Firearms Industry Matches ATF Reward in Norcross Firearms Theft

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) – the trade association for the firearms industry – has announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for a September 17 firearms theft at American Classic Marksman, a federally licensed firearms retailer in Norcross, Ga. The incident has triggered a joint investigation, being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Gwinnett County Police Department. The NSSF reward offer matches a $5,000 reward offered by the ATF.

Steve Sanetti, president of the NSSF, said, "Our matching reward offer will hopefully help assist ATF and local law enforcement in solving this crime against a federally licensed firearms dealer and lead to the swift recovery of stolen firearms before they can enter the illegal underground black market where they can be misused to commit violent crimes."

The matching reward payment by NSSF will be granted only following payment of the initial ATF reward, which is up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the crime.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call ATF's toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477). Callers can remain anonymous.

For any questions about the theft of these firearms, please contact ATF at the number listed above.

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ATF Offers $5K Reward for Information on Retail Gun Theft

/PRNewswire/ -- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Atlanta Field Division today announced a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for a recent firearms theft at American Classic Marksman, a federally licensed gun dealer in Norcross, Ga. The incident has triggered a joint investigation, being conducted by ATF and the Gwinnett County Police Department.

"We all have a vested interest in arresting those responsible and recovering these stolen guns," said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jeffery Pearce. "We know that in many instances stolen firearms end up in the hands of violent criminals, who use them to commit additional crimes. Law enforcement is asking for the public's assistance in removing these threats from the community."

The burglary occurred on Sept. 17, at the business located at 5303 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Norcross, Ga. Security cameras from within the business filmed one white male subject, make entry into the business and then exit with three firearms. The individual made entry by crawling through duct work and eventually climbing down from the vent/ceiling area of the shooting range. He exited the building through the same entry point.

Investigators are seeking the public's help with identifying the subject involved and providing information on the location of any or all of the stolen firearms. Anyone with information is encouraged to call ATF's toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477). Callers can remain anonymous.

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"Wig Wearing Bandits" Strike Again

Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Brian D. Lamkin, FBI Atlanta, requests the assistance of the public in identifying and locating two armed bank robbers responsible for teh September 30 robbery of the Chase Bank, located at 1250 Tech Drive, Norcross, Georgia. A third individual, serving as the getaway driver for the two, is also being sought by authorities. These individuals are believed to be responsible for a series of recent takeover-style armed bank robberies within the metro Atlanta, Georgia area wherein the robbers would often be wearing shoulder-length black wigs.

On Thursday, September 30, 2010, at approximately 12:40 noon, two black males wearing masks entered the Chase Bank, located at 1250 Tech Drive, Norcross, Georgia. Customers were forced to the floor while one of the robbers stood by with a long weapon/machine pistol type firearm. The other robber approached the teller station and demanded money. The robbers did not, however, obtain any money and were observed departing in a gold colored Kia Spectra, recovered by law enforcement officers in an area behind the victim bank. The vehicle had been reported stolen in Dekalb County, Georgia on September 29, 2010.

As a result of today’s robbery, Wells Fargo has authorized a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individuals responsible for these takeover robberies.

The robbers are described as follows:

* Robber #1 is described as a Black male, 20-30 years in age, 5’8”-5’10” tall
* Robber #2 is described as a Black male, 20-25 years in age. 6’0” tall

The driver of the vehicle was also described as being a black male.

Prior similar area robberies include:

