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FBI Canton and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Together with State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies, Announce Arrest of North Canton Man for Weapons Violations

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

Canton Resident Agency, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Stark County Safe Streets Task Force and its state and local partners, the MEDWAY Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol announce the arrest of Christopher Machamer, 26, of North Canton, Ohio.

Following a search warrant and according to a federal complaint, on or about January 4, 2024, Christopher Machamer violated Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(k), Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number, Title 26, United States Code, Section 5861(d), Receiving or Possessing an NFA Firearm not Registered to the Possessor in the NFRTR, and Title 26, United States Code, Section 5861(f), Manufacturing a Firearm in Violation of NFA.

During the search warrant, Agents found the following items of evidentiary value:

  • One fully assembled AR-15 style rifle with a barrel measuring approximately 9.25 inches, with an obliterated serial number
  • One AR-15 style lower receiver with an obliterated serial number
  • 10 fully assembled AR-15 style rifles with barrels measuring approximately 9.25 inches, bearing no serial numbers
  • Nine AR-15 style lower receivers, bearing no serial numbers
  • One drill press (covered and surrounded in aluminum shavings)
  • Two “Ghost Gunner” brand CNC mills (both containing aluminum shavings)  
  • 25 serialized AR-15 style lower receivers

A federal search warrant was also executed at Machamer’s parents’ residence. During the search warrant, a safe was identified to be owned and utilized by Machamer. In the safe identified as belonging to Machamer, Agents found the following items:

  • Five AR-15 style rifles
  • Two short barrel shotguns
  • Six handguns
  • Eight suppressors
  • One AK-47 style lower receiver
  • $3,000 in United States Currency

Machamer had his initial appearance in the US Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Ohio on January 8, 2024. This is considered an ongoing investigation and additional details cannot be provided. A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

In June 2023, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland together with the FBI Criminal Division, ATF, DEA, the US Marshals Service and all 93 U.S. Attorneys met to discuss ongoing efforts to reduce violent crime and combat the gun violence that fuels it. During that meeting, AG Garland reiterated his February 2022 direction to U.S Attorneys’ Offices to prioritize combating gun violence. Among other actions, the Attorney General directed U.S. Attorneys to increase prosecutorial resources devoted to cracking down on illegal firearm trafficking pipelines, to hold accountable those who possess unlawful “ghost guns,” and to pursue investigations against unlawful gun dealing.

Related: Office of Public Affairs | FACT SHEET: Update on Justice Department ’s Ongoing Efforts to Tackle Gun Violence | United States Department of Justice

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Saskatchewan — Saskatchewan RCMP: on duty in your community – Monday, January 15 to Sunday, January 21, 2024, inclusive

Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Please note all information below occurred within the time period above, unless otherwise noted.

Saskatchewan RCMP – Your Provincial Police Service

Investigative Recap

January 16: Battleford RCMP’s Gang Task Force (GTF) were actively investigating illicit drug trafficking in North Battleford. On January 16, with the assistance of Saskatchewan RCMP’s Critical Incident Response Team, GTF arrested an adult male at a residence on St. Laurent Drive in North Battleford in relation to this investigation. Officers then executed a search warrant at this residence, as well as one on 102 Street. They located and seized drug trafficking paraphernalia and an imitation firearm.

As a result of continued investigation, 43-year-old Sean Schille from North Battleford is charged with 12 offences including possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of property obtained by crime as well as driving in a dangerous manner to the public.

He appeared in North Battleford Provincial Court on January 18, 2024.

January 17: A joint investigation by Saskatchewan RCMP’s Yorkton Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team (STRT), Yorkton Municipal General Investigation Section and the Melville RCMP Detachment has resulted in drug and weapons charges against three individuals from Melville.

On January 17, 2024, police pulled over a vehicle in Yorkton, resulting in the arrest of three people and the seizure of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cash. A search warrant was executed at a residence in Melville in relation to the traffic stop where police found additional drugs and cash, along with prohibited weapons.

In total, police seized 28 grams of methamphetamine, two grams of fentanyl, a sum of cash and brass knuckles.

As a result of continued investigation, 35-year-old Jesse Dean Starr from Melville is charged with:

  • one count, possession for the purpose of trafficking (methamphetamine), Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
  • one count, possession (fentanyl), Section 4(1), Controlled Drugs and Substance Act; and
  • one count, possession of a prohibited weapon, Section 88, Criminal Code.

