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

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

Headline: St. Louis Man Indicted on Charges of Firearms Violations

St. Louis, MO – Taylor Wilson, 26, St. Louis, was indicted on February 1, 2018.

The indictment alleges various firearms offenses.  Specifically, it alleges that during the time of September 2015, through December 23, 2017, Wilson possessed a fully automatic machinegun and a rifle, neither of which were registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. It also alleges that the machine gun had a defaced and obliterated serial number.

If Wilson is convicted, counts one, three and four of the indictment carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Count two of the indictment carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

As is always the case, charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.  Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

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

Headline: East Hartford Man Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Heroin

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JOEL GONZALEZ, also known as “Tuti,” 34, of East Hartford, was sentenced yesterday by Senior U.S. District Judge Alfred V. Covello in Hartford to 77 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing heroin.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in November and December 2015, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crime Gang Task Force and Hartford Police made a total of six controlled purchases of heroin from GONZALEZ at 71 Warrenton Avenue and 30-32 Putnam Street in Hartford.

GONZALEZ was arrested on December 16, 2015.  On that date, a search of his East Hartford residence revealed 30 bags of heroin and $23,302 in cash; a search of 71 Warrenton Avenue revealed 2,000 bags of heroin and $5,298 in cash, and a search of 30-32 Putnam Street revealed 330 bags of heroin, approximately 30 grams of crack cocaine, approximately 12 grams of cocaine and $2,762 in cash.

GONZALEZ has been detained since his arrest.  On May 10, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 100 grams or more of heroin.

The FBI Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Gustafson.

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

Headline: FBI Richmond Seeks Interested Virginia High School Students for Youth Academy

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

Headline: Recovering the Space Shuttle Columbia

As the noise faded, debris started raining down into eastern Texas and western Louisiana.

No one knew immediately why Columbia fell. But the nation couldn’t help but think about the 9/11 terror attacks less than 18 months earlier. “It was a time when people were concerned about terrorism, and it couldn’t be ruled out right away,” said Michael Hillman, another FBI Dallas special agent.

Before NASA could provide any answers, it needed to recover as much of the shuttle as possible. More importantly, the crew needed to be found. The Federal Emergency Management Agency coordinated the overall disaster response, and tasked the FBI with finding, identifying, and recovering the crew.

Agents and professional staff also helped secure classified equipment and safely contain and recover hazardous materials. Chambers led an Evidence Response Team, while Hillman led a Hazardous Evidence Response Team.

About 500 FBI employees from Texas and Louisiana eventually worked the recovery effort. They were part of a massive team of professionals and volunteers—more than 25,000 people from 270 organizations helped search 2.3 million acres.

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

Headline: FBI Seeking Information on January 29 Hit-and-Run Incidents in Philadelphia

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

Headline: FBI Seeking Information About Albuquerque Bank Robbery

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

Headline: Three Kansas City Men Indicted for Kidnapping, Murder

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that three Kansas City, Mo., men have been indicted for the kidnapping and murder of a victim they were attempting to rob.

Jonathan M. Bravo-Lopez (also known as “Jonathan Vravo,” and “Shadow”), 23, and Juan D. Osorio (also known as “Spexx”), 24, both of whom are citizens of Mexico residing in Kansas City, Mo., and Marco A. Sosa-Perea, 23, of Kansas City, Mo., were charged in a five-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018.

Bravo-Lopez, Osorio and Sosa-Perea are charged together with one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, one count of kidnapping resulting in death and one count of using a firearm to commit murder. The federal indictment alleges that they conspired to kidnap and attempted to rob a victim identified as “C.E.”, transporting him across state lines from Missouri to Kansas, on April 3, 2017.

According to the indictment, Bravo-Lopez and Osorio arranged to purchase $300 of marijuana from the victim; they traveled with Sosa-Perea to the victim’s residence on April 3, 2017. Bravo-Lopez and Osorio, armed with firearms, allegedly forced the victim into their vehicle and drove to Kansas. When they reached the 200 block of Donovan Road in Kansas City, Kan., the indictment says, the victim was forced out of the car, shot, and left to die on the side of the road.

Additionally, Osorio is charged with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. Osorio allegedly was in possession of an Action Arms .45-caliber handgun on April 7, 2017.

