Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard 2006 Annual Report
Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard 2006 Annual Report Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard 2006 Annual Report
Criminal Division (continued) of his attempt to obtain an official money grams, transporting of • Glendale Couple Indicted for • Scottsdale Man Pleads Guilty name change to the name of the undocumented immigrants and Identity Theft. Kent Young and to Producing Fake IDs and victim whose identity he had harboring them pending their Pamela Young were indicted on Drug Charge. A plea agreement stolen. Sharma was sentenced transportation out of Phoenix. fraud and identity theft charges. was reached with Todd Van to 12 years in prison for that crime. • State v. Kiles (conflict case from Yuma County). Alvie Kiles was sentenced to death for a 1989 murder and to four consecutive life sentences for the murders and abuse of the victim’s ninemonth-old and five-year-old children. Kiles’ original sentence in 1989 was reversed on appeal. This was a re-sentencing from his second trial in 2000 in which he was found guilty. Kiles was sentenced to death. • State v. Sanchez et al. Eight human smugglers were arrested by DPS arising out of a longterm investigation. 63 undocumented aliens were discovered in two apartments in Mesa. Defendants were involved in various aspects of human • State v. Tolle and Gallegos. Defendants were convicted of operating a fraud scheme that promised “green cards” to undocumented aliens. Victims, who never received legitimate green cards, paid more than $75,000 to the schemers. • Suspect Indicted for Making and Selling Fake IDs. Maria del Carmen Castejon Nava was indicted on five counts for manufacturing and selling fake identifications. Nava participated in an organization named “Marcos” and offered forged documents for sale. The indictment was the result of ongoing efforts by the Arizona Fraudulent Identification Task Force, comprised of state, federal and local law enforcement agencies. Following an investigation by the U.S. Postal Service, a search warrant revealed defendants had more than 200 receipts from Ashley Furniture stores with personal identifying information of store customers, which they used to purchase items over the Internet. • Two Men Indicted for Producing Fake IDs. Grant Coxon and Lloyd Berry were indicted for illegally conducting an enterprise and forgery. They took personal information and pictures and produced false identification in return for cash. A search warrant resulted in seizure of numerous false identifications and sophisticated computer equipment that included advanced software programs. Cleave who pled guilty to one count of forgery and one count possession of narcotic drugs. Van Cleave was indicted for creating a false driver’s license and selling it for profit. He also pled guilty to possession of cocaine. While a student at ASU, Van Cleave produced and distributed fake IDs, mostly to college students. • State v. Hommel. Terry Hommel, who worked as chief financial officer for Heliocol Arizona, Inc., embezzled over $2 million dollars during a five-year period. He was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison, followed by seven years of probation, and ordered to pay $2.2 million in restitution. • State v. Bagby et al. More than 10 members of a stolen credit card and drug trafficking smuggling, including receipt of operation were indicted. Mesa 34
Criminal Division (continued) Police Officers seized more than 200 pounds of marijuana and over $300,000 in cash, bank accounts, vehicles and a home. Defendants’ operation was organized to sell marijuana and methamphetamine. Defendants also were accused of using stolen credit cards to purchase gift cards that were sold for cash. • State v. Cantu and Martinez. Carmen Cantu and Francisco Martinez were sentenced to jail for their involvement in a scheme to fraudulently obtain home loans by using false and forged documents. Cantu was a real estate agent, and Martinez was a loan officer for Security Mortgage Corporation. Restitution totaled more than $90,000. • State v. Ramirez. Bernie Ramirez was convicted of several drug-dealing offenses near North Canyon High School in Phoenix. Because of his prior felony convictions, he was sentenced to three life sentences under the “Serious Drug Offender” sentencing guidelines. • State v. Andrews, Pellon and Ruiz. Defendants pled guilty to various charges of forgery and theft following an investigation revealing that they impersonated registered nurses at dialysis centers in Phoenix and Casa Grande. Defendants searched the Arizona State Board of Nursing Web site and took the identity of nurses listed. Mildreada Ruiz pled guilty to one count of theft and was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison. Melanie Andrews pled guilty to one count of forgery and received a 1.5-year prison term. Isis Pellon pled guilty to one count of forgery and was sentenced to time served and three years of probation. • State v. Sowles. Charlene Sowles pled guilty to one count of theft and sentenced to 3.5 years in prison and payment of $9,720 in restitution to two nursing home residents. Sowles, who worked for a nurse registry, stole checks belonging to two residents and made unauthorized charges on their credit cards. The victims’ losses were approximately $10,000. • Devil’s Disciples Motorcycle Gang. On April 4, 2003, Heather Ford, associated with the Hell’s Angels, was beaten, tortured and sexually assaulted by members of the Devil’s Disciples motorcycle gang of Pima County. As of June 30, 2006, eight defendants had entered guilty pleas to charges ranging from assisting a criminal syndicate/criminal street gang, kidnapping and solicitation to threaten/intimidate. All gang members physically involved in the assault were sentenced to prison terms from 7 to 9.25 years. • Maceo Brown. While working as the director of Arizona Students Association, Brown was accused of diverting more than $200,000 of public money from the organization for personal use. He then committed forgery to hide the theft. Brown awaits trial. • Allan Morgal. Morgal used a Scottsdale business that imported pottery to steal approximately $337,500 from three victims. In August 2005, he was arrested and charged. Morgal has six prior felonies. His trial is pending. • Joseph Briceño. Catholic priest Briceño was indicted on May 14, 2003 on eight counts of sexual conduct with a minor and sexual abuse, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office requested our assistance in locating and extraditing him from Mexico, where he fled to avoid prosecution. Working with the U.S. State Department and Mexican 35
