AZMEX UPDATE 30 OCT 2013
Only 15 dead in Sinaloa the third week of Oct. compared to 26 the week before.
Steller: Nogales prosecutors call out federal agent
10 hours ago • Tim Steller Arizona Daily Star
NOGALES, Ariz. - You can imagine how this story might have ended.
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/column/steller-nogales-prosecutors-call-out-federal-agent/article_472113bc-53cc-5d87-8d09-5b0467888507.html
The defendant, Eduardo Bojorquez, would have been convicted, by a jury or through a guilty plea, and sentenced to prison. Nobody would have been the wiser about how the conviction was won.
This border town would have taken note that another of the former city public works employees, arrested for drug trafficking in a very public way on June 20, 2012, had gone to the slammer. They would have clucked and moved on.
But something strange happened on the way to prison.
A couple of young prosecutors, relatively recent graduates of the University of Arizona's James E. Rogers College of Law, saw something wrong: a federal agent who they thought had lied about the case. Rather than working things out behind the scenes, they blew the whistle.
Assistant Santa Cruz County Attorney Vanessa Cartwright, who grew up in Tucson and graduated from the law school in 2007, alerted her boss, Liliana Ortega, the chief deputy overseeing criminal cases, a 1998 UA law grad. They are two of just nine attorneys in the office, in a town that is practically fed-ville — home to hundreds and hundreds of federal agents.
On Sept. 16, Ortega wrote a jarring letter to the man in charge of the Homeland Security Investigations office in Nogales:
"One issue is the case agent's late disclosure of a surveillance video showing Mr. Bojorquez involved in the drug smuggling offense. Although this video existed since 2009, the agent did not make it available for viewing until August of 2013, a few weeks before trial. This late disclosure, if not intentional, was at minimum grossly negligent on Agent (Eduardo) Cota's part."
"More disturbing was the content of the video. The video directly contradicted statements that Agent Cota made to the prosecutor, to defense counsel and in the agent's own reports. The agent also omitted vital information from the reports and from his discussions with the prosecutor that would have impacted the filing of charges against Mr. Bojorquez."
This was Ortega's kicker: "Our office has grave concerns not only as to the facts of the case, but also about Agent Cota's credibiity. As such, we feel this office can no longer prosecute any cases involving Agent Cota."
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has removed the agent, known universally in Nogales as Eddie Cota, from investigating cases and put him on desk duty. They're conducting an internal investigation and deciding what to do next, spokeswoman Amber Cargile said in a statement.
This is remarkable in part because Cota is a well-known agent in the town, having come up through the ranks of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Department and Nogales Police Department before signing on with the feds in 2000. It's also an extraordinarily rare, if not unique, act in recent Nogales history, Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada told me Tuesday.
That's something coming from a man who has spent 45 years in Nogales law enforcement, 20 of them as sheriff.
I met Cota in 1999 when covering the discovery of two tunnels used for smuggling, one of which came up at Sacred Heart Church, the town's Catholic parish. He struck me then as a hotshot young investigator who knew his way around Ambos Nogales, as the border cities on both sides of the line are known.
In this case, Cota aimed at city of Nogales workers. A presentence report on co-defendant Fernando Islas Jr. says agents approached him in November 2009, told him they knew he was involved in smuggling and persuaded him to inform on other city workers in the underworld business.
Mysteriously, federal prosecutors did not take the case, but in 2012, county prosecutors agreed to. That led to a very public set of arrests on June 20, 2012: All of the city's public works employees were called to a meeting, and three of them — Bojorquez, Islas and Francisco Rene Fuentes — were arrested by Cota and other agents before the surprised group.
The downfall came in August when Cartwright first saw a 2009 surveillance video that revealed an informant who also was a source of information in the case was taking part in the crimes that Bojorquez and the others were accused of, said Islas' attorney, Matt Davidson.
The prosecutors' reaction was quick and decisive enough to shake up Nogales law enforcement. Cartwright, an exuberant personality with multicolored nails and a gumball machine on her office wall, said she and Ortega had no doubt what to do, and County Attorney George Silva agreed.
"We acted quickly, and I have no second thoughts about it," Cartwright told me Tuesday. "Sometimes guilty people go free, but that's the way it works because we play by the rules."
Indeed, prosecutors have dismissed the case against Bojorquez and are reviewing the cases against co-defendants Islas and Fuentes, both of whom have already pleaded guilty.
But the reverberations could go even further. Ortega has asked ICE to find out which other county cases Cota worked on, while acknowledging that most of his cases were likely federal prosecutions handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
All this because, as an appreciative Davidson put it, "The prosecutors were straight up, and not only that, they were timely."
end
Posted October 29, 2013 , 5:01 a.m.
Padres Insists on improving safety in the State
The Governor stressed the benefits of the scheme implemented in Sonora to Citizen Security Committee .
By leading the meeting of the State Security Council
Hermosillo , Sonora - Nuevo Dia
http://www.nuevodia.com.mx/local/insiste-padres-en-mejorar-seguridad-en-el-estado/
With the agreements to continue with strategies to keep Sonora as a secure state and citizen empowerment continue around this issue , Governor Guillermo Padres led the Fifteenth Ordinary Session of the State Board of Public Safety.
The president stressed the benefits of the scheme implemented in Sonora to Citizen Security Committee , which allows it to be the people responsible for making decisions as important as proposing to the Secretary for Security and the Attorney , as well as deciding the strategies and actions in this topic .
" We have made a difference in which citizens give the place they deserve to see security issues . Political will , political come , but citizens stay and it is they who must manage long-term policies on the issue of security, "he said.
The Governor recommended to the mayors to replicate this model in municipalities for citizens to work hand in hand with municipalities for the safety of all.
Thanks to the coordinated effort between state, municipalities and Federation said , Sonora remains the safest of the border states and one of eight with lower perceived in crime rates according to INEGI statistics .
Padres agreed to the request of President Enrique Pena Nieto , that the governors of the states that are leading the safety meetings , something that is already done in Sonora and urged the mayors to do the same in their municipalities .
Among the topics discussed at the meeting , said the terms of vehicles from illegal because according to statistics , most of the crimes are committed in Sonora aboard an illegal car . (stolen from AZ)
"We have to take responsibility and take action on the matter . It's a respectful request that we make from the President of the Council , the Governor, as a friend I tell you , they have to be more strict and put a very firm policy , "he told the mayors.
In addition to the assessments concerning Reliability Control Center , which was fully achieved Sonora regarding elements , however , there are outstanding middle should be evaluated promptly.
The session was attended Ernesto Munro Palacio, Executive Secretary of Public Security , Roberto Romero López , Secretary of Government , Carlos Alberto Navarro Sugich , State Attorney General , Juan Carlos Solis Lopez , Coordinator of the Committee for Public Safety , Brenda Lohr Peralta , Officer Office of the Attorney General of the Republic Centella Servando Perez , commander of the Fourth Military Zone , Ruben Medina Muro, Commander Naval Region Four ; Hilario Mata Miguel Tinoco , commander of the 45th Military Zone , Raul Ramirez Ramirez, President of the Human Rights Commission , John Sebastian Sotomayor Tovar , President of the Supreme Court , Shirley Vasquez Guadalupe Romero , President of the State Congress ; Perla Aguilar Zuzuki Lugo , President of the Public Safety Commission of the State Congress , Adolfo García Morales , in Sonora State Coordinator of the Ministry of Interior, Rodrigo Martínez Celis Wogau , Delegate in Sonora Research Center and National Security ; Samuel Rivera Gutierrez, State Coordinator of the Federal Police , Manuel Ángel Barrios Macario , director General of State Police Researcher and Ulises Mendez Manuelle Alonso - Gomez, director General of Public Safety State Police and Mayors and representatives of the 72 municipalities of Sonora.
END
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Monday, October 28, 2013
AZMEX SPECIAL 28-10-13
AZMEX SPECIAL 28 OCT 2013
Border ambulance leaving city with $250k in unpaid bills
http://www.nogalesinternational.com/news/border-ambulance-leaving-
city-with-k-in-unpaid-bills/article_891de1c2-3d92-11e3-
b749-001a4bcf887a.html
Posted: Friday, October 25, 2013 9:28 am
By Curt Prendergast Nogales International
Ambulances rushing down Grand Avenue toward the downtown port of
entry are a familiar sight for Nogalians, but meanwhile the City of
Nogales is left holding the bag on about a quarter of a million
dollars in unpaid charges each year, according to finance department
records.
Injured border crossers and patients from Mexico have proven to be a
hefty financial burden. In fiscal year 2012-13, Nogales billed the
federal government $300,058 for sending Nogales Fire Department
ambulances to pick up people at the border. Of that, the city
recouped just $47,740, said Angel Suarez, assistant director of the
city's finance department.
Suarez said the reimbursement came from the Division of Immigration
Health Services, based on its own billing scale.
A similar situation unfolded in 2011-12, with the city billing
$277,382 to pick up people at the border and only receiving $29,919.
So far in 2013-14, the city has billed $76,055 for the months of
July, August, and September -- on pace to bill about $304, 000 for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014 -- but has received only $5,310
in payment.
The city charges an average of $1,210 per ambulance run, which
includes NFD's base rate plus mileage, Suarez said.
NFD does not keep records of whether the person picked up at the
border was injured while jumping the fence, suffered trauma from a
car accident in Sonora, or ill with diabetes or other ailments,
according to Gerardo Castro, Emergency Medical Services director at NFD.
Department officials are talking about creating an electronic system
to track such information, but there is no specific plan to do so, he
said.
The slight but steady growth in the number of people picked up at the
border by NFD ambulances in the past three years indicates that the
problem is not going away anytime soon.
In 2011-12, NFD transported people from the border 230 times, an
average of 19 per month. The next year that number rose to 248,
upping the monthly average to 20. So far in 2013-14, NFD has made 63
trips to the border for an average of 21 per month.
In May 2011, a new border fence was installed in downtown Nogales
that measures 23 to 30 feet high, more than twice the height of the
10-foot-high landing mat fence it replaced.
From January to May 2011, NFD made 83 ambulance runs to the border
for an average of 16 per month.
After the new fence was installed, the number of times NFD ambulances
transported someone from the border spiked from 14 in June and 17 in
July to 33 in August and 31 in September, reaching a monthly average
of 22 for the last six months of 2011 before returning to a monthly
average of 16 in the first six months of 2012.
END
Border ambulance leaving city with $250k in unpaid bills
http://www.nogalesinternational.com/news/border-ambulance-leaving-
city-with-k-in-unpaid-bills/article_891de1c2-3d92-11e3-
b749-001a4bcf887a.html
Posted: Friday, October 25, 2013 9:28 am
By Curt Prendergast Nogales International
Ambulances rushing down Grand Avenue toward the downtown port of
entry are a familiar sight for Nogalians, but meanwhile the City of
Nogales is left holding the bag on about a quarter of a million
dollars in unpaid charges each year, according to finance department
records.
Injured border crossers and patients from Mexico have proven to be a
hefty financial burden. In fiscal year 2012-13, Nogales billed the
federal government $300,058 for sending Nogales Fire Department
ambulances to pick up people at the border. Of that, the city
recouped just $47,740, said Angel Suarez, assistant director of the
city's finance department.
Suarez said the reimbursement came from the Division of Immigration
Health Services, based on its own billing scale.
A similar situation unfolded in 2011-12, with the city billing
$277,382 to pick up people at the border and only receiving $29,919.
So far in 2013-14, the city has billed $76,055 for the months of
July, August, and September -- on pace to bill about $304, 000 for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014 -- but has received only $5,310
in payment.
The city charges an average of $1,210 per ambulance run, which
includes NFD's base rate plus mileage, Suarez said.
NFD does not keep records of whether the person picked up at the
border was injured while jumping the fence, suffered trauma from a
car accident in Sonora, or ill with diabetes or other ailments,
according to Gerardo Castro, Emergency Medical Services director at NFD.
Department officials are talking about creating an electronic system
to track such information, but there is no specific plan to do so, he
said.
The slight but steady growth in the number of people picked up at the
border by NFD ambulances in the past three years indicates that the
problem is not going away anytime soon.
In 2011-12, NFD transported people from the border 230 times, an
average of 19 per month. The next year that number rose to 248,
upping the monthly average to 20. So far in 2013-14, NFD has made 63
trips to the border for an average of 21 per month.
In May 2011, a new border fence was installed in downtown Nogales
that measures 23 to 30 feet high, more than twice the height of the
10-foot-high landing mat fence it replaced.
From January to May 2011, NFD made 83 ambulance runs to the border
for an average of 16 per month.
After the new fence was installed, the number of times NFD ambulances
transported someone from the border spiked from 14 in June and 17 in
July to 33 in August and 31 in September, reaching a monthly average
of 22 for the last six months of 2011 before returning to a monthly
average of 16 in the first six months of 2012.
END
Saturday, October 26, 2013
AZMEX POLICY 29-10-13
AZMEX POLICY 26 OCT 2013
Fed & local.
Updated Oct 25, 2013 - 5:36 pm
Rep. Trent Franks: GOP plans to bring immigration reform to House floor
By Sandra Haros
Originally published: Oct 25, 2013 - 5:11 pm
http://www.ktar.com/22/1672280/Rep-Trent-Franks-GOP-plans-to-bring-
immigration-reform-to-House-floor
PHOENIX -- The Republican Party has plans to discuss comprehensive
immigration reform on the floor of the U.S. House, an Arizona
congressman said Friday.
Rep. Trent Franks said he has been meeting with House Speaker John
Boehner and the two have been working on a plan to discuss
immigration on a national level.
"We have meetings one to two times per week and I can tell you that
there is a plan to bring immigration to the floor," Franks said.
Franks told the news to a group of activists who planned to camp all
night in front of his home to demand action on immigration.
Franks said, in his opinion, the immigration system is not working
because its mired in the debate in Washington. "It's a lot harder
then for people to come here legally," he said.
Franks said the amnesty granted to millions of illegal immigrants in
1986 was the wrong way to go about handling illegal immigration. "I
want to do it right this time so that we don't have to deal with this
again in 25 or 30 years when it's even harder to do this," he said.
Franks said he hopes the new system is rooted in justice and allows
the United States to enact laws that will no longer encourage
survival of the fittest when it comes to immigrating to America.
"One of the biggest things wrong in the world today is that, somehow,
those who are not strong or those who can't defend themselves, the
voiceless, are the ones that are crushed by the ones that don't care
or don't notice," he said.
Franks did not give a timetable for the topic to be raised in the
House nor further details about the plan.
Boehner's spokesman has said the Republicans do not plan to introduce
a sweeping immigration bill, but instead will focus on making changes
through several pieces of legislation, a plan most Democrats reject.
