U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency agents got a recovering drug addicted re-addicted by giving him crack cocaine as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force known as "Operation Smack City," the man claims in a federal lawsuit.
Aaron Romero sued the United States and five named DEA agents on Monday.
Romero claims he had been clean and sober for four months when DEA agents gave him crack, causing him to relapse into addiction. He claims the DEA gave him the drug no fewer than six times, and several other times gave him money which they knew he would use to buy drugs.
Romero claims the DEA agents gave him the drugs as payment for his brokering purchases of crack from other dealers.
He claims the agents worked through an informant to negotiate these deals in order to track drug trafficking in New Mexico, while at the same time using Romero's consumption of the drug to "stack drug-related charges" against him for later prosecution.
These criminal drug charges against Romero, and charges against four other people, were dismissed by the U.S. attorney, according to the lawsuit.
Romero seeks $5 million in damages for civil rights violations, personal injury and professional negligence.
He is represented by Erlinda Johnson in Albuquerque.
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Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Violent #Lomas13 Gang Member Back Behind Bars
Deputy U.S. Marshals and Task Force Officers assigned to the Marshals Service South West Investigative Fugitive Team (SWIFT) Task Force along with officers of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) arrested fugitive James Garcia. Garcia was wanted by the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office for state charges that included Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Possession of Firearm or Destructive Device by a Felon, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Use or Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
During the initial fugitive investigation, SWIFT Task Force Investigators developed information that Garcia was a validated Lomas 13 gang member with an extensive criminal history. In prior arrests Garcia was allegedly found with ballistic vests, ammunition, and a firearm.
On July 11, in the evening hours SWIFT Task Force Investigators observed Garcia driving in a late model pickup truck. Subsequently, SWIFT Task Force Investigators and BCSO Deputies approached the vehicle and took Garcia into custody. Garcia was once again arrested with drugs, a handgun, ammunition, and ballistic materials. Garcia is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
During the initial fugitive investigation, SWIFT Task Force Investigators developed information that Garcia was a validated Lomas 13 gang member with an extensive criminal history. In prior arrests Garcia was allegedly found with ballistic vests, ammunition, and a firearm.
On July 11, in the evening hours SWIFT Task Force Investigators observed Garcia driving in a late model pickup truck. Subsequently, SWIFT Task Force Investigators and BCSO Deputies approached the vehicle and took Garcia into custody. Garcia was once again arrested with drugs, a handgun, ammunition, and ballistic materials. Garcia is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pizza Franchise Owner and Nominee Owner Plead Guilty in Tax Fraud Scheme
Two West Bloomfield, Michigan, residents pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, announced the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Arkan Summa, an owner of numerous Happy’s Pizza franchises, pleaded guilty to corruptly endeavoring to obstruct or impede the due administration of the internal revenue laws. Tagrid Summa Bashi, Summa’s sister and a nominee owner, pleaded guilty to willfully delivering false documents to the IRS.
A multiple count indictment was unsealed July 16, 2013 alleging that from approximately June 2004 through April 2011, Summa executed a scheme in which he diverted gross receipts, underreported wages and caused the taxable income and payroll tax information of specific Happy’s Pizza franchises to be underreported to the IRS.
According to the information filed in court, in 2009, Bashi caused false payroll information forms to be submitted to the IRS. Documents filed with the court indicate Summa’s obstruction of the IRS resulted in a tax loss of approximately $199,847, and Bashi caused approximately $55,000 in wages to be underreported to the IRS through her false submission.
For the obstruction charge, Summa faces a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Bashi faces a statutory maximum sentence of 12 months in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. Sentencing for both defendants is scheduled for Oct. 23.
Arkan Summa, an owner of numerous Happy’s Pizza franchises, pleaded guilty to corruptly endeavoring to obstruct or impede the due administration of the internal revenue laws. Tagrid Summa Bashi, Summa’s sister and a nominee owner, pleaded guilty to willfully delivering false documents to the IRS.
A multiple count indictment was unsealed July 16, 2013 alleging that from approximately June 2004 through April 2011, Summa executed a scheme in which he diverted gross receipts, underreported wages and caused the taxable income and payroll tax information of specific Happy’s Pizza franchises to be underreported to the IRS.
According to the information filed in court, in 2009, Bashi caused false payroll information forms to be submitted to the IRS. Documents filed with the court indicate Summa’s obstruction of the IRS resulted in a tax loss of approximately $199,847, and Bashi caused approximately $55,000 in wages to be underreported to the IRS through her false submission.
For the obstruction charge, Summa faces a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Bashi faces a statutory maximum sentence of 12 months in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. Sentencing for both defendants is scheduled for Oct. 23.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
High Ranking #14KTriad Member Among 8 Charged with Running Illegal World Cup Gambling Operation from @CaesarsPalace Villas
Seven men and one woman have been charged with operating an illegal gambling business from several exclusive high roller villas at Caesars Palace from approximately June 6 to July 9, 2014, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.
