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13 people sentenced in drug case

Staff Report

Thursday, 06 August 2009
Tulsa, Okla.-A press release from the Department of Justice and Acting U.S. Attorney Thomas Scott Woodward announced that the last defendant apprehended in a major narcotics smuggling ring was sentenced in federal court in Tulsa earlier this week.

Holly Jill Rodrigues-Munoz, 30, of Wann, Oklahoma was the 13th defendant to be sentenced in one of the biggest drug trafficking busts in northeastern Oklahoma.

The organization was responsible for the importation of large amounts of marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine from sources in Mexico, across the U.S. border and into the local area.

Drug traffickers Jose Saenz and Moises Gaeta, of Juarez, Mexico, provided the drugs to brothers Manuel and Mario Bonilla, who used family members and acquaintances in the Tulsa area to transport, store, and distribute the drugs and launder the money.

The thirteen individuals, sentenced over the past two months, received penalties ranging up to 27 years in the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Six of the defendants were each ordered to pay a $1.5 million money judgement.

1. Moises Gaeta, 26, of Mexico, 324 months BOP + 5 yrs superv + $1.5 million
2. Jose Luis Saenz, 37, of Mexico, 293 months BOP + 5 yrs superv + $1.5 million
3. Manuel Bonilla, 37, of Mexico, fugitive-wanted
4. Mario Bonilla, 24, of Tulsa, 108 months BOP + 5 yrs superv + $1.5 million
5. Holly Rodrigues-Munoz, 30, of Wann, Ok., 46 mo. BOP + 5 yr super + $1.5 mil
6. Cecilia Lorena Bonilla, age 21, of Tulsa, 3 yrs probation superv
7. Michelle Moreno, age 28, of Tulsa, 3 yrs probation superv
8. Francisca Bonilla-Holguin, age 64, of Mexico, 63 months BOP + 3 yrs superv
9. Jose Silos, age 49, of Mexico, 61 months BOP + 5 yrs superv
10. Selene Soto, age 32, of Odessa, Texas, 3 yrs probation superv
11. Omar Cruz, age 28, of Mexico, fugitive-wanted
12. Felix McVay, age 52, of Haskell, Ok., 120 months BOP + 5 yrs super + $1.5 mil
13. Victor Olivas-Poras, 37, of KC, Mo., 240 months BOP + 5 yrs super + $1.5 mil
14. Estela Bonilla, age 39, address unk, 18 months BOP + 3 yrs superv
15. Miguel Chavez, 42, of Ft. Worth, Tx., 12 months BOP + 5 yrs superv

The investigation that led to this Indictment, dubbed Operation Icepack, spanned over
two and one-half years.

The Indictment, unsealed on March 31, 2008, alleged that from about March 2001 until March 2008, the Bonilla family drug trafficking organization, headed by Manuel Bonilla and his brother, Mario Bonilla, of Juarez, Mexico, contacted and arranged for sources of supply in Mexico, mainly through Juarez-based drug trafficker, Jose Saenz,for marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine.

They allegedly orchestrated the transportation of the drugs across the border into the United States, primarily through the El Paso, Texas, area, from where they were ultimately brought into the Tulsa area and Kansas City, where the organization maintained locations for storing, manufacturing, distributing and selling the drugs.

The total amount of drugs involved is believed to be in excess of 10,000 kilos of marijuana, 50 kilos of cocaine, and 50 kilos of methamphetamine.

The defendants used various communication methods including cellular phones to conduct and carry out their operations and firearms to protect their drug shipments and cash profits.

They also smuggled firearms from the United States into Mexico in sophisticated
hidden compartments.

Acting U.S. Attorney Woodward praised the work of law enforcement in this matter.
The following agencies utilized multiple investigative techniques, including court authorized wiretaps, in uncovering this major drug trafficking organization.

– Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives
– Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division
– Bureau of Immigration & Customs Enforcement
– Drug Enforcement Administration
– Tulsa Police Department

U.S. Attorney’s Office based Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen J. Litchfield led the prosecution efforts. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Depew of the Asset Forfeiture Unit handled the seizures and forfeiture.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 06 August 2009 )

RHEMA Bible Church provides free backpacks

Staff Report

altThursday, 06 August 2009
Broken Arrow–“The church is here for the community—especially during challenging economic times—and we are excited to be able to help out,” said Kenneth W. Hagin, Senior Pastor of RHEMA Bible Church.

With the help of a few sponsors, contributions from church members, and donations received during this year’s “Rockets Over RHEMA” event, Pastor Kenneth and Lynette Hagin will give each student of Arrowhead Elementary School a backpack filled with school supplies on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009.

This special event—a back-to-school celebration in honor of the students and faculty—will include inflatable games, concessions, games, and much more.

