Federal Inmate Sentenced for Assault Charge

LAKE CHARLES, LA—United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Edward Rodriguez, 39, an inmate at Pollock USP, was sentenced today to an additional two years in prison for assaulting a Bureau of Prisons employee.
Edward Rodriguez assaulted a USP Pollock officer while the officer was engaged in the performance of his duties. Rodriguez was standing in front of the officer’s station when he assaulted another inmate. The inmate ran into the officer’s station for protection. An officer went to his aid, and Rodriguez shoved the officer in the chest before turning around and fleeing from the officer’s station.
Rodriguez is currently serving a 154-month term of imprisonment for aiding and abetting armed bank robbery,and aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during a crime of violence.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Special Investigative Services for the Bureau of Prisons at Pollock. The case was prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Joseph G. Jarzabek and Special United States Attorney Seiji Ohashi.

Hualapai Nation Tribal Member Sentenced to Prison for Assault on a Federal Officer

PHOENIX—On January 14, 2012, Jordan Reed Sumatzkuku, 25, of Peach Springs, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 36 months in prison. Sumatzkuku was also sentenced to 12 months in prison for violating his supervised release in another case. The sentences were ordered to run consecutively for a total sentence of 48 months in prison, followed by a term of three years of supervised release. Sumatzkuku, a member of the Hualapai Nation Indian Tribe, pleaded guilty on November 7, 2012, to assault on a federal officer. Sumatzkuku’s sister, co-defendant Raema Sumatzkuku, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for assault on a federal officer on December 17, 2012.
According to court records, on July 2, 2012, when a Hualapai Nation Police officer tried to arrest Sumatzkuku’s sister, Sumatzkuku grabbed the officer, knocked him to the ground, and wrestled with the officer. The victim sustained a fracture to his left foot as a result of the assault.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Hualapai Nation Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Christina J. Reid-Moore, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

Jal Accountant Arraigned on Federal Fraud and Identity Theft Charges

ALBUQUERQUE—This morning, Roger L. Baeza, 31, of Jal, New Mexico, was arraigned on an 81-count indictment charging him with 78 counts of securities fraud, one count of access device fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Baeza entered a not guilty plea to the indictment during his arraignment hearing.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said that Baeza is charged with defrauding two Jal-based businesses, Lea Energy Services LLC and Fulfer Oil & Cattle Company LCC, of approximately $572,000 between June 2010 and February 2012. During that period, Baeza was employed as the in-house accountant by the owners of the two businesses.
According to the indictment, from June 4, 2010 to February 27, 2012, Baeza forged checks belonging to Lea Energy Services LLC and the Fulfer Oil & Cattle Company LCC on 78 separate occasions and thus defrauded his employers of an aggregate of $311,960.08. Count 79 of the indictment alleges that, during that same period, Baeza unlawfully used a credit card issued to his employers to defraud his employers of an aggregate of $189,267.02. Counts 80 and 81 each charge Baeza with unlawfully using the identification of one of his employers to unlawfully withdraw money from his employers’ business accounts.
The maximum penalty for a conviction on each of the 78 securities fraud counts and the access device fraud count is 10 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for a conviction on each of the two aggravated identity theft counts is a mandatory two-year term of imprisonment, to be served consecutive to any other prison sentence imposed and a $250,000 fine.
Following his arrest on a criminal complaint on November 6, 2012, Baeza is on conditions of release pending trial.
The case was investigated by the Roswell Resident Agency of the FBI and the New Mexico State Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman Cairns.
Allegations in criminal complaints and indictments are only accusations. Criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Joplin Woman Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements to Receive Tornado Benefits

SPRINGFIELD, MO—David M. Ketchmark, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Joplin, Missouri woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to making false statements in order to obtain federal disaster benefits following the May 22, 2011 tornado.
Pamala Ann Shafer, 37, of Joplin, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to the charges contained in an April 3, 2012 federal indictment.
Shafer admitted that she applied for federal disaster benefits by falsely claiming that her residence had been damaged by the tornado. Shafer also filed an application for temporary rental assistance. On the basis of Shafer’s representations, FEMA authorized a $938 payment. Shafer admitted today she did not reside at that address at the time of the tornado. Rather, the apartment had been owned by another individual, who did not know Shafer.
Shafer is the fifth defendant to plead guilty in cases related to fraudulently receiving federal disaster benefits following the tornado. In separate and unrelated cases, Wanda Gail McBride, Ronald Martell Irby, and Karen Marie Parks, all of Joplin, pleaded guilty and have been sentenced. Amber Nicole Peters of Joplin pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.
Under federal statutes, Shafer is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
Disaster Fraud Hotline
Anyone with information about disaster fraud related to the Joplin tornado should call the National Center for Disaster Fraud hotline at 866-720-5721, the Joplin Police Department at 417-623-3131, or the FBI’s Joplin Resident Agency at 417-206-5700.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Mohlhenrich. It was investigated by the FBI; Homeland Security Investigations-Office of Inspector General; and the Joplin, Missouri Police Department.
This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, is available online at http://www.justice.gov/usao/mow/index.html.

Current and Former Tribal Officials Charged with Stealing from the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Hartford has returned two separate indictments charging Steven Thomas, 38, and Michael Thomas, 44, each with one count of theft from an Indian tribal organization and two counts of theft from an Indian tribal government receiving federal funds. Steven Thomas is the current treasurer of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council, and Michael Thomas is the former chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council.
The indictment against Steven Thomas alleges that, from January 2005 through June 2008, he stole Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation (MPTN) funds while he was the Assistant Director of MPTN’s Department of Natural Resources Protection.
The indictment against Michael Thomas alleges that, from October 2007 through April 2009, he stole MPTN funds while serving as the chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council.
If convicted of stealing from an Indian tribal organization, both men face a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000. If convicted of stealing from an Indian tribal government receiving federal funds, both men face a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count.
The indictments also include forfeiture allegations. If convicted, Steven Thomas faces forfeiture of approximately $739,743.64, and Michael Thomas faces forfeiture of $102,393.34 and two personal computers.
The defendants are scheduled to appear before United States Magistrate Judge Joan G. Margolis in New Haven on Monday, January 7, at 3:45 p.m.
U.S. Attorney Fein stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Department of Interior-Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Mattei.