Wei Seng Phua, 50, Darren Wai Kit Phua, 22, Seng Chen Yong, 56, Wai Kin Yong, 22, all of Malaysia; Hui Tang, 44, of China; and Yan Zhang, 40, Yung Keung Fan, 46, and Herman Chun Sang Yeung, 36, all of Hong Kong, are charged in a criminal complaint and are scheduled to make initial court appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carl W. Hoffman at 3:00 p.m. today. The defendants were arrested in Las Vegas on July 13, 2014, by law enforcement agents with the FBI and Nevada Gaming Control Board. Each defendant is charged with one count of unlawful transmission of wagering information and one count of operating an illegal gambling business. If convicted, they face up to two years in prison on the unlawful transmission count and up to five years in prison on the illegal gambling business count, as well as fines on each count of up to $250,000.
According to the criminal complaint, Wei Seng Phua, is known by law enforcement to be a high ranking member of the 14K Triad, an Asian organized crime group. On or about June 18, 2013, Phua was arrested in Macau, along with more than 20 other individuals, for operating an illegal sport book gambling business transacting illegal bets on the World Cup Soccer Tournament. Phua posted bail in Macau and was released. The complaint alleges that on June 23, 2014, Phua arrived in Las Vegas, Nev., to continue with his associates their illegal gambling business at a local casino. During early June 2014, three villas were reserved at a Caesars Palace at the request of Wei Seng Phua or one of his associates. Between June 6 and June 11, 2014, Phua and two of his associates, Seng Chen Yong and Hui Tang, checked into the villas. Phua and his associates allegedly requested that Caesars Palace install an unusually large amount of electronics equipment in the villas to support eight (8) Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) lines, and WiFi access. Caesars Palace installed and set up the equipment, but became concerned the equipment appeared to be a set-up for an illegal gambling operation. In one of the villas, computer screens were observed which looked similar to the ones in the casino’s sports book, including five stations and three monitors attached to each station. Each station’s computer tower was hooked up to a Century Link DSL line with voice over Internet protocol phones. Near the computer stations, there were three large screen televisions with service from Cox, Dish and Direct TV, each of which was tuned to World Cup soccer games. The Nevada Gaming Control Board, subsequently determined that the set-up was similar to a “wire room” where illegal wagers are made and monitored, and that the defendants were monitoring the World Cup and betting odds associated with World Cup soccer games in furtherance of operating a gambling business. Over the next month, law enforcement agents worked undercover and monitored the activity in the villas. On July 9, 2014, federal search warrants were executed at the three villas and law enforcement agents recovered gambling records, computer equipment, and other items. The defendants were arrested after it was determined that they were allegedly remotely controlling computers based overseas which allowed them to operate and manage their illegal gambling business from Las Vegas.
Wei Seng Phua, 50, Darren Wai Kit Phua, 22, Seng Chen Yong, 56, Wai Kin Yong, 22, all of Malaysia; Hui Tang, 44, of China; and Yan Zhang, 40, Yung Keung Fan, 46, and Herman Chun Sang Yeung, 36, all of Hong Kong, are charged in a criminal complaint and are scheduled to make initial court appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carl W. Hoffman at 3:00 p.m. today. The defendants were arrested in Las Vegas on July 13, 2014, by law enforcement agents with the FBI and Nevada Gaming Control Board. Each defendant is charged with one count of unlawful transmission of wagering information and one count of operating an illegal gambling business. If convicted, they face up to two years in prison on the unlawful transmission count and up to five years in prison on the illegal gambling business count, as well as fines on each count of up to $250,000.
According to the criminal complaint, Wei Seng Phua, is known by law enforcement to be a high ranking member of the 14K Triad, an Asian organized crime group. On or about June 18, 2013, Phua was arrested in Macau, along with more than 20 other individuals, for operating an illegal sport book gambling business transacting illegal bets on the World Cup Soccer Tournament. Phua posted bail in Macau and was released. The complaint alleges that on June 23, 2014, Phua arrived in Las Vegas, Nev., to continue with his associates their illegal gambling business at a local casino. During early June 2014, three villas were reserved at a Caesars Palace at the request of Wei Seng Phua or one of his associates. Between June 6 and June 11, 2014, Phua and two of his associates, Seng Chen Yong and Hui Tang, checked into the villas. Phua and his associates allegedly requested that Caesars Palace install an unusually large amount of electronics equipment in the villas to support eight (8) Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) lines, and WiFi access. Caesars Palace installed and set up the equipment, but became concerned the equipment appeared to be a set-up for an illegal gambling operation. In one of the villas, computer screens were observed which looked similar to the ones in the casino’s sports book, including five stations and three monitors attached to each station. Each station’s computer tower was hooked up to a Century Link DSL line with voice over Internet protocol phones. Near the computer stations, there were three large screen televisions with service from Cox, Dish and Direct TV, each of which was tuned to World Cup soccer games. The Nevada Gaming Control Board, subsequently determined that the set-up was similar to a “wire room” where illegal wagers are made and monitored, and that the defendants were monitoring the World Cup and betting odds associated with World Cup soccer games in furtherance of operating a gambling business. Over the next month, law enforcement agents worked undercover and monitored the activity in the villas. On July 9, 2014, federal search warrants were executed at the three villas and law enforcement agents recovered gambling records, computer equipment, and other items. The defendants were arrested after it was determined that they were allegedly remotely controlling computers based overseas which allowed them to operate and manage their illegal gambling business from Las Vegas.
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