Category: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: Henrietta Swim Coach Arrested for Traveling to Meet a16-Year-Old Girl for Sex

CONTACT:   Barbara Burns
PHONE:        (716) 843-5817
FAX #:           (716) 551-3051

ROCHESTER, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Matthew D. Lincoln, 37, of Henrietta, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, a maximum of life, a $250,000 fine, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Gestring, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant, who was the head coach for the Golden Comets Swim Club, first came to law enforcement attention after he engaged in online communications with an 11 year old girl in Brighton. The child’s father reported this activity to the Brighton Police who then arranged an undercover operation.

During this operation, the defendant engaged in sexually explicit online conversations with a child he believed to be a 16 year girl. Over the course of several weeks, Lincoln repeatedly chatted with the child and requested that they meet in person so that they could engage in sexual activity. Lincoln also sent several photographs of himself to the child, including a full length nude photo. Eventually, the child agreed to meet Lincoln in person at a location in Brighton. Prior to meeting with the child, Lincoln went to a local WalMart and purchased a stuffed teddy bear, a heart shaped box of chocolates, and a card for the child, which he left in his nearby apartment.

Unbeknownst to Lincoln, the child was actually an undercover Brighton Police Investigator. When Lincoln arrived at the meeting to meet with the child, he was arrested. During a post arrest interview, Lincoln admitted to believing that he was communicating with a real 16 year old girl. He also admitted to transmitting sexually explicit messages to her and meeting with her with the intent to engage in sexual activity.

The defendant made an initial appearance on February 15, 2018, before United States Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson. Lincoln is being held pending a detention hearing scheduled for February 22, 2018.

“Yesterday’s arrest reminds each of us that we must remain vigilant in protecting the youths of our society”, said U.S. Attorney Kennedy.  “Together with our federal, state and local partners, we will do all that we can to ensure that those who pray upon our children are brought to justice”.

“I want to recognize the excellent work of the Brighton Police Department,” said FBI Buffalo Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin P. Lyons.  “They acted quickly on a parent’s complaint and took the necessary initiative to ensure that Matthew Lincoln was investigated and removed from the environment where our children live and play each day.  Our Child Exploitation Task Force is tangible proof of the FBI’s mission to protect the young people in Monroe County and beyond — a great collaborative effort that demonstrates our commitment to the community and our partners.”

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Brighton Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Mark Henderson, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Todd K. Baxter, the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Richard Allen and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin P. Lyons.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.  

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: Drug Addict from Grant County, New Mexico, Charged with Violating Federal Firearms Laws

ALBUQUERQUE – This afternoon, a U.S. Magistrate Judge sitting in Las Cruces, N.M, ordered a resident of Grant County, N.M., who is charged with being a drug addict in possession of firearms and ammunition, detained pending trial based on findings that he poses a danger to the community.

Richard G. Dinwiddie, 57, of Cliff, N.M., was arrested on Feb. 6, 2018, and was charged with being an unlawful user of controlled substances in possession of firearms and ammunition in a criminal complaint filed on Feb. 7, 2018.  According to the complaint, federal and local law enforcement officers executed a federal search warrant at Dinwiddie’s residence on Feb. 5, 2018, and allegedly found approximately 6.2 grams of methamphetamine, 64.6 grams of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, six firearms, and approximately 1,000 rounds of assorted ammunition.  The complaint further alleges that Dinwiddie has been a methamphetamine user for approximately two years. 

Dinwiddie made his initial appearance in federal court on Feb. 12, 2018.  During this afternoon’s proceedings, Dinwiddie waived his right to a preliminary hearing on whether there was probable cause to support the charge in the criminal complaint.

If convicted of the charge in the criminal complaint, Dinwiddie faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison.  Charges in criminal complaints are merely accusations and criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the FBI, the New Mexico State Police, the Catron County Sheriff’s Office, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office and the Silver City Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa A. Ong of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

Dinwiddie Complaint

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: Jury Convicts Kansas City Man of Investment Fraud Scheme

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was convicted by a federal trial jury today of a nearly $500,000 investment fraud scheme.

Ryan Scott Luscombe, 45, of Kansas City, was found guilty of all six counts contained in a June 6, 2017, federal indictment. Luscombe was convicted of three counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud and one count of money laundering.

