona, so she could engage in commercial sex acts. Thu, 12 Sep 2013 17:15:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0912-BeanSentPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0912-BeanSentPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that Martin Paul Bean III of Boca Raton, Florida, was sentenced by the Hon. William Q. Hayes to serve 24 months in custody for his role in a scheme to sell unapproved foreign oncology drugs to doctors in the United States. Bean had pled guilty to conspiracy to commit a number of federal offenses, including wire fraud, mail fraud, selling unapproved drugs, selling misbranded drugs, and importing merchandise contrary to law. Bean was further ordered to forfeit the Jaguar XJ he purchased with the proceeds of the scheme, and to pay restitution of $19,270 to one of the victims of his scheme. Tue, 10 Sep 2013 16:55:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0910-MountainShadowIndictPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0910-MountainShadowIndictPR.pdf Federal grand jury indictments were unsealed today charging 12 San Diego County residents with federal drug trafficking and firearms offenses. The charges are part of a 10-month investigation by federal and local authorities that culminated with the arrests of dozens of people during raids this morning in the North County. Of those charged federally, 10 were taken into custody during today’s sweep and two were still at large. Dozens of additional defendants will be prosecuted by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office as part of the investigation, dubbed “Operation Mountain Shadow.” Mon, 09 Sep 2013 16:27:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0909-CBPRodriguez.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0909-CBPRodriguez.pdf Former Customs and Border Protection Officer Hector Rodriguez was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Roger T. Benitez to serve 78 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for bribery, bringing in aliens for financial gain and conspiracy. Rodriguez, who pleaded guilty on March 28, also forfeited a 2009 Jaguar, 12 luxury watches – including five Rolexes - jewelry, televisions, cash, and computers that were obtained as a result of his criminal activity. Thu, 29 Aug 2013 17:27:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0829-HileVerdictPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0829-HileVerdictPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that, on Tuesday, August 26, 2012, a jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts in an indictment charging Brian Curtis Hile, a resident of Michigan, with Interstate Stalking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2261A(1). According to evidence presented at trial and the investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Computer and Technology Crime Hi-Tech Response Team, Hile travelled to San Diego from Michigan in August 2011, with the intent to kill a female victim and her boyfriend. Thu, 29 Aug 2013 11:27:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0829-KelsoPRarrgn.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0829-KelsoPRarrgn.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Kevin Kelso, a former Director of Finance at the Westin San Diego, was arraigned yesterday in Los Angeles on charges involving his embezzlement of more than $500,000 from the Westin San Diego. According to the indictment, Kelso served as the Director of Finance at the Westin San Diego between approximately December 2010 and September 2012. During that time, he embezzled funds using several different methods. Mon, 19 Aug 2013 17:00:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0819-PRSchwartzSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0819-PRSchwartzSent.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Irving J. Schwartz, M.D. was sentenced today to 5 months in prison, followed by 5 months in a half-way house, for his involvement in a scheme to defraud the Medicare trust fund by writing hundreds of false and fraudulent prescriptions for costly medical equipment that was not medically necessary. Dr. Schwartz was also ordered to pay restitution of $593,429.81 to the Medicare trust fund, and to forfeit $55,800 in kickbacks that he received for his role in the fraudulent scheme. Mon, 19 Aug 2013 17:00:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0819-PREduardoSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0819-PREduardoSent.pdf Eduardo Arellano-Felix to Serve 15 Years SAN DIEGO, CA - Eduardo Arellano-Felix, who acted as the chief financial officer of the notorious Mexican drug cartel that bears his family name, was sentenced today in federal court to 15 years in prison for laundering tens of millions of dollars in illicit drug proceeds. Arellano-Felix is the last of four brothers to be targeted by U.S. prosecutors for leading what was once among the world’s most violent and powerful multi-national drug trafficking organizations. He pleaded guilty in May to money laundering and conspiracy charges. Thu, 15 Aug 2013 17:42:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0815-PostalUniformsSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0815-PostalUniformsSent.pdf Los Angeles resident Carl Wayne Adrian, Sr., and his company, California Uniforms, Inc. were fined $250,000 and ordered to forfeit $135,000 worth of seized Postal uniform items. Adrian Sr. was also sentenced to 12 months of home detention by U.S. District Judge William Q. Hayes. As revealed during their guilty plea, the defendants participated in a scheme to defraud the Postal Service by providing unlicensed vendors with access to the Postal Service uniform sales reimbursement system in return for a 10% kickback. Tue, 13 Aug 2013 18:00:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0813-BittnerSentPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0813-BittnerSentPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Julian resident John David Bittner was sentenced today following his plea of guilty to the unlawful taking of a Golden Eagle, in violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. At the sentencing hearing today, Magistrate Judge David H. Bartick observed that although Bittner had devoted his life to wildlife, he had apparently placed his own financial interests ahead of the need to comply with federal permitting requirements. Bittner was paid by power companies, developers and others to track the birds for environmental impact studies. Fri, 09 Aug 2013 17:34:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0809-EscamillaSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0809-EscamillaSent.pdf Mario Escamilla, a high-ranking lieutenant of the Fernando Sanchez-Arellano drug trafficking organization, was sentenced today to 35 years in prison for his role as leader of the cartel’s U.S. operations, which included kidnappings and murders. Escamilla is the 39th of 43 defendants charged in the case in July of 2010 to plead guilty. The original complaint charged that defendants participated in a federal racketeering (RICO) conspiracy involving murder, kidnaping, robbery, drug trafficking and money laundering offenses. As set forth in the complaint, the defendants are members and associates of the Fernando Sanchez Organization (FSO), an offshoot of the Arellano-Felix cartel. Thu, 08 Aug 2013 16:31:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0808-TottenIndictPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0808-TottenIndictPR.pdf Donald V. Totten, an unlicensed mortgage broker who operated a mortgage brokerage business from Rancho Santa Fe, was indicted today by a federal grand jury on charges that he obtained $2.2 million in mortgage loans using false information and then siphoned off hundreds of thousands of dollars from the sale of the properties. Totten was arrested on July 24, 2013, and made his initial appearance in the Northern District of California. He is currently in federal custody and will be transported to the Southern District of California for the proceedings. Wed, 07 Aug 2013 17:00:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0807-FeltsIndict.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0807-FeltsIndict.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that today a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Norman Felts, a convicted sex offender, with engaging in illegal sexual conduct with a minor while traveling in foreign commerce and for committing this offense while under a legal obligation to register as a sex offender. The defendant was previously charged with a complaint and has been in custody since his arrest on June 11, 2013. Tue, 06 Aug 2013 17:23:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0806-HedleyPleaPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0806-HedleyPleaPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that David Hedley, a former Executive Director of the Indian Human Resource Center (“IHRC”), admitted embezzling over $140,000 from the San Diego-based non-profit. According to his plea agreement, Hedley served as IHRC’s Executive Director between September 10 and December 11, 2012. Taking advantage of his position as a signer on IHRC’s credit union account, he obtained a debit card allowing him virtually unrestricted access to the funds in one of the credit union accounts. Once he obtained this access, Hedley stole approximately $141,260 in federal funds from IHRC. Fri, 02 Aug 2013 16:51:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0802-PRRizzoPlea.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0802-PRRizzoPlea.