Source: United States Department of Justice News
To resolve an investigation into alleged violations of the anti-money laundering provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), the partnership that operates the Bicycle Hotel & Casino in Bell Gardens has agreed to pay $500,000 and undergo enhanced review and reporting requirements designed to prevent future violations of federal law.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the murder of De’annzello McDonald. This is in addition to the previously offered reward of up to $2,500 from Crime Stoppers of Oregon.
At approximately 12:35 a.m., on June 11, 2020, officers from the Portland Police Bureau responded to a report of gunfire at the 600 block of NE 162nd Avenue in Portland, Oregon. When they arrived, they found the body of 28-year-old De’annzello McDonald. Surveillance video showed McDonald walking up a flight of stairs with two men. A fourth man ran towards them and then ran away holding something in his right hand. Based on information gathered to date, investigators believe the suspect to be a young Black man in his mid-20s, average height to 6’0” tall, with a thin frame and possibly braided hair. The suspect was wearing a light, multi-colored top jacket, dark or black pants, and a light-colored hat. He was seen getting into a blue or gray Ford Crown Victoria sedan.
“Ghost guns. Stolen guns. Illegally purchased guns. As these weapons flood our streets, law enforcement and the community are working to turn the corner on the metro area’s record-setting violence. We need help, though. We need witnesses and associates of those involved to step up and help us bring an end to the shootings and buckets of bullets littering our streets,” said Kieran L. Ramsey, special agent in charge of the FBI in Oregon.
Mr. McDonald’s FBI “Seeking Information” poster can be downloaded at https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/deannzello-mcdonald.
This reward is the fourth offered by the FBI on behalf of the Metro Safe Streets Task Force. Previous rewards include:
If anyone has information, witnessed any part of what happened, or has video of anything that happened prior to, during, or after these shootings, they are asked to contact PPB by emailing crimetips@portlandoregon.gov or contacting the FBI at 1 (800) CALL-FBI or at tips.fbi.gov.
The Metro Safe Streets Task Force is a partnership between the FBI and ATF, Portland Police Bureau, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Gresham Police Department, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)
Two Orange County men have been charged in separate federal criminal cases with pointing the beam of a laser at police helicopters.
Brett Wayne Parkins, 42, of Huntington Beach, is expected to make an initial appearance in federal court today, November 4, 2021, following his arrest on Wednesday by FBI agents at his residence. According to an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Orange County, Parkins on July 25 knowingly aimed the beam of a laser at an aircraft; namely, a helicopter owned and operated by the Huntington Beach Police Department.
If convicted of the charges in the indictment, Parkins faces a statutory maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.
In the second case, Eric Jayson Suarez, 47, of Santa Ana, was charged with knowingly aiming the beam of a laser pointer at a helicopter owned and operated by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department on April 13, according to an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Orange County. Suarez was arrested on October 13.
On October 26, federal prosecutors filed a plea agreement in which Suarez, who is currently held without bond, agreed to plead guilty to the charge of aiming a laser at an aircraft. He is scheduled to formally enter the guilty plea on November 22. Once he pleads guilty, Suarez will face a statutory maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The FBI is investigating these matters with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Huntington Beach Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Spencer of the Santa Ana Branch Office is prosecuting the Parkins case, and Assistant United States Attorney Varun Behl is prosecuting the Suarez case.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), laser strikes increased in 2020 despite a lower number of air traffic operations. The FAA reported 6,852 laser incidents in 2020, up from 6,136 in 2019. This is the highest reported number of incidents since 2016.
Intentionally aiming lasers at aircraft poses a safety threat to pilots and violates federal law. Criminal and civil penalties are pursued against offenders.
Technology has advanced the effectiveness of laser devices, resulting in an increase in potential safety hazards for pilots and their passengers. Such safety hazards include temporary distraction and impaired vision, which is particularly dangerous during the critical takeoff or landing phase of flight. In addition, pilots have reported the need to abort landings or relinquish control of the aircraft to another pilot as a result of laser attacks.
To learn more or to report a laser incident, please visit FAA.gov.
Source: United States Navy
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Business Systems Center’s (BSC) NAVSUP Enterprise Web (NEW) team released their 100th web-based business solution, the Appointment Record and Termination tool, October 5.
The 100th release was a major milestone for the NAVSUP BSC team who has been developing web-based solutions to improve business processes for the NAVSUP Enterprise since January 2005.
Source: United States Department of Justice News
U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Reginald Leon Bolden, age 37, of Harford County, Maryland yesterday to nine years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine. As part of his plea agreement, Bolden must also forfeit a Chevrolet Camaro and more than $3,000.