Month: August 2022

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Security News: Texas Child Predator Sentenced To Life In Federal Prison

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Aby Raul Rivera Torres (33, Galveston, Texas) to life in federal prison for production, distribution, and possession of child sex abuse material. The court also ordered Torres to forfeit the electronic devices he had used in the commission of the offense. Restitution for the victims will be determined at a later date. Torres was found guilty on May 23, 2022, following a bench trial.

According to court documents, Torres was a member of an online social media group dedicated to discussing incestual child sexual abuse and sharing child sex abuse material with group members. Between July 20 and August 2, 2021, Torres distributed to the group 12 images of child sex abuse material that he had produced of 8-year-old Minor Victim 1, who had been in his care and custody.

On November 13, 2021, the FBI executed a search warrant at Torres’s residence in Spring Hill, Florida and seized his cellphone. When the law enforcement officers arrived at the residence, Torres was home alone with three minor children, including Minor Victim 1. Minor Victim 1 later disclosed to law enforcement officers that Torres had sexually assaulted Minor Victim 1 that same day. The FBI also obtained a search warrant for Torres’ cellphone. A forensic analysis of the cellphone revealed Torres was in possession of approximately 667 images of child sex abuse material, including images depicting young girls, as young as four years old, being sexually abused.

At the time of his federal arrest, Torres had been released on bond by the State of Texas, where he was pending trial for aggravated sexual abuse of a child, making a terroristic threat against a family member, and multiple charges of possession of child pornography. In the fall of 2020, Torres relocated to Tampa after being released from state custody for aggravated sexual abuse of a child, where he is alleged to have committed the same offense against another minor child who had been in his care and custody.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Tampa and Oklahoma City Divisions), with assistance from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell.

This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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Security News: Colombian National Sentenced To Over 17 Years For His Role In Dispatching Vessels Carrying Cocaine Intended For Distribution In The United States

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Omar Olmedo Paredes (55, Cocal Payan, Colombia) to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Olmedo Paredes had pleaded guilty on March 31, 2022.

According to court documents, on June 17, 2015, and March 5, 2016, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) interdicted vessels in international waters. Each vessel was carrying over 500 kilograms of cocaine, and the USCG seized over 1,100 kilograms of cocaine from the two vessels. Crewmembers on both vessels stated that Olmedo Paredes was one of the individuals in charge of dispatching the vessels from a small inlet in Cocal Payan, Colombia. Olmedo Paredes hired mariners, put crewmembers in contact with other coconspirators in Colombia, had mariners stay at his house awaiting the launch of the vessels, provided engines for the vessels, gave orders, and resolved issues that arose. Olmedo Paredes and another individual brought the bales of cocaine to the launch site and counted them or instructed mariners to count them. Before dispatching the drug-laden vessels, Olmedo Paredes provided a captain with instructions and coordinates and dispatched surveillance vessels. The conspirators intended the cocaine to be distributed in the United States.

A federal grand jury indicted Olmedo Paredes in 2018, and he was arrested in Colombia in 2019. In 2021, Olmedo Paredes was extradited to the United States for prosecution in this case.

This case was investigated by the Panama Express Strike Force, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) comprised of agents and analysts from the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and U.S. Southern Command’s Joint Interagency Task Force South. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael C. Sinacore.

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Security News: Flint Rapper Cliff Mac Charged in Murder-for-Hire Plot

Source: United States Department of Justice News

FLINT– A Flint rapper was charged yesterday for hiring a man to murder a Sterling Heights woman for $10,000 in cash today, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Joining in the announcement were James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division, and Special Agent in Charge Paul D. Vanderplow, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Detroit Field Division.

A federal grand jury issued a superseding indictment charging Clifton E. Terry, III, a.k.a. “Cliff Mac,” 31, of Flint with conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire resulting in personal injury, murder-for-hire resulting in personal injury, and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  The grand jury had previously indicted defendant Andre D. Sims, 25, of Grand Rapids, on March 16, 2022, for his role in the murder-for-hire plot with Terry. 