Bravo-Lopez is also charged with illegally reentering the United States after having been deported.

Garrison cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.

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

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

Headline: Beaumont Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Kidnapping Girls After Theft in Sulphur

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Beaumont man was sentenced Tuesday to 120 months in prison for kidnapping two girls after stealing the truck they were in.

Henry Dwight Moore, 23, of Beaumont, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey on one count of kidnapping. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release. According to the October 11, 2017 guilty plea, Moore drove a black truck into a Lowe’s parking lot in Sulphur, La., on December 13, 2015. He stole a customer’s purse who had walked away from it to return a shopping cart.  A bystander saw Moore take the purse, and the bystander jumped into the back of Moore’s truck as he drove away. The truck’s engine died at one point, and the bystander attempted to confront him.  Moore got the engine started again and sped off, leaving the bystander in the truck bed. Eventually Moore stopped and the bystander got out. Moore then continued westbound on Interstate 10 in the rain. He lost control and struck the side of a Toyota Tundra truck.  After the accident, Moore’s truck died again, and he and the Tundra pulled over to the side of the road.  After the Tundra owner exited the truck and walked to the passenger side to inspect the damage, Moore jumped into the driver’s seat and drove off.  Inside the Tundra truck were the owner’s daughters ages 5 and 7.  Moore told the girls he was going to drop them off at a police station but instead abandoned the car and the girls on the side of the road in Orange, Texas. The oldest girl located her father’s cell phone and called 911 for help.

The FBI conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog prosecuted the case.

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

Headline: John Brown Named Special Agent in Charge of the San Diego Field Office

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

Headline: FBI Teen Academy Accepting Applications from High School Juniors

SACRAMENTO, CA—The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Sacramento Field Office encourages high school juniors attending class within the 34 counties the office serves to apply to upcoming Spring 2018 FBI Teen Academy. The full-day academy will be held on Friday, March 23, 2018, at FBI Sacramento Field Office headquarters in Roseville, California.

Students interested in the exciting, one-day program must log onto the FBI Sacramento Field Office’s Community Relations web page to download an application. Students must submit an application package, enclosing a completed application, signed release forms, and an essay—carefully following submission instructions—to be considered. Complete application packages must be received by mail, parcel delivery, or hand delivery at the FBI Sacramento Field Office headquarters no later than 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 22, 2018. Due to the need for original signatures, application packages are not accepted by fax or e-mail. The FBI Teen Academy offers students a unique view into the FBI and its mission, values, investigations, and partnerships with local, state, and federal law enforcement. Discussion topics may include cyber safety, terrorism, active shooter situations, cyber investigations, and civil rights investigations. Activities may include simulated experiences with the FBI’s Evidence Response Team, Special Agent Bomb Technicians, and within the Firearms Training System(FATS) room. Students also engage in candid conversations about online communication and its risks as well as lifestyle choices required to be eligible for careers at the FBI with FBI personnel.

“The FBI Teen Academy helps youth better understand how we protect the American people and uphold the constitution. We also share how the decisions they make today may impact education and career options in the future,” said Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FB Sacramento Field Office. “Our goal is to provide students with useful information and valuable experiences they can share with others upon returning to their home and school.”

The FBI Teen Academy is open to all high school juniors attending any school—public, private, and home school. No minimum GPA or particular academic path is required. The full-day experience is offered at no charge to students, but families may incur travel costs if they live a significant distance away from FBI Sacramento Field Office headquarters. ###

Direct link to the FBI Teen Academy Application: https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/sacramento-spring-2018-teen-academy-application-121517.pdf/view

The 34 counties served by the FBI Sacramento Field Office are:

• Alpine
• Amador
• Butte
• Calaveras
• Colusa
• El Dorado
• Fresno
• Glenn
• Inyo
• Kern
• Kings
• Lassen
• Madera
• Mariposa
• Merced
• Modoc
• Mono
• Nevada
• Placer
• Plumas
• Sacramento
• San Joaquin
• Shasta
• Sierra
• Siskiyou
• Solano
• Stanislaus
• Sutter
• Tehama
• Tulare
• Tuolumne
• Trinity
• Yuba
• Yolo