Sandra Haros , Reporter
Phoenix PD to work with Mexico to improve Hispanic relations
By Bob McClay
Originally published: Oct 25, 2013 - 3:50 pm
http://www.ktar.com/22/1672262/Phoenix-PD-to-work-with-Mexico-to-
improve-Hispanic-relations
Phoenix Police Chief Daniel Garcia (left) and Mexican Counsel General
Roberto Hernandez are shown while announcing a partnership between
Phoenix police and the Mexican consulate on Friday, Oct. 25, 2013 in
Phoenix. (KTAR Photo/Bob McClay)
PHOENIX -- Phoenix police will soon work with Mexican leaders to try
to improve police relations with the Hispanic community.
The Mexican Consulate in Phoenix will host monthly forums in which
Phoenix police will speak to Hispanics about how to report and
prevent crime, protect their families and learn about police
community activities.
Mexican Counsel General Roberto Hernandez said learning these things
is important.
"They must be able to call the police in order to report different
crimes," he said. "In that way, they are going to be protecting their
families and the society in which they are living."
Phoenix Police Chief Daniel Garcia said that Arizona's immigration
Law, SB 1070, makes many Hispanics afraid to call the police. He said
that has to change.
"We cannot stay stuck on SB 1070. The fact is we have police for
everybody, and we have to police various areas of the city."
The police department will also use the meetings to talk about
domestic violence, child abuse and the consequences of driving under
the influence.
The consulate did not say when the forums will begin.
END
NEWS
for immediate release (9/18/2013)
MARICOPA COUNTY
Board of Supervisors District 5
301 W. Jefferson , 10th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85003
www.maricopa.gov
Wilcox named to head NACo committee on immigration reform
Wilcox named to head NACo committee on immigration reform, one of
three committee assignments
Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox has been appointed as the
chair of the Immigration Reform Task Force of the National
Association Counties (NACo). The committee is charged with developing
policy and occasionally testifying before Congressional committees on
county issues. The appointment was made by NACo President Linda
Langston, of Linn County, Iowa (Cedar Rapids).
Wilcox will also serve as vice chair of the Human Services and
Education Steering Committee for NACo and is a member of the
CyberSecurity Task Force and the Large Urban County Caucus Steering
Committee. Wilcox, of Phoenix, represents District 5 in southwestern
Maricopa County and is serving her fifth four year term. She is first
vice president of the County Supervisors Association of Arizona.
- See more at: http://www.maricopa.gov/pr_detail.aspx?
releaseID=2408#sthash.CxmrQUkX.dpuf
Fed & local.
Updated Oct 25, 2013 - 5:36 pm
Rep. Trent Franks: GOP plans to bring immigration reform to House floor
By Sandra Haros
Originally published: Oct 25, 2013 - 5:11 pm
http://www.ktar.com/22/1672280/Rep-Trent-Franks-GOP-plans-to-bring-
immigration-reform-to-House-floor
PHOENIX -- The Republican Party has plans to discuss comprehensive
immigration reform on the floor of the U.S. House, an Arizona
congressman said Friday.
Rep. Trent Franks said he has been meeting with House Speaker John
Boehner and the two have been working on a plan to discuss
immigration on a national level.
"We have meetings one to two times per week and I can tell you that
there is a plan to bring immigration to the floor," Franks said.
Franks told the news to a group of activists who planned to camp all
night in front of his home to demand action on immigration.
Franks said, in his opinion, the immigration system is not working
because its mired in the debate in Washington. "It's a lot harder
then for people to come here legally," he said.
Franks said the amnesty granted to millions of illegal immigrants in
1986 was the wrong way to go about handling illegal immigration. "I
want to do it right this time so that we don't have to deal with this
again in 25 or 30 years when it's even harder to do this," he said.
Franks said he hopes the new system is rooted in justice and allows
the United States to enact laws that will no longer encourage
survival of the fittest when it comes to immigrating to America.
"One of the biggest things wrong in the world today is that, somehow,
those who are not strong or those who can't defend themselves, the
voiceless, are the ones that are crushed by the ones that don't care
or don't notice," he said.
Franks did not give a timetable for the topic to be raised in the
House nor further details about the plan.
Boehner's spokesman has said the Republicans do not plan to introduce
a sweeping immigration bill, but instead will focus on making changes
through several pieces of legislation, a plan most Democrats reject.
Sandra Haros , Reporter
Phoenix PD to work with Mexico to improve Hispanic relations
By Bob McClay
Originally published: Oct 25, 2013 - 3:50 pm
http://www.ktar.com/22/1672262/Phoenix-PD-to-work-with-Mexico-to-
improve-Hispanic-relations
Phoenix Police Chief Daniel Garcia (left) and Mexican Counsel General
Roberto Hernandez are shown while announcing a partnership between
Phoenix police and the Mexican consulate on Friday, Oct. 25, 2013 in
Phoenix. (KTAR Photo/Bob McClay)
PHOENIX -- Phoenix police will soon work with Mexican leaders to try
to improve police relations with the Hispanic community.
The Mexican Consulate in Phoenix will host monthly forums in which
Phoenix police will speak to Hispanics about how to report and
prevent crime, protect their families and learn about police
community activities.
Mexican Counsel General Roberto Hernandez said learning these things
is important.
"They must be able to call the police in order to report different
crimes," he said. "In that way, they are going to be protecting their
families and the society in which they are living."
Phoenix Police Chief Daniel Garcia said that Arizona's immigration
Law, SB 1070, makes many Hispanics afraid to call the police. He said
that has to change.
"We cannot stay stuck on SB 1070. The fact is we have police for
everybody, and we have to police various areas of the city."
The police department will also use the meetings to talk about
domestic violence, child abuse and the consequences of driving under
the influence.
The consulate did not say when the forums will begin.
END
NEWS
for immediate release (9/18/2013)
MARICOPA COUNTY
Board of Supervisors District 5
301 W. Jefferson , 10th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85003
www.maricopa.gov
Wilcox named to head NACo committee on immigration reform
Wilcox named to head NACo committee on immigration reform, one of
three committee assignments
Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox has been appointed as the
chair of the Immigration Reform Task Force of the National
Association Counties (NACo). The committee is charged with developing
policy and occasionally testifying before Congressional committees on
county issues. The appointment was made by NACo President Linda
Langston, of Linn County, Iowa (Cedar Rapids).
Wilcox will also serve as vice chair of the Human Services and
Education Steering Committee for NACo and is a member of the
CyberSecurity Task Force and the Large Urban County Caucus Steering
Committee. Wilcox, of Phoenix, represents District 5 in southwestern
Maricopa County and is serving her fifth four year term. She is first
vice president of the County Supervisors Association of Arizona.
- See more at: http://www.maricopa.gov/pr_detail.aspx?
releaseID=2408#sthash.CxmrQUkX.dpuf
Friday, October 25, 2013
AZMEX I3 25-10-13
AZMEX I3 25 OCT 2013
Tucson protesters to fight felony charges with deportees' accounts
Defendant Steve Johnson reads to those attending a news conference at
the Pima County Public Defender's Office. The group announced two
hotlines to locate people who were recently detained in Operation
Streamline.
8 hours ago • By Carli Brosseau Arizona Daily Star12
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/border/tucson-protesters-to-fight-
felony-charges-with-deportees-accounts/
article_3e01733e-1e67-5d4e-8ed7-0f66e7aa4952.html
Activists who stymied a day's immigration proceedings in Tucson
earlier this month by chaining themselves to a detainee transport bus
have announced the first step in their legal defense: a pair of
hotline numbers.
The protesters — 18 of whom now face a possible felony charge of
hindering prosecution — held a news conference Thursday because they
hope to locate each of the 70 detainees believed to be aboard the
buses they stopped Oct. 11.
Activists seek to record the detainees' testimonies to bolster their
defense. They also plan to use the accounts to advance their
political campaign against Operation Streamline, a fast-track
prosecution program created to discourage migration by giving prison
sentences and a criminal record to those apprehended at the border.
Up to 70 people are processed each day through the program in Tucson.
Most are charged with the misdemeanor of illegal entry and the felony
of illegal re-entry, and they plead down to the lesser charge, which
carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison. The entire
proceeding takes place in a single day.
Activists lament the effects the program has had on families, many of
which have members of different legal statuses.
Paula Miller, an activist who works at Casa Mariposa, a home that
helps those coming out of immigration detention, cites the personal
stories of migrants for spurring her to protest.
"I heard the stories of so many families separated," she said.
"It's something I think we all can relate to. At some point, you
have to say enough."
The U.S. hotline is 888-203-7377. The Mexico hotline is 800-099-0425.
The charges the protesters face are still in initial stages and
represent the recommendation of police.
The allegations against the 18 are expected to go before a grand jury
by Oct. 31, said Margo Cowan, a migrant-rights activist and public
defender representing some of the protesters.
A decision on prosecution has not been made and the case is under
review, a spokeswoman for the Pima County Attorney's Office said
Thursday.
The Federal Protective Service, which provides security for federal
buildings, detained six other protesters Oct. 11.
They were cited with disorderly conduct on federal property and
released the same day.
The service would release no further details. and a Washington, D.C.,
spokeswoman for the agency declined to comment on the record.
Activists protesting Operation Streamline in other cities, including
Phoenix, have also been cited and released by Federal Protective
Service officers.
Most of the detainees on the buses stopped in Tucson have since been
deported without being criminally prosecuted, officials said.
Up to nine were prosecuted through Operation Streamline the Monday
after the protest.
END
PRESS RELEASES
http://www.azdps.gov/Media/News/View/?p=446&utm_content=landis%
40asrpa.com&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=http
%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eazdps%2Egov%2FMedia%2FNews%2FView%2F%3Fp%
3D446&utm_campaign=Operator%20Of%20Stash%20House%20Sentenced%20To%
2097%20Months
Operator Of Human Stash House Sentenced To 97 Months
Tuesday, October 22, 2013 -
PHOENIX– On Oct. 21, 2013, Diego DeLeon Chavez, 26, of Mexico, was
sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 97 months of
incarceration and five years of supervised release. Chavez pleaded
guilty on July 25, 2013, to conspiracy to harbor and transport
illegal aliens, resulting in death, after two Guatemalan nationals
whom Chavez's operation was transporting were killed in a rollover
crash.
During the month of July 2012, Chavez operated a human stash house in
Phoenix where he harbored illegal aliens. Chavez coordinated the
receipt of smuggling fees and the transportation of illegal aliens to
other parts of the United States. The two victims died at the scene
of the rollover crash from injuries they sustained when they were
ejected from the vehicle. Thirteen illegal aliens inside the vehicle
survived the crash, including the driver, Israel Velasquez, and his
co-driver, who has not been identified. Velasquez, fled from the
scene of the crash,but was apprehended by law enforcement four days
later outside another human stash house in Phoenix. On July 25, 2013,
Velasquez also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to harbor and transport
illegal aliens, resulting in death, and is pending sentencing.
The investigation in this case was conducted by U.S. Immigration
andCustoms Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations and
the Arizona Department of Public Safety's Illegal Immigration
PreventionApprehension Co-op Team and Highway Patrol. The prosecution
was handled by Kristen Brook and Lisa E. Jennis, Assistant U.S.
Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
END
11 immigrants found in woman's car in Arizona
By Associated Press
Originally published: Oct 22, 2013 - 3:42 pm
http://www.ktar.com/22/1671662/11-immigrants-found-in-womans-car-in-
Arizona
MARICOPA, Ariz. -- A woman from Mexico has been arrested after Pinal
County authorities found 11 immigrants believed to be in the country
illegally in her vehicle.
The Pinal County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday that 29-year-old
Janette Salido-Hernandez was also carrying more than 45 pounds of
marijuana in her Ford Explorer when she was stopped near Maricopa on
Friday.
Sheriff Paul Babeu says Salido-Hernandez claimed she didn't know the
marijuana was in her car and that she had stopped to try to help the
stranded group.
However, according to Babeu, Salido-Hernandez accepted $300 to take
them to Phoenix.
Salido-Hernandez, who only had a Mexico driver's license, was booked
on drug-related charges and turned over Monday to U.S. Border Patrol.
The 11 passengers were also transferred to border officials for
processing.
end
Tucson protesters to fight felony charges with deportees' accounts
Defendant Steve Johnson reads to those attending a news conference at
the Pima County Public Defender's Office. The group announced two
hotlines to locate people who were recently detained in Operation
Streamline.
8 hours ago • By Carli Brosseau Arizona Daily Star12
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/border/tucson-protesters-to-fight-
felony-charges-with-deportees-accounts/
article_3e01733e-1e67-5d4e-8ed7-0f66e7aa4952.html
Activists who stymied a day's immigration proceedings in Tucson
earlier this month by chaining themselves to a detainee transport bus
have announced the first step in their legal defense: a pair of
hotline numbers.
The protesters — 18 of whom now face a possible felony charge of
hindering prosecution — held a news conference Thursday because they
hope to locate each of the 70 detainees believed to be aboard the
buses they stopped Oct. 11.
Activists seek to record the detainees' testimonies to bolster their
defense. They also plan to use the accounts to advance their
political campaign against Operation Streamline, a fast-track
prosecution program created to discourage migration by giving prison
sentences and a criminal record to those apprehended at the border.
Up to 70 people are processed each day through the program in Tucson.
Most are charged with the misdemeanor of illegal entry and the felony
of illegal re-entry, and they plead down to the lesser charge, which
carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison. The entire
proceeding takes place in a single day.
Activists lament the effects the program has had on families, many of
which have members of different legal statuses.
Paula Miller, an activist who works at Casa Mariposa, a home that
helps those coming out of immigration detention, cites the personal
stories of migrants for spurring her to protest.
"I heard the stories of so many families separated," she said.
"It's something I think we all can relate to. At some point, you
have to say enough."
The U.S. hotline is 888-203-7377. The Mexico hotline is 800-099-0425.
The charges the protesters face are still in initial stages and
represent the recommendation of police.
The allegations against the 18 are expected to go before a grand jury
by Oct. 31, said Margo Cowan, a migrant-rights activist and public
defender representing some of the protesters.
A decision on prosecution has not been made and the case is under
review, a spokeswoman for the Pima County Attorney's Office said
Thursday.
The Federal Protective Service, which provides security for federal
buildings, detained six other protesters Oct. 11.
They were cited with disorderly conduct on federal property and
released the same day.
The service would release no further details. and a Washington, D.C.,
spokeswoman for the agency declined to comment on the record.
Activists protesting Operation Streamline in other cities, including
Phoenix, have also been cited and released by Federal Protective
Service officers.
Most of the detainees on the buses stopped in Tucson have since been
deported without being criminally prosecuted, officials said.
Up to nine were prosecuted through Operation Streamline the Monday
after the protest.