22-year-old Amber Caitlin Gettel from Melville is charged with:

  • one count, possession for the purpose of trafficking (methamphetamine), Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act; and
  • one count, possession of a prohibited weapon, Section 88, Criminal Code.

Corey Walter Lambie from Melville is charged with:

  • one count, possession for the purpose of trafficking (methamphetamine), Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Starr and Gettel made their first court appearance in Yorkton on January 19, 2024. Lambie is scheduled to make his first court appearance on February 26, 2024.

January 17: Saskatchewan RCMP WEST asking public to report sightings of Michael Roberts

January 17: Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes: charges laid in July 2022 homicide

January 18: Prince Albert RCMP charges laid after firearm pointed at officers

January 19: La Ronge RCMP received a request to conduct a wellness check at a residence on Jack Pine Avenue in La Ronge. Officers went to the residence and observed drug paraphernalia in plain view. Officers obtained a search warrant and executed it. They located and seized a small amount of cocaine, illicit marijuana, trafficking paraphernalia, a sum of cash and a 3D printed firearm with a high-capacity magazine.

Seven people were arrested at the residence. As a result of continued investigation, 25-year-old Nolan Ross, 38-year-old Steven Bird, 44-year-old Patricia Charles, 49-year-old Anthony Gaudet-Charles, 30-year-old Carlos Isbister, 20-year-old Silas Prutton and a male youth, who can’t be identified as per the Youth Criminal Justice Act, are each charged with multiple firearms-related offences, possession of the proceeds of crime and possession for the purpose of trafficking. The male youth is also charged with three counts of failure to comply with an undertaking condition.

All accused are scheduled to appear on La Ronge Provincial Court on January 22, 2024.

The La Ronge RCMP General Investigation Section and La Ronge Crime Reduction Team are assisting with this ongoing investigation.

Melfort RCMP investigating break and enter

On October 2, 2023 at approximately 2:00 p.m., Melfort RCMP received a report of a break and enter that occurred at a residence in Kinistino some time between the evening of October 1 and the morning of October 2.

Investigation determined an unknown individual or individuals broke into the residence and stole a dirt bike and two e-bikes.

Melfort RCMP continues to investigate.

Report any suspicious activity witnessed or surveillance video captured around the time of this incident to Melfort RCMP at 306-752-6420. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com

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Amherst — Cumberland District RCMP welcomes new District Commander

Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

The Nova Scotia RCMP has appointed Staff Sergeant Andrew Clarke as District Commander for the Cumberland District RCMP.

“I’m looking forward to serving Nova Scotians in this new capacity,” says S/Sgt. Clarke. “Our detachments in Amherst, Oxford, Parrsboro, Pugwash and Springhill respond to calls for service throughout Cumberland County.”

S/Sgt. Clarke joined the RCMP in 1996. He started out in general duty policing before joining the Traffic Services team in 2003. Between 2019 and 2023, S/Sgt. Clarke was a Risk Manager, working out of the Operational Communications Centre in Dartmouth. He’s also been an instructor at the RCMP Academy, teaching Applied Police Sciences and Police Driving.

Originally from St. John’s, S/Sgt. Clarke has been posted throughout Nova Scotia, working in Port Hawkesbury, Advocate Harbour, Amherst, Yarmouth, Bible Hill and Halifax.

“We’re happy to be back in Cumberland County,” says S/Sgt. Clarke. “My wife, who’s a retired RCMP officer, and I raised our children in Cumberland County and have had a cottage in the area for several years. Our cottage is now our full-time home and I’m looking forward to working with the community to enhance public safety.”

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Appeal to trace man in connection with firearm incident in Enfield

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Police need to trace Sol Lambert, 19, in connection with an incident involving a firearm on Bullsmoor Lane, EN3.

Lambert was arrested on 12 October 2023 by officers investigating the incident in Enfield on 2 September 2023.

He was bailed pending further enquiries, but failed to answer bail on 29 November 2023. Subsequent attempts to locate him have proved unsuccessful.

If you know where he is, or have information that could help police locate him, please call 101 ref CAD 5236/22JAN24. To remain anonymous please contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Results published in policing’s largest integrity screening project

Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

Historical data wash completed with thousands of police workforce checked

  • 307, 452 officers, staff and volunteers checked against the Police National Database (PND)
  • First time any workforce has undergone integrity screening on this scale
  • Working towards longer term Continuous Integrity Screening solution

Today (23 January 2024) sees the publication of the largest integrity screening project undertaken in policing, with over 307,000 officers, staff and volunteers checked against the Police National Database (PND).