Luscombe solicited investments for his business, Five Star Trading Group, Inc., claiming to investors that he would utilize his expertise in stock trading to produce exorbitant returns. Instead, evidence introduced during the trial indicated that the entirety of investor funds, which totaled $483,482, was used by Luscombe on personal expenditures in 2013, 2014 and 2015, including the purchase of a 2010 BMW 750I and a trip to Bermuda.

To date, none of Luscombe’s investors have received funds from returns or their original investment.

During the course of the scheme to defraud victims of their investment money, Luscombe represented himself as a wealthy individual and a successful day trader capable of producing tremendous returns on investments.

Luscombe told investors he was creating a new business to manage over $50 million from three investors in Arizona. Luscombe claimed he would be the primary investment trader, but because the dollar amount to be invested would be too large for one person to handle, he recruited two people to assist in his trading endeavor. In exchange for a fee or investment in the business, Luscombe offered to train the additional individuals in his trading strategy. Eventually, Luscombe told investors he would allow a small number of friends and family to take advantage or “piggyback” off the investment strategy of the larger investors.

Luscombe’s stated investment strategy was to trade securities in the stock market based on the identification of trends in the upward or downward direction of the stock price. Luscombe told investors the risk was very low and minimal because he constantly monitored the stock price. Luscombe told investors he had been in the trading business for many years and had previously made millions of dollars.

Luscombe regularly provided positive projected investment return updates to the victims regarding their investments, and claimed investor money would be utilized for trading and generating profits for investors. As a direct result of these conversations, investors entrusted their money to him.

Investors never authorized Luscombe to spend investment money on personal expenditures. Luscombe never told investors their investment money would be spent on his personal expenditures. A salary for Luscombe was not authorized by investors. At the time of investment, Luscombe never informed investors that investment funds would be utilized to pay his salary. An analysis of financial activity revealed Luscombe’s spending of investor funds included the following:

(a) $83,088 in cash and cash equivalents;

(b) $78,542 in retail expenses;

(c) $67,990 in restaurants and entertainment;

(d) $52,925 in vehicle expenses;

(e) $45,940 in travel expenses;

(f) $41,058 in rent and utilities;

(g) $39,673 in investment firm losses, fees, and interest; and

(h) $21,144 in nutrition, fitness and beauty expenses.

Luscombe was not registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority as a broker dealer or as an investment advisor representative. Luscombe and Five Star Trading Group were not registered with the Missouri Secretary of State – Securities Division.

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for a little over two hours before returning the guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark, ending a trial that began Monday, Feb. 12, 2018.

Under federal statutes, Luscombe is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole on each of the fraud counts, and sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole for money laundering. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Venneman and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney R. Pratten. It was investigated by the FBI.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: Jury Convicts Two Kansas City Men of Kidnapping, Murder

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that two Kansas City, Mo., men were convicted by a federal trial jury today of charges related to the kidnapping and murder of another man.

Raynal King, 26, and Howard R. Ross, III, also known as “Lil’ Howard” and “Shooter,” 23, both of Kansas City, were found guilty of multiple counts related to the carjacking, kidnapping and murder of Jaime Patton on Sept. 6, 2016.

King and Ross were convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, one count of aiding and abetting a kidnapping resulting in death, one count of using a firearm in furtherance of a kidnapping that resulted in a first degree felony murder, one count of robbery of a motor vehicle (carjacking) resulting in death, one count of using a firearm in furtherance of carjacking that resulted in a first degree felony murder, and one count of aiding and abetting each other as felons in the possession of a firearm.

Patton was returning home from the hospital, where he had been caring for a family member, sometime after 5 a.m. that day when King and Ross kidnapped him and stole his 2014 Jeep Patriot. They held Patton at gunpoint and drove him around in his Jeep to ATM machines, attempting to force him to provide his PIN number for his debit card so they could withdraw cash from his bank account.

Patton was unable to provide a working PIN number to withdraw cash. While held at gunpoint by King and Ross in the Mazuma Credit Union parking lot, he called his wife to obtain the working PIN number, but he was unable to do so. King and Ross became upset with the lack of cooperation from Patton and shot him in his upper thigh to make sure he knew they were not playing around.

