Texas Prison Escapee Added to U.S. Marshals '15 Most Wanted' List‏

The U.S. Marshals have added to their ”15 Most Wanted “ list a man serving three life sentences who escaped custody during his transport from Huntsville, TX. During the escape, Arcade Joseph Comeaux, Jr. allegedly produced a weapon and fired upon two correctional officers, took them hostage and forced them to drive to Baytown, TX where he restrained the officers in the back of the van, took their firearms and one of their uniforms.

Source: US Marshals

Wanted: The High Country Bandits‏

The FBI is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the High Country Bandits, an armed crew who have allegedly committed three bank robberies across Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, Prescott Valley, and in Payson. The unknown male identified as suspect number one points a semi-automatic handgun at the victim teller(s) and demands money. He obtains an undisclosed amount of money then orders everyone on the ground and exits the financial institution with a second suspect.

Suspect number one is described as a White male, 20’s - 40’s, approximately 5’5” – 5’7”, slight build, wearing dark clothing, gloves, baseball cap, sunglasses, and a facemask that covers at least the lower half of his face. There is no description for suspect number two.

The following credit union and banks have been robbed:

Arizona Central Credit Union, 1948 South Woodland Village Blvd, Flagstaff, Arizona, 10/14/09.

Country Bank, 3044 North Glassford Hill Road, Prescott Valley, Arizona, 10/30/09.

Compass Bank, 613 S. Beeline Highway, Payson, Arizona, 11/25/09.

Please contact the FBI at (602) 279-5511 with any information about the identity of the High Country Bandits.

Source: F.B.I. Phoenix Office

Transient in the area of 3rd Avenue and Osborn Road

Luis Bueno

Transient in the area of 3rd Avenue and Osborn Road, Phoenix, AZ 85013

Age: 39
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 158
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown

He is not wanted by the Phoenix Police at this time.

Source:
Phoenix Police Department, Sex Offender Notification Squad

On September 6, 1991, Offender Bueno pled guilty to two counts of Attempted Sexual Assault in Maricopa County Superior Court.

During the incident, Offender Bueno attempted to sexually assault two female victims, who were injured when they jumped out of a third floor window to escape.

In a separate incident, Offender Bueno attacked the female victim at her office. He knocked the victim to the floor, where he punched her in the face and attempted to sexually assault her. Offender Bueno was a stranger to the victim.

“Wig Bandit” Bank Robbers Sentenced to 18 and 20 Years in Federal Prison

Two of the so-called “Wig Bandits,” bank robbers who donned wigs during the commission of armed bank robberies, have been sentenced to federal prison by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell. Andrei Ulisses Chavez, 25, and Francisco Javier Serrano, 23, both Mexican citizens living in Phoenix, each pleaded guilty in June 2009, to one count of Armed Bank Robbery and one count of Use of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence.

Serrano was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in federal prison. Chavez was sentenced in September 2009 to 18 years in federal prison. Four co-defendants are pending sentencing after pleading guilty for each of their roles in the robberies. A final co-defendant is pending trial.

“I applaud the continued success of federal and local law enforcement agencies in bringing bank robbers to justice,” stated U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke. “These sentences reflect the violent nature of this type of crime.”

“These sentences illustrate the cooperative efforts of our law enforcement partners and the FBI,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Nathan T. Gray, Phoenix Division. “The Glendale and Phoenix Police Departments were instrumental in the investigation of the ‘Wig Bandits.’ When you reduce the number of violent takeover type bank robbers, it makes our communities safer. We remain committed to reducing the number of robberies in the Valley by working with our prosecuting partners at the County and Federal levels.”

In addition to the co-defendants who are pending sentencing, one additional co-defendant is pending trial. Julio Cesar Feliciano, Jr., 45, of Phoenix, is charged with five armed bank robberies involving multiple firearms and is set for trial beginning November 10, 2009, before Judge Campbell. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Glendale, Phoenix, and Avondale Police Departments. The prosecution is being handled by Alison S. Bachus and Dimitra H. Sampson, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER: CR-08-932-PHX-DGC

RELEASE NUMBER: 2009-338(Chavez & Serrano)

Source: FBI Phoenix Office

planPHX - Big Question #2‏

IMAGINE PHOENIX IN 2050. WHAT DO YOU SEE?

Go to www.phoenix.gov/planphx and go to Events to find a Visioning Workshop during the month of November.