In January 2023, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) contacted all police forces and asked them to prepare their HR data so all officers, staff and volunteers could be checked against the PND.

The Police National Database (PND) is a data store of operational policing information and intelligence provided by individual forces. It contains copies of locally held police records covering intelligence, crime, custody, child protection and domestic abuse investigations.

Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Prevention and Senior Responsible Officer for the historical data wash process said:

“The results from this process have shown that the large majority of our officers, staff and volunteers are professional, dedicated individuals who act with integrity and work hard to keep their communities safe.

“While the historical data wash has resulted in some cases which require criminal or disciplinary investigation, this low number, together with the fact these people have now been identified and appropriate action taken, should provide reassurance that we are committed to the highest standards of integrity and will continue to deal robustly with those who fall below these standards.

“In addition to the cases referred to an appropriate authority, we know significant action has been taken by local forces to address all information identified in the historical data wash through stringent processes and procedures.

“We also identified a number of people who required welfare support from their force and it is positive that we can now give them the care they require. These could be individuals who have been a victim or witness to a crime but have not received specialist support which they need and rightly deserve.

“We are working with the Home Office to establish a sustainable solution to ensure those working in policing are checked against the PND on an ongoing basis and highlighted at the earliest opportunity.”

Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, National Police Chiefs’ Council Chair said:

“The cross checking of records on such a large scale was a significant task which shows our commitment right across policing to identify those who do not meet the high standards expected.

“Police forces responded with urgency, enabling us to carry out the largest integrity screening project that policing has ever seen.  Despite the comparatively low numbers of returns the exercise was important in ensuring we have a strong foundation on which to build an automated process.  We look forward to working with our colleagues across Government and policing to make this a reality.  I hope that it gives further reassurance to communities, and to colleagues in policing, that the overwhelming majority of the workforce can be trusted, and that if you are involved in wrongdoing, there is no place to hide.”

Building on the data wash work, the NPCC is now working with the Home Office to consider a longer term integrity solution for policing which will provide forces with a solution which alerts them to any new information in a timely manner.  

Key results from the historical data wash (full tables here)

  • 307, 452 officers, staff and volunteers checked against Police National Database
    • o 461 of those were referred to an appropriate authority and of these:
      • 9 triggered further criminal investigation
      • 88 triggered disciplinary investigation
      • 139 triggered vetting clearance
      • 128 triggered management intervention
      • 97 required no further action

Individuals identified in above step either dealt with through stringent professional standards processes to manage and/or mitigate risk or referred to an appropriate authority[1]. Those referred to an appropriate authority dealt with in one of following ways:

  1. Criminal investigation
  2. Disciplinary investigation (misconduct)
  3. Management intervention (dealt with by supervision)
  4. Vetting clearance (re-vetting)
  5. No further action

    Notes to editors

    The Police National Database (PND) is a data store of operational policing information and intelligence provided by individual forces. It contains copies of locally held police records covering intelligence, crime, custody, child protection and domestic abuse investigations.

    Process behind the historical data wash

1. Forces prepared HR data on officers and staff so that it could be processed through PND.

  • 307, 452 records submitted.
  • Completed by end Feb 2023

2. Force data processed through PND in stages

  • Not all force data could go through the PND at the same time due to capacity in the system. It was sequenced over a number of weeks.

3. Identify staff where checks indicate potential concerns and investigate

  • By September 2023 police forces identified all cases for further investigation and began those investigations. The time taken to reach this stage depended on scale and number of staff completing checks. Investigations were prioritised based on the threat and risk identified 
  1.  

  • [1] The Appropriate Authority is the term for the person responsible for considering complaints made about the force and/or individuals within. AA’s are the rank of at least the Chief Inspector or Police Staff equivalent with accredited training. They work within the Authorised Professional Practice (APP) and are usually based within a Professional Standards team.  

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Met response to National Police Chiefs’ Council announcement on police data wash programme

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Commander James Harman, Metropolitan Police said:

“The Met was one of the first forces to carry out a data wash of our entire 50,000 employee workforce, finding a comparatively small amount of information needing further investigation, and nothing of a criminal nature.

“The task of checking every employee against the national database was a critical one and aligns to our significant steps to root out those who have no place in the Met.

“Through the commitments we have set out in our A New Met for London plan, we continue to build a healthier and stronger culture that serves the public and supports the tens of thousands of officers and staff who are dedicated to keeping London safe.”