Activities will start at 11:00 a.m. on the grounds of Arrowhead Elementary School in Broken Arrow, and the community is invited to come and join the fun.
Last Updated ( Friday, 21 August 2009 )

Deadline for voter registration fast approaching

Staff Report

Thursday, 06 August 2009
Friday, Aug. 14, 2009 is the last day to apply for voter registration for voters in the City of Tulsa to be eligible to vote in the City of Tulsa Primary Election to be held September 8, 2009.

Independent voters who wish to participate in the City of Tulsa Primary, or Democrat or Republican voters who want to make a political affiliation change must change their voter registration to either Democrat to participate in the Democratic Primary, or Republican to participate in the Republican Primary, and must do so prior to August 14, 2009, said Patty Bryant, Secretary of the Tulsa County Election Board.

She urged voters with questions about their eligibility or about the location of their polling place to contact the Tulsa County Election Board office at 596-5787 before the deadline for making changes to voter registration.

Bryant said that persons who are United States citizens, residents of Oklahoma and at least 18 years old may apply to become registered voters.

Persons who have never been registered to vote before or who are not currently registered in the county of their residence and persons who are registered but who need to change their registration information may apply by filling out and mailing an Oklahoma Voter Registration Application form in time for it to be postmarked no later than midnight Friday, August 14, 2009.   

Bryant said that applications postmarked after August 14th still will be accepted and processed, but the application will not be approved nor will the voter be eligible to vote until after the September 8th Primary Election.

The County Election Board will respond in writing to each person who submits an application for voter registration.  The response is either a Voter Identification Card listing the new voter’s precinct number and polling place location, or a letter that explains the reason or reasons the application for voter registration was not approved.  Bryant said that any person who has submitted a voter registration application and who has not received a response within 30 days should contact the County Election Board office.
                        
Oklahoma Voter Registration Application forms are available at the County Election Board office located at 555 North Denver Avenue, in Tulsa, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
 
THE TULSA COUNTY ELECTION BOARD WILL REMAIN OPEN
UNTIL 6:00 P.M. ON AUGUST 14, 2009.

Bryant said that applications are also available at most post offices, most public libraries, and all tag agencies, and are also available on the Internet at www.elections.state.ok.us.  However, applications found on the Internet must be downloaded, printed, filled out, signed and mailed or hand delivered to the Tulsa County Election Board or Oklahoma State Election Board.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 19 August 2009 )

Congressional votes for last week of July

Staff Report

WASHINGTON, July 31 — Here’s a look at how area members of Congress voted over the previous week.

House Vote 1: NEEDLE DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS:

The House rejected an amendment sponsored by Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., to the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 3293), that would have barred funding for programs to distribute needles for injecting drugs.

Proponents said the funds could instead be used for drug treatment and said needle distribution would erase accountability for dangerous behavior by allowing easier access to drug-related paraphernalia. Opponents said "there’s overwhelming evidence that we can help stop the spread of AIDS by allowing needle exchange programs."
The vote, on July 24, was 211 yeas to 218 nays. YEAS: Rep. Dan Boren D-OK (2nd), Rep. Tom Cole R-OK (4th), Rep. Mary Fallin R-OK (5th), Rep. Frank D. Lucas R-OK (3rd), Rep. John Sullivan R-OK (1st)

2: PLANNED PARENTHOOD PROGRAMS: The House rejected an amendment sponsored by Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., to the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 3293) that would have barred funding for Planned Parenthood under the bill.

Proponents said "it’s morally wrong to use the taxpayer dollars of millions of pro-life Americans to fund abortion providers" and that providing the funding would allow the group to free up resources to engage in abortion practices against the will of the people.

Opponents said the amendment would have no impact on abortions and would limit important health care access for low-income and uninsured patients. The vote, on July 24, was 183 yeas to 247 nays. YEAS: Rep. Dan Boren D-OK (2nd), Rep. Tom Cole R-OK (4th), Rep. Mary Fallin R-OK (5th), Rep. Frank D. Lucas R-OK (3rd), Rep. John Sullivan R-OK (1st)

House Vote 3: LABOR, HEALTH, AND EDUCATION FUNDING: The House approved the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 3293), sponsored by Rep. David Obey, D-Wis.

Proponents said the bill was a fiscally responsible effort to improve various health and education programs that would accurately represent the values of the country. Opponents criticized what they called ‘excessive spending’ in the bill and said it set "the foundation for the implementation of health care reform [which could result in] the rationing of health care."