King and Ross then drove Patton in his Jeep south on Holmes Road while they discussed what to do with him. At approximately 6:30 a.m., shortly after traveling south on Holmes Road through the intersection with 135th Street and further out of the city, Patton jumped out of his Jeep while it was moving. Patton was shot multiple times while attempting to jump and he fell to the roadway. King and Ross then fled from the area in Patton’s Jeep, leaving him to die on the side of the road.

According to evidence introduced during the trial, King and Ross began planning to commit a robbery a couple of days earlier. King had recently purchased a silver Pontiac Grand Prix but was unable to make his car payments or pay the sales tax fees. Text messages between King and Ross (recovered from their phones) shows that only days before the kidnapping King communicated with Ross about his problems and about a potential robbery.

Ross, who was on state probation for robbery at the time of the crime, was held in the Jackson County Jail after his arrest. While in the Jackson County Jail, Ross made multiple recorded phone calls to others regarding disposing of various items of evidence. Ross discussed with friends and family the location of his iPhone, which led to search warrants and the recovery of Ross’s iPhone and further evidence on his iPhone.

Investigators recovered evidence from Ross’s iPhone that showed weeks before the kidnapping Ross had a Springfield Armory .45-caliber pistol. Patton was murdered with a .45-caliber bullet. Ross took photos of himself carrying the pistol; he messaged those photos to others and posted photos on social media sites. Shortly after the murder, Ross attempted to sell the pistol to an acquaintance.

When forensic examiners were able to search King’s Android phone, several messages, photographs, and relevant Internet searches were recovered as evidence. King took photos of the stolen Jeep and messaged with others in an attempt to sell the Jeep to obtain sufficient money to make his own car payment on his Silver Pontiac Grand Prix before it would be repossessed.

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for just under three hours before returning the guilty verdicts to U.S. Chief District Judge Greg Kays, ending a trial that began Monday, Feb. 12, 2018.

Under federal statutes, King and Ross each face mandatory life imprisonment. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jess E. Michaelsen and Patrick C. Edwards. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: Charlotte Fugitive Wanted for Murder Captured in Augusta

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: Federal Charges for Child Pornography

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: Investigators Seek Public Assistance in Unsolved Missing Girl Investigation

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation encourage the public to come forward with information to help find Asha Degree. On February 14, 2000, nine-year-old Asha left her home in Shelby in the middle of the night. Several drivers witnessed her walking south along North Carolina Highway 18 around 4:00 a.m., but did not alert police. Her parents reported her missing a few hours later when they woke up and found Asha’s bed empty. More than a year later, her book bag was discovered buried along the same highway where she was last seen walking. Based on our investigation, we have reason to believe that individuals in this community or the surrounding area have knowledge of, or information pertaining to the disappearance of Asha.

In September 2017, the FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment team came to Cleveland County for ten days to assist local agents and investigators with the case. FBI CARD Team members are highly trained and experienced experts on missing children cases and provided investigative, technical, behavioral analysis, and analytical support. Since then, local agents and investigators have conducted approximately 300 interviews on the case. The FBI, Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, and SBI meet several times a month to go over the latest on the investigation.

“Even though it’s been 18 years since Asha disappeared, this is not a cold case sitting on a shelf. We are actively investigating, following leads, generating new ones, conducting interviews, and utilizing new advancements in technology that didn’t exist before,” said Sheriff Alan Norman.

“You have to remember, Asha didn’t have a cell phone, there wasn’t a computer trail to follow, there were no surveillance cameras on the streets, the technology that we often follow in investigative matters these days didn’t exist in 2000. That is why the public is so important, someone has information that can help us find Asha and bring closure to her family and to the community,” said John Strong, special agent in charge of the FBI in North Carolina.

The FBI continues to offer a $25,000 reward for information leading to the person or persons responsible for Asha’s disappearance. The community and sheriff’s office are offering an additional $20,000 reward, bringing the reward to $45,000. If you have information on Asha’s disappearance call, 704-672-6100.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: Ten Most Wanted Fugitive Jesus Roberto Munguia Apprehended

Aaron C. Rouse, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Las Vegas Field Office, announced today that Ten Most Wanted Fugitive Jesus Roberto Munguia, who was wanted for the July 2, 2008 violent murder of his wife and mother to his four children, Sherryl Sacueza, has been arrested. Through the steadfast cooperation with Mexican authorities, Munguia was taken into custody early this morning (Eastern Standard Time) and transported to Los Angeles based on an arrest warrant charging him with first-degree murder and kidnapping.