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Coast Guard crewmembers rescues a mariner and his dog near the Zuniga Jetty in San Diego

Source: United States Coast Guard

 

01/22/2024 11:28 PM EST

SAN DIEGO — Coast Guard Sector San Diego crewmembers rescues a 48-year-old mariner and his dog after he became trapped on his 30-foot sailing vessel near the Zuniga Jetty in San Diego, Monday morning.

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Coast Guard responds to grounded vessel off the coast of Maui

Source: United States Coast Guard

 

01/22/2024 09:28 PM EST

HONOLULU – The Coast Guard is responding to a passenger ferry that ran aground near Maalaea Harbor, Maui, on Monday. At 5:05 a.m., Coast Guard Sector Honolulu watchstanders received notification from the small passenger vessel Expeditions Five, a 55-foot ferry with three crew members on board, that they had run aground near the entrance to Maalaea Harbor.

For breaking news follow us on twitter @USCGHawaiiPac

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Met officers’ meticulous trawl of CCTV and phone records leads to two men being found guilty of murder

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Two men have been found guilty of murder after detectives proved one brutally attacked a sleeping man, whilst the other filmed it.

Rafal Zabiecki, 48, was asleep when Jakub Molga and Andrej Kolecki went into his Pinner home on 20 February 2023 and launched an attack that left him with terrible injuries. Sadly, he died at the scene.

A jury at Woolwich Crown Court heard how Molga beat Rafal with a wooden table leg, hitting him so hard the piece of furniture broke. Molga re-armed himself with heavier piece of wood and continued his attack, finally pouring boiling water over Rafal’s feet. He was filmed by his friend, Andrej Kolecki, on his phone. The jury reached their decision on Monday, 22 January.

Officers immediately launched an investigation and pieced together CCTV and phone evidence, along with finding fingerprints in the property in Howards Close. After the arrest of Molga on 24 February 2023 officers recovered the video that Kolecki had filmed despite it having been deleted.

They gathered enough evidence to charge Molga (also known as Leon Pedrycz), 26 (01.06.97), of Romford Road, E7 with murder on 27 February.

Andrej Kolecki, 61 (11.07.62), of Chaplin Road, Cricklewood, was arrested on Sunday, 26 February. He was also charged with murder on Monday, 27 February.

Detective Inspector Lucy Carberry, who led the team, said: “Molga’s claims that he didn’t intend to cause him serious harm are staggering – it was clear that Molga and Kolecki went there with a plan. From the start we knew we had to prove that this was a case of murder and that they had intended to seriously harm him.

“The team spent hours building the case against Molga and Kolecki, so that they could be properly held to account for their heartless crimes that day, and give Mr Zabieki’s family a small degree of comfort knowing that they were brought to justice.”

At the start of the trial Molga pleaded guilty to manslaughter, claiming that he hadn’t intended to kill Rafal or cause him really serious harm. The jury saw through this and found him guilty of murder along with Kolecki. Molga had previously pleaded guilty to ABH on another party present, Kolecki was also found guilty of ABH on the same individual.

Rafal’s sister, Magdalena, said: “I am so happy that the jury have made the right decision. Although it can never bring Rafal back I feel that we have got justice for him and the rest of the family. I would like to thank the police investigation team for everything they have done and the support they have provided to us.”

The pair will be sentenced on Friday, 2 February at the Old Bailey.

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Michigan Medical Provider Convicted of Aggravated Identity Theft

Source: United States Department of Justice

A federal jury convicted a Michigan businessman today of aggravated identity theft for placing the name and address of another man with the same name in legal documents to avoid a settlement payment of more than $6 million.

According to documents and evidence presented at trial, Hassan Kamal Fayad, of Dearborn, operated three medical practices and a transportation business. To fund business operations, Fayad sold outstanding medical and transportation invoices to a Texas-based investment firm. After Fayad failed to make appropriate payments to the Texas firm pursuant to their contracts, the Texas firm sued him in civil court for damages. Throughout the civil proceedings, Fayad caused the name and address of another Michigan resident who shared Fayad’s first and last name, but lived at a different address, to be placed on multiple legal documents, including on a settlement document which obligated Fayad to pay the Texas firm more than $6.3 million. Fayad’s use of the other Michigan resident’s name and address caused the garnishment of all funds from the other Michigan resident’s bank account.

A date for sentencing has not been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

The FBI investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Mark McDonald and Christopher P. O’Donnell of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.