Criminal Investigations Bureau

Detectives in the Computer Crimes Unit also assume a proactive role in identifying and arresting suspects illegally possessing and transferring explicit images of children. Examples of cases investigated by the unit in 2018 include the following:

• A suspect who lived with his girlfriend and her children was surreptitiously recording the juveniles in the bathroom at their residence, as well as other areas in the house in various stages of dress. During the investigation it was discovered that the suspect also captured images of other juveniles who frequented the residence. The suspect in this case was also involved with organized team sports involving juveniles. An in depth investigation was done to determine the extent of the suspects exploitation and the case is currently awaiting prosecution.

• In another case, information was obtained that a subject was downloading images at his residence and at his place of employment. The subsequent investigation disclosed that a suspect who did some work on the computer at this subject’s residence, and worked at the same employer, was actually responsible for the crimes. The investigation revealed the suspect was under investigation by another valley agency for similar criminal activities.

• In addition to the efforts made by the unit to investigate crimes that exploit children, another case done by Computer Crimes detectives illustrates the forensic capabilities of the unit. In this case a student at a local community college accessed the schools computer system to change his grades and charged other students to change their grades. Due to the forensic abilities of the unit, detectives were asked to assist with the computer examinations needed for successful prosecution of the case.

Due to rapidly changing technology and enhanced security features, detectives in the Computer Crimes Unit continually look for ways to enhance their forensic examination efforts and stay abreast of this changing technology. In 2018, the unit purchased digital forensic software for cellular phone extractions that greatly enhanced detectives’ abilities to examine recently released phones and improve their forensic abilities. The software was used immediately to assist on high profile cases, and clear the back log of phones waiting to be examined.

Noteworthy accomplishments for CIU this year include the following:

• The CIU A-level Terrorism Liaison Officer was able to secure $22,000 in Federal grant funds to utilize towards the sustainment and increase of the City of Chandler’s ability to prevent acts of terror.

• The Asset Forfeiture Detective, who is assigned to the Unit, deposited nearly $300,000 in forfeiture funds.

• Detective Andy McIlveen, who is assigned to the East Valley Fusion Center, received recognition for his contribution to a Phoenix area anti-human-trafficking operation. This particular operation resulted in the arrest of 24 individuals for various crimes.

• Unit members are now part of the City’s special events committee. This provides the Unit the ability to appropriately plan for high attendance events in our city.

The CIU understands it is important to both establish and maintain productive working relationships with patrol officers. To help with this, the unit provided classes during the Annual Officer Training that included several topics related to homeland security and crime trends.  In addition to the training, CIU met with new officers to explain the Unit’s responsibilities and solicit their help. Patrol officers play a crucial role with the gathering of the information needed to further the Department’s intelligence led policing efforts.

Several of the cases investigated this year highlighted the tenacity of Unit members, as they pursued criminals who victimize the citizens and business of Chandler through fraud, identity theft, and other forms of deceit.  In one such case, a suspect who worked for the Fraud Department of an online payment company discovered a glitch in the company’s computer system.  He went on to exploit it for his personal gain. Through investigative efforts, the suspect in this case ultimately admitted to stealing $50,000 to $80,000 from the company, somewhat shy of the company’s reported a loss of approximately $150,000.

Identity theft continues to be a prevalent crime in today’s society.  Illustrating this, detectives from FCU investigated a ring of identity thieves whose members were responsible for committing numerous crimes in Chandler and other East Valley cities.  These suspects assumed the identity of their victims, then obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars through loans, vehicle purchases and credit card transactions. During the investigation, it was discovered that the suspects manufactured credit cards, drivers licenses, and other forms of identification to further their criminal activities.

Detectives from FCU continued their efforts to recover stolen money during the commission of crimes.  The extra effort made by these detectives helped to ease the financial burden imposed on victims.  For example, this year, detectives were able to freeze bank accounts and recover approximately $50,000 which was ultimately returned to crime victims.  As a result of the Unit’s success, other agencies have contacted the Unit to learn about the process they used to recover stolen money.

In addition to their investigative efforts, Unit detectives continued to provide education to the public on ways to prevent fraud, identity theft, and other financially motivated crimes.  Detectives presented information on an as-needed basis and to various community groups throughout the year to help prevent some of these crimes.

The GEU has established itself as the “go-to” unit for other units within the Criminal Investigation Bureau as well as patrol.  GEU detectives work to assist anyone who asks for help.  As a result, other enforcement accomplishments include:

• The arrest of a fugitive from Missouri – wanted for aggravated assault/dv and GTA
• Operation Street Sweeper which, in 2018, had netted 40 arrests
• Operation Otra Vez along with the Narcotics Unit
• The arrest of three gang members for burglary, grand theft auto and threats
• The location of nine stolen vehicles
• The clearance of 179 warrants

This year, the GEU continued a secondary mission of targeting career criminals with a focus on follow-through with prosecution. Working directly with a newly formed Intelligence Led Prosecution Unit at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Unit detectives identified and submitted cases on 25 career criminals.

