U.S. Attorney's Office

Will the Feds Ever Shut Down Arizona's Medical-Marijuana Dispensary Industry?

As our colleague Ray Stern pointed out yesterday, it was not even a year ago that Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk declared the feds would shut down every medical-marijuana dispensary in Arizona "as it opens."Stern called bull on Polk's claims at the time, and as you can tell at this point -- sin ... More >>

Todd Fries Going to Prison for Decorating Home of Non-Paying Customers With Chemicals, Feces, Dead Animals, and Swastikas

Todd Fries, also known as Todd Burns -- the owner of Burns Power Washing in Tucson -- was shorted $200 for a power-washing job four years ago, because his customers didn't think Fries' employees did such a great job.Fries' response to this non-payment has earned him more than 12 years in federal pri ... More >>

Tucson Residents Accused of Being Big-Time Cocaine Suppliers for South Florida

When you think of cocaine in America, you might think of South Florida, where the cocaine trade was absolutely insane in the '80s.Well, it turns out that "the biggest cocaine dealer" in one South Florida county gets his cocaine from Tucson, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Medical Marijuana Supported by Former Anti-Drug, Reagan-Appointed U.S. Attorney

On the list of people we'd probably never expect to come out in support of the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act, we'd probably put an anti-drug crusader U.S. Attorney who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan somewhere near the top of the list.However, we've seen that man, A. Melvin McDonald, all ov ... More >>

Scottsdale Ponzi-Schemer Gets Jail Time for Stealing Cacti

A Scottsdale man who once had a role in a $64 million Ponzi scheme will spend his weekends in jail for the next eight months for stealing cacti.The U.S. Attorney's Office in Arizona says 46-year-old Kenneth Cobb stole eight saguaro cacti from federal land, which is one of the biggest no-nos in Arizo ... More >>

Arizona's Top Ten News Stories of 2012

All in all, 2012 hasn't been that bad of a year. Some good stuff transpired, and some of it happened because New Times' scribes made it happen. Usually to some very deserving recipients. The great H.L. Mencken said it long ago, and it still holds true today: "Journalism is to politician as dog is t ... More >>

Tom Horne's Court Date Set for Friday on Hit-and-Run Charge

I'll say one thing for living in Sand Land, it's never boring. This Friday at 9:30 a.m., in Phoenix Municipal Court, Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne could be arraigned on the charge of hit-and-run on an unattended vehicle, a class 3 misdemeanor. I say "could be" because Don Taylor a spokesman fo ... More >>

Tucson Man, Shorted $200 for a Power-Washing Job, Convicted in Attacks Involving Chemicals, Feces, Dead Animals, and More

About four years ago, Todd Fries, the owner of Burns Power Washing, was shorted $200 for a power-washing job because his customers didn't think Fries' employees did such a great job.Fries responded to this lack of payment by spreading things outside the customers' home including (but not limited to) ... More >>

Joe Arpaio "Kidnapped"? Ex-DEA Honcho Phil Jordan Cries Foul

See also: Sheriff Joe buffaloes readers with bogus yarns in his book Joe's Law See also: Arpaio denies writing, reading or agreeing with his book "JOE'S LAW" See also: Joe Arpaio's Early Christmas Gift from President Obama and the U.S. Attorney's Office See also: The Feds Proved Themselves a Cage of ... More >>

John Leonardo, Arizona's New U.S. Attorney, is No Fan of Sheriff Arpaio

See also: Andrew Thomas' Total Defeat on Mary Rose Wilcox Case: An Analysis of Judge Leonardo's Ruling See also: John Leonardo, Obama Nominee for Arizona U.S. Attorney, Said In 2010 Ruling That Sheriff Arpaio "Misused the Power of His Office" The new Arizona U.S. Attorney, John Leonardo, will inhe ... More >>

Kansas Cop Accused of Stealing a Joe Arpaio Poster From a Meth-Head Lawyer

Adding to the list of illogical things surrounding the aura of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a Kansas cop is accused of stealing a framed poster of the sheriff from an office belonging to a former lawyer convicted on meth charges.Really, the only thing better about this than the fact that an e ... More >>