The vote, on July 24, was 264 yeas to 153 nays. YEAS: Rep. Dan Boren D-OK (2nd) NAYS: Rep. Tom Cole R-OK (4th), Rep. Mary Fallin R-OK (5th), Rep. Frank D. Lucas R-OK (3rd), Rep. John Sullivan R-OK (1st)

House Vote 4: WACO MAMMOTH NATIONAL MONUMENT: The House approved the Waco Mammoth National Monument Establishment Act (H.R. 1376), sponsored by Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas. Proponents said the site was a national treasure that preserved the remains of mammoths and other species and offered "a unique find of national and international importance" for scientists and the general public. Opponents said the bill lacked "language protecting the property rights on lands adjacent to the monument."

The vote, on July 27, was 308 yeas to 74 nays. YEAS: Rep. Dan Boren D-OK (2nd), Rep. Tom Cole R-OK (4th), Rep. Mary Fallin R-OK (5th), Rep. Frank D. Lucas R-OK (3rd) NAYS: Rep. John Sullivan R-OK (1st)

House Vote 5: SOUTHERN SEA OTTER POPULATION: The House approved the Southern Sea Otter Recovery and Research Act (H.R. 556), sponsored by Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif., to have the Fish and Wildlife Service study faltering population growth in the southern sea otter species, which is found off the coast of central California, and to adopt measures to increase its population.

Proponents said the "keystone species" was necessary to sustain the world’s ecological system and the coastal and near-shore environment that affects the well-being of all people.

Opponents said the bill "will take a threatened species and place its management needs above others, even if those species are in danger of becoming extinct."

The vote, on July 28, was 316 yeas to 107 nays. YEAS: Rep. Dan Boren D-OK (2nd), Rep. Tom Cole R-OK (4th), Rep. Frank D. Lucas R-OK (3rd) NAYS: Rep. Mary Fallin R-OK (5th), Rep. John Sullivan R-OK (1st)

House Vote 6: PROTECTING MARINE TURTLES: The House approved the Marine Turtle Conservation Reauthorization Act (H.R. 509), sponsored by Rep. Henry Brown, R-S.C., to extend an existing program to sustain the health of various marine sea turtle species.

Proponents said that "the status of these turtle species remains tenuous" because of a variety of threats that would justify the need to reauthorize funding. The vote, on July 28, was 354 yeas to 72 nays. YEAS: Rep. Dan Boren D-OK (2nd), Rep. Tom Cole R-OK (4th), Rep. Mary Fallin R-OK (5th), Rep. Frank D. Lucas R-OK (3rd) NAYS: Rep. John Sullivan R-OK (1st)

House Vote 7: DOD APPROPRIATIONS: The House passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 3326) sponsored by Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., that set $636 billion in appropriations for the Defense Department for fiscal 2010 to provide funding for military aircraft acquisition, support to U.S. troops in war zones and provide medical care for troops and their families.

Proponents said "this Defense bill is all about taking care of the troops, making sure they have what they need." Opponents said: "We should be using this money to fund universal health care for, or to reform our educational system and train and prepare the next generation to run the green economy of the future, or to reorder our foreign policy around a smart security strategy that emphasizes development and diplomacy." The vote, on July 30, was 400 yeas to 30 nays. YEAS: Rep. Dan Boren D-OK (2nd), Rep. Tom Cole R-OK (4th), Rep. Mary Fallin R-OK (5th), Rep. Frank D. Lucas R-OK (3rd), Rep. John Sullivan R-OK (1st)

House Vote 8: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS FUNDING: The House passed the William Orton Library Improvement and Modernization Act (H.R. 2728) sponsored by Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., to provide financial support for the operation of the law library of the Library of Congress and to authorize $3.5 million for maintaining and administering the operations of the Law Library, including the cataloging of the collections and for the creation of the William Orton Program to provide expanded services and programs at the library.

Proponents said "This bill will help ensure that the Law Library will have the resources needed to maintain and expand its collections while at the same time modernizing its systems." The vote, on July 30, was 383 yeas to 44 nays. YEAS: Rep. Dan Boren D-OK (2nd), Rep. Tom Cole R-OK (4th), Rep. Mary Fallin R-OK (5th), Rep. Frank D. Lucas R-OK (3rd), Rep. John Sullivan R-OK (1st) House Vote 9: FOOD SAFETY ENHANCEMENT: The House passed the Food Safety Enhancement Act (H.R. 2749) sponsored by Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., that will amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to improve global food safety efforts.

Proponents said the legislation would install a responsible program for control by requiring the registration of producers and manufacturers so the FDA can track food manufacturing processes for food produced outside and inside the U.S. Opponents called the legislation "woefully inadequate" and said it failed to achieve a truly improved food safety system because it would expand the reach and authority of the FDA but would not require further accountability or spending any additional funds on the inspection of food.