END
PRESS RELEASES
http://www.azdps.gov/Media/News/View/?p=446&utm_content=landis%
40asrpa.com&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=http
%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eazdps%2Egov%2FMedia%2FNews%2FView%2F%3Fp%
3D446&utm_campaign=Operator%20Of%20Stash%20House%20Sentenced%20To%
2097%20Months
Operator Of Human Stash House Sentenced To 97 Months
Tuesday, October 22, 2013 -
PHOENIX– On Oct. 21, 2013, Diego DeLeon Chavez, 26, of Mexico, was
sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 97 months of
incarceration and five years of supervised release. Chavez pleaded
guilty on July 25, 2013, to conspiracy to harbor and transport
illegal aliens, resulting in death, after two Guatemalan nationals
whom Chavez's operation was transporting were killed in a rollover
crash.
During the month of July 2012, Chavez operated a human stash house in
Phoenix where he harbored illegal aliens. Chavez coordinated the
receipt of smuggling fees and the transportation of illegal aliens to
other parts of the United States. The two victims died at the scene
of the rollover crash from injuries they sustained when they were
ejected from the vehicle. Thirteen illegal aliens inside the vehicle
survived the crash, including the driver, Israel Velasquez, and his
co-driver, who has not been identified. Velasquez, fled from the
scene of the crash,but was apprehended by law enforcement four days
later outside another human stash house in Phoenix. On July 25, 2013,
Velasquez also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to harbor and transport
illegal aliens, resulting in death, and is pending sentencing.
The investigation in this case was conducted by U.S. Immigration
andCustoms Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations and
the Arizona Department of Public Safety's Illegal Immigration
PreventionApprehension Co-op Team and Highway Patrol. The prosecution
was handled by Kristen Brook and Lisa E. Jennis, Assistant U.S.
Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
END
11 immigrants found in woman's car in Arizona
By Associated Press
Originally published: Oct 22, 2013 - 3:42 pm
http://www.ktar.com/22/1671662/11-immigrants-found-in-womans-car-in-
Arizona
MARICOPA, Ariz. -- A woman from Mexico has been arrested after Pinal
County authorities found 11 immigrants believed to be in the country
illegally in her vehicle.
The Pinal County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday that 29-year-old
Janette Salido-Hernandez was also carrying more than 45 pounds of
marijuana in her Ford Explorer when she was stopped near Maricopa on
Friday.
Sheriff Paul Babeu says Salido-Hernandez claimed she didn't know the
marijuana was in her car and that she had stopped to try to help the
stranded group.
However, according to Babeu, Salido-Hernandez accepted $300 to take
them to Phoenix.
Salido-Hernandez, who only had a Mexico driver's license, was booked
on drug-related charges and turned over Monday to U.S. Border Patrol.
The 11 passengers were also transferred to border officials for
processing.
end
Thursday, October 24, 2013
AZMEX VIDEO SPECIAL 24-10-13
AZMEX VIDEO SPECIAL 24 OCT 2013
Note: It's Friday! The boss is back in the district, the COS won't be in for a couple hours.
Grab a cup of coffee and watch this one. Again representative of smuggling activities on the AZMEX border.
Broad daylight - No Problemo. Yes, pass it onto other folks.
Border Insecurity - Part VI - 1 camera, 1 trail, 8 months
50 miles north of the US/Mexico Border
25 miles due west of Tucson, Arizona
(click on link below)
http://www.secureborderintel.org/BorderBlotter/Border_Insecurity_VI.wmv
End
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
AZMEX UPDATE 22-10-13
AZMEX UPDATE 22 OCT 2013
Ex wife of former Mex. President Fox accused of money laundering involvement of about 5 - 600 million USD.
END
Another CBP Shaft Job Courtesy of BIANCA WARNER
CBP is apparently unable to follow simple directions on the excludability of the recent furlough days. Agents were told that furlough days would be excludable for AUO purposes. Many agents had leave scheduled or were on light duty when the furloughs hit. The agents were approved to take furlough days with the understanding that the furlough days would be excludable.
It now appears that CBP was approving furlough days with the intent of using those days to reduce agents' pay by cutting their AUO percentages. This backhanded attempt at forcing more pay cuts is despicable. Most agents would have never agreed to take the furlough days in lieu of leave if they had known that the furlough days would not be excludable and would reduce their pay more than it's already been reduced.
The best information we have is that BIANCA WARNER, the same very highly compensated lady that says Border Patrol agents are overpaid, is responsible for this decision. Warner is not an agent, she doesn't risk her life, she has never made an arrest and she has no idea what Border Patrol agents do. She is nothing but a bureaucrat. She is knocking down over $170,000 per year in base pay to screw agents. She apparently orders "Border Patrol" managers around and tells them how to run things.
We will be filing the appropriate measures to correct this intentional agency shaft job from Ms. Warner.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013 at 12:38 pm and is filed under News. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Body counts:
Sonora, 5 executed over the weekend. Somewhere around 20 in Sinaloa.
end
In Cajeme, Son. area. Joaquin Alain Campas Cota caught with a AK clone (make unk) , a Ruger Mini 14 and a .38 revolver, make unknown and about 40 rounds of various calibers.
Name familiar somewhere?
end
Note: computer english
Tuesday, October 22, 2013 - Mexico DF
19:42:36
Involve Fox's ex-wife 500 million laundering drug money
Lilian de la Concha would have facilitated the laundering of $ 500 million from the Millennium cartel , according to U.S. research
22/10/2013 9:28 AP / Photo : Archives Excelsior and Cuartoscuro
EL PASO (Texas ) , October 22 . - Lilian de la Concha , former wife of Vicente Fox , is involved in a case of washing about 500 million dollars of drug , investigated by U.S. authorities .
On Monday , a federal prosecutor accused a Texas El Paso attorney and former trustee of Carnegie Mellon University to partner with De la Concha , with which supposedly had a relationship , to launder $ 500 million of that based cartel Colima , now extinct according to Mexican authorities .
The trial of Marco Antonio Delgado , accused of money laundering, began Monday in El Paso.
Prosecutor Debra Kanof said in his opening statement that Delgado met in Mexico City with Lilian de la Concha , former wife of former Mexican President Vicente Fox , who is supposed to tending a relationship .
"They talked about $ 600 million and agreed that he would receive 5% of any amount that could wash ," said Kanof .
Delgado 's defense attorney , Ray Velarde , said the meetings with Fox ex-wife went to use the knowledge of the accused on energy and international law , not to launder money. "At no time mentioned the issue of drug money ," said Velarde .
Delgado was a trustee of Carnegie Mellon and donated $ 250,000 to a scholarship with your name to help Hispanic students.
Prosecutors say Delgado was associated to launder money from illicit drug trafficking between July 2007 and December 2008 . They argue that participated in transactions believed were connected to organized crime .
The investigation against Delgado began in September 2007 after the seizure of a million dollars in Atlanta . The man with the money , Victor Pimentel , told investigators that he, Delgado and another man had met in Mexico and agreed to transport money belonging to Millennium cartel , drug trafficking organization based in Colima , associated with the cartel Sinaloa.
Pimentel is now a key witness in the trial and testimony presented numerous emails exchanged with Delgado. Many messages were sent by De la Concha and then they are forwarded Delgado .
Pimentel told him Kanof expressions , and De la Concha Delgado used to refer to the money laundering operation that would be negotiating with the cartel.
In an email written in Spanish , De la Concha Delgado says , "Honey, in relation to the Girls Scouts cookies you want to sell , you can place God wants more for school five boxes each week. Now, instead of 300 cases , with 500 in the cellars and the donations that come your way the number will increase. "
Pimentel told Kanof each box of cookies meant " a million dollars" , that the "schools " were bank accounts or other geographic locations , and "donations " refers to income from drugs.
In another e talking about construction , steel and other words to talk about their business.
" We are not fools , never did business with steel or cookies , we only had a business with these people," Pimentel said the prosecutor .
In another post, Pimentel said , Delgado sent a letter to Francisco Ramirez Acuna , then Secretary of the Interior of Mexico , in which he asked to hire him as a lobbyist or representative of the government to improve the country's image in the United States.
Pimentel also said that De la Concha asked to name his cousin Chief of Customs in Palomas, Mexico border crossing with Columbus , New Mexico .
He said the plan was to get a partner so they could " enter anything in Mexico " .
District Judge David Briones adjourned the hearing and said Pimentel 's testimony and the defense 's turn for questioning would resume Tuesday.
According to U.S. authorities , Pimentel confessed to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents that the million dollars he was carrying at the time of arrest would be used for a "test" in a washing operation than $ 600 million for cartel Goals, according to information from the government of Mexico was virtually dismantled in 2010 .
Pimentel is expected to continue declaring Tuesday in the trial of lawyer accused of conspiring to launder drug money .
dgp
AZMEX SPECIAL 22-10-13
AZMEX SPECIAL 22 OCT 2013
Note: Money Money Money. ( Sorry ABBA) From big bucks to small
change.
Money laundering seems to be the activity right behind consuming dope
in the AZ.
At least that is a suspicion of some of us locals.
Good article in Oct. HST on scope of money laundering by Sylvia
Longmire.
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/kmd/hst_201310/#/14
Ex wife of former Mexican President accused of involvement of money
laundering scheme of $500 - 600 million USD. (Spanish)
http://www.excelsior.com.mx/nacional/2013/10/22/924829
Phoenix real estate guru indicted on federal charges
By Associated Press
Originally published: Oct 22, 2013 - 2:27 pm
http://www.ktar.com/22/1671625/Phx-real-estate-guru-indicted-on-fed-
charges
PHOENIX -- The founder of a well-known Phoenix real estate investment
firm is accused of helping two clients purchase a home with money
made from drug trafficking. Federal investigators said Tuesday that
Tanya Maria Marchiol was indicted by a grand jury Oct. 8 on 11 charges.
The counts included conspiracy to commit money laundering,
transactional money laundering and structuring financial transactions.
Marchiol, 39, did not immediately return a message seeking comment
Tuesday.
According to the indictment, two people approached Marchiol in 2008
about buying a home but helping them conceal ownership.
Marchiol has been a commentator on business and real estate for
television networks including Fox News and CNBC. She co-founded
TEAM Investments and her clients include Philadelphia Eagles
quarterback Donovan McNabb, according to the company's website.
end
Comment: Questions for citizens still remain: How much cash can I
have at the border? Many (no connection to crime) with family in
Mexico know they can't trust the "system" to get money back to them.
Especially for home, business, property, or vehicle purchases.
For the gun guys and gals: Not necessarily at the POE, but near the
border. How much ammunition? How many firearms? Can one be
visiting or living in the border areas with their handgun, AR15,
M1A, etc. and 500 rounds? 250 rounds? 100? 1,000? Knowing that
in a situation, ammo can get used up very fast.
No cash back for dropped money laundering charge
Posted: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 8:45 am | Updated: 9:35 am, Tue Oct
22, 2013.
By Jonathan Clark
Nogales International | 0 comments
http://www.nogalesinternational.com/news/no-cash-back-for-dropped-
money-laundering-charge/
article_0b60b132-3b31-11e3-82bd-0019bb2963f4.html
There was nothing inherently illegal about 24-year-old Joan Alberto
Melendez Buera's attempt to cross the border into Mexico on July 13
with approximately $9,700 in cash.
There's no law against stuffing large amounts of cash in a McDonald's
bag with a couple of cheeseburgers and chicken sandwiches, as
Melendez had done with part of the money, or strapping cash to your
body, as he did with the other part. After all, there are plenty of
legitimate reasons why someone walking into Mexico would want to
safely secure their money.
What's more, there's no requirement that outbound travelers declare
cash amounts less than $10,000 to U.S. port officers.
But something made U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers decide
to stop and question Melendez. And when the Nogales, Sonora resident
allegedly told a detective that he had picked up the money for his
friend Luis, and that the money had come from "drugs that Luis sells
in Tucson," he was arrested and subsequently charged in the local
courts with one count of second-degree money laundering, a Class 3
felony offense that specifically accused him of helping to launder
racketeering proceeds.
Then on Sept. 23, a day before Melendez was set to go to trial at
Santa Cruz County Superior Court, the County Attorney's Office agreed
to drop the money laundering charge in exchange for a plea deal that
saw Melendez convicted of a single count of false reporting to law
enforcement, a Class 1 misdemeanor.
That same day, court records show, Judge James A. Soto sentenced
Melendez to three years of unsupervised probation, including 72 days
in jail. Soto credited Melendez with the 72 days he had already
served while awaiting trial, and ordered him released from the county
jail.
Melendez, who had entered the United States on a legal visa, was then
turned over to federal immigration authorities for formal removal
proceedings. According to a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement, he was served with a notice to appear before an
immigration judge, and on Oct. 9, the judge ordered him removed from
the United States. He was repatriated to Mexico that same day, his
visa revoked.
Yet despite the fact that Melendez was never convicted of money
laundering, he didn't get the $9,700 back. The money is still in the
possession of the state, subject to a civil process that the County
Attorney's Office hopes will end with a judge forfeiting the cash for
its Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) fund.
The Melendez case illustrates the parallel processes that prosecutors
use to try to convict alleged money launderers and seize their
allegedly crooked cash. And as this outcome shows, the state's
ability to seize cash through civil proceedings does not depend on a
conviction in criminal court.
The arrest of Melendez also demonstrates how the $10,000 threshold
for cash declarations – a requirement that's prominently broadcast on
plaques and LED displays at local ports of entry – does not inhibit
federal officers from questioning and detaining people with smaller
amounts.
CBP search authority
When a federal investigator questioned Melendez following his arrest
at the port, he allegedly said that his friend Luis had offered him
$300 to cross the border and pick up the cash. So he went to the
McDonald's restaurant on Crawford Street and met with a third person,
who handed him the money. He then bought a bag of food, and hid at
least part of the cash in the bag.
When he tried to cross back into Mexico, Melendez attracted the
attention of CBP officers conducting outbound inspections, who
subsequently noticed the cash in the bag.
Port officers in Nogales had seen fast food containers used in the
past to smuggle contraband. Less than a month earlier, CBP officers
at the Dennis DeConcini port stopped Rio Rico resident Rene Becerra-
Portillo Jr., a 22-year-old McDonald's employee, and found $50,000 in
cash hidden under some food in a take-out bag. Becerra later pleaded
guilty in federal court to bulk cash smuggling. On Feb. 24, CBP
officers at the Morley Gate busted 28-year-old Patricia Ladonna
Draper with 2 pounds of methamphetamines hidden in a Chinese
restaurant take-out container. She pleaded guilty to a Class 4 felony
charge in local court.
"He had this money, it's hidden in a McDonald's bag, he's incredibly
nervous, he says it's not his and he says it's drug money," said
Vanessa Cartwright, the deputy county attorney who handled the
criminal case against Melendez.