An important aspect of the Unit is its community outreach and education efforts.  The GEU continued its standing relationship with the Improving Chandler Area Neighborhoods (ICAN) organization. The Unit conducted presentations on gang-related issues at ICAN, CUSD, the Arizona Cardinals organization, and numerous local colleges.  The GEU continued training veteran officers during a “pro-active patrol” class, taught both internally and to other agencies as well. A Gang Liaison Officer (GLO) class was also presented for Chandler Police GLO’s and outside agencies.

• John Enforcement Operations: Throughout 2018, the Human Trafficking Unit conducted dozens of prostitution reduction operations that target those who wish to purchase prostitution in the City of Chandler.  In 2018, Unit members made over 35 felony arrests and over 30 misdemeanor arrests all of which were prostitution related.

• Operation Degrosting: From October 21 – 30, the Unit participated in a multi- agency operation that targeted child prostitution and child sexual exploitation activities.  The operation was conducted at a residential address in Mesa, Arizona with members of the Mesa, Tempe, Gilbert, and Chandler Police Departments on-site.  The goal of the operation focused on combating child prostitution and child sexual exploitation activities that affect the cities of Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, and Tempe.   In all, 64 felony deals were negotiated which resulted in 24 felony arrests

• Human Trafficking Presentations: Because members of the Unit are experts in their field, they are frequently called upon to conduct human trafficking training to other law enforcement agencies and other non-governmental organizations.  This year, presentations were given to the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center, the Chandler Police Department’s Citizens and Guardians Academies, the Epiphany Church, and the Department’s Advanced Officer Training (AOT) sessions.

• Massage Parlor Enforcement: In an effort to ensure the health and safety of our residents, the Human Trafficking Unit routinely monitored massage parlor businesses in the City of Chandler. In 2018, a number of investigations were conducted which resulted in several arrests for non-compliance and other related violations.

• June 19^th and 20^th, 2018: The Human Trafficking Unit partnered with Phoenix Police Vice, the Federal Bureau of Investigations and Homeland Security Investigations with an operation that targeted street level prostitution.  The operation was conducted on a known prostitution track in the area of 27th Avenue and Camelback Rd.  In all, several arrests were made, several pimps were identified and two juvenile victims were recovered from the street.

The unit has continued to have a strong working relationship with the Department’s patrol division. The Unit recognizes that patrol officers provide valuable information from the contacts that they make with the public on a daily basis.  As a result of these relationships, detectives have been able to develop a number of quality investigations that have led to significant seizures and prosecution of a number of suspects.

This year, the Narcotics Unit continued to partner with federal organizations by having a detective assigned to a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Task Force. The collaborative effort between the Chandler Police Department and federal partners allows for access to resources and prosecution through the federal court system. The unit has also continued to work alongside other local, state and federal agencies.

The following cases highlight the some of the successes that come from the hard work and dedication of the Narcotics detectives:

• “Operation Otra Vez:” At the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018, the Narcotics Unit, with the assistance of DEA and the Special Intelligence Service (SIS), conducted a wiretap investigation. This multi-agency case demanded many work hours and resources, leading to a successful ending.  In all, 14 suspects were indicted.  Over 60 search warrants yielded 2 pound of heroin, 1.68 pounds of methamphetamine, 95.2 grams of cocaine, over 22 pounds of marijuana, 80 viles of THC, 181 grams of wax, Diazapan, Suboxone, Fentanyl patches, Xanax, firearms, and cash.

• In 2018, with the assistance of the Department’s Gang Enforcement Unit and the Arizona Department of Public, “Safety Operation Street Sweeper” was conducted. This operation targeted lower lever street dealers within the downtown Chandler area. In all, 44 targets were identified, arrested and charged with class 2 felonies.
• Over the course of the past two years, the Narcotics Unit received information which culminated into a complex investigation involving a large group of marijuana grows throughout the Phoenix Valley. Ultimately, with the assistance of the FBI, five suspects were identified, arrested and charged. The case led to the seizure of 400 marijuana plants, 13,000 Xanax pills, over 20 pounds of marijuana, and 11 firearms.
• In June 2018, the Narcotic Unit arrested a heroin supplier in Chandler. A subsequent search warrant was conducted in Mesa. Detectives seized 4 ounces of heroin and over $6,000 in cash.
• In July 2018, the Narcotics Unit arrested a heroin supplier in Mesa. A subsequent search warrant was conducted in Phoenix. Detective seized 59 grams of heroin and over $12,000 in cash.
• In October 2018, a case was brought to Chandler by the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force. The Narcotics Unit followed a suspect and conducted a traffic stop. The traffic stop netted 8.5 pounds of heroin.

The Narcotics Unit has committed itself to the mission at hand, and continues to foster strong working relationships in order to disrupt and dismantle the narcotic organizations that are operating in Chandler.  Aside from their regular duties, the Unit members assist other units within the Criminal Investigation Section on a continual basis. The Narcotics Unit also continues to teach various narcotic-related courses to internal and external customers.

Some notable cases for 2018 are as follows:

• One case involved a suspect who was doing forced-entry burglaries. After he was identified during an unrelated crime, a global positioning system (GPS) tracking device was placed on his vehicle. Detectives followed the suspect and caught him in the act of committing a forced entry residential burglary. The arrest and subsequent investigation cleared numerous burglary cases that occurred in the City. Fortunately some of the property taken during the burglaries was recovered and returned to the rightful owner.