The Phoenix Central Neighborhood Association participates in the Encanto Village group.

Source: City of Phoenix Planning Department

Man Accused of Sexual Assault During Harboring Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison‏

Feliciano Rojas-Vivar, aka Ruben Lopez-Lopez, 53, of Pueblas, Mexico, was sentenced on October 23, 2009, by U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Martone to 15 years in federal prison. Rojas-Vivar pleaded guilty to three counts of Harboring Illegal Aliens for Profit at his Phoenix residence in 2007. His step-son, Juan Daniel Rojas-Perez, 30, also of Pueblas, Mexico, was sentenced on March 23, 2009, by Judge Martone to 46 months in prison. He pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Harbor Aliens.

In November 2007, Rojas-Vivar and Rojas-Perez worked together to harbor illegal aliens at a house owned by Rojas-Vivar. One of the aliens held at the residence was a juvenile female and at sentencing, Judge Martone found that there was credible evidence that Rojas-Vivar sexually assaulted her during the harboring. His step-son was not involved with the sexual assault. Both men had lived in the U.S. for an extended period of time and Rojas-Vivar had a history of alien smuggling. During sentencing, the judge stated that Rojas-Vivar had imposed a “reign of terror” on the juvenile victim and that his extreme conduct was unusually degrading.

The investigation in this case was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with assistance provided by the Phoenix Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Lisa Jennis Settel, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER: CR-07-1388-PHX-FJM

RELEASE NUMBER: 2009-335(Rojas-Vivar)

Source: FBI Phoenix Office

FBI Task Force Arrests Serial Bank Robber Based on Tip to Scottsdale Police‏

FBI agents and Scottsdale police officers arrested Michael Yanni, 26, of Phoenix, today for allegedly robbing eight banks in a 12-month time period in 2006 and 2007. Yanni was charged by a criminal complaint and made his initial appearance in federal court at 3:00 p.m. today. He will be detained pending a detention hearing set for Thursday, October 29th at 1:30 p.m.

According to the criminal complaint, an anonymous caller left a message for the Scottsdale Police Department on their TIP line in December 2008. Based on details provided by the caller, the Task Force investigated the case for 10 months. They located and spoke with victim tellers and witnesses, and showed them lineups to see if they could identify Yanni as the bank robber. Yanni, formerly of Scottsdale, was identified in all eight banks. Today, the Task Force located Yanni and arrested him without incident at his residence in Phoenix.

The complaint alleges that Yanni committed eight bank robberies in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Carefree and Marana, Ariz., between June 13, 2006, and June 29, 2007. He typically wore a bandana and mirrored aviator sunglasses. Also according to the complaint, after asking the victim tellers for money, he frequently asked them to “do it quietly.”

“The Violent Crime/Bank Robbery Task Force has been extremely successful in bringing bank robbers to justice,” stated U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke. “When federal, state, and local law enforcement create and maintain partnerships to target specific crime, and the residents of Arizona also provide information, the result is safer communities.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Nathan T. Gray, Phoenix Division, stated that, “The arrest of Michael Yanni by the FBI’s Bank Robbery Task Force is another fine example of the commitment and professionalism of task force members who represent their respective law enforcement agencies. Our law enforcement partners have been instrumental in the effectiveness of the bank robbery task force in its efforts to reduce bank robberies in the Valley. In addition, we are grateful to the public for its willingness to get involved and assist the law enforcement community.”

After countless hours of investigation leading to the arrest of Yanni, Scottsdale Police Chief Alan Rodbell stated, “The entire investigation is like a puzzle with many pieces. When we are looking for that final piece that a member of our community is holding, we greatly appreciate their cooperation in partnering with us. This case is a prime example of how the public can partner with us to remove a criminal from our streets.”

There have been 183 bank robberies in the Phoenix metropolitan area since January 1, 2009. The Violent Crime/Bank Robbery Task Force has solved 121 to date.

A conviction for each count of Bank Robbery carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine or both. A criminal complaint is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The FBI has partnered with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, the Mesa Police Department, the Phoenix Police Department, the Scottsdale Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to form the Violent Crime/Bank Robbery Task Force in order to investigate, arrest and seek prosecution of those responsible for robbing banks in the Valley. The prosecution in this case is being handled by Jennifer E. Green, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER: 09-550M

RELEASE NUMBER: 2009-336(Yanni)

Source: FBI Phoenix Office