US Attorney Arizona

Official account of the US Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona. We don't collect comments or messages. Learn more

[US Attorney Arizona @USAO_AZ]

PHOENIX, Ariz. – United States Attorney Timothy Courchaine hosted the 33rd Annual Four Corners Indian Country Conference in Glendale, Arizona this week.

The three-day event brought together over 150 attendees from Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico to train and collaborate on strategies to improve victim services, strengthen relationships between prosecutors, law enforcement, and communities, and discuss issues of concern to the four corners region. @USAO_UT @USAO_CO @USAO_NM

https://t.co/fFmWsahGMw

[US Attorney Arizona @USAO_AZ]

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jorge Adan Garcia Martinez, 21, of Roll, Arizona, was sentenced on Aug. 25 to 130 months in prison.

On June 21, 2024, Garcia Martinez coordinated the delivery of five pistols and magazines to Carlos Eduardo Diaz-Barba, 21, of San Luis, Arizona. Diaz-Barba then tried to smuggle the pistols and magazines into Mexico on Garcia Martinez’s behalf. The investigation revealed that the firearms were destined for Los Salazares, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel.

Electronic evidence showed that Garcia Martinez was also the leader of Fuerzas Especiales Jackson, a group of sicarios operating in San Luis, Sonora, Mexico. Garcia Martinez was arrested on Oct. 7, 2024, after law enforcement discovered his plan to retaliate against a rival group for an attack in San Luis, Sonora, that killed and injured members of his group.

@HSIArizona @FBIPhoenix @CBPArizona @LosAngelesATF

https://t.co/WHcvFAp6j1

[US Attorney Arizona @USAO_AZ]

USA Courchaine joined leaders from @HSIArizona and @FBIPhoenix yesterday to discuss cross-border cooperation with Colombia on child exploitation investigations. We are grateful to our federal and international partners who are giving tireless support to these matters.

[DOJ Civil Rights Division @CivilRights]

Former Tribal Police Officer Indicted for Using Excessive Force and Falsifying a Report: https://t.co/nWXUl3rHNE

[FBI Phoenix @FBIPhoenix]

The FBI Phoenix Desert Hawk Fugitive Task Force organized a two-week fugitive apprehension operation named Operation Can’t Beat the Heat, that resulted in the arrest of 121 fugitives throughout Arizona.

This is #YourFBI at work.

[FBI Phoenix @FBIPhoenix]

FBI Phoenix is seeking potential victims of Jeremie Sowerby, Luis Ortega, and others possibly involved in numerous fraud schemes.

Take a look at the businesses below and if you believe you are a victim or have any information, report it here: https://t.co/owboVi0Klm

Sowerby admitted to defrauding approximately 400 victims from 2017 through 2018 in a cryptocurrency investment scheme under the guise of three entities: Now Mining, VIP Mining, and Millennium Technologies. Sowerby also admitted to defrauding at least 150 victims through Dumanis Global Technologies from 2018 through 2019.

Finally, Sowerby admitted to engaging in a scheme called Justice Capital from 2021 through 2023, which was marketed as a hedge fund offered only to high-income earners.

More in this USAO AZ press release: https://t.co/gvIEvcjzoQ

[US Attorney Arizona @USAO_AZ]

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jamar Johnson, 54, who received over $1 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans by submitting fraudulent applications was sentenced to 15 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

In one of the applications, Johnson stated that his company had 73 employees and over $4.8 million in annual payroll expenses. In reality, they had no employees and no payroll expenses.

Read the PR here: https://t.co/kDxLGhTtew

@HSIArizona

[US Attorney Arizona @USAO_AZ]

TUCSON, Ariz. – Moises Gabriel Castillo, Jr., 40, of Weatherford, Texas, was sentenced last week to 57 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Castillo previously pleaded guilty to Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person, Causing Serious Bodily Injury and Resulting in Death.

On July 24, 2024, Castillo, an interstate truck driver, caused a collision between the commercial semi-truck he was driving and another semi-truck on Interstate 10 near Rita Road, Tucson. At the time, Castillo was transporting four illegal aliens. During the crash, one passenger was ejected and two others, one of whom was 16 years old, suffered serious bodily injury. The ejected passenger was pronounced dead at the scene.

Thanks to our partners at @HSIArizona and @Arizona_DPS for their assistance in this case.

