Public Safety Initiatives and Special Announcements
Justice Department Announces Open Solicitation for National and Regional Tribal Organizations - Attorney General’s American Indian/Alaska Native Task Force On Children Exposed To Violence
This solicitation from the Justice Department’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) will support an organization that will (1) assist the Attorney General’s Task Force on American Indian/Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence (AI/AN Task Force) to conduct public hearings and listening sessions in American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities to help the AI/AN Task Force gain a fuller understanding of the issues surrounding AI/AN children’s exposure to violence, (2) provide primary technical writing services for the final report from which the AI/AN Task Force may draw specific policy recommendations, and (3) provide all necessary support for the AI/AN Task Force and the public hearings.
The deadline to apply for funding under this announcement is 11:59 p.m. eastern time on July 29, 2013. Read the solicitation: http://www.ojjdp.gov/funding/FundingDetail.asp?fi=316
Questions regarding this announcement should be directed to the contact information listed in the solicitation.
In Focus: Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation Online Assessment
A Message Courtesy of the Department of Justice – Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation Team
The Department of Justice invites you to participate in an online assessment of your experience with the 2013 Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) process. Your participation and completion of the online assessment by July 22, is very important to our continuing efforts to improve the CTAS process for 2014.
We would appreciate your feedback on your experience with the 2013 CTAS solicitation announcement and application process, even if you chose not to apply. The online assessment will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. To ensure a valid response rate, follow-up telephone calls may be made to recipients that do not respond to the assessment. Follow this link to participate in the assessment: www.fvtc.edu/ctasassessment.
Thank you for your assistance in completing this assessment. Your feedback is valuable and important to us in making future enhancements to CTAS. Should you have questions or difficulty completing the assessment, please contact Justine Souto at Fox Valley Technical College at 1-888-370-1752 or
The Department of Justice’s Training and Technical Assistance Program
The Justice Department offers training and technical assistance (TTA) to promote practical and specialized knowledge in order to implement and enhance justice system efforts. Subject matter-based training includes Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse, Law Enforcement, Tribal Courts, Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal Assistance, Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Domestic and Sexual Violence Crimes and others. In addition to topical TTA resources to assist tribes with programmatic issues related to project implementation, the department offers grant management-related training and technical assistance regarding the grant application process, grant management and financial management.
More information: http://www.justice.gov/tribal/tta.html
Significant Criminal Prosecutions
ARIZONA
Fort Mojave Man Sentenced to 63 Months in Federal Prison (U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona)
On July 9, 2013, U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo announced that Joshua Samuel Jenkins, of Mohave Valley, Ariz. and a member of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, was sentenced to 63 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and forfeiture of a firearm and ammunition. Jenkins pleaded guilty on May 28, 2013 to the offense of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. He was previously convicted of four felony offenses, and in this incident possessed a sawed-off or shortened shotgun and ammunition.
http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/press–releases/news.html
MINNESOTA
Redby Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Another With A Machete (U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota)
On July 1, 2013, U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones announced that Dale Clinton White, Jr. pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily harm. White assaulted another person with a machete while in Redby, a community on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. White, who was indicted on May 6, 2013, entered his plea before United States District Court Chief Judge Michael J. Davis. For his crime, White faces a potential maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Michael J. Davis will determine his sentence at a future hearing which has yet to be scheduled.
http://www.justice.gov/usao/mn/dalewhiteplea.html
MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi Man Pleads Guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact (U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Mississippi)
On July 11, 2013, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced that Gurdy Farmer, Jr., 25, of Choctaw, Miss., pleaded guilty on July 10, 2013, to abusive sexual contact of a minor. The offense occurred within the boundaries of the Tribal Lands of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Farmer will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate on Sept. 19, 2013, and faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Choctaw Police Department.
http://www.justice.gov/usao/mss/press/JULY2013/Farmer%20Plea.html
MONTANA
Blackfeet Tribe Member Pleads Guilty to Assault (U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Montana)
On July 2, 2013, U.S. Attorney Michael W. Cotter announced that Tony Ray Many Guns, a resident of Browning, Mont., and an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury to his wife on the night of Feb. 28, 2013. Sentencing has been set for Oct. 21, 2013 and he is currently being detained. Many Guns faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.
http://www.justice.gov/usao/mt/pressreleases/20130703134023.html
NEW MEXICO
Arizona Woman Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced for Harboring and Concealing a Man to Prevent his Arrest (U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Mexico)
On July 3, 2013, U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced that Jennifer Janice Morgan, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Ganado, Ariz., pleaded guilty to harboring and concealing a person for the purpose of preventing his arrest on an arrest warrant. Morgan, who has been in federal custody since her arrest on May 30, 2013, was sentenced to a year in prison, which was suspended, and a year of probation. According to the criminal complaint, on May 21, 2013, Morgan evaded deputies of the McKinley County Sheriff’s Department as she drove from New Mexico towards Window Rock, Ariz., with a passenger who had an outstanding federal arrest warrant from the District of Arizona for violating the terms of his supervised release.