Still, is a young man's nervousness in front of law enforcement, and
the fact that other people have smuggled contraband in fast food
bags, sufficient reason for CBP officers to inspect a bag of
hamburgers during an outbound inspection? And if the cash found in
the bag totaled less than $10,000, what allowed authorities to use it
as the basis to begin questioning that led to the alleged statement
that it was drug money?
A CBP spokesman did not return a request for comment by press time,
but according to the "CBP Search Authority" page on the agency's
website, "To keep our borders secure, we must inspect everyone who
arrives at a U.S. port of entry."
Officers may ask travelers about their citizenship, the nature of
their travel and anything they are bringing back to the United
States, the CBP website says. "We may also examine your baggage,
including electronic equipment, or your car, which we have the legal
authority to do."
In cases when people who are found to be carrying cash, Cartwright
said, law enforcement officers are likely to continue their
questioning when the person tells them the money is not theirs.
In Melendez's case, she said, the investigators were courteous during
the interrogation, and he was candid about the source of the cash.
Defense lawyer Tom Fink, who represented Melendez, offered a
different version of port-of-entry interrogations of youthful suspects.
"They pound on you, 'Come on, tell us, tell us, we know it's drug
money, we know it's drug money, we know it's drug money, and if you
tell us that, then everything's going to be fine, we're going to let
you go,'" Fink said. "So eventually, kids just tell them what they
want to hear."
Melendez, he said, now asserts he went to pick up the money for a
relative who couldn't cross the border. In a pretrial motion, Fink
argued that Melendez's alleged statement following his arrest should
not be admissible because the state had no other foundation to show
how Melendez knew that the money had come from drug sales.
The issue turned out to be moot after the County Attorney's Office
offered the misdemeanor plea deal and the money laundering trial was
vacated.
"They have to prove that it's the proceeds of some kind of illegal
activities, specified unlawful activity," Fink said of the money
laundering charge. "And I don't think they were going to be able to
do that."
Cartwright said there were several factors that contributed to the
decision to let Melendez plead to a misdemeanor, including his
forthrightness with law enforcement, his lack of a criminal history,
the fact that the case was a federal referral, and the relatively
small amount of cash involved.
"This wasn't about, 'If we go to trial we're never going to be able
to convict him,'" she said, "because we obviously wouldn't have filed
it."
Civil forfeiture
Cartwright cited another factor that played into the decision not to
go to trial: the state is expecting to keep the $9,700.
That's because the cash seized from Melendez has been subjected to a
civil forfeiture procedure that requires a lower burden of proof from
the state than the proof-beyond-a-reasonable-doubt standard it needs
to convict someone at a criminal trial. And while the same evidence
can be used in both the criminal and civil proceedings, the
forfeiture case can still go forward if the criminal charge is dropped.
"For the civil forfeiture, what would be used to forfeit the money
would be the circumstances it was found, the statements he made about
who it belongs to, the fact that he said it wasn't his," Cartwright
said in reference to the Melendez case.
"Any time someone makes an admission that monies are drug proceeds,
and they disclaim the money, we proceed with civil forfeiture," she
said. "We do a notice, and then the true owner is welcome to come
forward and claim the money."
Fink recalled the old legal adage "possession is nine-tenths of the
law."
"The government's got the money, so you've got to get it back," he said.
"They just take the money away. Then as far as giving the money back,
it's too expensive for people to hire a lawyer to get the money back."
Cartwright said the law is very specific about the requirements for
law enforcement officers to seize money from civilians.
"If they can say, 'This is my money, and I'm not telling you anything
else,' they don't take their money. If you say, 'It's not my money,
it's a relative's money,' they don't take your money. If you say,
'It's not my money and it's drug money, that's when they take it,"
she said.
Even then, Cartwright said, she has seen several cases at the County
Attorney's Office in which confiscated cash was returned to someone
after prosecutors decided that it was rightfully theirs.
"We do not seize money just to take it," she said.
END
Note: Money Money Money. ( Sorry ABBA) From big bucks to small
change.
Money laundering seems to be the activity right behind consuming dope
in the AZ.
At least that is a suspicion of some of us locals.
Good article in Oct. HST on scope of money laundering by Sylvia
Longmire.
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/kmd/hst_201310/#/14
Ex wife of former Mexican President accused of involvement of money
laundering scheme of $500 - 600 million USD. (Spanish)
http://www.excelsior.com.mx/nacional/2013/10/22/924829
Phoenix real estate guru indicted on federal charges
By Associated Press
Originally published: Oct 22, 2013 - 2:27 pm
http://www.ktar.com/22/1671625/Phx-real-estate-guru-indicted-on-fed-
charges
PHOENIX -- The founder of a well-known Phoenix real estate investment
firm is accused of helping two clients purchase a home with money
made from drug trafficking. Federal investigators said Tuesday that
Tanya Maria Marchiol was indicted by a grand jury Oct. 8 on 11 charges.
The counts included conspiracy to commit money laundering,
transactional money laundering and structuring financial transactions.
Marchiol, 39, did not immediately return a message seeking comment
Tuesday.
According to the indictment, two people approached Marchiol in 2008
about buying a home but helping them conceal ownership.
Marchiol has been a commentator on business and real estate for
television networks including Fox News and CNBC. She co-founded
TEAM Investments and her clients include Philadelphia Eagles
quarterback Donovan McNabb, according to the company's website.
end
Comment: Questions for citizens still remain: How much cash can I
have at the border? Many (no connection to crime) with family in
Mexico know they can't trust the "system" to get money back to them.
Especially for home, business, property, or vehicle purchases.
For the gun guys and gals: Not necessarily at the POE, but near the
border. How much ammunition? How many firearms? Can one be
visiting or living in the border areas with their handgun, AR15,
M1A, etc. and 500 rounds? 250 rounds? 100? 1,000? Knowing that
in a situation, ammo can get used up very fast.
No cash back for dropped money laundering charge
Posted: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 8:45 am | Updated: 9:35 am, Tue Oct
22, 2013.
By Jonathan Clark
Nogales International | 0 comments
http://www.nogalesinternational.com/news/no-cash-back-for-dropped-
money-laundering-charge/
article_0b60b132-3b31-11e3-82bd-0019bb2963f4.html
There was nothing inherently illegal about 24-year-old Joan Alberto
Melendez Buera's attempt to cross the border into Mexico on July 13
with approximately $9,700 in cash.
There's no law against stuffing large amounts of cash in a McDonald's
bag with a couple of cheeseburgers and chicken sandwiches, as
Melendez had done with part of the money, or strapping cash to your
body, as he did with the other part. After all, there are plenty of
legitimate reasons why someone walking into Mexico would want to
safely secure their money.
What's more, there's no requirement that outbound travelers declare
cash amounts less than $10,000 to U.S. port officers.
But something made U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers decide
to stop and question Melendez. And when the Nogales, Sonora resident
allegedly told a detective that he had picked up the money for his
friend Luis, and that the money had come from "drugs that Luis sells
in Tucson," he was arrested and subsequently charged in the local
courts with one count of second-degree money laundering, a Class 3
felony offense that specifically accused him of helping to launder
racketeering proceeds.
Then on Sept. 23, a day before Melendez was set to go to trial at
Santa Cruz County Superior Court, the County Attorney's Office agreed
to drop the money laundering charge in exchange for a plea deal that
saw Melendez convicted of a single count of false reporting to law
enforcement, a Class 1 misdemeanor.
That same day, court records show, Judge James A. Soto sentenced
Melendez to three years of unsupervised probation, including 72 days
in jail. Soto credited Melendez with the 72 days he had already
served while awaiting trial, and ordered him released from the county
jail.
Melendez, who had entered the United States on a legal visa, was then
turned over to federal immigration authorities for formal removal
proceedings. According to a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement, he was served with a notice to appear before an
immigration judge, and on Oct. 9, the judge ordered him removed from
the United States. He was repatriated to Mexico that same day, his
visa revoked.
Yet despite the fact that Melendez was never convicted of money
laundering, he didn't get the $9,700 back. The money is still in the
possession of the state, subject to a civil process that the County
Attorney's Office hopes will end with a judge forfeiting the cash for
its Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) fund.
The Melendez case illustrates the parallel processes that prosecutors
use to try to convict alleged money launderers and seize their
allegedly crooked cash. And as this outcome shows, the state's
ability to seize cash through civil proceedings does not depend on a
conviction in criminal court.
The arrest of Melendez also demonstrates how the $10,000 threshold
for cash declarations – a requirement that's prominently broadcast on
plaques and LED displays at local ports of entry – does not inhibit
federal officers from questioning and detaining people with smaller
amounts.
CBP search authority
When a federal investigator questioned Melendez following his arrest
at the port, he allegedly said that his friend Luis had offered him
$300 to cross the border and pick up the cash. So he went to the
McDonald's restaurant on Crawford Street and met with a third person,
who handed him the money. He then bought a bag of food, and hid at
least part of the cash in the bag.
When he tried to cross back into Mexico, Melendez attracted the
attention of CBP officers conducting outbound inspections, who
subsequently noticed the cash in the bag.
Port officers in Nogales had seen fast food containers used in the
past to smuggle contraband. Less than a month earlier, CBP officers
at the Dennis DeConcini port stopped Rio Rico resident Rene Becerra-
Portillo Jr., a 22-year-old McDonald's employee, and found $50,000 in
cash hidden under some food in a take-out bag. Becerra later pleaded
guilty in federal court to bulk cash smuggling. On Feb. 24, CBP
officers at the Morley Gate busted 28-year-old Patricia Ladonna
Draper with 2 pounds of methamphetamines hidden in a Chinese
restaurant take-out container. She pleaded guilty to a Class 4 felony
charge in local court.
"He had this money, it's hidden in a McDonald's bag, he's incredibly
nervous, he says it's not his and he says it's drug money," said
Vanessa Cartwright, the deputy county attorney who handled the
criminal case against Melendez.
Still, is a young man's nervousness in front of law enforcement, and
the fact that other people have smuggled contraband in fast food
bags, sufficient reason for CBP officers to inspect a bag of
hamburgers during an outbound inspection? And if the cash found in
the bag totaled less than $10,000, what allowed authorities to use it
as the basis to begin questioning that led to the alleged statement
that it was drug money?
A CBP spokesman did not return a request for comment by press time,
but according to the "CBP Search Authority" page on the agency's
website, "To keep our borders secure, we must inspect everyone who
arrives at a U.S. port of entry."
Officers may ask travelers about their citizenship, the nature of
their travel and anything they are bringing back to the United
States, the CBP website says. "We may also examine your baggage,
including electronic equipment, or your car, which we have the legal
authority to do."
In cases when people who are found to be carrying cash, Cartwright
said, law enforcement officers are likely to continue their
questioning when the person tells them the money is not theirs.
In Melendez's case, she said, the investigators were courteous during
the interrogation, and he was candid about the source of the cash.
Defense lawyer Tom Fink, who represented Melendez, offered a
different version of port-of-entry interrogations of youthful suspects.
"They pound on you, 'Come on, tell us, tell us, we know it's drug
money, we know it's drug money, we know it's drug money, and if you
tell us that, then everything's going to be fine, we're going to let
you go,'" Fink said. "So eventually, kids just tell them what they
want to hear."
Melendez, he said, now asserts he went to pick up the money for a
relative who couldn't cross the border. In a pretrial motion, Fink
argued that Melendez's alleged statement following his arrest should
not be admissible because the state had no other foundation to show
how Melendez knew that the money had come from drug sales.
The issue turned out to be moot after the County Attorney's Office
offered the misdemeanor plea deal and the money laundering trial was
vacated.
"They have to prove that it's the proceeds of some kind of illegal
activities, specified unlawful activity," Fink said of the money
laundering charge. "And I don't think they were going to be able to
do that."
Cartwright said there were several factors that contributed to the
decision to let Melendez plead to a misdemeanor, including his
forthrightness with law enforcement, his lack of a criminal history,
the fact that the case was a federal referral, and the relatively
small amount of cash involved.
"This wasn't about, 'If we go to trial we're never going to be able
to convict him,'" she said, "because we obviously wouldn't have filed
it."
Civil forfeiture
Cartwright cited another factor that played into the decision not to
go to trial: the state is expecting to keep the $9,700.
That's because the cash seized from Melendez has been subjected to a
civil forfeiture procedure that requires a lower burden of proof from
the state than the proof-beyond-a-reasonable-doubt standard it needs
to convict someone at a criminal trial. And while the same evidence
can be used in both the criminal and civil proceedings, the
forfeiture case can still go forward if the criminal charge is dropped.
"For the civil forfeiture, what would be used to forfeit the money
would be the circumstances it was found, the statements he made about
who it belongs to, the fact that he said it wasn't his," Cartwright
said in reference to the Melendez case.
"Any time someone makes an admission that monies are drug proceeds,
and they disclaim the money, we proceed with civil forfeiture," she
said. "We do a notice, and then the true owner is welcome to come
forward and claim the money."
Fink recalled the old legal adage "possession is nine-tenths of the
law."
"The government's got the money, so you've got to get it back," he said.
"They just take the money away. Then as far as giving the money back,
it's too expensive for people to hire a lawyer to get the money back."
Cartwright said the law is very specific about the requirements for
law enforcement officers to seize money from civilians.
"If they can say, 'This is my money, and I'm not telling you anything
else,' they don't take their money. If you say, 'It's not my money,
it's a relative's money,' they don't take your money. If you say,
'It's not my money and it's drug money, that's when they take it,"
she said.
Even then, Cartwright said, she has seen several cases at the County
Attorney's Office in which confiscated cash was returned to someone
after prosecutors decided that it was rightfully theirs.
"We do not seize money just to take it," she said.
END
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
AZMEX EXTRA 21-10-13
AZMEX EXTRA 21 OCT 2013
Note: Just one of the many parallels with Mexico. "Eroded the
trust"?
Afghan special forces commander defects with guns to insurgents
By Mohammad Anwar
KUNAR, Afghanistan | Sun Oct 20, 2013 7:35pm BST
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/10/20/uk-afghanistan-army-
idUKBRE99J06T20131020?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&rpc=451
(Reuters) - An Afghan army special forces commander has defected to
an insurgent group allied with the Taliban in a Humvee truck packed
with his team's guns and high-tech equipment, officials in the
eastern Kunar province said on Sunday.
Monsif Khan, who raided the supplies of his 20-man team in Kunar's
capital Asadabad over the Eid al-Adha religious holiday, is the first
special forces commander to switch sides, joining the Hezb-e-Islami
organisation.
"He sent some of his comrades on leave and paid others to go out
sightseeing, and then escaped with up to 30 guns, night-vision
goggles, binoculars and a Humvee," said Shuja ul-Mulkh Jalala, the
governor of Kunar.