Full press release can be found here: https://t.co/HbidUEvU1b

[US Attorney Arizona @USAO_AZ]

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jeremie Andrew Sowerby, 48, of Fountain Hills, Arizona, pleaded guilty earlier this month to Wire Fraud and admitted to scamming hundreds of victims through a series of investment fraud schemes spanning from 2017 through 2023.

Law enforcement is continuing to work to identify all of the victims related to these schemes. If you have not already spoken to the @FBIPhoenix related to this matter, and you believe you are a victim, please fill out the questionnaire linked in the press release.

https://t.co/AJ2X4GtCsf

[US Attorney Arizona @USAO_AZ]

TUCSON, Ariz. – Roman Emilio Rascon Jr., 36, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced on Aug. 11, to 78 months in prison for drug conspiracy and possession of a firearm while distributing drugs. Rascon's case is the result of an #HSTF investigation and the combined efforts of our law enforcement partners, including @HSIArizona, @FBIPhoenix, and @DEAPHOENIXDiv.

https://t.co/Fn2bKKqsm4

[US Attorney Arizona @USAO_AZ]

PHOENIX, Ariz. – A former finance director who pleaded guilty to embezzling over $10.7 million from his employer was sentenced to 78 months in prison on Monday. @FBIPhoenix

https://t.co/8B1dKOpgfX

[US Attorney Arizona @USAO_AZ]

Proud of our team and our local law enforcement partners for providing assistance in this HSTF investigation.

[U.S. Attorney SDAL @USAO_SDAL]

Four Arizona Residents Charged with Anabolic Steroid-Trafficking Conspiracy in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation
https://t.co/i0QhkzzmXj

[US Attorney Arizona @USAO_AZ]

TUCSON, Ariz. – Eric Garcia, 31, of Tucson, was sentenced yesterday to 19 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Garcia previously pleaded guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child. @FBIPhoenix

Full press release can be found here: https://t.co/VBgKafMvsB

[FBI Phoenix @FBIPhoenix]

Yesterday, FBI Phoenix stood in support of our federal partners to announce a 158-count indictment of 28 individuals charged with firearms offenses after a coordinated investigation through the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF).

Crime doesn't stop at the border and neither do we.

Read more: https://t.co/MGeubSzUL8

[ATF HQ @ATFHQ]

🚨 28 CHARGED in major #HSTF firearms trafficking takedown.

For two years, @ATFPhoenix worked with #HSTF partners @HSI_HQ @CBP and @USAO_AZ to investigate a network that used straw buyers to acquire pistols and AK style rifles in Arizona, some of which were later trafficked to Mexico. The investigation led to large seizures of firearms and ammunition, and last month, a federal grand jury indictment of 28 people.

Read more at https://t.co/Juo5CIV6bi. #StopGunTrafficking #WeAreATF

[US Attorney Arizona @USAO_AZ]

Thanks to our partners at @ATFPhoenix, @HSIArizona, and @CBPArizona for their work on this case, as well as all of our HSTF partners for their support. All public documents can be found here: https://t.co/VW15L6PoJ5

[US Attorney Arizona @USAO_AZ]

District of Arizona | 28 Charged with Firearms Offenses in HSTF Takedown | United States Department of Justice https://t.co/ueuXQNxHil

[US Attorney Arizona @USAO_AZ]

USA Courchaine speaking today alongside our HSTF partners about U.S. v. Castro, et al, a 158-count indictment against 21 defendants involved in straw purchasing and gun trafficking in Arizona.

[ATF Phoenix @ATFPhoenix]

🔴 Watch Live Today at 1 p.m. PDT @ATFPhoenix, along with Homeland Security Task Force partners @HSIArizona @USBPChiefTCA and @USAO_AZ, announces the arrests of multiple defendants and the dismantling of several firearms-trafficking rings. https://t.co/IdrA7favZ6 #HSTF #StopGunTrafficking

[ATF HQ @ATFHQ]

🔴 Watch Live Today at 1 p.m. MT.
@ATFPhoenix, along with Homeland Security Task Force partners @HSI_HQ @CBP and @USAO_AZ, announces the arrests of multiple defendants and the dismantling of several firearms-trafficking rings. https://t.co/t6VD7MmfGc. #HSTF #StopGunTrafficking