* 7/27/10—Wachovia, Clairmont Rd, Atlanta/Dekalb County, GA. Two black males, wigs, guns, takeover style; 10:44 a.m.
* 7/30/10—Chase Bank, 5552 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, GA. Four males entered the bank, demanded money; two of the males were armed with pistols, and a third was armed with an assault rifle; described as black males, wearing dark clothing and ski masks; ranged in height from 5’5” – 5’10” tall; 10:15 a.m.
* 8/16 /10—Wachovia Bank, 3374 Holcomb Bridge Rd., (Holcomb Corners) Norcross, GA. Two black males, wearing wigs, displaying guns, take-over style robbery; 10:20 a.m.
* 8/20/10—Chase Bank, 1050 E. Piedmont Rd. (Piedmont Commons), Marietta, GA. Two black males, armed takeover-style robbery, wearing masks, no wigs; 1:11 p.m.
* 8/25/10—Wachovia Bank, 1280 Dogwood Rd, Conyers, GA. Two black males, wearing wigs, displaying guns, takeover robbery; 10:43 a.m.
* 8/26/10 – BB&T, Covington, GA. One black male, takeover-style robbery, stolen silver Lexus recovered.
* 8/27/10—Chase Bank, 2079 S. Hairston Rd. (Hairston Crossing) Decatur, GA. Two black males, guns displayed, takeover-style robbery, no wigs; 10:15 a.m.
* 9/8/10—Wachovia Bank, located at 3520 Centerville Highway, Snellville, Georgia

Anyone with information regarding this matter should contact the Atlanta office FBI at tel. (404) 679-9000.

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Owners of Employment Agencies and Restaurants Indicted

Five individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury in three separate indictments on charges of conspiring to induce undocumented aliens to enter and remain in the United States by providing them with employment, predominantly at Chinese restaurants, all for commercial gain. In addition, three more individuals were arrested yesterday on criminal complaints and are expected to have their bond hearings and arraignments today before United States Magistrate Judge Janet F. King.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “These defendants allegedly provided jobs that frequently exploited the workers by subjecting them to long shifts, six days a week, often with substandard pay and living conditions. On top of that, the defendants took large deductions from the workers’ pay to reimburse themselves for the costs of the employment agencies’ illegal services.”

“We are focused on finding and penalizing employers who believe they can unfairly get ahead by cultivating illegal workplaces and by exploiting illegal aliens,” said ICE Acting Special Agent in Charge, Robert Andrews. “By joining forces with the FBI, we will continue rooting out this criminal activity. The message is clear: all employers must play by the rules.”

FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Lamkin said, “Yesterday and today's joint FBI/ICE operation should serve as notice to those individuals and businesses that traffic and exploit undocumented immigrants. The FBI remains committed to working with U.S. ICE agents as we enforce federal law.”

The three indictments were unsealed after ICE and FBI conducted joint field operations to arrest the defendants and execute search warrants yesterday and today. Named in the indictments as part of the criminal conspiracies are:

* PILI CHEN, 55, of Tucker, Georgia;
* AI LIN FU, 40, of Norcross, Georgia;
* CHUN YAN LIN, 44, of Chamblee, Georgia;
* XIANG MEI KE, 32, of Duluth, Georgia; and
* JING XING JIANG, 42, of Lawrenceville, Georgia;

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: CHUN YAN LIN, AI LIN FU and PILI CHEN, owned employment agencies, named “New Fuzhou,” “Zhong Mei,” and “Lucky,” all in Chamblee, Georgia, and conspired with others to transport and provide jobs to illegal aliens. The agency owners primarily placed the illegal aliens mainly in restaurant jobs in South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Georgia. The employment agencies did not require or request any proof that the aliens had permission to be or work in the United States. The employment agencies allegedly advertised in Asian language newspapers and on the Internet. They charged the undocumented aliens a commission and transportation fee to place them in a restaurant or other job site and to drive them there, or in some cases charged the restaurant owners, who deducted the fees from their illegal workers’ modest pay. Another individual arrested yesterday during the ICE/FBI joint enforcement operation, CHUNBIAO XU, 33, of Norcross, Georgia, now faces the same charges as the other employment agency defendants.

Co-conspirators XIANG MEI KE and JING XING JIANG owned and operated restaurants, named “Hong Kong Super Buffet,” in Gainesville, Georgia, and “Fuji Buffet,” in Lawrenceville, Georgia, where they used undocumented aliens brokered by the conspiring employment agencies. The restaurant owners often provided housing, sometimes in their own houses, to the workers in order to better monitor them and shield them from detection, and paid the workers in cash to avoid paying unemployment taxes. Also arrested yesterday were LIANG FENG CHEN, 32, and SAU TING CHENG, 41, both of Duluth, Georgia, who owned and operated “Grand Buffet and Grill,” a restaurant in Duluth, Georgia, and were charged in criminal complaints with conspiracy to encourage and induce aliens to reside illegally in the United States.