Zubair Sediqi, a spokesman for Hezb-e-Islami, confirmed that Khan had
joined the group, saying he had brought 15 guns and high-tech equipment.
The NATO-led coalition is grappling with a rise in "insider attacks"
by Afghan soldiers who turn on their allies, undermining trust and
efficiency.
It has reported four lethal incidents over the past month taking the
total number this year to 10, according to a Reuters tally.
Kunar, like other provinces along the border with Pakistan, is among
the more insecure and volatile parts of Afghanistan.
Local security forces have started a manhunt for the commander and
tribal elders have promised to help.
"We are trying our best to use elders' influence in that area to
bring back all equipment," Jalala said.
A record number of insider attacks - accounting for about one in
every five coalition combat deaths - last year prompted the coalition
to briefly suspend all joint activities and take steps to curb
interaction between foreign and Afghan troops.
That has cut down the number of incidents, but some soldiers say the
measures have further eroded the trust painstakingly nurtured between
the allies over more than 12 years of war.
All entrants to the Afghan National Security Force have to pass an
eight step vetting process, which includes providing identification
cards, letters of recommendation by village or district elders and
undergoing tests.
(Writing by Mirwais Harooni; Editing by Jessica Donati and Anthony
Barker)
Note: They have found that toy guns are the real problem. Computer
english.
Selling arms that look real
Stores specializing in sports and offer the public hunting guns and
rifles or gas slugs that are similar to the real
IONSA
10/19/2013
http://www.noroeste.com.mx/publicaciones.php?id=903521
CULIACÁN._ Seeing them in the windows of stores specializing in
hunting sports and they seem to be really , however when approaching
minimum observed details that make it look that only a toy is
"dangerous" .
Are slugs or gas weapons that simulate assault rifles , pistols or
revolvers caliber , same as are available to any person who is 18
years old and accredits with IFE .
In one of the stores which offer these "toys" indicated that you do
not need a special document for purchase , as their sale is not
regulated by the authorities and its use is or extreme sports .
" The rifles worth of 3000 800-4000 800 pesos and are coaching ,
these use them for bird hunting or target shooting , but we also gas
or guns that are cheaper , there are a thousand 500 pesos up "
commented .
" No documentation required to carry , no permits or anything like
that , I only credited with 18 years and leads , that is requested by
the danger to a child to use these sports , because they are extreme
or some were used for hunting small birds . "
With the similarity of the AR- 15, the Galil rifle used by PFP agents
and 357 Magnum revolver , or pistol similar to 0.9 mm , these "toys "
are available to the public.
Unregulated sale of toy guns : SSPyTM
Although some criminals use toy guns to commit robberies or violent
posts in Culiacan sale of these weapons is permitted, because a
device is not considered risky , said Secretary of Public Security
and Traffic Municipal .
Juan Antonio Murillo Red, said that so far this year has registered
only a case of assault with tactical weapon or toy, which was
determined by the Attorney General after the arrest of the alleged
assailant , and for this low incidence not seen as a risk item and
can be found on sale to the general public .
In accordance with the law , Red Murillo said that the municipality
does not exist a program to regulate the sale of these objects ,
however recognized that the number of assaults have been reduced but
remains a recurring problem and did not rule out that several of
these facts are made with this type of gun .
"We as a preventive authority that we are dedicated to just that , to
prevent, not investigate crimes ," he said when asked about this type
of violence.
"We as a preventive authority that we are dedicated to just that , to
prevent, not investigate crimes"
Juan Antonio Murillo Rojo
SSPyTM
end
Venden armas que parecen de verdad
Tiendas especializadas en deportes y cacerías ofrecen al público
pistolas y fusiles de postas o gas que son similares a las reales
IONSA
19-10-2013
http://www.noroeste.com.mx/publicaciones.php?id=903521
CULIACÁN._ Al verlas en los aparadores de tiendas especializadas en
deportes y cacería pareciera que son de verdad, sin embargo al
acercarse se observan mínimos detalles que hacen ver que solo se
trata de un juguete "peligroso".
Son armas de postas o gas que simulan a los fusiles de asalto,
pistolas de grueso calibre o revólver, mismas que están al alcance
de cualquier persona que tenga 18 años cumplidos y los acredite con
la credencial del IFE.
En una de las tiendas en las que se ofertan estos "juguetes"
indicaron que no se necesita algún documento especial para su
adquisición, ya que su venta no es regulada por las autoridades y su
uso es deportivo o extremo.
"Los rifles valen de 3 mil 800 a 4 mil 800 pesos y son de postas,
esos los usan para caza de aves o tiro deportivo, aunque tenemos de
gas también o pistolas que son más económicas, hay de mil 500 pesos
para arriba", comentaron.
"No requiere de documentación para llevarla, no hay permisos o algo
por el estilo, solo me acredita que cuenta con 18 años y se la lleva,
eso se pide por el peligro que corre un menor al usar estos artículos
deportivos, porque son extremos o algunos los usan para la caza de
aves pequeñas".
Con la similitud del AR-15, el fusil Galil que utilizan los agentes
de la PFP, así como el revólver 357 Magnum, o pistolas similares a
las .9 milímetros, estos "juguetes" se encuentran al alcance de los
ciudadanos.
Sin regulación venta de armas de juguete: SSPyTM
A pesar de que algunos delincuentes utilizan las armas de juguete o
postas para cometer atracos violentos, en Culiacán la venta de estas
armas es permitida, debido a que no se considera un artefacto
riesgoso, indicó el Secretario de Seguridad Pública y Tránsito
Municipal.
Juan Antonio Murillo Rojo, dijo que en lo que va del año sólo se
tiene registrado un caso de asalto con arma táctica o de juguete, el
cual fue determinado por el Ministerio Público después de la
detención del presunto asaltante, y es por esta baja incidencia que
no se contempla como un artículo de riesgo y se puede encontrar a la
venta al público en general.
En apego a la legalidad, Murillo Rojo señaló que en el municipio no
existe algún programa que regule la venta de estos objetos, sin
embargo reconoció que el número de asaltos aunque se han reducido,
sigue siendo un problema recurrente y no descartó que varios de estos
hechos se realicen con este tipo de pistolas.
"Nosotros como autoridad preventiva que somos nos dedicamos sólo a
eso, a prevenir, no investigamos delitos", señaló al ser cuestionado
sobre este tipo de hechos violentos.
"Nosotros como autoridad preventiva que somos nos dedicamos sólo a
eso, a prevenir, no investigamos delitos"
Juan Antonio Murillo Rojo
Titular de la SSPyTM
fin
Note: Just one of the many parallels with Mexico. "Eroded the
trust"?
Afghan special forces commander defects with guns to insurgents
By Mohammad Anwar
KUNAR, Afghanistan | Sun Oct 20, 2013 7:35pm BST
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/10/20/uk-afghanistan-army-
idUKBRE99J06T20131020?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&rpc=451
(Reuters) - An Afghan army special forces commander has defected to
an insurgent group allied with the Taliban in a Humvee truck packed
with his team's guns and high-tech equipment, officials in the
eastern Kunar province said on Sunday.
Monsif Khan, who raided the supplies of his 20-man team in Kunar's
capital Asadabad over the Eid al-Adha religious holiday, is the first
special forces commander to switch sides, joining the Hezb-e-Islami
organisation.
"He sent some of his comrades on leave and paid others to go out
sightseeing, and then escaped with up to 30 guns, night-vision
goggles, binoculars and a Humvee," said Shuja ul-Mulkh Jalala, the
governor of Kunar.
Zubair Sediqi, a spokesman for Hezb-e-Islami, confirmed that Khan had
joined the group, saying he had brought 15 guns and high-tech equipment.
The NATO-led coalition is grappling with a rise in "insider attacks"
by Afghan soldiers who turn on their allies, undermining trust and
efficiency.
It has reported four lethal incidents over the past month taking the
total number this year to 10, according to a Reuters tally.
Kunar, like other provinces along the border with Pakistan, is among
the more insecure and volatile parts of Afghanistan.
Local security forces have started a manhunt for the commander and
tribal elders have promised to help.
"We are trying our best to use elders' influence in that area to
bring back all equipment," Jalala said.
A record number of insider attacks - accounting for about one in
every five coalition combat deaths - last year prompted the coalition
to briefly suspend all joint activities and take steps to curb
interaction between foreign and Afghan troops.
That has cut down the number of incidents, but some soldiers say the
measures have further eroded the trust painstakingly nurtured between
the allies over more than 12 years of war.
All entrants to the Afghan National Security Force have to pass an
eight step vetting process, which includes providing identification
cards, letters of recommendation by village or district elders and
undergoing tests.
(Writing by Mirwais Harooni; Editing by Jessica Donati and Anthony
Barker)
Note: They have found that toy guns are the real problem. Computer
english.
Selling arms that look real
Stores specializing in sports and offer the public hunting guns and
rifles or gas slugs that are similar to the real
IONSA
10/19/2013
http://www.noroeste.com.mx/publicaciones.php?id=903521
CULIACÁN._ Seeing them in the windows of stores specializing in
hunting sports and they seem to be really , however when approaching
minimum observed details that make it look that only a toy is
"dangerous" .
Are slugs or gas weapons that simulate assault rifles , pistols or
revolvers caliber , same as are available to any person who is 18
years old and accredits with IFE .
In one of the stores which offer these "toys" indicated that you do
not need a special document for purchase , as their sale is not
regulated by the authorities and its use is or extreme sports .
" The rifles worth of 3000 800-4000 800 pesos and are coaching ,
these use them for bird hunting or target shooting , but we also gas
or guns that are cheaper , there are a thousand 500 pesos up "
commented .
" No documentation required to carry , no permits or anything like
that , I only credited with 18 years and leads , that is requested by
the danger to a child to use these sports , because they are extreme
or some were used for hunting small birds . "
With the similarity of the AR- 15, the Galil rifle used by PFP agents
and 357 Magnum revolver , or pistol similar to 0.9 mm , these "toys "
are available to the public.
Unregulated sale of toy guns : SSPyTM
Although some criminals use toy guns to commit robberies or violent
posts in Culiacan sale of these weapons is permitted, because a
device is not considered risky , said Secretary of Public Security
and Traffic Municipal .
Juan Antonio Murillo Red, said that so far this year has registered
only a case of assault with tactical weapon or toy, which was
determined by the Attorney General after the arrest of the alleged
assailant , and for this low incidence not seen as a risk item and
can be found on sale to the general public .
In accordance with the law , Red Murillo said that the municipality
does not exist a program to regulate the sale of these objects ,
however recognized that the number of assaults have been reduced but
remains a recurring problem and did not rule out that several of
these facts are made with this type of gun .
"We as a preventive authority that we are dedicated to just that , to
prevent, not investigate crimes ," he said when asked about this type
of violence.
"We as a preventive authority that we are dedicated to just that , to
prevent, not investigate crimes"
Juan Antonio Murillo Rojo
SSPyTM
end
Venden armas que parecen de verdad
Tiendas especializadas en deportes y cacerías ofrecen al público
pistolas y fusiles de postas o gas que son similares a las reales
IONSA
19-10-2013
http://www.noroeste.com.mx/publicaciones.php?id=903521
CULIACÁN._ Al verlas en los aparadores de tiendas especializadas en
deportes y cacería pareciera que son de verdad, sin embargo al
acercarse se observan mínimos detalles que hacen ver que solo se
trata de un juguete "peligroso".
Son armas de postas o gas que simulan a los fusiles de asalto,
pistolas de grueso calibre o revólver, mismas que están al alcance
de cualquier persona que tenga 18 años cumplidos y los acredite con
la credencial del IFE.
En una de las tiendas en las que se ofertan estos "juguetes"
indicaron que no se necesita algún documento especial para su
adquisición, ya que su venta no es regulada por las autoridades y su
uso es deportivo o extremo.
"Los rifles valen de 3 mil 800 a 4 mil 800 pesos y son de postas,
esos los usan para caza de aves o tiro deportivo, aunque tenemos de
gas también o pistolas que son más económicas, hay de mil 500 pesos
para arriba", comentaron.
"No requiere de documentación para llevarla, no hay permisos o algo
por el estilo, solo me acredita que cuenta con 18 años y se la lleva,
eso se pide por el peligro que corre un menor al usar estos artículos
deportivos, porque son extremos o algunos los usan para la caza de
aves pequeñas".
Con la similitud del AR-15, el fusil Galil que utilizan los agentes
de la PFP, así como el revólver 357 Magnum, o pistolas similares a
las .9 milímetros, estos "juguetes" se encuentran al alcance de los
ciudadanos.
Sin regulación venta de armas de juguete: SSPyTM
A pesar de que algunos delincuentes utilizan las armas de juguete o
postas para cometer atracos violentos, en Culiacán la venta de estas
armas es permitida, debido a que no se considera un artefacto
riesgoso, indicó el Secretario de Seguridad Pública y Tránsito
Municipal.
Juan Antonio Murillo Rojo, dijo que en lo que va del año sólo se
tiene registrado un caso de asalto con arma táctica o de juguete, el
cual fue determinado por el Ministerio Público después de la
detención del presunto asaltante, y es por esta baja incidencia que
no se contempla como un artículo de riesgo y se puede encontrar a la
venta al público en general.
En apego a la legalidad, Murillo Rojo señaló que en el municipio no
existe algún programa que regule la venta de estos objetos, sin
embargo reconoció que el número de asaltos aunque se han reducido,
sigue siendo un problema recurrente y no descartó que varios de estos
hechos se realicen con este tipo de pistolas.
"Nosotros como autoridad preventiva que somos nos dedicamos sólo a
eso, a prevenir, no investigamos delitos", señaló al ser cuestionado
sobre este tipo de hechos violentos.
"Nosotros como autoridad preventiva que somos nos dedicamos sólo a
eso, a prevenir, no investigamos delitos"
Juan Antonio Murillo Rojo
Titular de la SSPyTM
fin
AZMEX SPECIAL 20-10-13
AZMEX SPECIAL 20 OCT 2013
Note: This and other revelations have really dried up good info from
Mexico. The concern of many is when info is shared or "leaked" to
PRI government. And then to party enforcers or allied criminal
organizations.
Fresh Leak on US Spying: NSA Accessed Mexican President's Email
By Jens Glüsing, Laura Poitras, Marcel Rosenbach and Holger Stark
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/nsa-hacked-email-account-of-
mexican-president-a-928817.html
DPA
The NSA has been systematically eavesdropping on the Mexican
government for years. It hacked into the president's public email
account and gained deep insight into policymaking and the political
system. The news is likely to hurt ties between the US and Mexico.
The National Security Agency (NSA) has a division for particularly
difficult missions. Called "Tailored Access Operations" (TAO), this
department devises special methods for special targets.