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- Page 3 and 4: 2006 Arizona Attorney General’s A
- Page 5 and 6: 2005-2006 Highlights The Fight Agai
- Page 7 and 8: 2005-2006 Highlights Border Securit
- Page 9 and 10: 2005-2006 Highlights ID Theft As id
- Page 11 and 12: 2005-2006 Highlights Colorado City
- Page 13 and 14: 2005-2006 Highlights Baptist Founda
- Page 15 and 16: Criminal Cases (continued) State cl
- Page 17 and 18: Consumer Protection Cases (continue
- Page 19 and 20: Administrative Operations Division
- Page 21 and 22: Child and Family Protection Divisio
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- Page 25 and 26: Civil Division (continued) former a
- Page 27 and 28: Civil Rights Division (continued)
- Page 29 and 30: Civil Rights Division (continued)
- Page 31 and 32: Criminal Division (continued) law i
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- Page 39 and 40: Public Advocacy Division (continued
- Page 41 and 42: Public Advocacy Division (continued
- Page 43 and 44: Consumer Complaints More than 25,00
- Page 45: Solicitor General’s Office (conti
Criminal Division (continued)<br />
Police Officers seized more than<br />
200 pounds of marijuana and<br />
over $300,000 in cash, bank<br />
accounts, vehicles and a home.<br />
Defendants’ operation was<br />
organized to sell marijuana and<br />
methamphetamine. Defendants<br />
also were accused of using<br />
stolen credit cards to purchase<br />
gift cards that were sold for cash.<br />
• State v. Cantu and Martinez.<br />
Carmen Cantu and Francisco<br />
Martinez were sentenced to jail<br />
for their involvement in a scheme<br />
to fraudulently obtain home loans<br />
by using false and forged<br />
documents. Cantu was a real<br />
estate agent, and Martinez was a<br />
loan officer for Security Mortgage<br />
Corporation. Restitution totaled<br />
more than $90,000.<br />
• State v. Ramirez. Bernie<br />
Ramirez was convicted of several<br />
drug-dealing offenses near North<br />
Canyon High School in Phoenix.<br />
Because of his prior felony<br />
convictions, he was sentenced<br />
to three life sentences under the<br />
“Serious Drug Offender”<br />
sentencing guidelines.<br />
• State v. Andrews, Pellon and<br />
Ruiz. Defendants pled guilty to<br />
various charges of forgery and<br />
theft following an investigation<br />
revealing that they impersonated<br />
registered nurses at dialysis<br />
centers in Phoenix and Casa<br />
Grande. Defendants searched<br />
the <strong>Arizona</strong> State Board of<br />
Nursing Web site and took the<br />
identity of nurses listed.<br />
Mildreada Ruiz pled guilty to one<br />
count of theft and was sentenced<br />
to 2.5 years in prison. Melanie<br />
Andrews pled guilty to one count<br />
of forgery and received a 1.5-year<br />
prison term. Isis Pellon pled<br />
guilty to one count of forgery and<br />
was sentenced to time served<br />
and three years of probation.<br />
• State v. Sowles. Charlene<br />
Sowles pled guilty to one count<br />
of theft and sentenced to 3.5<br />
years in prison and payment of<br />
$9,720 in restitution to two<br />
nursing home residents. Sowles,<br />
who worked for a nurse registry,<br />
stole checks belonging to two<br />
residents and made unauthorized<br />
charges on their credit cards.<br />
The victims’ losses were<br />
approximately $10,000.<br />
• Devil’s Disciples Motorcycle<br />
Gang. On April 4, 2003,<br />
Heather Ford, associated with<br />
the Hell’s Angels, was beaten,<br />
tortured and sexually assaulted<br />
by members of the Devil’s<br />
Disciples motorcycle gang of<br />
Pima County. As of June 30,<br />
<strong>2006</strong>, eight defendants had<br />
entered guilty pleas to charges<br />
ranging from assisting a criminal<br />
syndicate/criminal street gang,<br />
kidnapping and solicitation to<br />
threaten/intimidate. All gang<br />
members physically involved in<br />
the assault were sentenced to<br />
prison terms from 7 to 9.25<br />
years.<br />
• Maceo Brown. While working<br />
as the director of <strong>Arizona</strong><br />
Students Association, Brown<br />
was accused of diverting more<br />
than $200,000 of public money<br />
from the organization for<br />
personal use. He then<br />
committed forgery to hide the<br />
theft. Brown awaits trial.<br />
• Allan Morgal. Morgal used a<br />
Scottsdale business that imported<br />
pottery to steal approximately<br />
$337,500 from three victims. In<br />
August 2005, he was arrested<br />
and charged. Morgal has six<br />
prior felonies. His trial is pending.<br />
• Joseph Briceño. Catholic priest<br />
Briceño was indicted on May 14,<br />
2003 on eight counts of sexual<br />
conduct with a minor and sexual<br />
abuse, and a warrant was issued<br />
for his arrest. The Maricopa<br />
County Sheriff’s Office requested<br />
our assistance in locating and<br />
extraditing him from Mexico,<br />
where he fled to avoid prosecution.<br />
Working with the U.S.<br />
State Department and Mexican<br />
35
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