PILI CHEN also allegedly transported the undocumented aliens in a private vehicle from the employment agencies to the illegal job sites. The employment agencies used paid drivers to minimize contact between the undocumented aliens and the outside world, including law enforcement.

All defendants face federal charges of conspiring to induce undocumented aliens to enter and remain in the United States by providing them with employment, predominantly at Chinese restaurants, all for commercial gain. AI LIN FU faces additional charges of transporting aliens for the purpose of commercial advantage and private financial gain, in reckless disregard of the fact that the aliens were in the United States and remained here in violation of the law. This joint ICE/FBI investigation continues.

During yesterday’s joint operation, 39 individuals were administratively detained by ICE for being in the United States without documentation. Their cases are expected to be handled administratively and they are expected to be deported from the United States.

The conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The transportation charge also carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentence, the court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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Georgia Selected As Site for Law Enforcement Training on Child Prostitution

/PRNewswire/ -- The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children(R) (NCMEC) has selected Norcross, Georgia as the location for law enforcement training on child prostitution. The training, Protecting Victims of Child Prostitution, is scheduled for November 16 thru 20 and will be attended by 63 police, prosecutors and others from Georgia as well as California, Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Ohio, Maine, Massachusetts, and Canada.

The Georgia-based non-profit organization, the Juvenile Justice Fund, is hosting the site for the training which will be held in Norcross as part of their "A Future. Not A Past," a state-wide campaign to stop the prostitution of children in Georgia by building a barrier between children and those who seek to harm them through commercial sexual exploitation.

"Child trafficking doesn't just happen on the other side of the world, it is happening right here in America," said Ernie Allen, President of NCMEC. "We are deeply grateful to the Juvenile Justice Fund for bringing this vital training to Georgia. It will enable us to rescue more children and represents an important step toward ending these insidious crimes."

NCMEC estimates that at least 100,000 children each year become victims of child prostitution in the United States. These kids are 21st century slaves, commodities for sale or trade, and often remain unseen by public agencies and the general public.

The NCMEC training includes an overview of the violence children encounter when subjected to child prostitution, investigative techniques, information on how to interview victims of child prostitution, how to prevent child victimization and resources that are available to law enforcement.

"We are committed to doing everything possible to end child prostitution in Georgia. We are grateful to NCMEC for bringing this critical training to Georgia, and are confident that it will strengthen Georgia's response to these crimes," said Kaffie McCullough, Campaign Director of "A Future. Not A Past."

The city of Atlanta and Fulton County have been leaders in the fight against child prostitution. In 2006 to combat child prostitution in the Atlanta Metro area, Mayor Shirley Franklin launched the 'Dear John' public education campaign. The campaign engaged local communities, schools, and the media on the issue and brought much needed attention to the victims of child prostitution as well as the 'Johns' who solicit these children. An earlier collaboration with the Juvenile Justice Fund, NCMEC and several other organizations included a major ad campaign that created greater public awareness about the problem of child prostitution.

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners implemented prevention and intervention efforts for the child victims of child prostitution and worked with local nonprofit organizations to address related issues such as temporary housing, medical care, and family reunification. Due to the success of the Fulton County program, the National Association of Counties (NACO) adopted the issue and developed guidelines for counties nationwide.

Georgia has been the location for a large number of NCMEC training programs. NCMEC first began offering training for law enforcement in 1997 with the creation of the Jimmy Ryce Law Enforcement Training Center. The training center is named for Jimmy Ryce, a 9-year-old Florida boy who was abducted and murdered in 1995. To date, around 266,360 law enforcement, prosecutors and others from all over the country have attended NCMEC law enforcement training.

This year the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children observes its 25th anniversary. NCMEC has played a role in the recovery of more than 138,500 children. Today more children come home safely than ever before. In 2008, NCMEC helped recover more children than any other year in the organization's 25-year history raising the recovery rate from 62% in 1990 to 97% today. And more of those who prey on children are being identified and prosecuted. Yet too many children are still missing and too many children are still the victims of sexual exploitation. There is much more that needs to be done.

