U.S. Attorney's Office

GOV'S FOREST MANAGEMENT MANTRA: TIMBER!FIFE'S PRICEY SUMMIT IS A ONE-SIDED AFFAIR

A Three-Pronged Probe

State's AHCCCS program under investigation by trio of federal agencies

20/20 Out of Focus

News report critical of Arizona's U.S. attorney omitted exculpatory facts

Cowboys and Indians

Scottsdale PD officers charge onto the reservation, spark grand jury investigation

Flashes

Scottsdale PD officers charge onto the reservation, spark grand jury investigation

Rivera's Edge

After a year on the job, U.S. Attorney Jose de Jesus Rivera looks to be in the right place at the right time

Snowflake Man to Serve 26 Months in Stabbing of Co-Worker in Iraq; Was Indicted Under Military Law

Aaron Bridges Langston, 32, of Snowflake, will serve 26 months in a federal prison for stabbing his co-worker in the neck while working in Iraq. Langston, who worked for the Defense Department contractor Kellogg Brown and Root, was the supervisor for an Indian national woman he attacked on February ... More >>

Gambling Department Director Named by Governor Jan Brewer: Mark Brnovich, Legal Scholar

Goldwater Institute Mark BrnovichLegal scholar, activist, prosecutor and private prison official Mark Brnovich has been appointed director of the Arizona Department of Gaming. Scammers pay heed: This over-achieving barrister is just coming off a stint in the U.S. Attorney's Office in A ... More >>

Checker Auto Scandal! Former CSK Chief Executives Charged With Major Financial Crimes

Two former executives of the company that owns Checker Auto Parts -- both local men -- have been charged in a 31-count federal indictment with falsifying reports, lying to an auditor, and other schemes intended to manipulate the company's reported earnings.  Former CSK executives Martin G. ... More >>

Up in Smoke

Valley glass blowers and head shops fear prosecution, as Operation Pipe Dream shuts down a local manufacturer

Soft Cell

Special handling for a federal prosecutor's drunken-driving case sparks controversy in sheriff's ranks

Feds Will Retry Symington on Criminal Counts, Sources Say

Special handling for a federal prosecutor's drunken-driving case sparks controversy in sheriff's ranks

America's Toughest Suspects

Is Sheriff Joe's pink underwear in Bureau's drawer?

Flashes

Is Sheriff Joe's pink underwear in Bureau's drawer?

Handgun Nets Illegal Immigrant Nearly Five Years in Prison

.38 Superwww.gunsetc.com "Alien in possession of a firearm" sounds a tad like science-fiction poetry, but it's also the title of a federal statute - and one that's putting a Mexican national behind bars for about five years. While gun ownership is an Arizonan's birthright, (the state constitution g ... More >>

Internet Police: Feds and Arizona Law Enforcment Data to be Exchanged Online

Image: U.S. Attorney's Office The computing capabilities of law enforcement upgraded today with the "completion" of AZLink, an Internet-based system of sharing federal and local data about criminals and illegal immigrants. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Phoenix says the program: ...allows connected ... More >>

Bank Robberies on the Rise in Valley; Feds and Local Authorities Pledge to Work Cases Hard

The number of bank robberies in the Valley have doubled compared to the first few months of 2008, prompting authorities to pledge to work harder on the cases. From January to May 1 in 2008, robbers held up 44 Valley banks. In the same four months in 2009, they hit 88. There were 179 bank ... More >>

BASE Jump in Grand Canyon Costs Daredevil $5,000; Conviction Includes Year of Probation

Image: www.chrismcnamara.com BASE jumper Chris McNamara must pay a $5,000 fine for leaping from a cliff in the Grand Canyon National Park. The winged daredevil and climber from Marin County, California did his wicked deed on November 5, 2007, during a badass Canyon adventure with climbing superstar ... More >>

Dennis Burke Confirmed as U.S. Attorney in Arizona

​ Dennis Burke, one of former Governor Janet Napolitano's chiefs-of-staff, has been confirmed as the next U.S. Attorney in Arizona. Burke's ultra-qualified for the job. He's a graduate of Georgetown University and University of Arizona, worked as counsel under former Arizona Senator Dennis D ... More >>

Saguaro Cactus Rustler Sentenced to Eight Months in Prison Should Have Called APS

A bulldozer shreds a saguaro in this image from a YouTube video.​ Two Tucson men were sentenced recently for stealing Saguaro cacti from inside Saguaro National Park, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced today. Joseph Tillman, 50, will serve eight months in federal prison. His b ... More >>

December 11 In Blogs: Modified's Farewell, Michele Laudig, and the Goldwater Institute

​In the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times' blogs. Today's entries: Feathered Bastard: Dennis Burke Admits There's "a Problem" with Joe Arpaio's Rampage, Source Says the U.S. A ... More >>

January 11 In Blogs: No Pants Ride, Spoon, Culver's, and John McCain

​In the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times' blogs. Today's entries: Feathered Bastard: Federal Witnesses Against Joe Arpaio Still Fear MCSO; U.S. Attorney's Office Suggested Th ... More >>