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that John G. Rizzo, the CEO of iTrackr Systems, has admitted defrauding investors in connection with millions of shares of his Florida-based company. As set forth in his Plea Agreement, in early 2006, Rizzo agreed to raise money for a Florida software company called iTracker, which developed software to track the inventories and availability of electronics, e.g., X-Boxes. Thu, 01 Aug 2013 17:32:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0801-FrischIndictPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0801-FrischIndictPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that insurance brokers Byron Frisch and Kristian Giordano, and attorneys Kasra Sadr and Brenda Barrera Merriles, were arraigned today on a variety of charges related to their fraudulently causing life insurance companies to issue more than $50 million worth of policies to unqualified applicants, who had no intention of paying the policy premiums. In return, the defendants’ obtained more than $1.6 million and the ability to sell the fraudulently obtained life insurance policies to investors. Wed, 31 Jul 2013 16:48:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0731-PRMendozaPlea.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0731-PRMendozaPlea.pdf Richard Mendoza, the former Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District (“PMHD”) in Brawley, California, pled guilty today to embezzling more than $90,000 from the Imperial Valley Hospital. According to court documents, Mendoza served as CEO of PMHD from October 2001, until his termination in November 2011. Mendoza’s embezzlement activity was initially discovered by the Imperial Valley hospital in the fall of 2011, during an annual audit of expenses and disbursements. Tue, 23 Jul 2013 17:33:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0723-SHURN_PRSENT.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0723-SHURN_PRSENT.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that veteran Leray Shurn was sentenced yesterday to serve two years in federal prison by United States District Court Judge Thomas J. Whelan for running a landscaping business while claiming worker’s compensation and unemployment benefits from the Department of the Navy (Navy) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to which he was not entitled. Judge Whelan also ordered Shurn to pay $357,977 in restitution and a $5,000 fine. Shurn’s fraud spanned more than five years and cheated two U.S. government agencies out of over $350,000. Thu, 18 Jul 2013 17:03:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0718-PRBorja.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0718-PRBorja.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that Kirk Borja pled guilty in federal court in San Diego before United States Magistrate Judge Jan M. Adler to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and possessing heroin with the intent to distribute it. Borja was originally indicted on the methamphetamine trafficking charge following his arrest in January 2012, as part of “Operation Carnalismo,” an investigation into the Mexican Mafia gang and affiliated associates conducted by the Violent Crime Task Force - Gang Group (VCTF-GG), a group of federal, state, and local law enforcement agents led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Thu, 18 Jul 2013 17:03:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0717-PRRuizSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0717-PRRuizSent.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Jose Ruiz of San Diego was sentenced today to 57 months of custody by District Court Judge William Q. Hayes for crimes arising from a mortgage loan-modification scheme that cheated 289 families out of over $1.1 million, and resulted in the loss of many victims’ homes to foreclosure. Ruiz was also ordered to pay full restitution to all of his victims. Tue, 16 Jul 2013 17:03:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0716-PRMenchaca.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0716-PRMenchaca.pdf A federal jury convicted former U. S. Marine Sergeant Luis Gilbert Menchaca of conspiracy and false claims in connection with a fraud and bribery scheme at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar in San Diego, California. As part of the scheme, Menchaca – while serving as a watch commander for the military police at Miramar – paid thousands of dollars of bribes to another Marine in order to obtain tens of thousands of dollars in fraudulent lodging reimbursements. Mon, 15 Jul 2013 15:20:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0715-PRWeaverSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0715-PRWeaverSent.pdf Former Cal State San Marcos student Matthew Weaver of Huntington Beach was sentenced today to one year in prison for stealing the identities and passwords of more than 700 fellow students so he could rig campus elections and win the presidency. Weaver pleaded guilty in March to wire fraud, unauthorized access of a computer and identity theft. He admitted that he used small electronic devices known as keyloggers that record a computer user's keystrokes to steal 745 student passwords. He then used many of those stolen identities to snoop in email and Facebook accounts, and to cast about 630 votes for himself and for friends who also were on the ballot. Wed, 03 Jul 2013 16:30:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0703-OrtizSentPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0703-OrtizSentPR.pdf Former Customs and Border Protection Officer Oscar Osbaldo Ortiz-Martinez was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz to serve 144 months in federal prison for conspiring to allow drugs to be smuggled into the United States through his inspection lanes in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in bribes. Judge Moskowitz also ordered the defendant to serve 5 years of supervised release following his prison term and imposed a $22,000 fine. Mon, 01 Jul 2013 16:30:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0701-ChavezPRSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0701-ChavezPRSent.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that a San Diego businessman and his corporation were sentenced today for their roles in a long-running conspiracy to evade customs duties. United States District Judge Michael M. Anello sentenced Gerardo Chavez to serve 37 months in prison and his corporation, International Trade Consultants, LLC, to serve 5 years of probation. In addition, Judge Anello ordered that Chavez forfeit real property in Tecate, California, where Chavez maintained his corporate offices. Judge Anello also ordered Chavez to appear for a future restitution hearing, at which Chavez could be ordered to pay millions of dollars in compensation to state and federal taxing authorities. Fri, 28 Jun 2013 17:01:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0628-BernsteinCorpSentPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0628-BernsteinCorpSentPR.pdf The La Jolla oncology practice known as Joel I. Bernstein, M.D., Inc. was sentenced today to pay a $500,000 fine, forfeit $1.2 million and make restitution to Medicare in the amount of $1.7 million for purchasing unapproved foreign cancer drugs and billing Medicare as if the drugs were legitimate. Fri, 28 Jun 2013 14:55:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0628-AkopSentPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0628-AkopSentPR.pdf A man who stole hundreds of identities – many by skimming debit card numbers from gasoline pumps around San Diego - was sentenced today to more than three years in prison and ordered to pay $521,800 in restitution to victims. Thu, 27 Jun 2013 18:41:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0627-cockfightingPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0627-cockfightingPR.pdf A man who attempted to smuggle more than two dozen roosters and hens into Mexico for the purposes of cockfighting was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William Q. Hayes to time served, which amounted to 65 days in custody. Thu, 27 Jun 2013 10:45:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0627-BrimagerIndictPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0627-BrimagerIndictPR.pdf Brian Karl Brimager, former boyfriend of United States Citizen Yvonne Baldelli, was indicted by a federal grand jury in San Diego yesterday on charges that he obstructed justice and made false statements to law enforcement in connection with the investigation into Baldelli’s suspected murder in Panama in 2011. Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Brimager without incident this morning at his house in Vista. Mon, 24 Jun 2013 17:30:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0624-SonnyBonoNWRPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0624-SonnyBonoNWRPR.pdf A former purchasing agent for the Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge was sentenced today to 5 years probation, 250 hours of community service, and ordered to pay $30,122.88 in restitution for having systematically stolen from the refuge over a three-year period. Gabriela Lawson, 40, a resident of Brawley, California, was sentenced by the Honorable M. James Lorenz, United States District Judge. Mon, 24 Jun 2013 16:20:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0624CuadraPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0624CuadraPR.pdf Jaime Cuadra, the former chief financial officer of Oceanic Enterprises, Inc. pled guilty today to wire fraud and filing a false federal income tax return in connection with his embezzlement of $1,089,813.26 from Oceanic and its parent company, Umami Sustainable Seafood, Inc., a San Diego-based, publically traded company. As set forth in his plea agreement, Cuadra admitted that he embezzled the money over a two-and-a-half-year period from 2010 until his termination from Oceanic in February 2013. Mon, 24 Jun 2013 15:00:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0624-MelendezSentPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0624-MelendezSentPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Jose Melendez, the owner and operator of Oceanside Medical Services, was sentenced to 18 months in prison today for his involvement in a health care fraud conspiracy that resulted in over $1 million in false claims to the Medicare trust fund. Melendez was also ordered to pay $593,429.81 in restitution, and will be on supervised release for three years after completing his custodial sentence. Fri, 21 Jun 2013 15:00:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0621-VillarrealPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0621-VillarrealPR.pdf Former U.S. Border Patrol Agents Raul and Fidel Villarreal, brothers who smuggled at least 1,000 illegal immigrants into the United States in exchange for more than $1 million in bribes, were sentenced today to 35 and 30 years in prison, respectively. The brothers were convicted by a federal jury on August 10, 2012, of conspiracy to bring in illegal aliens for financial gain, multiple counts of bringing in illegal aliens for financial gain, conspiracy to launder money and receiving bribes. The brothers smuggled their customers while on duty, in uniform and in their Border Patrol vehicles and were assisted by a Tijuana police chief. Thu, 20 Jun 2013 16:00:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0620-XieGPMKP2.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0620-XieGPMKP2.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that Jason Xie, a resident of Sacramento, California, tendered his guilty plea yesterday before United States Magistrate Judge William McCurine, Jr., to the charge of conspiring to smuggled endangered Totoaba fish swim bladders into the United States. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:00:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0619-MachoSportsPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0619-MachoSportsPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Daphne Hearn announced that 18 members of a violent gambling ring located principally in California and Peru were indicted for operating “Macho Sports”—an illegal Internet and telephone gambling business. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:30:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0618-Bahr.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0618-Bahr.pdf David Bahr, a self-employed Rancho Santa Fe consultant, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit securities fraud in connection with the Florida-based penny stock company “iTrackr.” As set forth in his Plea Agreement, Bahr admitted that he agreed with others to fraudulently manipulate and artificially inflate the price of iTrackr shares in order to make money for himself and his client-investors whom he advised. Bahr admitted that he had bought shares of iTrackr, and advised others to do so, in order to keep up the price of iTrackr stock, and had arranged for the dissemination of promotional material that overstated the likelihood of iTrackr’s success and future profits. Fri, 07 Jun 2013 17:30:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0607-MirwaniVerdictPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0607-MirwaniVerdictPR.pdf A federal jury today convicted Sunil Jiwat Mirwani and his corporation, M Trade, Inc., in connection with a scheme to evade customs duties on more than $30 million in Chinese-made jeans, skirts, shorts and other wearing apparel. Both Mirwani and his corporation were charged with one count of conspiring to defraud the United States, two counts of importing goods by means of false statements, and one count of conspiring to launder money. The case was tried before a jury beginning on June 4, 2013. This afternoon, after less than a day of deliberations, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all four counts for both defendants. Tue, 04 Jun 2013 17:30:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0604-PRRubyFinal.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0604-PRRubyFinal.pdf Steve Edward Ruby, the serial bank robber known as the “Insistent Bandit,” pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge William Q. Hayes to six counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery. In one of the robberies, Ruby was seen riding a woman’s red mountain bike and wearing a long-sleeve T-shirt with the logo, “Bite Me.” He was known for approaching tellers with a loud and demanding tone, often lifting his shirt to reveal a gun tucked inside his waistband and insisting, “I am armed. I have a gun. Give me all your money.” Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:30:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0604-PRWatsonFinal.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0604-PRWatsonFinal.pdf Physician William Joseph Watson was arrested and charged today with selling prescriptions for thousands of Oxycodone pills and other highly addictive painkillers without any legitimate medical purpose. Watson allegedly sold the prescriptions to addicts, who then used them recreationally, sold them on the street, or traded them for heroin. According to a complaint filed in federal court today, Watson accepted thousands of dollars in cash or luxury goods, such as designer handbags, jewelry and fine wines, in exchange for the Oxycodone prescriptions. Wed, 29 May 2013 18:30:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0529-VelasquezPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0529-VelasquezPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Roberto J. Velasquez, a San Diego area clinical psychologist, was sentenced today for perpetrating a multi-year fraud scheme to falsify medical certifications to the federal government. In today’s court hearing, Chief District Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz sentenced Velasquez to serve 21 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release and ordered Velasquez to pay more than $1.5 million in restitution to the Social Security Administration. Fri, 24 May 2013 14:50:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0524-SDCAEAFGP.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0524-SDCAEAFGP.pdf SAN DIEGO, CA - Eduardo Arellano-Felix, 56, the last of four brothers to be targeted by U.S. prosecutors for leading one of the world’s most notorious multi-national drug trafficking organizations, pleaded guilty today in federal court in San Diego to money laundering and conspiracy charges. Fri, 24 May 2013 13:29:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0524-ColabellaSentPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0524-ColabellaSentPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Mexican Mafia member Salvador Nicola Colabella was sentenced today by United States District Judge Anthony J. Battaglia to serve 262 months in federal prison based on his August 9, 2012 plea to RICO conspiracy charges, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1962(d). Colabella has been in custody since his arrest on January 25, 2012. Thu, 23 May 2013 17:29:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0523-EspudoPRPlea.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0523-EspudoPRPlea.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Rudy Espudo pled guilty today before United States District Judge Irma E. Gonzalez to three counts of a superseding indictment including: Conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity (commonly known as RICO conspiracy); Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; and Knowingly and intentionally brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and a drug-trafficking crime. According to the superseding indictment handed up on August 2, 2012, Espudo is a validated member of the Mexican Mafia who oversaw their activities throughout much of northern San Diego County. Wed, 22 May 2013 12:59:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0522-ThomsenSentPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0522-ThomsenSentPR.pdf Tax Preparer Neil Thomsen was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roger T. Benitez today to 15 years in prison for a massive fraud that involved stealing hundreds of identities and filing false claims with the IRS for more than half a million dollars in bogus tax refunds. Thomsen was convicted by a federal jury in December 2011 of 32 counts of mail fraud, Social Security fraud, passport card fraud and aggravated identity theft. Tue, 21 May 2013 14:29:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0521-GarciaGuiltyPleasPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0521-GarciaGuiltyPleasPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Antonio Zermeno Garcia entered a guilty plea in federal court in San Diego today to count one of an indictment charging him and co-defendants Luis Miguel Salas Rodriguez and Carlos Alberto Andrade-De La Cruz with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1201(c). Co-defendants Luis Miguel Salas Rodriguez and Carlos Alberto Andrade-De La Cruz previously entered guilty pleas to the same charge on April 26, 2013. Mon, 20 May 2013 17:29:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0520-TuiseeSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0520-TuiseeSent.