TOP
TEN PHOENIX FBI INVESTIGATIONS RECEIVING THE MOST MEDIA COVERAGE IN 2006
Warren
Steed Jeffs
(Top Ten Fugitive)
On May 6, 2006,
Warren Steed Jeffs, the Polygamous leader of a sect known as the Fundamentalist
of Latter Day Saints, became an FBI Top Ten Fugitive. Jeffs was originally
wanted on local charges of sexual conduct with a minor in Mohave County,
Arizona. On June 27, 2005 the FBI joined Mohave County law enforcement
officials in their hunt for Jeffs by issuing a federal warrant for unlawful
flight to avoid prosecution. Washington County Attorney in Utah followed
with additional charges of rape.
After significant
media coverage and a proactive investigation that included searches, numerous
interviews, and investigative leads covered by agents throughout the United
States, Jeffs was taken into custody by the Nevada State Highway Patrol
on August 29, 2006 as a result of a traffic stop.
Rebekah
Braun
(Kidnapping)
On June 14, 2006,
Rebekah Braun, victim of a parental kidnapping, was recovered after ten
years. Braun was kidnapped from the custody of her mother at age two on
February 24, 1996. Rebeekah was kidnapped by her father, Danny Arthur
Moran, and reported to the FBI as being taken across state lines on June
17, 1997. The FBI continued to work on this investigation by publicizing
the kidnapping through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children,
following investigative leads, and by keeping in contact with Rebekah's
mother and family members.
In June 2006, the
hunt for Rebekah ended. At age 12, Rebekah was located by the FBI in a
remote area of South Carolina and ultimately reunited with her mother.
Operation
Lively Green
(Public Corruption)
An undercover operation
targeting corrupt military and law enforcement officials who were allowing
shipments of drugs to be transported across the border. This undercover
operation was lengthy and involved tremendous resources, but not without
the reward of significantly impacting and improving the security of our
border. Efforts designed to protect our borders are pointless, if those
charged with carrying out such efforts can be bribed to use their positions
allowing border security to be compromised. Many investigations result
in charges against one or, at times, a few subjects engaged in corrupt
activity allowing contraband to be transported across the border. However,
this undercover investigation has thus far led to identifying and charging
67 individuals in Arizona and several others in Oklahoma with bribery
and extortion.
In November 2006,
the 67th guilty plea was rendered in the prosecution of this investigation.
The investigation is still on going and others are yet to be prosecuted.
Juarez Smuggling Organization
(Human Smuggling)
A multi agency investigation
culminating into the dismantlement of the Juarez Smuggling Organization
headquartered in Bowie, Arizona. The FBI, ICE, Cochise County Sheriff's
Office, U.S. Border Patrol, and Willcox Police Department, made up a complement
of about 150 law enforcement officers and agents which organized to arrest
55 individuals indicted on charges of alien smuggling and money laundering.
As a result, 44 of these subjects were located and arrested during a two-hour
time span without incident, and 47 firearms were seized during the operation.
This family-run
smuggling ring had been handed down through two generations charging smuggling
fees as high as $2,000 for aliens destined outside of Arizona. For citizens
believing this investigation and takedown only impacted the state of Arizona;
bank records revealed that this organization was receiving payments in
the form of Western Union wire transfers from every state in the Union
with the exception of Alaska.
Tomomi Hanamure
(Murder)
On May 8, 2006,
Tomomi Hanamure, a Japanese tourist sight seeing in the Grand Canyon,
was reported missing. Tragically, Hanamure's body was found by a group
of swimmers in the Havasupai River on May 13, 2006. An autopsy revealed
Hanamure had been stabbed to death. An investigation by the FBI and the
Coconino County Sheriff's office ensued. On December 8, 2006, investigating
agencies were pleased to announce the indictment of Randy Wescogame for
Hanamure's murder.
George
Leo Curran
(Hostage Taker)
On February 27,
2006, George Curran took nine individuals hostage in a federal courtroom
at the National Labor's Relations Board in downtown Phoenix. The FBI's
Hostage Negotiation Team and SWAT Team worked with the Phoenix Police
Department to resolve the incident. Curran surrendered himself to law
enforcement after approximately a seven-hour standoff. Fortunately, none
of the hostages were injured.
Deny
Hughes
(Weapons of Mass Destruction)
On June 30, 2006,
Deny Hughes, dubbed a homegrown threat, was convicted of attempting to
produce a biological toxin for use as a weapon and possession of an unregistered
destructive device. A joint investigation conducted by the FBI, DEA, and
ATF resulted in evidence revealing that Hughes was attempting to produce
and use ricin as a weapon. Hughes was sentenced in October 2006 to seven
years imprisonment.
Rodney
Coronado
(Advocating the use of violence in connection with animal rights activism)
On August 7, 2006,
Rodney Coronado was sentenced to eight months imprisonment for interfering
with a mountain lion hunt in March 2004 at the Sabino Canyon Recreation
Area.
Jennifer
Clason, James Schaffer, Jeffrey Kilbride
(International Pornographic Spam Operation)
On March 6, 2006
Jenifer Clason plead guilty to her role in the transmission of obscene
e-mails. Clason and two other Valley residents, James Schaffer and Jeffery
Kilbride, were indicted on charges of fraud and related activity in connection
with electronic mail under the CAN-SPAM act. Between January 30, 2004
and June 9, 2004, America Online, Inc. received more than 600,000 complaints
from its users regarding spam e-mails that had allegedly been sent out
by the defendants' spamming operation. The spam e-mails sent by defendants
advertised pornographic Internet Web sites in order to earn commissions
for directing Internet traffic to these sites.
Cecillia
Herzberg and Candace Tooze
(Bank Heist)
On April
26, 2006, Cecillia Herzberg and Candace Tooze, sisters, were arrested
on charges of bank robbery. Tooze, a bank employee, reported that an unknown
male had forced her into the vault where, under duress, she was made to
provide him with funds totaling $253,100. The investigation revealed that
the robber was actually Tooze's sister, Cecillia Herzberg.
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