ANZEIGE
That category includes surveillance of neighboring Mexico, and in May
2010, the division reported its mission accomplished. A report
classified as "top secret" said: "TAO successfully exploited a key
mail server in the Mexican Presidencia domain within the Mexican
Presidential network to gain first-ever access to President Felipe
Calderon's public email account."
According to the NSA, this email domain was also used by cabinet
members, and contained "diplomatic, economic and leadership
communications which continue to provide insight into Mexico's
political system and internal stability." The president's office, the
NSA reported, was now "a lucrative source."
This operation, dubbed "Flatliquid," is described in a document
leaked by whistleblower Edward Snowden, which SPIEGEL has now had the
opportunity to analyze. The case is likely to cause further strain on
relations between Mexico and the United States, which have been tense
since Brazilian television network TV Globo revealed in September
that the NSA monitored then-presidential candidate Enrique Peña Nieto
and others around him in the summer of 2012. Peña Nieto, now Mexico's
president, summoned the US ambassador in the wake of that news, but
confined his reaction to demanding an investigation into the matter.
Now, though, the revelation that the NSA has systematically
infiltrated an entire computer network is likely to trigger deeper
controversy, especially since the NSA's snooping took place during
the term of Peña Nieto's predecessor Felipe Calderón, a leader who
worked more closely with Washington than any other Mexican president
before him.
Brazil Also Targeted
Reports of US surveillance operations have caused outrage in Latin
America in recent months. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff
cancelled a planned trip to Washington five weeks ago and condemned
the NSA's espionage in a blistering speech to the United Nations
General Assembly.
The US surveillance of politicians in Mexico and Brazil is not a one-
off. Internal documents show these countries' leaders represent
important monitoring targets for the NSA, with both Mexico and Brazil
ranking among the nations high on an April 2013 list that enumerates
the US' surveillance priorities. That list, classified as "secret,"
was authorized by the White House and "presidentially approved,"
according to internal NSA documents.
The list ranks strategic objectives for all US intelligence services
using a scale from "1" for high priority to "5" for low priority. In
the case of Mexico, the US is interested primarily in the drug trade
(priority level 1) and the country's leadership (level 3). Other
areas flagged for surveillance include Mexico's economic stability,
military capabilities, human rights and international trade relations
(all ranked at level 3), as well as counterespionage (level 4). It's
much the same with Brazil -- ascertaining the intentions of that
country's leadership ranks among the stated espionage targets.
Brazil's nuclear program is high on the list as well.
When Brazilian President Rousseff took office in early 2011, one of
her goals was to improve relations with Washington, which had cooled
under her predecessor, the popular former labor leader Luiz Inácio
Lula da Silva. Lula focused primarily on establishing closer ties
with China, India and African nations, and even invited Iran's then-
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Brazil, in a snub to the US.
President Barack Obama postponed a planned visit to the capital,
Brasília, as a result.
Rousseff, however, has distanced herself from Iran. And the first
foreign minister to serve under her, Antonio Patriota, who recently
resigned, was seen as friendly toward the US, maintaining good ties
with his counterpart Hillary Clinton. Obama made a state visit to
Brazil two years ago and Rousseff had planned to reciprocate with a
visit to Washington this October.
Then came the revelation that US authorities didn't stop short of
spying on the president herself. According to one internal NSA
presentation, the agency investigated "the communication methods and
associated selectors of Brazilian President Dilma Rouseff and her key
advisers." It also said it found potential "high-value targets" among
her inner circle.
Economic Motives?
Rousseff believes Washington's reasons for employing such unfriendly
methods are partly economic, an accusation that the NSA and its
director, General Keith Alexander, have denied. Yet according to the
leaked NSA documents, the US also monitored email and telephone
communications at Petrobras, the oil corporation in which the
Brazilian government holds a majority stake. Brazil possesses
enormous offshore oil reserves.
Just how intensively the US spies on its neighbors can be seen in
another, previously unknown operation in Mexico, dubbed "Whitetamale"
by the NSA. In August 2009, according to internal documents, the
agency gained access to the emails of various high-ranking officials
in Mexico's Public Security Secretariat that combats the drug trade
and human trafficking. This hacking operation allowed the NSA not
only to obtain information on several drug cartels, but also to gain
access to "diplomatic talking-points." In the space of a single year,
according to the internal documents, this operation produced 260
classified reports that allowed US politicians to conduct successful
talks on political issues and to plan international investments.
The tone of the document that lists the NSA's "tremendous success" in
monitoring Mexican targets shows how aggressively the US intelligence
agency monitors its southern neighbor. "These TAO accesses into
several Mexican government agencies are just the beginning -- we
intend to go much further against this important target," the
document reads. It goes on to state that the divisions responsible
for this surveillance are "poised for future successes."
While these operations were overseen from the NSA's branch in San
Antonio, Texas, secret listening stations in the US Embassies in
Mexico City and Brasília also played a key role. The program, known
as the "Special Collection Service," is conducted in cooperation with
the CIA. The teams have at their disposal a wide array of methods and
high-tech equipment that allow them to intercept all forms of
electronic communication. The NSA conducts its surveillance of
telephone conversations and text messages transmitted through
Mexico's cell phone network under the internal code name
"Eveningeasel." In Brasília, the agency also operates one of its most
important operational bases for monitoring satellite communications.
This summer, the NSA took its activities to new heights as elections
took place in Mexico. Despite having access to the presidential
computer network, the US knew little about Enrique Peña Nieto,
designated successor to Felipe Calderón.
Spying on Peña Nieto
In his campaign appearances, Peña Nieto would make his way to the
podium through a sea of supporters, ascending to the stage like a
rock star. He is married to an actress, and also had the support of
several influential elder statesmen within his party, the PRI. He
promised to reform the party and fight pervasive corruption in the
country. But those familiar with the PRI, which is itself regarded by
many as corrupt, saw this pledge as little more than a maneuver made
for show.
First and foremost, though, Peña Nieto promised voters he would
change Mexico's strategy in the war on drugs, announcing he would
withdraw the military from the fight against the drug cartels as soon
as possible and invest more money in social programs instead. Yet at
the same time, he assured Washington there would be no U-turn in
Mexico's strategy regarding the cartels. So what were Peña Nieto's
true thoughts at the time? What were his advisers telling him?
The NSA's intelligence agents in Texas must have been asking
themselves such questions when they authorized an unusual type of
operation known as structural surveillance. For two weeks in the
early summer of 2012, the NSA unit responsible for monitoring the
Mexican government analyzed data that included the cell phone
communications of Peña Nieto and "nine of his close associates," as
an internal presentation from June 2012 shows. Analysts used software
to connect this data into a network, shown in a graphic that
resembles a swarm of bees. The software then filtered out Peña
Nieto's most relevant contacts and entered them into a databank
called "DishFire." From then on, these individuals' cell phones were
singled out for surveillance.
According to the internal documents, this led to the agency
intercepting 85,489 text messages, some sent by Peña Nieto himself
and some by his associates. This technology "might find a needle in a
haystack," the analysts noted, adding that it could do so "in a
repeatable and efficient way."
It seems, though, that the NSA's agents are no longer quite as
comfortable expressing such pride in their work. Asked for a comment
by SPIEGEL, the agency replied: "We are not going to comment publicly
on every specific alleged intelligence activity, and as a matter of
policy we have made clear that the United States gathers foreign
intelligence of the type gathered by all nations. As the President
said in his speech at the UN General Assembly, we've begun to review
the way that we gather intelligence, so that we properly balance the
legitimate security concerns of our citizens and allies with the
privacy concerns that all people share."
Meanwhile, the NSA's spying has already caused considerable political
damage in the case of Brazil, seriously denting the mutual trust
between Rousseff and Obama. Brazil now plans to introduce a law that
will force companies such as Google and Facebook to store their data
inside Brazil's borders, rather than on servers in the US, making
these international companies subject to Brazilian data privacy laws.
The Brazilian government is also developing a new encryption system
to protect its own data against hacking.
So far, Mexico has reacted more moderately -- although the fact that
the NSA infiltrated even the presidential computer network wasn't
known until now. Commenting after TV Globo first revealed the NSA's
surveillance of text messages, Peña Nieto stated that Obama had
promised him to investigate the accusations and to punish those
responsible, if it was found that misdeeds had taken place.
In response to an inquiry from SPIEGEL concerning the latest
revelations, Mexico's Foreign Ministry replied with an email
condemning any form of espionage on Mexican citizens, saying such
surveillance violates international law. "That is all the government
has to say on the matter," stated a spokesperson for Peña Nieto.
Presumably, that email could be read at the NSA's Texas location at
the same time.
end
Note: This and other revelations have really dried up good info from
Mexico. The concern of many is when info is shared or "leaked" to
PRI government. And then to party enforcers or allied criminal
organizations.
Fresh Leak on US Spying: NSA Accessed Mexican President's Email
By Jens Glüsing, Laura Poitras, Marcel Rosenbach and Holger Stark
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/nsa-hacked-email-account-of-
mexican-president-a-928817.html
DPA
The NSA has been systematically eavesdropping on the Mexican
government for years. It hacked into the president's public email
account and gained deep insight into policymaking and the political
system. The news is likely to hurt ties between the US and Mexico.
The National Security Agency (NSA) has a division for particularly
difficult missions. Called "Tailored Access Operations" (TAO), this
department devises special methods for special targets.
ANZEIGE
That category includes surveillance of neighboring Mexico, and in May
2010, the division reported its mission accomplished. A report
classified as "top secret" said: "TAO successfully exploited a key
mail server in the Mexican Presidencia domain within the Mexican
Presidential network to gain first-ever access to President Felipe
Calderon's public email account."
According to the NSA, this email domain was also used by cabinet
members, and contained "diplomatic, economic and leadership
communications which continue to provide insight into Mexico's
political system and internal stability." The president's office, the
NSA reported, was now "a lucrative source."
This operation, dubbed "Flatliquid," is described in a document
leaked by whistleblower Edward Snowden, which SPIEGEL has now had the
opportunity to analyze. The case is likely to cause further strain on
relations between Mexico and the United States, which have been tense
since Brazilian television network TV Globo revealed in September
that the NSA monitored then-presidential candidate Enrique Peña Nieto
and others around him in the summer of 2012. Peña Nieto, now Mexico's
president, summoned the US ambassador in the wake of that news, but
confined his reaction to demanding an investigation into the matter.
Now, though, the revelation that the NSA has systematically
infiltrated an entire computer network is likely to trigger deeper
controversy, especially since the NSA's snooping took place during
the term of Peña Nieto's predecessor Felipe Calderón, a leader who
worked more closely with Washington than any other Mexican president
before him.
Brazil Also Targeted
Reports of US surveillance operations have caused outrage in Latin
America in recent months. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff
cancelled a planned trip to Washington five weeks ago and condemned
the NSA's espionage in a blistering speech to the United Nations
General Assembly.
The US surveillance of politicians in Mexico and Brazil is not a one-
off. Internal documents show these countries' leaders represent
important monitoring targets for the NSA, with both Mexico and Brazil
ranking among the nations high on an April 2013 list that enumerates
the US' surveillance priorities. That list, classified as "secret,"
was authorized by the White House and "presidentially approved,"
according to internal NSA documents.
The list ranks strategic objectives for all US intelligence services
using a scale from "1" for high priority to "5" for low priority. In
the case of Mexico, the US is interested primarily in the drug trade
(priority level 1) and the country's leadership (level 3). Other
areas flagged for surveillance include Mexico's economic stability,
military capabilities, human rights and international trade relations
(all ranked at level 3), as well as counterespionage (level 4). It's
much the same with Brazil -- ascertaining the intentions of that
country's leadership ranks among the stated espionage targets.
Brazil's nuclear program is high on the list as well.
When Brazilian President Rousseff took office in early 2011, one of
her goals was to improve relations with Washington, which had cooled
under her predecessor, the popular former labor leader Luiz Inácio
Lula da Silva. Lula focused primarily on establishing closer ties
with China, India and African nations, and even invited Iran's then-
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Brazil, in a snub to the US.
President Barack Obama postponed a planned visit to the capital,
Brasília, as a result.
Rousseff, however, has distanced herself from Iran. And the first
foreign minister to serve under her, Antonio Patriota, who recently
resigned, was seen as friendly toward the US, maintaining good ties
with his counterpart Hillary Clinton. Obama made a state visit to
Brazil two years ago and Rousseff had planned to reciprocate with a
visit to Washington this October.
Then came the revelation that US authorities didn't stop short of
spying on the president herself. According to one internal NSA
presentation, the agency investigated "the communication methods and
associated selectors of Brazilian President Dilma Rouseff and her key
advisers." It also said it found potential "high-value targets" among
her inner circle.
Economic Motives?
Rousseff believes Washington's reasons for employing such unfriendly
methods are partly economic, an accusation that the NSA and its
director, General Keith Alexander, have denied. Yet according to the
leaked NSA documents, the US also monitored email and telephone
communications at Petrobras, the oil corporation in which the
Brazilian government holds a majority stake. Brazil possesses
enormous offshore oil reserves.
Just how intensively the US spies on its neighbors can be seen in
another, previously unknown operation in Mexico, dubbed "Whitetamale"
by the NSA. In August 2009, according to internal documents, the
agency gained access to the emails of various high-ranking officials
in Mexico's Public Security Secretariat that combats the drug trade
and human trafficking. This hacking operation allowed the NSA not
only to obtain information on several drug cartels, but also to gain
access to "diplomatic talking-points." In the space of a single year,
according to the internal documents, this operation produced 260
classified reports that allowed US politicians to conduct successful
talks on political issues and to plan international investments.
The tone of the document that lists the NSA's "tremendous success" in
monitoring Mexican targets shows how aggressively the US intelligence
agency monitors its southern neighbor. "These TAO accesses into
several Mexican government agencies are just the beginning -- we
intend to go much further against this important target," the
document reads. It goes on to state that the divisions responsible
for this surveillance are "poised for future successes."
While these operations were overseen from the NSA's branch in San
Antonio, Texas, secret listening stations in the US Embassies in
Mexico City and Brasília also played a key role. The program, known
as the "Special Collection Service," is conducted in cooperation with
the CIA. The teams have at their disposal a wide array of methods and
high-tech equipment that allow them to intercept all forms of
electronic communication. The NSA conducts its surveillance of
telephone conversations and text messages transmitted through
Mexico's cell phone network under the internal code name
"Eveningeasel." In Brasília, the agency also operates one of its most
important operational bases for monitoring satellite communications.
This summer, the NSA took its activities to new heights as elections
took place in Mexico. Despite having access to the presidential
computer network, the US knew little about Enrique Peña Nieto,
designated successor to Felipe Calderón.