“We are so pleased with the capture of Munguia. He will now face justice for this terrible crime, and Sherryl Sacueza’s family can begin the path to closure,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse. “We are grateful for the efforts of the government of Mexico and specifically the Mexican Navy (SEMAR) for their outstanding work in apprehending this dangerous violent fugitive. This action sends a clear message to fugitives like Munguia who think they can hide in another country: Working with our international partners, we will hunt you down, we will find you, and we will bring you to justice.”

Munguia was the 517th addition to the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. The announcement of Munguia’s addition to the list resulted in national and international publicity about the case, which generated information leading to his location and ultimately his capture.

Background of Munguia Investigation:

It is alleged that during the late hours of July 1, 2008, Munguia called Sacueza and lured her back to her home, where he was waiting. Upon her arrival, Munguia forced Sacueza into the garage, and they were heard arguing by their children. Sometime later, Munguia forced Sacueza into her vehicle and drove away from the residence to an unknown location. At approximately 12:08 p.m. on July 2, 2008, Sacueza’s body was discovered in the back seat of her vehicle, which was parked in the driveway of her residence. Her body was discovered by her sister with her hands bound and secured to the center seatbelt. Numerous ligatures were around her neck, including a piece of rope, a sweatshirt, and jumper cables. The jumper cables were wrapped around her neck and the headrest of the seat. There were numerous blunt force injuries to her face and head. Blood spatter was present inside the vehicle and indicated that the blunt force injuries had occurred while Sacueza was bound and tied to the backseat. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Homicide responded and quickly identified Munguia as the prime suspect.

An arrest warrant was obtained charging Munguia with first-degree murder and kidnapping. An exhaustive effort to locate Munguia by LVMPD Homicide and the FBI’s Criminal Apprehension Team (CAT) was unsuccessful. On July 9, 2008, a federal arrest warrant was obtained by FBI Las Vegas for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

FBI Las Vegas has maintained contact with Sacueza’s four children—Jessica, Dysabel, Jesse Jr., and Daniel—and her mother, Noema Guevara. Guevara has tirelessly reminded investigators to keep her daughter’s memory alive. At the time of the murder, Munguia was a documented TEPA 13 gang member. He is a United States citizen with familial ties in California and Mexico.

The FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list was established in March 1950. Since then, 484 have been apprehended or located. Munguia was the 517th person to be placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, and the sixth specifically sought by the FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: Arizona Man Convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine

LEXINGTON, Ky.— A federal jury in Lexington has found Hector Salas, Jr., of Phoenix, guilty of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, more than 400 grams of fentanyl and one kilogram of heroin. The jury convicted Salas on Friday, February 9, 2018, following a 3-day trial in U.S. District Court. The jury also found Salas guilty of possession with the intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.

According to the trial testimony, Salas engaged in an agreement to distribute the controlled substances. The evidence also established that, in May 2017, Salas was stopped by Lexington Police, on Versailles Road, in a vehicle with a Tennessee license plate. The investigation ultimately revealed that the vehicle had come from Phoenix and the trailer towed behind it contained 5.9 kilograms of cocaine, with a street value of over $410,000. Further investigation also resulted in the seizure of over 700 grams of fentanyl and over a kilogram of heroin from a residence in Lexington. The total street value of all the drugs exceeded $1,000,000. Law enforcement agencies also seized over $580,000 in proceeds from the distribution of the drugs.

The sentencing hearing is currently scheduled for May 11, 2018, at the federal courthouse in Lexington. Salas faces a minimum mandatory sentence of not less than 10 years nor more than life imprisonment.

United States Attorney Duncan; Amy Hess, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville; Richard W. Sanders, Commissioner, Kentucky State Police; and Ron Compton, Acting Chief of Police, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the jury’s verdict.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the Kentucky State Police, and the Lexington Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Roger W. West.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: Update: FBI Seeks Public’s Help Finding Fugitive Wanted for Murder