http://www.justice.gov/usao/nm/press-releases/2013/July/212-130703%20Morgan%20Harboring%20Plea-Sentence.html
Navajo Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Assault and Child Abuse Charges (U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Mexico)
On July 3, 2013, U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced that Everett D. Williams, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Nambe Pueblo, N.M., pleaded guilty to federal assault and child abuse charges. Williams was arrested in March 2013, based on a criminal complaint charging him with assaulting his intimate partner with a hammer and causing her to sustain serious bodily injury. In April 2013, Williams was indicted and charged with one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury, one count assault with a deadly weapon, and two counts of child abuse. Williams has been in federal custody since his arrest and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
http://www.justice.gov/usao/nm/press-releases/2013/July/211-130703%20Williams%20Assault%20OVW%20Plea.html
Navajo Nation Member Sentenced for Murdering Catholic Nun During Commission of a Burglary (U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Mexico)
On June 28, 2013, U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced that Reehahlio Caroll, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation from Navajo, N.M., was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for his second degree murder conviction. Carroll was also ordered to pay $8,992 in restitution. Carroll was arrested in Nov. 2009 on federal charges arising out of the murder of Sister Marguerite Bartz of the Diocese of Gallup, N.M. The murder occurred on Nov. 1, 2009 during the burglary of Sister Bartz’ home on the Navajo Indian Reservation.
http://www.justice.gov/usao/nm/press-releases/2013/June/209-130628%20Carroll%20IC%20Murder%20Sentencing.html
NEW YORK
Three Arrested in Human Smuggling/Trafficking Case involving the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory and St. Regis Mohawk Reservation (U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of New York)
On July 3, 2013, three individuals were arrested for their involvement in the smuggling of five Romanian nationals from Canada to the United States. The investigation revealed that Heather Laughing, Abraham Joseph Thompson and Traian Dumitru, all from Canada, organized the smuggling of two adults and three children of Romanian origin who were subject to a removal order. The smuggling allegedly occurred on April 18, 2012 from the Akwesasne Reserve in Quebec. The investigation continues.
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/qc/nouv-news/com-rel/2013/07/130703-eng.htm
NORTH DAKOTA
Operation Winter’s End Results in Drug Trafficking Charges Against 22 Individuals (U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of North Dakota)
On July 1, 2013, U.S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced the unsealing of a federal indictment charging 22 defendants with drug trafficking offenses. The indictment, which was filed on March 26, 2013, is the result of Operation Winter’s End, a long-term, multi-agency investigation into the activities of an alleged drug trafficking organization that has allegedly been dealing heroin and methamphetamine on and around the Fort Berthold Reservation in northwest North Dakota.
http://www.justice.gov/usao/nd/news/news.html
SOUTH DAKOTA
Cherry Creek Man Sentenced for Assault (U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of South Dakota)
On July 9, 2013, U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Kaleb Earl Hollow Horn, from Cherry Creek, S.D., who was convicted of Assaulting, Resisting or Impeding a Federal Officer was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day of custody. Hollow Horn’s sentencing will be followed by 1 year of supervised release and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The conviction arose from a February 2012 incident in which Hollow Horn assaulted, resisted or impeded a Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe police officer who was arresting him for violating a tribal court order.
http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/pressreleases/Pierre-2013-07-09-Hollow%20Horn.html
Blackfoot Man Charged With Abusive Sexual Contact With a Child (U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of South Dakota)
On July 1, 201, U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Ta-Sunka-hinz Thunder Hawk, of Blackfoot, S.D., has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child. The charge relates to an alleged incident in Blackfoot where Thunder Hawk had sexual contact with a child under the age of 12. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on June 26, 2013 and pleaded not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in custody, a $250,000 fine, or both; at least 5 years and up to life of supervised release; and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Thunder Hawk was released to a third party custodian pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
http://www.justice.gov/usao/sd/pressreleases/Pierre-2013-07-01-ThunderHawk.html
WYOMING
Northern Arapaho Woman Sentenced for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury (U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Wyoming)
On July 3, 2013, U.S. Attorney Christopher A. Crofts announced that Phoebe Dawn Soundingsides, an enrolled Northern Arapaho woman from Arapahoe, Wyo., was sentenced on a single count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. The charge stemmed from a stabbing which occurred on Jan. 18-19, 2012, on the Wind River Indian Reservation. Soundingsides was sentenced to 42 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $33,750 and a $100 special assessment fee. http://www.justice.gov/usao/wy/news/2013/07jul/13-047–jul03.html