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that a Camp Pendleton defense contractor was sentenced today for his role in a scheme involving the theft of costly medical equipment that the military had planned to ship overseas to treat injured Marines. In today’s court hearing, U.S. District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo sentenced Michael Tuisee to serve 6 months in prison, followed by 6 months of house arrest with GPS monitoring, and 3 years of supervised release. Judge Bencivengo also ordered Tuisee to forfeit $8,250 in illegal proceeds and pay $179,698.50 in restitution to the U.S. Marine Corps. Mon, 20 May 2013 17:15:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0520-HidalgoSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0520-HidalgoSent.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Christian Hidalgo of Chula Vista was sentenced today to 57 months of custody by District Court Judge William Q. Hayes for a mortgage loan-modification scheme that cheated over 120 people out of over $670,000, and resulted in the loss of many homes to foreclosure. Hidalgo was also ordered to pay full restitution to all of his victims. Mon, 20 May 2013 17:10:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0520-CountryStoreVISentPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0520-CountryStoreVISentPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that two individuals and a corporation were sentenced by U. S. District Judge Larry Alan Burns in federal court in San Diego, in connection with their participation in a fraud and corruption scheme at Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, in Coronado, California. The three defendants were Robert Ehnow, the owner and President of Poway defense contractor LN Industrial Tool and Supply Inc. (LN) Joanne Loehr, the owner and President of Poway defense contractor Centerline Industrial Inc. (Centerline) and Centerline itself, a California corporation. Thu, 16 May 2013 16:31:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0516-HensleyPLEA.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0516-HensleyPLEA.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that Timothy James Hensley, a local middle school teacher at Bell Middle School, pled guilty today in federal court in San Diego to a five count indictment charging him with receipt and possession of child pornography. Hensley entered his guilty plea before United States Magistrate Judge Bernard G. Skomal, subject to final acceptance of the plea by United States District Court Judge Irma E. Gonzalez, at or before the time of sentencing Tue, 14 May 2013 16:01:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0514-CarlosPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0514-CarlosPR.pdf Vincent Carlos, a self-employed business owner who purchases discount food and other products at wholesale prices and sells them for a profit to discount stores, such as Big Lots, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in San Diego by United States District Judge Anthony J. Battaglia to serve two concurrent sentences of 12 months and one day in prison and a three-year term of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy. The sentence was based upon his December 6, 2012 guilty plea to two felony counts of wire fraud. In addition, Judge Battaglia ordered Mr. Carlos to pay restitution to the victims in the total amount of $335,106.80. Fri, 10 May 2013 14:55:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0510-Konkus-PetersenPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0510-Konkus-PetersenPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that two San Diego men were sentenced today for their roles in a long-running tax fraud that exploited both homeless and drug-addicted “customers” to defraud the United States out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. In today’s court hearing, United States District Judge Anthony J. Battaglia sentenced Isaiah Konkus to serve 10 months in prison and his codefendant Justin Petersen to serve 10 months in prison. Judge Battaglia also ordered both defendants to pay $268,832 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. Wed, 8 May 2013 16:50:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0508-PRMortgageFraud.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0508-PRMortgageFraud.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that Timothy E. Shannahan pled guilty to conspiring to commit mortgage fraud by acting as a "straw buyer" in a $5 million mortgage fraud scheme. In pleading guilty before Magistrate Judge Nita L. Stormes, Shannahan became the fourth person to admit conspiring with Kathryn Sylvester, the former CEO of Sylvester Financial, Inc. According to court records, Sylvester was responsible for recruiting straw buyers – who she directed to submit false mortgage loan applications in order to purchase properties throughout Southern California between 2005 and 2008. Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:50:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0429-CBPSentPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0429-CBPSentPR.pdf A retired United States Customs and Border Protection supervisor was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Marilyn L. Huff to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for downloading child pornography. Former Supervisory Special Agent Lawson Hardrick, Jr., who was the assistant director for the Calexico ports of entry, was found guilty by a federal jury in January of two counts of receipt of images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, each a felony. The verdicts followed a two-day trial before Judge Huff. Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:30:00 PDT http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0426-Sylvester.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0426-Sylvester.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that an indictment was unsealed today charging Kathryn Sylvester on charges arising from a mortgage fraud conspiracy to submit fraudulent loan applications for various properties in San Diego County, and elsewhere. Sylvester was arrested earlier today by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents. The indictment was unsealed and Sylvester was arraigned today before Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo. Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0426-HedleyArrgnPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0426-HedleyArrgnPR.pdf San Diego, CA - United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that David Hedley, a former Executive Director of the Indian Human Resource Center (“IHRC”), was arraigned yesterday on an indictment charging him with eight felony counts of theft from the San Diego-based non-profit that received federal funds. The defendant was arrested by Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) agents on April 25, 2013, in Riverside, California. According to the indictment, Hedley served as the Executive Director of IHRC between approximately September 10 and December 11, 2012. During that time, Hedley is believed to have stolen approximately $140,000 from the non-profit. Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:30:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0425-ArmstrongGuiltyPleaPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0425-ArmstrongGuiltyPleaPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy and Federal Housing Finance Agency Inspector General Steve A. Linick announced today that Mary Armstrong, an unlicensed mortgage broker who operated a nationwide loan origination fraud and kickback scheme from San Diego, pled guilty today before United States District Judge John A. Houston to all five counts of an indictment charging her with wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy. Armstrong was indicted on May 10, 2012, and apprehended in Las Vegas, Nevada, in July 2012; she has been held in custody since her arrest. Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:30:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0425-BenaventePR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0425-BenaventePR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that former Chula Vista Wells Fargo banker Ricardo Adolfo Benavente, III was charged with defrauding Wells Fargo and several of its customers by stealing and laundering approximately $750,000 from Wells Fargo customer accounts. According to an indictment unsealed in federal court today, Benavente used his access privileges at Wells Fargo to move hundreds of thousands of dollars from the accounts of Wells Fargo customers into accounts controlled by Benavente himself. The indictment further alleges that in many instances Benavente laundered the stolen funds in order to disguise the fact that he had stolen them. Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:30:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/totoabaPR.html http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/totoabaPR.html When Song Shen Zhen came through a border crossing in Calexico recently, an officer noticed something under the floor mats in the back seat. But the plastic grocery bags he found weren’t filled with typical border contraband. They contained 27 dried swim bladders taken from the endangered Totoaba macdonaldi fish. The Totoaba’s large swim bladder – which is an internal gas-filled organ that helps a fish control its buoyancy - is highly prized for use in Chinese soups and is considered a very expensive delicacy. But because the species is federally-protected in both the U.S. and Mexico, it’s illegal to take, possess, transport or sell Totoaba. On Friday, Zhen became the seventh person charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with Totoaba smuggling since February, when border officers first started noticing the rare fish under floor mats and concealed in coolers in the vehicles of border crossers. Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0424-MoraPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0424-MoraPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced the arraignment this afternoon of Damian C. Mora on an indictment charging him with one count of possession of images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(4)(b), a felony. According to the criminal complaint filed earlier in the case, the defendant posted about collecting photographs of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct on a website relating to the sexual exploitation of children and also posted about his sexual interest in children. According to the complaint, the defendant’s collection included depictions of children, as young as one to two years of age, sexually exploited by adults. Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/candlelighttrib13.html http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/candlelighttrib13.html National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is celebrated each year in communities across the nation to honor, acknowledge and support crime victims. In San Diego, the 24th Annual Candlelight Tribute for Crime Survivors will be held on Monday, April 22, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. Enforcing victims’ rights protects victims, enhances public safety and fosters public confidence in our criminal justice system. Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0418-PRSheriffDeputyCharged.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0418-PRSheriffDeputyCharged.pdf A reserve Imperial County Sheriff’s Deputy was charged today with smuggling illegal aliens in the trunk of her car as she drove through a checkpoint wearing her uniform and department-issued firearm. Elizabeth Hernandez, a reserve Deputy Sheriff of Imperial County, and Edna Yanie Calderon, were arrested yesterday and charged with transportation of illegal aliens and aiding and abetting. Court records said Hernandez wore her uniform because she expected to be waived through the Highway 86 checkpoint by Border Patrol. Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:15:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0418-GarmoPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0418-GarmoPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Richard Francis Garmo was sentenced today in federal court in San Diego by the Honorable Anthony J. Battaglia to serve 24 months in custody, followed by three years supervised release, for his role in a criminal conspiracy. Garmo is the eighth and final defendant to be sentenced in the FBI investigation known as “Operation Hook Shot.” Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:30:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0418-BittnerPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0418-BittnerPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that a Julian resident pled guilty today to the unlawful taking of a Golden Eagle, in violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, before the Honorable David H. Bartick, United States Magistrate Judge. At the time of the plea, wildlife researcher John David Bittner acknowledged that he makes his living conducting studies of birds and wildlife. His work includes the capture and banding of eagles and other migratory birds, and the tracking of their movements. Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:30:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0418-TaylorIndictmentPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0418-TaylorIndictmentPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Lloyd Irvin Taylor was arraigned in federal court today on an indictment charging him with three counts of making false statements on passport applications. According to the indictment, Taylor made a host of false statements on each passport application, including: his true name, place of birth, date of birth, social security number, father's name, father's birthplace, father's birth date, mother's maiden name, mother's birthplace, mother's birth date, and applicant's signature. This false information was derived from over a half dozen identities that Taylor stole from other people. Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:30:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0417-PRCorridor.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0417-PRCorridor.pdf Eighteen suspected methamphetamine and heroin traffickers were arrested during pre-dawn raids around the North County today. More than 200 agents and detectives from the multi-agency North County Regional Gang Task Force made the arrests in Oceanside, Vista, Escondido and elsewhere in the North County. Task force members confiscated 35 weapons during the course of the investigation. Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0415-PRLozano.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0415-PRLozano.pdf Cynthia Lozano, a tax preparer from Lemon Grove, was arrested today and an indictment was unsealed in connection with a scheme to steal Social Security numbers, file false tax returns, and defraud the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"). She was taken into custody by IRS agents in Phoenix, Arizona, where she will make her first appearance in U.S. District Court tomorrow. Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:30:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0415-UnitedStatesUniversityPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0415-UnitedStatesUniversityPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that United States University, a for-profit college located in San Diego, has agreed to pay a civil settlement in the amount of $686,720 and that the school’s former Financial Aid Director has pled guilty, resolving allegations that between December 2008 and February 2011, the school submitted falsified financial aid applications to the U.S. Department of Education in order to obtain Pell Grant funds for which students were not eligible. Fri, 12 Apr 2013 15:30:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0412-MartinezSentPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0412-MartinezSentPR.pdf Former Internal Revenue Service agent-turned-tax preparer Steven Martinez was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge William Q. Hayes to almost 24 years in prison for defrauding clients out of more than $11 million and then plotting their murders to prevent them from testifying about the theft. Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0411-ThweniPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0411-ThweniPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Paul Joseph Thweni was sentenced today by the Honorable Anthony J. Battaglia to serve 30 months in custody, followed by three years supervised release, for his role in a criminal conspiracy. Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:30:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0404-BrownPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0404-BrownPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Thaddeus Brown was sentenced today in federal court in San Diego by the Honorable Anthony J. Battaglia to serve 12 months in custody, followed by three years supervised release, for his role in a conspiracy to commit sports bribery. The indictment charged that Brown and others influenced the outcome of basketball games at the University of San Diego during the 2009-2010 season, and then attempted to recruit players to do the same during the 2010-2011 season. Brown pleaded guilty to the indictment on November 13, 2012. To date, eight of the ten defendants indicted have pled guilty. Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:30:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0328-CBPOfficerRodriguezPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0328-CBPOfficerRodriguezPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Hector Rodriguez, a former Customs and Border Protection Officer, and Gerardo Rodriguez pled guilty today in front of Magistrate Judge David Bartick to conspiracy to bring in aliens for financial gain and to receive bribes, bringing in aliens for financial gain, and bribery. Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:30:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0325-Soto2PRSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0325-Soto2PRSent.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Alejandro Avilla-Soto was sentenced on Monday, March 11, 2013 before the Honorable Judge Roger T. Benitez, United States District Court Judge to serve 216 months in federal prison based on his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846. Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:30:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0325-DavidGarciaScanlonSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0325-DavidGarciaScanlonSent.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that David Raymond Garcia, a methamphetamine dealer and associate of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to serve 262 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. At today's hearing, U.S. District Judge Marilyn L. Huff also sentenced Jason Scanlon, another methamphetamine supplier charged in the case, to serve 188 months in custody. These two defendants were prosecuted as part of an FBI Violent Crimes Task Force investigation that ultimately resulted in 36 defendants being charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0315-RanchCateringPRSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0315-RanchCateringPRSent.