Dan Wise, Former Scottsdale CPA, Arrested -- Again -- for Charges Related to Alleged $66 Million Ponzi Scheme

Dan Wise, a former Scottsdale accountant, was arrested yesterday for crimes related to allegedly running a $66 million Ponzi scheme, marking the fourth time he's been arrested in connection with the same scheme.Wise, 55, was indicted earlier in the week on 102 federal charges for the alleged scheme, ... More >>

Sheriff Joe Arpaio Should be Charged, Eric Holder Told in Letter by Former Prosecutors

Phil Gordon, Paul Charlton, Rick Romley and Terry Goddard sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder today asking him to have Sheriff Joe Arpaio charged for abusing his power. Gordon's a former Phoenix mayor; Charlton a former Arizona U.S. Attorney; Romley a former Maricopa County Attorney a ... More >>

African Refugees Apparently Didn't Try to Sneak a Fake Bomb Through Sky Harbor Airport

​Charges have been dropped against three African refugees who were arrested in August after one of them was accused of trying tried to pass through security at Sky Harbor International Airport with a fake bomb.Court documents suggested they were attempting to test the "effectiveness of screening p ... More >>

Joe Arpaio on Blast by Citizens for a Better Arizona in New Video

CBA demands accountability of Arpaio in the latest video by Dennis Gilman A point some local journos missed concerning the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors' recent hearing on Sheriff Joe Arpaio's various misdeeds was that the special meeting, which addressed Arpaio's racial profiling and his bun ... More >>

Arpaio Corruption: The Feds Have Spoken, But Justice Won't Be Served Until the Sheriff's Indicted

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

Jared Loughner Federally Indicted for Murders of All Victims -- Not Just Federal Employees

Jared Loughner, the lone suspect in the Tucson shooting rampage, has been formally charged with murder.​The U.S. Attorney's Office announced this morning that a 49-count federal indictment has been returned charging Jared Loughner, the lone suspect in the January 8, Tucson shooting rampage, ... More >>

Jared Loughner Judge Denies Request to Block Release of Victims' Autopsies

Jared Lee Loughner​The judge handling the case of Tucson shooting suspect Jared Loughner denied requests from both prosecutors and Loughner's defense attorney to block the release of autopsy reports of the victims of the shooting to the public.Prosecutors filed a motion voicing concerns that media ... More >>

Jared Loughner Attorneys Join Prosecutors in Request to Bar Release of Victims' Autopsy Reports

Jared Lee Loughner​Federal prosecutors handling the the trial of Jared Loughner, the lone suspect in the January 8, shooting rampage in Tucson, have requested a gag order that would bar the release of the autopsies of the six people killed during the attack. Today, Loughner's attorneys ... More >>

Prosecutors Seek Gag Order for Autopsies of Tucson Shooting Victims

Jared Loughner​Federal prosecutors in the trial of Jared Loughner, the lone suspect in the January 8, shooting rampage in Tucson, have requested a gag order that would bar the release of the autopsies of the six people killed during the attack.The request was made to U.S. District Judge Larry Burn ... More >>

Jared Loughner Trial by September, Judge Orders

Jared Loughner will go to trial by September.​The judge overseeing the case of Tucson shooting suspect Jared Loughner ordered yesterday that his trial is to take place by September 20.So far, Loughner's been charged with two counts of attempted murder, and one count of attempted assassination for ... More >>

Arizona Prison Escapees Indicted for Murder; Could Face Death Penalty

Tracy Province (left) and John McCluskey​Arizona prison inmate John McCluskey might just get his morbid wish.After McCluskey and his cousin/would-be-wife, Casslyn Welch, were arrested last month, McCluskey tried to kill himself in prison. Today, the U.S. Attorney's Office says the the two -- ... 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 >>

Cuban Drug Dealers Found Guilty After Trying to Buy 22 Pounds of Cocaine

www.popartuk.com​When we hear about large amounts of cocaine and Cuban guys we're instantly compelled to make some lame reference to saying hello to "my little friend." The story of two Cuban nationals who tried to buy 22 pounds of cocaine near Tucson last year isn't nearly as sexy as the na ... More >>