Nativists Go Nuts at a Phoenix Walmart, and the Arizona Republic Belittles the U.S. Attorney’s Investigation of Sheriff Joe Arpaio

​In the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times' blogs. Today's entries: Feathered Bastard: Federal Witnesses Against Joe Arpaio Still Fear MCSO; U.S. Attorney's Office Suggested Th ... More >>

U.S. Justice Department's Public Integrity Boss Blasts Arpaio/Thomas Lawyer

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Joe Arpaio and Andrew Thomas Stunned Into Silence by Smack-Down Letter by Public Integrity Section Boss

Andrew Thomas, at his farcical March 11 news conference with Sheriff Joe Arpaio.​ Hear that?It's the sound of Sheriff Joe Arpaio and County Attorney Andrew Thomas saying absolutely nothing after their March 11 news conference was shown to be a total farce.At the conference with the elected o ... More >>

Michael Turney Pleads Guilty to Possessing 26 Pipe Bombs; Father of Missing Girl Planned to Blow Up Union Hall, Cops Say

  Image: www.abcnews.com​The stepfather of a girl who went missing in 2001 pleaded guilty on Tuesday to possessing 26 pipe bombs, the U.S. Attorney's Office reported today. Michael Turney, 62, (right) had reportedly planned to use the bombs to launch a suicide attack on a local un ... More >>

Tax Fraud Suspect Wanted by IRS; Local Man Part of Elaborate Scheme to Steal Millions in Refunds

A California fugitive caught after a years-long "cat-and-mouse hunt" had defrauded the IRS of millions of dollars in a high-tech refund-stealing scheme, federal authorities now say. The fugitive, Daniel Rigmaiden, 29, of Santa Clara, was caught in August 2008, but one of his all ... More >>

Wig Bandit Leader Sentenced to More Than a Century in Prison

​The leader of a group of Valley bank robbers, who wore wigs during the majority of their heists, was sentenced to more than 100 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced today.Julio Cesar Feliciano, Jr., 46, was sentenced to 106 years in federal prison this morning for his role in ... More >>

Captor of "Macho B" -- Last Living Jaguar in Arizona Before Being Killed in Captivity -- Pleads Guilty to Endangered Species Violation

Arizona Game and Fish Department Macho B​The man who captured an endangered jaguar, whose controversial death sparked outrage from animal-rights groups, pleaded guilty in federal court today to prohibited "take" of an animal.Emil McCain, a biologist working for the Borderlands Jaguar Detect ... More >>

Laveen Woman Gets Prison Time for Cleaning Up Blood and Lying to Cops After Deadly Beating

www.originalalamo.com​If someone's beaten to death in front of you, thrown in a garbage can, and dragged into the desert, do yourself a favor and let someone else clean up the blood.A Laveen woman learning this the hard way after she was sentenced today to 14 months in prison after plea ... More >>

Rick Renzi's Accountant, Dwayne Lequire, Guilty of Embezzling Funds; Former Counsel for Renzi, Andrew Beardall, Acquitted of Charges

Rick Renzi​ A federal jury yesterday handed a guilty verdict to Rick Renzi's accountant, Dwayne Lequire, for embezzling $796,000 from the former Congressman's company -- and conspiring with Renzi to do it. He faces up to 85 years in prison when he's sentenced on October 18. Th ... More >>

Leader of "RIP Crew" Gets 15 Years in Prison for Cop-Staged Cocaine Robbery and Gun Conviction

​The leader of the "RIP Crew," a group of thugs involved in the illegal-gun and drug business, was sentenced to federal prison on Tuesday.A federal judge handed down a sentence of 15 years in federal prison for 30-year-old Juan Victor Munoz, a convicted felon, for his role in the sale of an il ... More >>

Dr. Emilio Luna, Phoenix Pediatrician, Charged by Feds for Distributing Child Porn

Image: wwwdvpeds.comEmilio Luna, a Phoenix pediatrician, has been charged with distributing child pornography​ Just when you think things can't get any sicker... Phoenix pediatrician Emilio Luna has been charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office with distributing thousands of child porn photos int ... More >>

Federal Grand Jury Indicts 34 in Gun and Drug Trafficking Ring

www.world.guns.ru​A federal grand jury has indicted 34 people in a massive drug and firearm trafficking ring. The indictment, unsealed this morning, alleges that defendants were helping supply Mexican drug cartels with weapons bought in Arizona. The indictment alleges that between September 2009 a ... More >>

Jared Loughner Charges: Feds to Have First Crack at Tucson Shooting Suspect; State Charges to Follow

Federal prosecutors will get the first crack at Tucson shooting suspect Jared Loughner.​The U.S. Attorney's Office and the Pima County Attorney's Office issued a joint statement this morning outlining how prosecuting Tucson shooting suspect Jared Loughner will go forward.Loughner, who author ... More >>

Sedona Couple Sentenced to Prison in 2009 Tax Evasion, Conspiracy Case

filmsy.com​We never thought we'd say this, but this Sedona couple could have learned a thing or two from Wesley Snipes.William Steiniger and his wife Diane Steiniger were convicted on tax evasion and conspiracy charges in 2009, and were sentenced Thursday to prison terms of a combined 50 mon ... More >>

Tom Horne Defers SCA Investigation to Feds; State AG Won't Go After Sheriff's Office

Tom Horne has "elected" to defer the SCA case to the feds.​ Tom Horne, the state Attorney General, inherited the SCA case from his predecessor, Terry Goddard. The case is all about the dirty politics played by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and the state Republican Party. Briefly, it in ... More >>

Morning Poll: Is State AG Tom Horne the Latest to Cower to Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio?