• Detectives also investigated a series of commercial burglaries involving a suspect who was using a pry bar to gain entry through the rear door of the businesses. The suspect was responsible for approximately 20 commercial burglaries in Chandler, and numerous other burglaries in the East Valley.  To complicate matters, the suspect was arrested, released, and continued to commit burglaries twice.  The detectives assigned to the case pursued the suspect and arrested him a third time resulting in his incarceration and ending the crime spree.

• A Chandler residence was left vacant when the owner died, but the owner’s possessions remained on the premises while the estate was being settled. An opportunistic criminal stole several statues and family heirlooms from the residence, valued at approximately $100,000.  Through the diligent efforts of Property Crimes detectives, the suspect was identified and a significant amount of the stolen property was recovered.

Organized retail theft continues to be an issue for the businesses in Chandler. Most of the crimes associated with organized retail theft are fueled by drug use. Property stolen during these crimes are often sold or traded to feed drug habits. Members of the Property Crimes Unit investigated several organized retail theft cases that led to the successful prosecution of the suspects involved, and closed numerous shoplifting cases that occurred at Chandler businesses.  In one such case, detectives from the Unit began investigating an organized retail theft case involving the theft of baby formula from several businesses in Chandler and throughout the Valley.  Although the investigation is still on-going, it is believed that the formula is being shipped to California and being sold at WIC certified businesses. The same California recipient of the formula has been identified by at least one other Valley law enforcement agency during a separate investigation.

Arson and fire related investigations are conducted by specially trained and certified investigators within the Property Crimes Unit.  In 2018, one additional detective was certified as an arson investigator.  This year, these detectives investigated several fires that occurred in the City, and assisted with some that occurred on county islands.  Fire investigations may be initiated because the cause appears suspicious at the time of the original call.  After an in-depth investigation, the cause of the fire is often determined to be non-criminal. However, in some cases, the investigation reveals a fire that was started with criminal intent. This year, one such fire occurred in a residential playground.  The suspects intentionally started a small fire that grew and threatened the surrounding residences.  Fortunately there was no damage to the surrounding houses, but the playground equipment sustained a substantial amount of damage. The detective assigned to the case was able to identify the suspects and subsequently charged them.

Detectives in the Property Crimes Unit continued to leverage technology to assist in their investigations. In 2018, three GPS units were purchased through a grant.  These trackers and others like them have been used by detectives with a great deal of success. Rapid DNA was also used this year to help solve a commercial burglary.

Other notable cases investigated by the Unit include:

• On 06/22/18, five simultaneous search warrants were served in Phoenix and Glendale in culmination of the “Raygoza Homicide” that occurred in Chandler on 10/28/17. This case involved a total of 4 homicides and 1 attempted homicide and the coordination between numerous local, state and federal law enforcement agencies

• The suspect in the “Quick Bite Bandit” robbery series was identified. Fifteen armed robberies had been attributed to him from 09/13/17 to 06/19/18 in Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, and Tempe.

• On 06/28/18, the remains of 2010 homicide victim Jaime Laiaddee were located at Riggs and Arizona Ave. The body recovery was conducted by MCSO and a forensic anthropologist.

• On 09/17/18, detectives from Chandler, Mesa, and the East Valley Violent Offenders Task Force (Marshall’s Unit) located and arrested Allan Doty related to two bank robberies in Chandler and one bank robbery in Mesa.

The Robbery/Homicide Unit continued to provide top notch service to the citizens of Chandler.  The clearance rate for violent crimes far exceed the national average and is one factor why Chandler is cited as one of the safest big cities in the U.S.

During 2018, the VSU assisted over 1,100 victims of all crime types.  The unit worked with victims and families of several felony cases:  20 loved ones of homicide victims, 121 victims and families of aggravated assaults, 240 of child sexual abuse, 10 of child pornography, and 58 of sexual assaults.  Throughout the year the VSU received specialized training to assist traumatized victims, individuals with mental health issues, substance use, behavioral issues, and traumatic brain injuries.

Along with providing individual assistance to the crime victims, the unit continued to work collaboratively with agencies in the community.

• VSU hosted their 10^th Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Breakfast organized by VSU and the City of Chandler Domestic Violence Commission. Over 175 people were in attendance.
• VSU partnered with the Chandler Unified School District (CUSD), Kaity’s Way, and the Domestic Violence Commission in February and March of 2018 to educate teens about healthy relationships during the National Teen Dating Violence Awareness campaign.
• Quarterly, VSU assisted the East Valley Crisis Intervention Team in their instruction of police officers and civilians on how to de-escalate individuals with mental health issues, veterans, people with autism and dementia.
• VSU continued to work alongside mental health and criminal justice professionals who assisted individuals seeking treatment for opiate use through the I AM Project in Chandler.
• VSU and A. Tom Wood Realty worked together to gather donations of teddy bears for child crime victims in Chandler.  During the two-hour event, 387 teddy bears were donated by community members.