TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, a Las Vegas, Nevada, space man was discovered responsible by a federal grand jury of smuggling items from america and impeded and threating a federal officer following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) assisted by U.S. Customs and Border Safety (CBP).
John Milton Lee, 62, of Las Vegas, Nevada, is scheduled for sentencing on August 3, earlier than United States District Choose James A. Soto.
In keeping with the proof introduced at trial, Lee traveled from Arizona to Mexico on Nov. 1, 2019, however Mexican authorities returned him to the port nearly instantly. When Lee returned to the Lukeville Port of Entry, he refused to supply identification. At secondary inspection, Lee wouldn’t exit his car and refused inspection. As an alternative, Lee informed CBP officers that they may not contact him or something in his car. Lee then reached into his jacket and threatened the officers that he “didn’t need it to go there.” Though Lee by no means pulled out a gun, officers may see the deal with of the firearm in his jacket. Over the subsequent hour, Lee engaged in an armed standoff with 5 CBP officers. The officers ultimately satisfied Lee to exit his car, however he nonetheless refused to give up. After continued unsuccessful negotiation, one of many officers tased Lee. Officers confirmed then that Lee had been holding a loaded handgun with a spherical within the chamber, the protection off, and the hammer cocked. When officers searched Lee, additionally they discovered three loaded 30-round rifle magazines.
In a subsequent search of Lee’s car, officers found that an AR-type rifle had additionally been inside his attain throughout the standoff. Officers seized three further lengthy arms, together with an HK 91 and a Tavor (Israeli assault rifle), three further handguns, practically 2,000 rounds of ammunition, and 17 loaded magazines. All of the firearms had been loaded with a spherical within the chamber. In a post-Miranda assertion, Lee admitted that he had deliberate to take the firearms and ammunition to Guatemala.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angela Martinez and Serra M. Tsethlikai, District of Arizona, Tucson, dealt with the prosecution.
HSI is a directorate of ICE and the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety (DHS), chargeable for investigating transnational crime and threats, particularly these prison organizations that exploit the worldwide infrastructure by which worldwide commerce, journey, and finance transfer. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 workers consists of greater than 7,100 particular brokers assigned to 220 cities all through america, and 80 abroad areas in 53 international locations. HSI’s worldwide presence represents DHS’s largest investigative regulation enforcement presence overseas and one of many largest worldwide footprints in U.S. regulation enforcement.
Study extra concerning the HSI Arizona mission @HSIPhoenix.