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that today Robert Peltier, one of the two principal owners and operators of Ranch Catering (dba ARanch Events@), was ordered to pay $222,822 in restitution for committing tax evasion stemming from the operation of his business. United States District Judge Janis L. Sammartino also sentenced the defendant to serve six months home incarceration and six months home detention. Thu, 14 Mar 2013 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0314-EdrisiBandRobberyPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0314-EdrisiBandRobberyPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Vahid Edrisi was found guilty by a federal jury earlier today in San Diego of six counts of bank robbery and one count of robbing a pharmacy. The verdicts follow a two-day trial before United States District Judge Larry A. Burns. The evidence presented at trial showed Edrisi accessing cellular towers in the vicinity of six of the seven robberies committed by Aaron Hyman, dubbed the 'Chubby Bandit', in October 2012. Edrisi himself was captured by video surveillance just prior to one of the robberies, and Edrisi's black 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible was captured on video surveillance at three of the seven robberies. Hyman entered guilty pleas to seven counts of robbery on January 24, 2013. Fri, 08 Mar 2013 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0308-TeaguePR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0308-TeaguePR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Troy Teague, former Executive Director of the La Posta Gaming Commission (ACommission@) pled guilty today in front of Magistrate Judge Jan Adler to embezzling $57,000 from the La Posta Band of Mission Indians. Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0307-MezaGarciaExtradition.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0307-MezaGarciaExtradition.pdf Cesar Alfredo Meza-Garcia, a leader within the powerful Tijuana Cartel, was extradited from Mexico to the United States today to face drug charges in the Southern District of California. Meza-Garcia was arrested by Mexican law enforcement officers on September 26, 2012, at the request of the United States. Since his arrest in Mexico, Meza-Garcia has remained in custody pending extradition to the United States. Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0307-BonillaetalGuiltyPleas.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0307-BonillaetalGuiltyPleas.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that three civilian contractors who until recently worked at Camp Pendleton appeared today in federal court, and pled guilty to charges stemming from their theft of expensive medical equipment that the military had planned to ship overseas to treat injured Marines. Mon, 04 Mar 2013 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0304-GarciaSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0304-GarciaSent.pdf San Diego - Carlos Alberto Garcia, who made thousands of dollars pimping out underage girls using internet ads, was sentenced in federal court this morning to 12 years in prison plus 10 years supervised release for sex trafficking of children. Garcia pleaded guilty in August and has been in custody since his arrest on June 26, 2012. Mon, 04 Mar 2013 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0304-CountryStorePR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0304-CountryStorePR.pdf A federal jury today convicted two San Diego area defense contractors and one corporation of conspiracy and bribery in connection with a fraud and corruption scheme at Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, in Coronado, California. Fri, 01 Mar 2013 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0301-JohnsonPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2013/cas13-0301-JohnsonPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Brandon Johnson was sentenced today in federal court in San Diego by the Honorable Anthony J. Battaglia to serve six months in custody, followed by one year of supervised release, for his role in a conspiracy to commit sports bribery in connection with influencing the outcome of University of San Diego (USD) basketball games during the 2009-2010 season and soliciting a USD player to do the same during the 2010-2011 season. Wed, 18 Jul 2012 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0718-AsgardPlea.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0718-AsgardPlea.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Asgard Associates, LLC, a Delaware corporation, entered a guilty plea today to unlawfully storing hazardous waste before United States Magistrate Judge David H. Bartick. In pleading guilty, the defendant admitted responsibility for maintaining chemicals and biological agents posing a threat of imminent and identifiable harm to the public health and safety in a laboratory located in San Diego. Fri, 13 Jul 2012 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0713-RodriguezEtAl.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0713-RodriguezEtAl.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today the filing of a complaint charging Hector Rodriguez, a Customs and Border Protection Officer, Gerardo Rodriguez, and Vanessa Moya, with conspiracy to bring in aliens for financial gain and to receive bribes, and bringing in illegal aliens for financial gain. Agents of the Border Corruption Task Force arrested all three defendants earlier today after defendants Gerardo Rodriguez and Vanessa Moya each drove a vehicle containing illegal aliens through the inspection lane manned by Hector Rodriguez. Hector Rodriguez was arrested while on duty at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Thu, 03 May 2012 16:15:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0503-Sanders.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0503-Sanders.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Jonathan Jamar Sanders was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Dana M. Sabraw to serve 236 months in federal prison, followed by seven years of supervised release, and ordered mandatory registration under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Sanders pled guilty less than a week before the scheduled date for his jury trial in January 2012. Wed, 02 May 2012 11:05:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0502-BeanPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0502-BeanPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that employees at the California Department of Motor Vehicles ("DMV") in San Diego County were charged in a criminal complaint for their involvement in a long-running bribery conspiracy that resulted in the production of hundreds of fraudulent driver licenses for applicants who had failed - or not taken - the required driver license tests. Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:05:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0430-Galyen.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0430-Galyen.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced the sentencing today of Michael Royce Galyen in federal court in San Diego based upon his conviction for production of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251(a) and (e). United States District Judge Marilyn L. Huff sentenced Galyen to serve 294 months in prison and also ordered the defendant to serve 15 years of supervised release and register as a sex offender. Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:30:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0430-RuizHidalgo.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0430-RuizHidalgo.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that telemarketers Jose Ruiz and Christian Hidalgo were arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo on two separate indictments arising from similar loan modification schemes. Each defendant was charged with operating a separate scheme that defrauded a large number of victims. Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0423-NatCrimeVictims.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0423-NatCrimeVictims.pdf National Crime Victims' Rights Week is a time to honor crime victims. The week of April 22 - April 28, 2012, "Extending the Vision: Reaching Every Victim," is designated to provide increased awareness and improve the assistance provided to all victims of crime and their families. Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0418-Castro_Chrysler.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0418-Castro_Chrysler.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that after a one-week trial, a federal jury in San Diego convicted Carlsbad real estate agent Aida Agusti Castro and her son, Orange County attorney Stephen Kenneth Chrysler, of multiple counts of wire fraud for their roles in an $8 million mortgage fraud scheme involving 16 separate homes in Oceanside, Escondido, San Marcos, Lakeside, and Menifee. Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:12:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0416-Fonseca.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0416-Fonseca.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced the arraignment and unsealing of a criminal indictment charging Luis E. Fonseca, a United States Border Patrol Agent assigned to the Imperial Beach Border Patrol Station, with deprivation of rights under color of law. Border Patrol Agent Fonseca appeared in federal court today before United States Magistrate Judge William McCurine, Jr. Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:08:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0416-BYW1343.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0416-BYW1343.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced the unsealing of an 18-count indictment in federal court in San Diego charging ten individuals with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme which resulted in lenders funding over $10,000,000 in mortgage loans. Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0416-Bartko.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0416-Bartko.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that today United States District Court Judge Michael M. Anello sentenced Steven Bartko to serve 24 months in custody for his role in a "ponzi scheme" that defrauded investors of over $5 million. Bartko was also ordered to pay $5,362,765 in restitution and was ordered to serve three years supervised release. Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0413-Velasquez.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0413-Velasquez.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Dr. Roberto J. Velasquez, a licensed psychologist, was arrested today in Chula Vista, California, on charges of selling false documentation certifying to patients' disabilities. The false certifications are alleged in the criminal complaint to have been used by patients in connection with: (1) securing exemptions from taking written examinations required for naturalization purposes (as charged in count one of the complaint); and (2) qualifying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits. Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:15:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0409-McElmurry.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0409-McElmurry.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that David Michael McElmurry was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge John A. Houston to serve a total of 25 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, and mandatory registration under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:15:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0402-BAF_Sentencing.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0402-BAF_Sentencing.pdf San Diego, CA - Benjamin Arellano-Felix, the former leader of the Tijuana Cartel/Arellano-Felix Organization (AFO) was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in San Diego by the Honorable Larry A. Burns to serve 25 years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney for the Southern District of California Laura E. Duffy. Judge Burns also ordered Arellano-Felix to forfeit $100 million in criminal proceeds. The sentence followed Arellano-Felix's conviction for racketeering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1962(c), and conspiring to launder monetary instruments, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0328-Vangundy.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0328-Vangundy.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that seven individuals, four Navy officials, Donald Vangundy, Kiet Luc, David Lindsay and Brian Delaney, and three defense contractors, Michael Graven, John Newman, and Paul Grubiss, each pleaded guilty before United States Magistrate Judge Bernard G. Skomal in connection with a wide-ranging fraud and corruption scheme at the Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, in Coronado, California. Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0326-ChapelPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0326-ChapelPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced the sentencing today of Leonard Joseph Chapel, a tool shop repairman, in federal court in San Diego based upon his conviction for possession of child pornography with a prior sex offense, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(4). Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0323-SHURN.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0323-SHURN.pdf United States Laura E. Duffy announced the unsealing of a 16-count criminal indictment today charging Leray Shurn with mail fraud, wire fraud, false statements to obtain federal employee's compensation, and false statements to a government agency. Shurn was arraigned today in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Jan M. Adler. The indictment alleges that Shurn defrauded the Department of the Navy and the Department of Veterans Affairs of approximately $400,000 by causing them to issue workers' compensation and disability benefit payments to which he was not entitled. Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0319-LuisGP.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0319-LuisGP.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that today real estate agent Marco Manuel Luis pled guilty before the Honorable Irma E. Gonzalez, United States District Court Judge to counts 16 and 25 of an indictment, charging Luis with felony counts of conspiracy to launder money, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1957 and 1956(h). Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:30:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0319-PhensombathPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0319-PhensombathPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Thongsavanh Phensombath was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge M. James Lorenz to serve 12 months in a residential re-entry center and a total of three years of supervised release following his conviction for tax evasion arising from his concealment of income generated from his business, JMP Precision Sheet Metal Fabrication (JMP). Fri, 16 Mar 2012 16:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0316-Borzellino.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0316-Borzellino.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that former Carlsbad-based real estate consultant John J. Borzellino was sentenced by United States District Judge Janis L. Sammartino to serve 60 months in federal prison for his operation of a multi-million dollar mortgage fraud conspiracy involving properties in Georgia, Florida and California, and his attempts at evading federal income taxes owed on more than $1million in illegal proceeds. Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0315-MiceliPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0315-MiceliPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura Duffy announced the unsealing of a criminal indictment today charging James T. Miceli, Douglas McClain, Jr. ("McClain"), and Jeffrey Spanier with one count of conspiracy, seven counts of mail fraud, fifteen counts of wire fraud, one count of securities fraud, eleven counts of money laundering, and criminal forfeiture in connection with their participation in a $51 million stock loan fraud scheme. Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:30:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0312-KlentschyPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0312-KlentschyPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that the former Superintendent of the El Centro Elementary School District, Michael P. Klentschy, pleaded guilty to mail fraud charges in two related cases alleging fraud in elementary school math and science grants. In conjunction with his pleas, Klentschy admitted that his fraud caused losses of more than $325,000. Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:30:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0306-GarciaSentencingPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0306-GarciaSentencingPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Armando Garcia, the former owner and operator of California Legal Services in Pico Rivera, California, with offices in National City, California, was sentenced yesterday in federal court in San Diego by United States District Judge Michael M. Anello to serve 81 months in federal prison, followed by a three-year term of supervised release, based on his convictions for aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:30:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0302-SandersRobinsonSent.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0302-SandersRobinsonSent.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Ella Louise Sanders and Eric Reginald Robinson were each sentenced today in federal court in San Diego before the Honorable Margaret M. McKeown based on their convictions on federal charges arising out of the May 4, 2008, bombing of the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Courthouse. Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:30:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0302-WeLendMore.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0302-WeLendMore.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that on March 1, 2012, a federal jury in San Diego convicted We Lend More, Inc., a National City pawn shop, and its owner, Marc Vogel, of several environmental crimes related to their dumping of lethal hazardous wastes at the Miramar Landfill in March 2011. Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0301-AtiyrsSettlement.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0301-AtiyrsSettlement.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that the former owners of three San Diego pharmacies have entered into a settlement agreement with the federal government and have paid $1.25 million to resolve allegations that the owners failed to conduct inventory controls and were unable to account for significant amounts of prescription painkillers. Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0301-SiapnoPR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0301-SiapnoPR.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced the guilty pleas today of three more individuals who participated in a mortgage fraud scam to secure millions of dollars in fraudulent loans. Al Siapno, Leila Siapno, and Matthew McIntyre each pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Al Siapno, a United States Border Patrol Agent, and his wife, Leila Siapno, admitted that they conspired with others to lie on mortgage loan applications and submit fraudulent documentation in order to refinance the mortgage on a property located on Winecreek Road, a part of the Ivy Gate development of 4S Ranch. Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0301-ReddSentence.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0301-ReddSentence.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Ralph Darnell Redd was sentenced yesterday by United States District Court Judge Thomas J. Whelan to serve 15 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and mandatory registration under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. A federal jury found Redd guilty on July 11, 2011, following a four-day jury trial. Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:30:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0224-Chelberg.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0224-Chelberg.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Travis Chelberg was sentenced today in federal court in San Diego by United States District Court Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz to serve 168 months in custody and three years of supervised release based on Chelberg's convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm and assaulting a fellow inmate at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in an attempt to dissuade the victim from testifying. Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0224-Erickson.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0224-Erickson.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that attorney Theresa Erickson was sentenced by United States District Judge Anthony J. Battaglia to serve five months in prison and nine months of home confinement for her involvement in a baby-selling ring that deceived prospective parents and the Superior Court of California. Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0223-Johnson.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0223-Johnson.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that on Tuesday Ricky Dean Johnson was sentenced in federal court in San Diego by United States District Court Judge John A. Houston to serve 30 months in custody and three years of supervised release, based on Johnson's conviction for Assault on a Federal Officer, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 111(a) and (b), a felony. Johnson pled guilty to that offense on September 13, 2011. Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0221-Elegado.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0221-Elegado.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced the unsealing of an indictment today charging a local real estate agent, Eric Elegado, and eight other mortgage industry professionals, Charmagne Elegado, Theodore Cohen, Minh Nguyen, Regidor Pacal, Alexander V. Garcia, Roman Macabulos, Ramin Lotfi, and Roderick Huerto, with multiple counts of conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and criminal forfeiture. According to court proceedings, these defendants engaged in a multi-million dollar mortgage fraud scheme that targeted vulnerable, low-income, immigrants in San Diego. All of the defendants were arraigned today in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge William McCurine, Jr. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0214-Saffarpleas.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0214-Saffarpleas.pdf Three individuals charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud for their roles in operating a fraudulent mortgage loan modification business pled guilty today in federal court in San Diego, announced United States Attorney for the Southern District of California Laura E. Duffy. According to the plea agreements, Ziad Nabil Mohammed Al Saffar and Sara Beth Bushore Rosengrant admitted that they operated the fraudulent loan audit and modification business, located in San Diego, California, under the names "Compliance Audit Solutions, Inc." ("CAS") and CAS Group, Inc., ("CAS Group"). Daniel Al Saffar admitted that he worked as a sales representative in connection with the operation. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0214-Alizadeh.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0214-Alizadeh.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Simon Saed Alizadeh was arraigned in federal court in San Diego today on an indictment charging Alizadeh and Kian Ashkanizadeh with conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme involving four expensive homes on Triton Street in Carlsbad, California. The charges were returned by a federal grand jury on February 2, 2012. Co-defendant Ashkanizadeh was arraigned on the charges last week. Mon, 6 Feb 2012 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0206-Tinitsman.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0206-Tinitsman.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced the sentencing today of Jerry Louis Tintsman, a self-employed air conditioning and appliance repair person, in federal court in San Diego based upon his conviction for possession of child pornography with a prior sex offense, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(4). United States District Judge Roger T. Benitez sentenced Tintsman to serve 240 months in prison, followed by a life time of supervised release. Judge Benitez also ordered the defendant to register as a sex offender. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0130-Alarid_Sentence.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0130-Alarid_Sentence.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Fernando Javier Alarid, of Chula Vista, California, was sentenced to serve 25 years in federal custody by the Honorable Larry A. Burns, United States District Court Judge, after a federal jury convicted Fernando Javier Alarid of conspiracy to distribute marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841 and 846; conspiracy to import marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections, 952, 960, and 963 and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and aiding and abetting in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0126-Berry.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0126-Berry.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced the unsealing of an indictment yesterday charging Sean M. Berry with four felony counts of communicating a false distress message to the United States Coast Guard, in violation of Title 14, United States Code, Section 88(c). The United States Coast Guard, Coast Guard Sector San Diego, is responsible for monitoring distress messages and communications, and executing search and rescue missions, within its area of responsibility. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:30:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0125-PresserONC_OC_12step.html http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0125-PresserONC_OC_12step.html United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy Announced Today Two Mexican Mafia Members and 117 San Diego County Street Gang Members and Associated With Ties to the Mexican Mafia Charged with Racketeering Conspiracy, Drug-Trafficking Violations and Firearms Offenses 119 Individuals Charged in Three County-wide Law Enforcement Operations Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0119-Lee.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0119-Lee.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that Ju Hea Kim and Sun Jae Lee each pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo to felony charges of conspiracy to knowingly hiring ten or more undocumented aliens within a twelve-month period, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0113-SCRA_PR.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0113-SCRA_PR.pdf The United States Attorney's Office and the Camp Pendleton Joint Legal Assistance Office announced today that settlements have been reached with three Southern California apartment complex businesses to resolve allegations that they violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). In all three matters, the apartment complex staff charged Marine and Navy families excess rent after their leases were lawfully terminated pursuant to the SCRA. Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0113-Wyly.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0113-Wyly.pdf United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Rachel Ann Wyly was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Janis L. Sammartino to serve 300 months in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, and to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. The defendant has been in custody since her arrest on November 8, 2010. Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:00:00 PST http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0104-BenjaminArellano-Felix.pdf http://www.justice.gov/usao/cas/press/2012/cas12-0104-BenjaminArellano-Felix.pdf San Diego, CA - Benjamin Arellano-Felix, the former leader of the Tijuana Cartel/Arellano-Felix Organization (AFO) entered a guilty plea in federal court in San Diego today, announced United States Attorney for the Southern District of California Laura E. Duffy. Arellano-Felix was extradited by the government of Mexico to the United States on April 29, 2011, to face charges in the Southern District of California for narcotics trafficking, money laundering and organized crime-related offenses. Long-reputed to be one of the most notorious multi-national drug trafficking organizations to ever exist, the AFO controlled the flow of cocaine, marijuana and other drugs through the Mexican border cities of Tijuana and Mexicali into the United States. Its operations also extended into southern Mexico and Colombia.