The vote, on July 30, was 283 yeas to 142 nays. YEAS: Rep. Dan Boren D-OK (2nd) NAYS: Rep. Tom Cole R-OK (4th), Rep. Mary Fallin R-OK (5th), Rep. Frank D. Lucas R-OK (3rd), Rep. John Sullivan R-OK (1st)

SENATE VOTES: Senate Vote 1: NO-BID CONTRACTS AT ENERGY, WATER

AGENCIES: The Senate rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., to the Energy and Water Appropriations Act (H.R. 3183) that would have barred no bid contracts being awarded under the bill.

Proponents said the amendment would prevent billions of dollars of contracts from being "placed directly to businesses in this country at higher rates than they would have been otherwise had we had competitive bidding and open contracting."

Opponents said many of the contracts involved "very high-tech, exotic research we are doing in a wide range of energy fields" and were too specialized to be put out for competitive bidding. The vote, on July 29, was 26 yeas to 71 nays. YEAS: Sen. Tom Coburn R-OK, Sen. James M. Inhofe R-OK

Senate Vote 2: ENERGY AND WATER APPROPRIATIONS:

The Senate approved the Energy and Water Appropriations Act (H.R. 3183), sponsored by Rep. Ed Pastor, D-Ariz., to fund energy and water agencies in fiscal 2010.

Proponents said "this bill provides funding to address critical issues that affect our Nation’s security and prosperity [and] represents the fair and balanced treatment of competing priorities," preserving funds for high-priority programs and cutting funds for low-priority programs.

Opponents objected to the authorization of no-bid earmarked projects and said it denied the "transparency the American people are aching for in this area of earmarking."

The vote, on July 29, was 85 yeas to 9 nays. NAYS: Sen. Tom Coburn R-OK, Sen. James M. Inhofe R-OK

Senate Vote 3: HIGHWAY TRUST FUND: The Senate passed the Highway Trust Fund Act (H.R. 3357) sponsored by Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., that will provide $7 billion in funding to the Highway Trust Fund.

Proponents said the bipartisan bill "will provide the necessary funds to keep important transportation projects operating in states around the country."

Concerns were raised that the legislation would only be a short-term solution to an immediate crisis that should to be solved through long-term reforms so that third bailout of the Highway Trust Fund doesn’t become necessary.

The vote, on July 30, was 79 yeas to 17 nays. NAYS: Sen. Tom Coburn R-OK NOT VOTING: Sen. James M. Inhofe R-OK

 

Bill introduced to repeal Real ID Act

Staff Report

NEW YORK, July 31 — The American Civil Liberties Union issued the following news release:

In a welcome move today, legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives to repeal the discredited Real ID Act of 2005.

The REAL ID Repeal and Identification Security Enhancement Act of 2009, introduced by Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN), would repeal Real ID and replace it with the original negotiated rulemaking process passed by Congress as part of the 9/11 Commission recommendations.

Twenty-five states have already rejected Real ID, citing its high cost, invasiveness and the bureaucratic hassles it creates for citizens.
"Real ID is essentially dead. It’s time for it to be formally repealed and replaced with a process that works, one that protects civil liberties and license security," said Michael Macleod-Ball, Acting Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. "Rep. Cohen took a big step forward by moving to eliminate this failed law and providing much-needed safeguards for our civil liberties."

The Real ID Act of 2005 directs states to issue a federally-approved driver’s license or other form of ID that would be necessary for airline travel and become part of a national database. Like state governments from coast to coast, the American Civil Liberties Union has long opposed the Act as too invasive, too much red tape and too expensive.

Fifteen states have passed binding legislation prohibiting participation in the Real ID program: Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, Oregon, and Missouri.

Ten other states have enacted resolutions in opposition to Real ID: Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota and Tennessee.

Similar to the Akaka-Sununu Senate bill of 2007 and the Allen House bill of 2007, Rep. Cohen’s bill would eliminate most of the requirements that laid the foundation for a National ID card, such as the obligation that all data and systems be standardized.

The proposal also requires a collaborative approach, called negotiated rulemaking, which would advise the Department of Homeland Security on how to maximize driver’s license security while minimizing the administrative burden on the states.

This approach was initially adopted by the law which implemented the 9/11 Commission recommendations and subsequently repealed by Real ID.

Significant privacy protections in the proposal include prohibiting the use of license data by third parties, encryption of the data and adherence to state privacy laws that may provide greater protection.

Additionally, Rep. Cohen’s bill would also provide for the establishment of a negotiated rulemaking committee, which would present its recommendations to the Department of Homeland Security.

"States and ordinary Americans have all rejected a National ID card," said Christopher Calabrese, Counsel for the ACLU Technology and Liberty Project. "Now it’s time for Congress to follow their lead and finally get rid of the Real ID Act by passing Rep. Cohen’s bill."

To learn more about the Real ID Act or read about its history, visit www.realnightmare.org