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Co-Conspirators Sentenced to Prison for Alien Harboring Crimes

PIK TO CHENG, 49, a/k/a “Shirley Wise,” of Norcross, Georgia; LIN CHEN, 33, of Tucker, Georgia; and FRANCISCO MARTINEZ-ANAYA, 47, of Chamblee, Georgia, were each sentenced to prison April 28, 2009, by Chief United States District Judge Julie E. Carnes on charges of conspiracy to engage in alien harboring and transportation of aliens.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said of the sentencings, “These defendants ran businesses whose primary function was to find jobs for illegal immigrants at Chinese restaurants and other Asian-run businesses. Those who knowingly provide illegal workers with the means of getting a job violate federal law, as do the employers of illegal immigrants. Cheng’s ‘Number One Employment Agency’ and Chan’s ‘Da Zhong Employment Agency’ were often one of the first stops for illegal immigrants in Georgia. These businesses have now been dismantled. Other business owners who place illegal immigrants in jobs will also face prosecution and prison.”

Kenneth Smith, Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Office of Investigations in Atlanta said, “Employers that seek to gain an unfair business advantage over their competitors by using illegal workers should take note of today's sentences. Investigations like this one are an essential part of our enforcement strategy. ICE remains resolute in our responsibility to hold employers accountable for their actions, to give law-abiding businesses a fair chance to compete.”

Greg Jones, FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge, said, “Today’s sentences demonstrate that the FBI, by working together in this investigation and similar investigations with our law enforcement partners, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and United States Postal Service, Atlanta, Georgia, can have a significant impact on the criminal element operating within our community and beyond. Although the employment agencies were based here in the Atlanta area, their placement of workers reached far beyond the state. This safe-haven for illegal workers has been dismantled as a result of this collective effort.”

Martin D. Phanco, Postal Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division, said, “These crimes involving illegal workers often involve fake documentation and paperwork. The U.S. Postal Inspectors will work hard and diligently with our partners to make sure we go after criminals who use phony documents, and use people, for their personal gain.”

CHENG, who cooperated with the government by providing information in related cases, was sentenced to 1 year, 6 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. CHENG pleaded guilty to these charges on November 24, 2008. CHEN, who cooperated with the government and testified against another employment agency owner, was sentenced to 1 year, 3 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. CHEN pleaded guilty to these charges on August 28, 2008, and will be deported upon completion of her sentence. MARTINEZ-ANAYA was sentenced to 1 year, 6 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. MARTINEZ-ANAYA pleaded guilty to these charges on November 24, 2008, and will be deported upon completion of his sentence.

According to United States Attorney Nahmias and the information presented in court: The employment agencies operated by CHENG and CHEN placed illegal immigrant workers in Chinese restaurants in various states, including Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, and New York, and in a warehouse in Florida. On one occasion, CHENG placed two workers in a Chinese restaurant in New York, essentially exchanging them for two workers who had been at the restaurant. The workers often worked 12 hours a day, six to seven days a week. It was common for the same worker to return to the employment agencies looking for new jobs. Some workers told the government that they were never asked for documents authorizing them to work. CHENG and CHEN would make a commission for every worker they placed. The men who drove workers to their job locations, including MARTINEZ-ANAYA, would make money off the transportation as well.

On at least one occasion, when a job placement did not work out, MARTINEZ-ANAYA arranged for transportation back to Chamblee so the illegal immigrant could find another job. While waiting for another job, MARTINEZ-ANAYA housed the illegal immigrant in a “safe house” he owned. During an undercover operation, an ICE confidential informant was told by MARTINEZ-ANAYA that he did not need any documentation in order to work.

CHEN testified in the trial of LIANG YANG, who was convicted by a jury last week. CHEN outlined how she and other agency owners located at 3425 Chamblee Dunwoody Road acted essentially as brokers between illegal workers coming to their agencies looking for jobs and restaurant owners calling the agencies looking for cheap labor. CHEN testified that only 1 in 100 workers for whom she found jobs were legal. She also testified that restaurant owners liked more recently arrived workers as they did not know as much about the system and could be paid less than illegal immigrants who had been in the United States for a longer period of time.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Postal Inspectors with the United States Postal Inspection Service.