Spying on Peña Nieto
In his campaign appearances, Peña Nieto would make his way to the
podium through a sea of supporters, ascending to the stage like a
rock star. He is married to an actress, and also had the support of
several influential elder statesmen within his party, the PRI. He
promised to reform the party and fight pervasive corruption in the
country. But those familiar with the PRI, which is itself regarded by
many as corrupt, saw this pledge as little more than a maneuver made
for show.
First and foremost, though, Peña Nieto promised voters he would
change Mexico's strategy in the war on drugs, announcing he would
withdraw the military from the fight against the drug cartels as soon
as possible and invest more money in social programs instead. Yet at
the same time, he assured Washington there would be no U-turn in
Mexico's strategy regarding the cartels. So what were Peña Nieto's
true thoughts at the time? What were his advisers telling him?
The NSA's intelligence agents in Texas must have been asking
themselves such questions when they authorized an unusual type of
operation known as structural surveillance. For two weeks in the
early summer of 2012, the NSA unit responsible for monitoring the
Mexican government analyzed data that included the cell phone
communications of Peña Nieto and "nine of his close associates," as
an internal presentation from June 2012 shows. Analysts used software
to connect this data into a network, shown in a graphic that
resembles a swarm of bees. The software then filtered out Peña
Nieto's most relevant contacts and entered them into a databank
called "DishFire." From then on, these individuals' cell phones were
singled out for surveillance.
According to the internal documents, this led to the agency
intercepting 85,489 text messages, some sent by Peña Nieto himself
and some by his associates. This technology "might find a needle in a
haystack," the analysts noted, adding that it could do so "in a
repeatable and efficient way."
It seems, though, that the NSA's agents are no longer quite as
comfortable expressing such pride in their work. Asked for a comment
by SPIEGEL, the agency replied: "We are not going to comment publicly
on every specific alleged intelligence activity, and as a matter of
policy we have made clear that the United States gathers foreign
intelligence of the type gathered by all nations. As the President
said in his speech at the UN General Assembly, we've begun to review
the way that we gather intelligence, so that we properly balance the
legitimate security concerns of our citizens and allies with the
privacy concerns that all people share."
Meanwhile, the NSA's spying has already caused considerable political
damage in the case of Brazil, seriously denting the mutual trust
between Rousseff and Obama. Brazil now plans to introduce a law that
will force companies such as Google and Facebook to store their data
inside Brazil's borders, rather than on servers in the US, making
these international companies subject to Brazilian data privacy laws.
The Brazilian government is also developing a new encryption system
to protect its own data against hacking.
So far, Mexico has reacted more moderately -- although the fact that
the NSA infiltrated even the presidential computer network wasn't
known until now. Commenting after TV Globo first revealed the NSA's
surveillance of text messages, Peña Nieto stated that Obama had
promised him to investigate the accusations and to punish those
responsible, if it was found that misdeeds had taken place.
In response to an inquiry from SPIEGEL concerning the latest
revelations, Mexico's Foreign Ministry replied with an email
condemning any form of espionage on Mexican citizens, saying such
surveillance violates international law. "That is all the government
has to say on the matter," stated a spokesperson for Peña Nieto.
Presumably, that email could be read at the NSA's Texas location at
the same time.
end
AZMEX UPDATE 19-10-13
AZMEX UPDATE 19 OCT 2013
Aerostat near YPG avoids ax
October 18, 2013 10:08 PM
Cronkite News Service
WASHINGTON — Tucked inside the bill that reopened the federal
government was language guaranteeing that border-security measures,
specifically radar surveillance blimps such as one found near Yuma,
would continue to be funded into 2014.
The 14-page bill to reopen government agencies and extend the
nation's debt limit also included language for everything from
retroactively paying furloughed federal employees to making a one-
time $174,000 payment to the widow of the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg,
D-N.J.
And some of these extras could end up benefiting Arizona.
Besides the border-security language, the bill appropriates a total
of $636 million to the Interior and Agriculture departments for
wildfire suppression, $15 million of which goes to burned-area
rehabilitation.
The bill does not attach a dollar figure to the requirement, but it
calls for staffing levels of Customs and Border Protection officers
and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to stay at pre-
shutdown levels. Salaries and expenses for both agencies are to stay
the same, the bill says.
It specifically directs the Department of Homeland Security to
operate the Tethered Aerostat Radar System, a long-running border
radar system that was threatened with being eliminated earlier this
year.
The system consists of eight blimp-like balloons, tethered at spots
along the border, that carry radar aloft to search for drug
smuggling. Two of the balloons are in Arizona, one near Yuma and
another at Fort Huachuca.
The system has been run for years by the Defense Department, which
had proposed doing away with the aging program earlier this year. A
2012 report by the Government Accountability Office said the system
cost $213.5 million to operate from 2007 to 2012.
But 16 members of Congress — including Arizona Reps. Ron Barber, D-
Tucson, and Trent Franks, R-Glendale — wrote to the Pentagon asking
it to shift control of the program to the Department of Homeland
Security at the end of the fiscal year — Sept. 30.
That letter said ending the program would "substantially degrade
counter-narcotics operations because a suitable alternative to TARS
has not been identified."
The Pentagon agreed to keep the balloons flying until the end of
fiscal 2013 and in April then-Homeland Security Secretary Janet
Napolitano asked for $37.4 million in her department's 2014 budget to
take over operation of TARS.
Barber welcomed the inclusion of the program in the late-Wednesday
budget deal, calling it essential for border security.
''I am pleased that this funding will ensure that our Southern
Arizona aerostats continue to fly," Barber said in a statement
emailed from his office Thursday.
The system has been in use for more than two decades, according to
its congressional supporters.
''They (the blimps) are aging to say the least," said Ronald Colburn,
former deputy chief of the Border Patrol, in an email Thursday.
"Perhaps 'ancient' describes them better." Besides being old,
Colburn said the system is expensive to maintain, one reason the
Pentagon wanted to drop it.
Not everyone welcomes the extension of the program. But Vicki
Gaubeca, director of the Regional Center for Border Rights at the
American Civil Liberties Union-New Mexico, said she was not surprised
by the move.
''Congress continues to support bloated law enforcement efforts along
the border," said Gaubeca, who thinks the blimps and the number of
officers on the border are unnecessary.
Web Links:
• Budget bill: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113hr2775enr/pdf/
BILLS-113hr2775enr.pdf
• Lawmakers' letter: http://barber.house.gov/sites/barber.house.gov/
files/Letter_in_Support_of_the_Tethered_Aerostat_Radar_System.pdf
• GAO report: http://gao.gov/assets/650/649661.pdf
• ACLU Regional Center for Border Rights: http://www.aclu-nm.org/what-
we-do/regional-center-for-border-rights/
Read more: http://www.yumasun.com/articles/aerostat-90178-avoids-
washington.html#ixzz2iBTRNkWA
Border Patrol arrests 2, seizes 349 lbs. of pot
October 18, 2013 10:30 PM
ShareThis| Print Story | E-Mail Story
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents arrested two drug-smuggling suspects
and a convicted sex offender, and seized 349 pounds of marijuana
worth an estimated $174,500 during two separate incidents this week.
On Wednesday, a Mexican citizen convicted of committing lewd and
lascivious acts with a child in California in December 2000, and
sentenced to 12 years in prison, was arrested. His name has not been
released to the public. The man had previously been deported to
Mexico in September, but later re-entered the United States
illegally. His case will be turned over to the U.S. Attorney's Office
for prosecution.
On Thursday, agents observed two people walking on the west side of
Old Papago road north of Los Vidrios, one of several known smuggling
routes through the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge southeast
of Yuma. With help from a U.S. Customs and Border Protection
helicopter, agents were able to apprehend the two Mexican citizens
and seized 349 pounds of pot.
The two drug-smuggling suspects and the marijuana were turned over to
the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force.
Read more: http://www.yumasun.com/articles/border-90175-patrol-
agents.html#ixzz2iBT8lBAK
Note: Just about the only news of illegal immigration comes from
local sources.
Authorities raid stash-house where women may have been raped
Posted: Saturday, October 19, 2013 6:36 pm
Ildefonso Ortiz | The Monitor
Posted on October 19, 2013
http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_3936b244-3917-11e3-
b7cf-0019bb30f31a.html
McALLEN — Wednesday raids in Alamo and Weslaco found 71 people who
appeared to have been smuggled into the country and held – the women
raped, an informant told authorities.
Federal authorities arrested Robert Lee Brouwen, Bernardino Martinez,
Gonzalo Mosso and Paula Fernandez, suspecting them of running the
stash house. U.S. District Judge Dorina Ramos notified them of their
charges Friday and ordered they be held without bond until a
detention hearing next week.
An informant tipped off the FBI on Wednesday to a house in the 400
block of Cameo Circle in Alamo, where the suspected smugglers were
keeping a large number of people, according to court records.
The FBI coordinated with U.S. Border Patrol, Alamo police and
University of Texas-Pan American police and raided the home in
Alamo, where they found 56 people from El Salvador, Mexico and other
countries, court records show.
At the house, authorities seized two ledgers that were used to keep
track of the people brought to the house.
Law enforcement then headed to La Copa Inn near the intersection of
Interstate 2/Expressway 83 and Tower Road in Alamo, where they went
into rooms 223 and 224 and found 11 people.
From there, the agents went to a third location in the 6800 block of
Bill Clinton Street in Weslaco and found four more people.
Brouwen was identified as the owner of the properties, while Martinez
and Mosso were identified as the ones in charge of the houses and
transporting the individual to Falfurrias so they could trek around
the Border Patrol checkpoint. Fernandez was identified as the person
is charge of cooking and caring for children at the house, court
records show.
Alamo police were tasked with conducting the investigation into the
rape allegations.
iortiz@themonitor.com
Aerostat near YPG avoids ax
October 18, 2013 10:08 PM
Cronkite News Service
WASHINGTON — Tucked inside the bill that reopened the federal
government was language guaranteeing that border-security measures,
specifically radar surveillance blimps such as one found near Yuma,
would continue to be funded into 2014.
The 14-page bill to reopen government agencies and extend the
nation's debt limit also included language for everything from
retroactively paying furloughed federal employees to making a one-
time $174,000 payment to the widow of the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg,
D-N.J.
And some of these extras could end up benefiting Arizona.
Besides the border-security language, the bill appropriates a total
of $636 million to the Interior and Agriculture departments for
wildfire suppression, $15 million of which goes to burned-area
rehabilitation.
The bill does not attach a dollar figure to the requirement, but it
calls for staffing levels of Customs and Border Protection officers
and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to stay at pre-
shutdown levels. Salaries and expenses for both agencies are to stay
the same, the bill says.
It specifically directs the Department of Homeland Security to
operate the Tethered Aerostat Radar System, a long-running border
radar system that was threatened with being eliminated earlier this
year.
The system consists of eight blimp-like balloons, tethered at spots
along the border, that carry radar aloft to search for drug
smuggling. Two of the balloons are in Arizona, one near Yuma and
another at Fort Huachuca.
The system has been run for years by the Defense Department, which
had proposed doing away with the aging program earlier this year. A
2012 report by the Government Accountability Office said the system
cost $213.5 million to operate from 2007 to 2012.
But 16 members of Congress — including Arizona Reps. Ron Barber, D-
Tucson, and Trent Franks, R-Glendale — wrote to the Pentagon asking
it to shift control of the program to the Department of Homeland
Security at the end of the fiscal year — Sept. 30.
That letter said ending the program would "substantially degrade
counter-narcotics operations because a suitable alternative to TARS
has not been identified."
The Pentagon agreed to keep the balloons flying until the end of
fiscal 2013 and in April then-Homeland Security Secretary Janet
Napolitano asked for $37.4 million in her department's 2014 budget to
take over operation of TARS.
Barber welcomed the inclusion of the program in the late-Wednesday
budget deal, calling it essential for border security.
''I am pleased that this funding will ensure that our Southern
Arizona aerostats continue to fly," Barber said in a statement
emailed from his office Thursday.
The system has been in use for more than two decades, according to
its congressional supporters.
''They (the blimps) are aging to say the least," said Ronald Colburn,
former deputy chief of the Border Patrol, in an email Thursday.
"Perhaps 'ancient' describes them better." Besides being old,
Colburn said the system is expensive to maintain, one reason the
Pentagon wanted to drop it.
Not everyone welcomes the extension of the program. But Vicki
Gaubeca, director of the Regional Center for Border Rights at the
American Civil Liberties Union-New Mexico, said she was not surprised
by the move.
''Congress continues to support bloated law enforcement efforts along
the border," said Gaubeca, who thinks the blimps and the number of
officers on the border are unnecessary.
Web Links:
• Budget bill: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113hr2775enr/pdf/
BILLS-113hr2775enr.pdf
• Lawmakers' letter: http://barber.house.gov/sites/barber.house.gov/
files/Letter_in_Support_of_the_Tethered_Aerostat_Radar_System.pdf
• GAO report: http://gao.gov/assets/650/649661.pdf
• ACLU Regional Center for Border Rights: http://www.aclu-nm.org/what-
we-do/regional-center-for-border-rights/
Read more: http://www.yumasun.com/articles/aerostat-90178-avoids-
washington.html#ixzz2iBTRNkWA
Border Patrol arrests 2, seizes 349 lbs. of pot
October 18, 2013 10:30 PM
ShareThis| Print Story | E-Mail Story
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents arrested two drug-smuggling suspects
and a convicted sex offender, and seized 349 pounds of marijuana
worth an estimated $174,500 during two separate incidents this week.
On Wednesday, a Mexican citizen convicted of committing lewd and
lascivious acts with a child in California in December 2000, and
sentenced to 12 years in prison, was arrested. His name has not been
released to the public. The man had previously been deported to
Mexico in September, but later re-entered the United States
illegally. His case will be turned over to the U.S. Attorney's Office
for prosecution.
On Thursday, agents observed two people walking on the west side of
Old Papago road north of Los Vidrios, one of several known smuggling
routes through the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge southeast
of Yuma. With help from a U.S. Customs and Border Protection
helicopter, agents were able to apprehend the two Mexican citizens
and seized 349 pounds of pot.
The two drug-smuggling suspects and the marijuana were turned over to
the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force.
Read more: http://www.yumasun.com/articles/border-90175-patrol-
agents.html#ixzz2iBT8lBAK
Note: Just about the only news of illegal immigration comes from
local sources.
Authorities raid stash-house where women may have been raped
Posted: Saturday, October 19, 2013 6:36 pm
Ildefonso Ortiz | The Monitor
Posted on October 19, 2013
http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_3936b244-3917-11e3-
b7cf-0019bb30f31a.html
McALLEN — Wednesday raids in Alamo and Weslaco found 71 people who
appeared to have been smuggled into the country and held – the women
raped, an informant told authorities.