James KingAnything for you, Joe.​Last week, the much-anticipated SCA investigative report was released to the public (New Times staffers had a blast thumbing through some of the findings, which may or may not involve seducing a "live sheep." Check it out here and here).The case involves the lies, ... More >>

Carving Your Name Into 1000-Plus-Year-Old Petroglyphs Could Earn You 60 Months Probation...At Least

www.savingantiquities.orgTrent was here​A North Carolina man was sentenced to 60 months probation for scratching his name into petroglyphs along the Colorado River that are more than 1,000 years old.In addition to the probation, Trenton Austin Ganey must pay $10,000 restitution and complete 100 co ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Users Become Legal: Nearly 600 People Approved, Mostly for Chronic Pain

  ​Most people approved to use marijuana legally in Arizona complain of chronic pain related to back problems, severe headaches, injuries or arthritis, new stats show. The Department of Health Services is keeping close track of nearly every facet of the program, and will also soon relea ... More >>

In Honor of Joe Arpaio's "Mugshot of the Day" Mess, New Times Presents: "Mouthless Meth Dealer Celebrity Mugshot Matchup"

Maricopa County Sheriff's OfficeAlan John Shepard needs a jaw. Perhaps we can help him out.​Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio recently unveiled a controversial contest on his website asking the general public to vote for their favorite mugshot of an alleged criminal who's been booked into one of ... More >>

Feds Drop Charges Against Captor of "Macho B," Last Known Wild Jaguar in Country Killed in Captivity

Macho B​Charges against an Arivaca woman who admitted to violations of the Endangered Species Act for her role in the death of "Macho B," the nation's last known wild jaguar, will be dropped -- as long as she stays out of jaguar or large-cat studies for a year and does not violate any laws.& ... More >>

ICE Agent Accused of Leaking Sensitive Information to Family Members With Ties to Drug Cartels

​A Nogales-based Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agent was arrested yesterday for allegedly handing over sensitive government documents to family members with "strong" ties to drug cartels.According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Jovana Samaniego Deas, 33, a special agent with the agen ... More >>

Fernando Woody, Fetus-Killing Father, Gets 10 Years in Prison for Death of Unborn Baby

​The United States Attorney's Office announced today that a man who killed his unborn baby has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter.Fernando Woody, 28, of Fort Defiance pleaded guilty to the crime in March.

Tucson Man Indicted for Posing as Air Force Officer to Enter Base

www.legionofvalormuseum.com​According to the United States Attorney's Office, a Tucson man went to some extraordinary lengths to gain access to an Air Force base earlier this year. Once inside, he bought stuff from the base's commissary in what a U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman tells New Ti ... More >>

Army Private Busted Trying to Board Airplane With C4 Explosives

www.scifihero.net.​A Colorado-based Army private getting explosives training in Yuma was arrested yesterday after police say he tried to board a commercial airplane while carrying explosives.U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Robbie Sherwood says Army Private First Class Christopher Eric Wey, 19, tr ... More >>

Army Private Busted Trying to Board Airplane With C4 Explosives

www.scifihero.net.​A Colorado-based Army private getting explosives training in Yuma was arrested yesterday after police say he tried to board a commercial airplane while carrying explosives.U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Robbie Sherwood says Army Private First Class Christopher Eric Wey, 19, tr ... More >>

Fiesta Bowl Scandal: Former COO Natalie Wisneski Indicted

​Natalie Wisneski, the former chief operating officer for the Fiesta Bowl, has been indicted in federal court on charges that she tried to cover up illegal campaign contributions by bowl employees, and that she filed false financial records, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced today.Wisneski is t ... More >>

Findings of Racial-Profiling, Civil-Rights Investigation Into Sheriff Arpaio's Office to be Announced by Feds

​ The findings of a three-year probe into allegations of racial profiling and other civil rights allegations against Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office will be revealed this morning by the U.S. Justice Department.The Civil Rights Division has run a wide-ranging investigation into the "patterns and pr ... More >>

Findings of Racial-Profiling, Civil-Rights Investigation Into Sheriff Arpaio's Office to be Announced by Feds

​ The findings of a three-year probe into allegations of racial profiling and other civil rights allegations against Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office will be revealed this morning by the U.S. Justice Department.The Civil Rights Division has run a wide-ranging investigation into the "patterns and pr ... More >>