Assistant United States Attorneys Brian Pearce, Susan Coppedge, Mary Kruger and Michael J. Brown prosecuted the case.

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Member of Human Trafficking Ring Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking Charges

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Raul Cortes-Meza, 21, aka "Oscar," a Mexican national, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Atlanta to sex trafficking of a minor from Mexico, Acting Assistant Attorney General Loretta King of the Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney David E. Nahmias for the Northern District of Georgia announced.

According to the information presented in court, Cortes-Meza harbored a 17-year-old girl in the United States after she was pursued romantically by Cortes-Meza's alleged co-conspirator in Mexico, then smuggled into the United States and brought to the Norcross, Ga., area. After the victim's arrival in Norcross, Cortes-Meza, knowing that the victim was under 18 years of age, drove her to numerous apartments in the Atlanta metropolitan area to have sex with paying clients. Cortes-Meza instructed the victim to enter the apartments and provide fifteen minutes of sexual services to each man who was present, and subsequently collected money from the men with whom the victim engaged in commercial sex.

"Human trafficking occurs in hidden corners across the country," said Loretta King, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "Few crimes are more reprehensible than profiting from the sexual exploitation of a minor. The Department is committed to enforcing laws that put human traffickers behind bars."

"Human trafficking violates basic human rights and will not be tolerated," said U.S. Attorney David E. Nahmias. "Using girls under the age of 18 to engage in commercial sex acts is a serious violation of federal law. The victimization of the young woman in this case was unfortunately made easier by her illegal status, unfamiliarity with U.S. laws, and fear of law enforcement instilled in her by the trafficker. Federal laws protect all victims of such heinous crimes, whether or not they are U.S. citizens. No victim should fear coming forward to report illegal activity."

The sex trafficking of a minor charge to which Cortes-Meza pleaded guilty carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled by the court.

The prosecution of human trafficking offenses is a top priority of the Justice Department. In fiscal year 2008, the Section filed the largest number of federal criminal civil rights cases ever in a single year in the history of the Civil Rights Division, including a record number of both sex trafficking and labor trafficking cases.

The case is being investigated by special agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Karima Maloney and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Corey Steinberg and Susan Coppedge for the Northern District of Georgia.

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Chiropractor Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Health Care Companie of Over $1.2 Million

STEPHEN CATTERTON, 39, of Norcross, Georgia, was sentenced January 14 by United States District Judge Jack T. Camp on charges of health care fraud and possession with intent to distribute testosterone.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said, “This defendant lied to insurers about what services he was providing to patients, defrauding the insurers of more than $1.2 million. False claims like these underlie many of our health care fraud cases, and lead to higher health care costs for everyone.”

CATTERTON was sentenced to 3 years, 1 month in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,288,598.26, and ordered to serve 300 hours of community service. CATTERTON pleaded guilty to the charges on September 30, 2008.

According to United States Attorney Nahmias and the information presented in court: CATTERTON was a licensed chiropractor in the State of Georgia. In 1998, CATTERTON opened two chiropractic clinics, “Catterton Chiropractic, P.C.” and “Citadel Healthcare Group,” both of which were located in Norcross, Georgia. In 2006, the FBI initiated a criminal investigation into the activities of CATTERTON for the submission of false claims to federal and private health insurance companies. As a result of the FBI’s investigation, it was determined that between June 2001 and December 2006, CATTERTON billed in excess of $3 million, and was paid in excess of $1.275 million from various health care benefit programs for services he never performed or provided. In some instances, billing codes for more advanced procedures were used when in fact patients only received massages. CATTERTON modified the billings for the services that were actually performed to maximize his reimbursement from the insurance companies. In addition, when agents executed a search warrant on CATTERTON’s business in October 2006, they seized bottles of injectable testosterone, typically used for anti-aging and hormone replacement therapy. CATTERTON was not licensed to distribute such materials.

As part of his plea agreement, CATTERTON agreed to make full restitution to the victims of the offense.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant United States Attorney Zahra S. Karinshak prosecuted the case.

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