Federal authorities arrested Robert Lee Brouwen, Bernardino Martinez,
Gonzalo Mosso and Paula Fernandez, suspecting them of running the
stash house. U.S. District Judge Dorina Ramos notified them of their
charges Friday and ordered they be held without bond until a
detention hearing next week.
An informant tipped off the FBI on Wednesday to a house in the 400
block of Cameo Circle in Alamo, where the suspected smugglers were
keeping a large number of people, according to court records.
The FBI coordinated with U.S. Border Patrol, Alamo police and
University of Texas-Pan American police and raided the home in
Alamo, where they found 56 people from El Salvador, Mexico and other
countries, court records show.
At the house, authorities seized two ledgers that were used to keep
track of the people brought to the house.
Law enforcement then headed to La Copa Inn near the intersection of
Interstate 2/Expressway 83 and Tower Road in Alamo, where they went
into rooms 223 and 224 and found 11 people.
From there, the agents went to a third location in the 6800 block of
Bill Clinton Street in Weslaco and found four more people.
Brouwen was identified as the owner of the properties, while Martinez
and Mosso were identified as the ones in charge of the houses and
transporting the individual to Falfurrias so they could trek around
the Border Patrol checkpoint. Fernandez was identified as the person
is charge of cooking and caring for children at the house, court
records show.
Alamo police were tasked with conducting the investigation into the
rape allegations.
iortiz@themonitor.com
Monday, October 21, 2013
AZMEX POLICY 21-10-13
AZMEX POLICY 21 OCT 2013
Note: Perhaps some links to ongoing negotiations in / with Mexico?
21 October 2013 Last updated at 21:03 ET
Venezuela shoots down two 'hostile' planes
Venezuela's Anti-Drugs Agency said the plane was given due warning
Venezuela says two light aircraft have been shot down after entering the country's airspace over the weekend.
These were the first mid-air attacks by fighter jets since a bill authorising such action against illegal planes was approved earlier this month, the Bolivarian Armed Forces said.
The aircraft were allegedly smuggling drugs from Central America and refused to follow the military pilots' orders.
Another 11 unauthorised planes have been disabled on the ground this year.
Venezuelan security forces say more than 35 tonnes of drugs have been found this year.
The head of Venezuela's Strategic Operational Centre, General Vladimir Padrino Lopez, told the country's state television that a plane had been targeted after "all other means of persuasion had been exhausted" in the early hours of Saturday.
"This was the first plane shot mid-air in the country since the approval of the Law and Control Regulation for the Integral Defence of the National Airspace, following the orders of our commander-in-chief, President Nicolas Maduro," Gen Padrino said.
'Narco-traffickers'
Another plane allegedly tried to evade the authorities by trying to land on an illegal airstrip in the jungle and was also shot down.
"These are drug trafficking mafias which intend to use our country as a platform for drug distribution, trespassing our airspace," the head of the National Anti-Drugs Agency, Alejandro Keleris Bucarito said, after posting a photo of the destroyed plane on Twitter.
The two incidents suggest the Venezuelan government is stepping up its efforts to prevent drug-trafficking flights over its airspace, particularly since President Maduro issued a public warning to drug smugglers, the BBC's Will Grant says.
After the approval of the airspace bill, earlier in October, Mr Maduro threatened "international narco-traffickers".
"Any plane entering Venezuela is going to be obliged to land in peace. If not, it will be brought down by our Sukhoi jets, our F-16s and by all of the Venezuelan military aviation," he said.
During the late President Hugo Chavez's period in power, the US Drug Enforcement Administration was expelled from the country provoking criticism from Washington that the Venezuelan authorities weren't doing enough to tackle drug cartels operating in the country.
END
AZMEX VIDEO SPECIAL 21-10-13
AZMEX VIDEO SPECIAL 21 OCT 2013
Monday morning, pour a cup of coffee and take a few minutes to see a good representative video
of activity on the AZMEX border. Despite the lack of reporting, the issues have not gone away.
It may be an eye opener.
Feel free to pass it onto other staffers, friends, family, and others who may be interested.
Thx
Condensed....3 years, 1 camera, 1 smuggling trail south of Tucson, AZ - Up on YouTube
Thursday, October 17, 2013
AZMEX F&F EXTRA 17-10-13
AZMEX F&F EXTRA 17 OCT 2013
Note: Go to link for further details. Have heard that the Mex. military recovered some 10,000 grenades in 2012. Ten thousand, not ten, not ten hundred.
October 17, 2013 7:13 AM
Deadly drug cartel shootout with Mexico police linked to "grenade-walking" scandal
By Sharyl Attkisson
(CBS News) CBS News has learned of a shocking link between a deadly drug cartel shootout with Mexican police last week and a controversial case in the U.S. The link is one of the grenades used in the violent fight, which killed three policemen and four cartel members and was captured on video by residents in the area.
According to a Justice Department "Significant Incident Report" filed Tuesday and obtained by CBS News, evidence connects one of the grenades to Jean Baptiste Kingery, an alleged firearms trafficker U.S. officials allowed to operate for years without arresting despite significant evidence that he was moving massive amounts of grenade parts and ammunition to Mexico's ruthless drug cartels.
Read the Significant Incident Report
"Grenade-walking" part of "Gunwalking" scandal
New evidence in ATF's mysterious grenade smuggler case
Complete coverage of the gunwalking scandal
The gun battle took place last week in Guadalajara. Authorities say five members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel used at least nine firearms and ten hand grenades against Mexican police. If one of the grenades was supplied with the help of Kingery, as believed, it adds to the toll of lives taken with weapons trafficked by suspects U.S. officials watched but did not stop.
The Kingery case was overseen by the same Arizona U.S. Attorney and ATF office that let suspects traffic thousands of weapons to Mexican drug cartels in the operation dubbed Fast and Furious. The strategy was to try to get to the cartel kingpins, but it was halted after CBS News reported that Fast and Furious weapons were used by cartel thugs in the murder of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry on December 15, 2010. Weapons trafficked by other ATF suspects under surveillance were used two months later in the cartel murder of Immigration and Customs Agent Jaime Zapata in Mexico on February 15, 2011.
On Wednesday, ATF told CBS News it has "no information" about the Kingery connection to last week's gun battle in Mexico.
As CBS News previously reported, documents show ATF began watching Kingery in "2004 related to AK47 purchases" he was believed to be trafficking to Mexico.
In 2009, ATF also learned Kingery was dealing in grenades; weapons of choice for Mexico's killer cartels. Documents show they developed a secret plan to let him smuggle parts to Mexico in early 2010 and follow him to his factory. Some ATF agents vehemently objected, worried that Kingery would disappear once he crossed the border into Mexico. That's exactly what happened.
Kingery resurfaced several months later in 2010, trying to smuggle a stash of grenade bodies and ammunition into Mexico, but was again let go when prosecutors allegedly said they couldn't build a good case. In 2011, Mexican authorities finally raided Kingery's factory and arrested him -- they say he confessed to teaching cartel members how to build grenades and convert semi-automatic weapons to automatic. The Justice Department has not provided an update on whether it's trying to extradite Kingery to the U.S., and an ATF spokesman said on Wednesday that he doesn't know the status of his case.
Watch Attkisson's full report from "CBS This Morning" in the video above.
END
AZMEX UPDATE 16-10-13
AZMEX UPDATE 16 OCT 2013
Note: zero tolerance for citizens on such stops.
Pair whose traffic stop prompted immigration protest released
8 hours ago • By Carli Brosseau Arizona Daily Star
The two men detained last week after a traffic stop escalated into an immigration-policy protest have been released from the custody of federal immigration authorities.
They appeared Tuesday at a news conference held at Southside Presbyterian Church, a congregation with a long history of immigration-related activism.
The driver, Agustin Reyes, and his passenger, Arturo Robles, thanked activists for their support during the protest and the letter-writing and petition-signing campaigns that followed.
The news conference was organized to celebrate the men's release and highlight the negative impact of immigration enforcement on families.
Activists from Corazón de Tucson and Southside Worker Center say they raised $1,500 for each man's bail. They reiterated their demands that Tucson Police Department change its vehicle impound and immigration-related policies.
Two women detained by the Border Patrol during the confrontation but not involved in the traffic stop — Rosa Leal and Mari Galup — also have been released.
Federal officials were unavailable to comment because of the partial government shutdown.
Meanwhile, TPD released its first written account of its response to the spontaneous protest, which ended with the use of pepper spray and pepper balls shot at activists' feet.
The documents show that the traffic stop, which led to a citation for an unlighted license plate, almost didn't happen. Officer Fabian Valdez noticed that the license plate of a 1999 Ford van was improperly lighted while he was driving near East 22nd Street and Herbert Avenue, according to his account. The car then turned into a private housing parking lot before he was able to pull it over. He waited for "several minutes," then decided to resume his patrol duties. But as he prepared to leave, the vehicle turned out in front of him, Valdez wrote. He followed the van to West 22nd Street and South 10th Avenue and pulled it over near Southside Presbyterian Church.
Reyes and Robles were unable to provide identification and refused to answer the officer's further questions, so Valdez contacted Border Patrol to investigate their immigration status.
Soon, more than 100 protesters surrounded them.
END
Note: Have heard that there may be more than reported here.
210 pounds of marijuana dropped by ultra-lite aircraft
Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, October 16, 2013 11:05 AM MDT
TRISHA MALDONADO | DOUGLAS DISPATCH
Submitted Photo An ultra-lite aircraft dropped 210 pounds of marijuana approximately seven miles north of Plantation Road on October 17. The drugs were intercepted by U.S. Border Patrol agents.
On October 17 at approximately 12 a.m. U.S. Border Patrol agents intercepted an ultra-lite aircraft about seven miles north of Plantation Rd.
According to a statement from U.S. Border Patrol one of their cameras spotted the ultra-lite aircraft. Using an unarmed unmanned air-craft system (UAS) they were able to follow the aircraft.
The ultra-lite aircraft made a drop of 210 pounds of marijuana then flew south. Agents were able to recover the drugs which have a street value of $105,000.
U.S. Border Patrol used to see the use of ultra-lite aircrafts often but about three years ago have moved out of Arizona.
USBP UAS were first used in the southwest border in 2005 and along the northern border in 2009.
The UAS program focuses on anti-terrorism by helping to identify and intercept potential terrorists and illegal border crossing activity.
end
Yuma agents seize $500k of heroin
October 15, 2013 6:03 PM
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Blythe Station in California arrested a smuggling suspect and seized more than $500,000 worth of heroin (SEEN HERE) Saturday afternoon. After stopping a car, agents reportedly found anomalies in the driver's story, leading to the reported discovery of 17.35 pounds of heroin hidden within the trunk of the vehicle. The driver is a Mexican citizen with legal permanent resident status in the United States. The man and the narcotics were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
AZMEX F&F EXTRA 16-10-13
AZMEX F&F EXTRA 16 OCT 2013
Sacrebleu! ATF threatens French-style firing squad for agents who leak secrets
By Kellan Howell-The Washington Times Tuesday, October 15, 2013
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/15/atfs-prescription-leaking-secrets-firing-squad/
After months of anguished debate over mass shootings, gun control and Second Amendment rights, the Justice Department finds itself on the defensive after a training manual surfaced that suggests federal agents could face a firing squad for leaking government secrets.
The online manual for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — complete with a photo of a turn-of-the-century firing squad — was obtained by The Washington Times from a concerned federal law enforcement official, and it immediately drew protests from watchdogs who said it showed a lack of sensitivity to gun violence and the continuing hostile environment toward whistleblowers.
Stephen Kohn, executive director of the National Whistleblower Center, said the DOJ has forgotten about the protections of the First Amendment, which covers leaks to the media, and that the photo could scare its employees into self-censorship.
The photo "would have a chilling affect on legitimate speech. And some of the rhetoric used against whistleblowers could be construed as inciting to violence because they've turned up the rhetoric," Mr. Kohn said.
Justice Department officials said the photo was included as a joke and that they were unaware it was viewed as offensive by agents. They plan to remove the entry, but not until the government shutdown is ended and federal officials return to work, said Richard Marianos, the special agent in charge of the Washington division of ATF.
The photo was embedded in the annual Introduction to National Security Information online course for the ATF, the main federal law enforcement agency investigating gun violence and illegal gun trafficking.
Richard Roberts, a public information officer for the International Union of Police Associations, said his opinion is that the photo is nothing more than a humorous attempt to underscore a serious point.
"During many years of law enforcement experience, I can attest to the fact that law enforcement personnel often use gallows humor as a release from the grim realities of the profession," he said.
But watchdogs raised immediate concerned that the image may have an unintended chilling effect on DOJ employees, as the agency has often been criticized for its handling of whistleblowers.
While the DOJ may be making light of a serious policy,Mr. Kohnsaid the photo was hypocritical, unconstitutional and unprofessional.
"The government leaks information all the time and they get away with it," Mr. Kohn said. "They don't go after leaks that they support. The government leaks, and when it is officially condoned they do not investigate or prosecute."
A major incident that Mr. Kohn referenced was the case of former U.S. Attorney Richard Convertino, who was removed from his position in Michigan by the DOJ after the DOJ leaked negative information about him.
"It significantly harmed his reputation, turned out not to be true, and we filed a privacy act lawsuit in 2003 and we are still fighting with the Justice Department to try to find out who the source of that leak was," Mr. Kohn said. "They have used well over $1 million of taxpayer resources to cover up a DOJ employee who violated the law when he leaked information to defame a whistleblower and that's one of the biggest problems with this whole campaign against leaks."
Mr. Kohn said the DOJ has forgotten about the protections of the First Amendment, which covers leaks to the media. There is also Supreme Court precedent in the case of Pickering v. Board of Education which established the constitutional right of public employees to provide information to the news media, he said.
"This is a campaign to silence and intimidate whistleblowers and what is the most troubling part of this aggressive campaign, is that the justice department has completely ignored the first amendment," Mr. Kohn said.
Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/15/atfs-prescription-leaking-secrets-firing-squad/#ixzz2htox6iKN
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter
ATF agent can publish book on 'Fast and Furious'
Oct 16, 10:56 AM (ET)
By ALICIA A. CALDWELL
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20131016/DA9FAIE81.html
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has approved publication of a book by an agent who told Congress about the agency's failed gun smuggling sting operation "Fast and Furious."
The Justice Department says ATF on Wednesday was notifying the American Civil Liberties Union, which represents special agent John Dodson, that he may publish the book but that a few parts of will be redacted for law-enforcement reasons.
It is still unclear whether Dodson will be allowed to be paid for the book. Federal law generally prohibits government workers from profiting off of outside work that is specifically based on their government job.
The Justice Department's ethics office will make a final determination on that after the partial government shutdown has ended.
END
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