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Operation Panama Express
OCT 7 -- The Miami Field Division Tampa DO's Operation Panama Express continues to make significant seizures. In four separate events, between September 16 and October 2, 2004, approximately 29,260 kilograms (64,507 pounds) of cocaine were seized and several subjects were apprehended. All the subjects will be remanded to the Middle District of Florida for federal prosecution. Operation Panama Express is a long-term Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation, which includes the DEA, the FBI, the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Joint Interagency Task Force. Dedication of New Miami HIDTA Building
SEP 24-- The new Miami Task Force HIDTA building was dedicated. The South Florida HIDTA program encompasses over 280 individuals from 20 federal agencies, including nine Miami Field Division enforcement groups, of which four moved to the new location. SAC Raffanello attended the dedication ceremony with Associate SAC 2 James L. Capra. Among the honored guests from the Office of National Drug Control Policy were Scott M. Burns, Deputy Director, Office of State and Local Affairs, and Joseph D. Keefe, Assistant Deputy Director, Officer of State and Local Affairs.
Dutch Police Visit Miami Field Division SEP 15-- Members of the Dutch National Police visited the Miami Field Division, as part of ongoing cooperative efforts. The Dutch delegation received a briefing by SAC Thomas W. Raffanello. Also in attendance at the briefing were Associate SAC 1 Robert J. Joura, ASAC 3 Edward E. Hershey and Intelligence Manager Michael J. Sapsara.
Defendants Arrested In Money Laundering Operation OCT 1--Marcos Daniel Jiménez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; and Thomas W. Raffanello, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, announced today that defendants, Javier Hidalgo and Adriana Suarez, were arrested on money laundering and related criminal charges. The two arrested defendants are scheduled to make their initial appearance in federal court in Miami, Florida, on Monday, October 4, 2004. Florida Doctor Receives Life Imprisonment
Miami Field Division Management Conference
August 24 - 27, 2004: The Miami Field Division Management Conference was held during this week. Management personnel from throughout the MFD attended. Numerous topics were presented, to include: Performance Measures, Diversity Training, Terrorism, Operational Support and Career Development. A highlight of the conference was a presentation by Colonel Danny McKnight (Retired) regarding Leadership in Dangerous Situations.
Miami
Field Division sponsors August 8, 2004: Miami Division and Fort Lauderdale DO personnel contributed generously to allow 400 disadvantaged children to attend a Florida Marlins game. The Florida Marlins Fans Care program enables children who participate in non-profit organizations to attend a Marlins game. Given the circumstances of these children's lives this presents an opportunity to experience the thrill of a Major League Baseball game, which they otherwise would not be able to do. Altogether MFD personnel contributed $1,440. The children watched the Florida Marlins play the Milwaukee Brewers, but unfortunately the 2003 World Series champions lost 0 to 2 to the Brewers. 30th
Anniversary of the
August 5, 2004: The Miami Field Division (MFD) commemorated the 30th anniversary of the collapse of the Miami office building. On August 5, 1974, the roof of the Miami office building gave way and led to the deaths of seven DEA employees and injured numerous others. More than 100 DEA employees in Miami woke up that day and drove downtown to begin an ordinary day at work. They had no idea that their lives would change forever. At 10:22 am the roof of the Miami office building collapsed. The building became a trap for some, a makeshift tomb for others and a nightmarish event for those who survived. Yet this single moment in time forever cemented the bond between the people working in that downtown office and all future MFD employees. To this day, a silenced clock hangs in the lobby of the MFD as a reminder to all that, while our co-workers may have stopped measuring their time on earth at 10:22 on the morning of August 5, 1974, they live in our memories forever. This year, on August 5th,, we remembered the deaths of Special Agent Nicholas Fragos, Secretary Mary Keehan, Special Agent Charles Mann, Secretary Anna Mounger, Fiscal Assistant Anna Pope, Supervisory Clerk Typist Martha Skeels and Clerk Typist Mary Sullivan. Nearly 250 survivors, retirees, employees, and guests gathered to pay homage to our co-workers who were lost in the accident, and to celebrate both the survivors of the collapse and the undaunted spirit of those who participated in the recovery. The ceremony stirred both sad and fond memories for all those assigned to Miami at the time, and demonstrated the significance of this incident to the division for all current employees.
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Miami Division Information
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SEP
1--On September 1, 2004, Fred J. WILLIAMS, MD was sentenced in the
Northern
District of Florida to life imprisonment, following conviction on
94 counts of drug fraud offenses. WILLIAMS had been convicted in June
2004, for charges stemming from a Miami Field Division Tallahassee
RO Diversion investigation. WILLIAMS had been charged with conspiracy
to distribute controlled substances, namely OxyContin, and additional
charges for wire fraud, health care fraud and firearms violations.
WILLIAMS had diverted large quantities of OxyContin, hydrocodone
products,
fentanyl and alprazolam in the Panama City, Florida area. This investigation
was conducted in conjunction with the FBI, Florida Department of
Finance/Insurance Fraud, Florida Office of the Attorney General, Florida
Department of
Health, Bay County Sheriff's Office and Panama City Police Department.