According to the indictment, Terry solicited Sims to murder a female Sterling Heights resident for $10,000 in cash.  On November 27, 2020, Sims traveled from Grand Rapids to Flint where he obtained a vehicle.  In the early morning of November 28, 2020, Sims drove to the victim’s residence in Sterling Heights and parked across the street.  When the victim left her residence several hours later Sims approached her vehicle and fired seven to eight gunshots at the victim.  Despite being shot multiple times, the victim survived.  The shooting was captured on the victim’s home security system.  After the shooting, Sims drove to a nearby apartment complex where he abandoned his vehicle.  Shortly thereafter, Terry picked Sims up from the apartment complex.  Terry later agreed to pay Sims $2,500 for the failed hit. 

Terry is also charged with first degree murder in a separate case in Genesee County Circuit Court for his alleged role in the August 17, 2021, killing of Devaroe Davis. 

Sims was recently sentenced to life in prison following his murder conviction in the Kent County Circuit Court for the shooting death of a 65-year-old woman. 

Based on the charges of conspiring to commit murder-for-hire and for committing murder-for-hire resulting in personal injury, Terry faces a maximum of twenty years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.  Based on the charge of aiding and abetting the use and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, Terry faces a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison and a maximum of life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. 

This case was investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosive, with assistance from the Sterling Heights Police Department, the Flint Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Michigan State Police, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, and the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jules DePorre, Anthony Vance, and Tim Turkelson.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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Defense News: George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group transits the Strait of Gibraltar

Source: United States Navy

The strike group ships, squadrons, and staff departed from the United States earlier this month, aggregating as a strike group in the Atlantic Ocean before beginning the transit through the Strait of Gibraltar.

“We are here to provide the flexibility and combat power that only a U.S. Navy carrier strike group can provide combatant commanders,” said Rear Adm. Dennis Velez, commander, George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group, Carrier Strike Group 10. “The Sailors of the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group are clear-eyed about our mission, ready to execute, and prepared to reassure our partners and allies while allowing our diplomats to negotiate from a position of strength, knowing the U.S. Navy is on station.”

While in the NAVEUR-NAVAF area of operations, GHWBCSG will work alongside allied and partner maritime forces, focusing on theater security cooperation efforts to further regional stability and demonstrate the strong maritime partnership between the U.S. and these allies and partners. This marks the first time that USS George H.W. Bush has operated in the region since its 2017 deployment, after which it entered an extensive maintenance period.

“The Avengers are warriors who are teachers, leaders, and ambassadors operating forward, representing the American people,” said Capt. David-Tavis Pollard, commanding officer of George H.W. Bush. “We will exemplify the principles of service, grit, humility, and resilience throughout our deployment and in our engagements throughout the region.”

Prior to deployment, GHWBCSG completed its final certification exercise with the Italian Navy destroyer ITS Caio Duilio (D 554) as part of the team. Later in the same exercise, the strike group came under the leadership of Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) to flex command-and-control between U.S. and NATO chains-of-command, highlighting integration and interoperability between partners and allies.

Carrier strike groups are an inherently flexible naval force capable of deploying across combatant commands to meet emerging missions, deter and defend against potential adversaries, enhance security, reassure allies and partners, and guarantee the free flow of commerce in the region.

GHWBCSG is comprised of the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10 staff, George H.W. Bush, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26 staff and units, the Information Warfare Commander, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55). In total, the strike group is a force of more than 6,000 Sailors, capable of carrying out a wide variety of missions around the globe. 

George H.W. Bush provides the national command authority flexible, tailorable warfighting capability as the flagship of a carrier strike group that maintains maritime stability and security to ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied and partner interests.

The ships of DESRON 26 within the GHWBCSG are USS Nitze (DDG 94) and USS Truxtun (DDG 103) homeported in Norfolk, Va., and USS Farragut (DDG 99) and USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) homeported in Mayport, Fla.

The squadrons of Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW 7) embarked aboard George H.W. Bush are the “Jolly Rogers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 103, the “Pukin’ Dogs” of VFA-143, the “Bluetails” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 121, and the “Nightdippers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5 based in Norfolk, Va.; the “Sidewinders” of VFA-86 and the “Nighthawks” of VFA-136 based in Lemoore, Calif.; the “Patriots” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 140 based in Whidbey Island, Wash.; and the “Grandmasters” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46 based in Mayport, Fla.

For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with our allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

For more information about the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group you can visit its official website, Facebook, or LinkedIn page. For more information about USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) you can visit its Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or official webpage.