Second "Macho B" Captor Charged in Jaguar's Capture

Arizona Game and Fish Department"Macho"​Last week, a biologist working for the Borderlands Jaguar Detection Project admitted that in February of 2009 he had illegally placed a jaguar scat in the Atascosa Mountains near Ruby and directed a woman to place jaguar scats at snare sites that were author ... 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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

Don Stapley's New Criminal Defense Attorney Used to Do What Andy Thomas Never Did -- Prosecute Major Crimes

Supervisor Don Stapley, one of two Maricopa County supes under criminal indictment, has hired a new defense attorney to defend him against the latest set of charges he faces from County Attorney Andrew Thomas. ​His name is Kurt Altman (pictured), and he earned his stripe ... More >>

Convicted Killer Charged in 1973 Murder of FBI Agent's Daughter; 22-year-Old's Body Found at Fort Huachuca

Image: Wisconsin Department of Corrections​ A convicted killer serving a life sentence in Wisconsin for a 1978 double-murder has been charged in the 1973 murder of 22-year-old Leesa Jo Shaner. According to an article last year in the Wisconsin's Journal-Sentinel, Shaner was on her way to pic ... More >>

ICE Agent and Customs Officer Charged With Fraud in Alleged Government Credit Card Scam

An agent with the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a Customs officer were arrested this morning after being indicted on suspicion of stealing government money. Agent Michael J. Kittson, 34, and U.S. Customs Patrol Officer Douglas R. Bothof are named in a 47-count indictment th ... More >>

Human Growth Hormone Sales Sprout Indictments for Phoenix Pharmacy and Workers

A Phoenix pharmacy and its owner have been indicted for selling up to $8 million in human-growth hormone to doctors without receiving prescriptions. An announcement from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Phoenix also says the Compounding Center, 4045 East Bell Road, and wholesale division manager ... More >>

"Bad Hair" Bandit Busted in Scottsdale; Reserve Deputy Thought "Big Afro Wig" was Strange

  Jim Jeselun, a reserve deputy for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, thought something was odd about a man he saw walking into a Scottsdale bank on Monday. For one thing, he was wearing a "big Afro wig." When the man came out of the First Fidelity Bank at 7401 E. Camelback R ... More >>

Hamas-Tied Charity Group Helper Pleads Guilty to Lying to FBI

A Mesa father and engineer has pleaded guilty to charges of lying to the FBI about his involvement in a charity organization tied to Hamas. Between 1994 and 1997, Akram Musa Abdallah, 54, raised funds for the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, which the federal government accuses of f ... More >>

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 >>

Tribal Belt

Margarite Faras tried to fix what she thought was wrong with the San Carlos Apache Reservation. Instead, San Carlos fixed her.

Flashes 08-03-2000

Undoing Time, They're Baaaaaack, Double Your Pleasure, and Me and Julio

Trainspotting

Nearly three years after Amtrak's Sunset Limited was sabotaged near Buckeye, firefighters who rode to the rescue remain on the FBI's list of suspects

Viper Snitch Hits a Glitch

He was the mystery informant in the Viper militia case. Now he's resurfaced after a year on the run. And he wants what's coming to him.

Bob Hartle's Identity Crisis

A con man stole his good name and good credit; the law wouldn't help him get it back

Flashes

20/20 Out of Focus

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

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

FEDS PROBE SYMINGTON FIRMA GRAND JURY INVESTIGATES THE GOVERNOR'S DEVELOPMENT COMPANY AND ITS NUMEROUS FAILED REAL ESTATE DEALS

LAWYERS, GUNS AND MONEY

THE FEDS DESPERATELY WANTED THE CROATION IMMIRANT TO BE AN ILLEGAL GUNRUNNER. WHEN HE REFUSED, THEY BUSTED HIM ANYWAY.

A FATAL CAE OF GOLD FEVER

FRED SCHRADER WOULDN'T PULL THE TRIGGER IF HIS LIFE DEPENDED ON IT. UNFORTUNATELY IT DID.

The White Man's Justice