AG Terry Goddard: On The Job For Arizona

Attorney General Terry Goddard today announced the indictment of 16 individuals believed to be members of a Mexican drug cartel that smuggled large quantities of marijuana, cocaine and heroin into Arizona. They have been charged with conspiracy, illegally conducting an enterprise and other crimes related to their involvement.
The defendants include Roque Aceves-Beltran, 45; Rey Cuen-Villareal, 38, of Phoenix; Teresa Cuen-Leon, 33, of Phoenix;  Evodio Cruz-Beltran, 39, of Los Angeles; and Jose Munoz-Alcaraz, 49, of Mexico. The remaining defendants will not be named until they are served.

“Today, Arizona law enforcement strikes another blow against the cartels' smuggling efforts. These organized criminals are highly sophisticated smugglers,” Goddard said. “We must expand our efforts to investigate and dismantle the cartels to truly secure our border with Mexico.”

Beginning in 2009, the Phoenix Police Department and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration began an investigation into the cartel and its drug-smuggling operations.  The persons indicted were responsible for importing significant quantities of marijuana, cocaine and heroin into the United States through southern Arizona and into the Phoenix area.  From Phoenix, the drugs were shipped to Illinois, North Carolina and other states.  

Drugs or money were often hidden within the drive shafts of the defendants' vehicles as they crossed the border.  During the execution of a warrant, officers found three disassembled drive shafts at the residence of one of the suspects.  Two of the drive shafts were packed with large quantities of cocaine.

In another instance, officers stopped a southbound vehicle and found $143,500 hidden within the drive shaft.  In total, this investigation led to the seizure of 36 pounds of cocaine, four pounds of heroin, 40 pounds of marijuana and close to $2.25 million in racketeering proceeds.

This case was investigated by the Phoenix Police Department and the U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Matt Conti. 

A copy of the indictment can be found here:
http://www.azag.gov/press_releases/sept/2010/Drug%20Cartel%20Indictment%209-10-10.pdf

Governor Won't Debate Goddard

For someone who loves to use the word "cojones" when talking about  the President, Jan Brewer can't seem to grow a pair of her own. Terry Goddard wants to debate face to face but Jan would rather spew her garbage on Facebook and Twitter where she can pick and choose whom to ignore %-( . Goodness knows she ignores me every single day. (Hey Jan!.. :-c )

The Arizona Democratic Party is holding a "Debate Watch" on their Facebook page and will post a new pic daily counting each day Gov Jan hides from debating AG Terry Goddard. Come on Jan! How can you be President if you can't even debate an Attorney General from Arizona? Your fans will be very disappointed  :o3

Private Prisons for Profit

 My good friend and fellow Dem wrote this as a letter to the editor. I thought it was worth posting. 

Thank you Marrion 

Private Prisons for Profit.  $-)

Yes, a prison where an outsider can drive up to the fence with wire cutters  and three prisoners walk out and drive away. 





Where the guards have no weapons (ya gotta be kidding!) and the alarms are ignored when they do work.   See, some dreams do come true!

And these prisons get how many millions of our dollars each MONTH?  Then we taxpayers also have the honor of paying for law enforcement to capture them.

 With SB1070 perhaps they can round up lots of people with brown skin and put them in these prisons to “detain” them.  Wow -  SUCH A DEAL!  More profit.



Gov Brewer denies financial connection to these prisons; however,  two of her advisors, and the wife of one, are possibly on their payroll.  KPHO-TV has the details.  And how much do they donate to Gov Brewer and other lawmakers?

With her fabrications of “beheadings at the Border” (with no bodies for evidence),  and her “the Border areas are paralyzed by violence” - which the local officials say is NOT TRUE, actually crime is down -  she’s selling fear.

 Gov Brewer knows fear gets votes, and is spreading fear like no other; she is working for herself, not Arizona.

We want our taxes to benefit US, not the creator of some fake prison and a governor. Of course the prison says it doesn’t lobby for the detainees, but, golly, where else can they be held?

Last year, under Gov Brewer, an attempt to privatize the entire AZ prison system was made but didn’t succeed after the State Corrections Director sent the Governor a letter saying he couldn’t imagine death row inmates being taken care of by the lowest bidder.  You can’t tell me she doesn’t have a stake in private prisons.

Folks, it’s time to choose another Governor.

David Lujan 4 Az AG

David Lujan

 

 David Lujan has spent his life as a tireless advocate for children and families. As a prosecutor, an Assistant Attorney General, and House Minority Leader, David has gotten real results for all Arizonans.

Fighting for Victims

An Arizona native, David works for the non-profit Defenders of Children, which serves children and adults who are victims of abuse. As Defenders’ staff attorney, David fights to ensure that abused kids are removed from violent situations and placed with qualified, caring relatives or foster parents. He also works with victims of the polygamist sect in Colorado City, helping women and children to escape abuse. David has carried his passion for victims to the state legislature, where he fights for legislation to help abused children and victims of domestic violence.

David began his legal career as an attorney for the National Labor Relations Board, where he enforced our nation’s laws protecting workers’ rights. In one of his first cases David sued a Laughlin casino on behalf of several workers who had been fired for organizing a union. David won back their jobs, including back pay, and protected their right to organize. He then joined the Attorney General’s office as an Assistant Attorney General, where he prosecuted school officials who had used school funds to take vacations or remodel their homes. David also helped to oversee a $1.4 billion school construction program to fix crumbling schools and ensure that every child went to class in a safe, healthy environment.

Making Government Work for Arizona

In 2002, David’s focus on kids led him to the Phoenix Union High School District. In eight years on the school board - including two years as President, David has focused on increasing parent and community involvement in schools. Through David’s efforts, the District has raised thousands of dollars to provide scholarships and mentoring programs to hundreds of students across the District.

First elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2004, David has been a powerful advocate for Arizona families. David recognizes that we have a choice between paying up front to educate our children, or paying down the road to incarcerate far too many of them. For that reason, he has stood up to draconian budget cuts that deprived thousands of Arizona children of a quality education and dependable healthcare. A staunch ally of current Attorney General Terry Goddard, he has authored tough laws designed to crack down on violent crime and identity theft. As a Defenders’ attorney, he has helped to train more than 1,000 attorneys and law enforcement officials on domestic violence, child abuse and the juvenile and dependency law and co-authored Child Advocacy 101, a guide to child protection systems in the United States.

David grew up in the Phoenix area, graduated from Washington High School, and attended Arizona State University for his undergraduate and law degrees.

David Lujan's Awards



2010

April 24: Omicron State Arizona, Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, Key Women Educators 2010 Friend of Education Award.

March 25: AZ Hemophilia Association Certificate of Appreciation

March 12: AGUILA YOUTH LEADERSHIP Award Honoree, First Annual AUGILA Luncheon

January: Public Policy Award from the AZ Association of Family and Reconciliation Courts.

2009

December: AZ Parents for Education’s Golden Apple Award in recognition for your continued support for public education.

November: March of Dimes Hunter’s Hope Foundation “Going the Extra Mile Award.”

September 25, 2009: Arts Hero Award from AZ Citizens Action for the Arts.

September 25, 2009 Chapter 1 NASW Legislator of the Year Award

August, 2009 Friend of Cities and Towns

March 10, 2009 Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities Award

April 21, 2009 Greater Phoenix Child Abuse Prevention Council's Cherish the Children Award in Media/Public Policy.

April 3, 2009 3rd Annual Cesar Chavez Continuing the Legacy Award from William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, MN. Latino Law Student Association.

2006

Arizona Students’ Association Legislator of the Year Award

AZ Business and Education Coalition’s Legislative Partner Award

Felicia Rotellini 4 Attorney General Az

 Protect Arizona families and seniors.

Secure our border and stop anything 

illegal from entering our state.

Shut down mortgage fraud and human 

smuggling to build a safer Arizona.

 I’m Felecia Rotellini, and my priorities as your Attorney General are clear. I will fight violent crime and stop predators who threaten our lives and our homes. I will crack down on consumer fraud, gang activity and Mexican cartels bringing drugs, people and guns across our border. I will create a special unit to ensure aggressive prosecution of those who exploit or physically abuse seniors.


I am a veteran prosecutor and financial watchdog who spent 17 years stopping criminals from victimizing everyday Arizonans. When one of the world’s largest accounting firms allowed the Baptist Foundation of Arizona to defraud working families, I helped prosecute the criminals and recovered millions of dollars for the elderly victims. As a regulator, I forced mortgage companies’ loan officers to get licensed. Those are some of the reasons why I have the endorsements of the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police, the Arizona Association of Realtors, the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona, the Arizona Correctional Peace Officers Association and law enforcement leaders across our state.


Fighting crime isn’t a Democratic, Republican or Independent issue. I’m a political outsider who gets results.


Thank you for your support!