EFTA01130817.pdf

Case 9:10-cr-80015-KAM Document 3 Entered on FLSD Docket 12/09/2009 P e 1 of 7 AO 91 Rev. 5/85 Criminal Complaint AtrA VILLAFARA ILED by United States District Court DEC - AM SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA SICtriti7.% lAr..PACE cAt“N f. (. ,T sO of I. V. re UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CRIMINAL CO PLAINT vs. CASE NUMBER: 09-8308-LRJ ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ, Defendant. I, the undersigned complainant, being duly sworn, state the following is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. From at least as early as January 18, 2007, through on or about November 3, 2009, in Palm Beach County, in the Southern District of Florida, and elsewhere, the defendant, ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ, did corruptly conceal a record, document, or other object, with the intent to impair the object's availability for use in an official proceeding and otherwise corruptly obstructed or impeded an official proceeding, in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 1512(c) . I further state that I am a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and that this Complaint is based on the following facts: Please see attached Affidavit Continued on the attached and made a part hereof. ttj9t pt o e t0 t t __ C ma J. Pryor, Special e Federal Bureau of Investiga Sworn to before me, and subscribed in my presence, upon my finding of probable cause. December / 2009 at West Palm Beach. Florida Date City and State LINNEA R. JOHNSON 'D ST • TES MAGIS RA Signature of Judi t icer EFTA01130817 Case 9:10-cr-80015-KAM Document 3 Entered on FLSD Docket 12/09/2009 Page 2 of 7 AFFIDAVIT I, Christina J. Pryor, being duly sworn, do state and attest as follows: 1. I am a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and have been so employed for three (3) months. I am currently assigned to the Safe Streets Task Force, Miami Field Division, FBI Squad PB-2. Prior to joining the Miami Field Division, I attended the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, for five (5) months where I received training in federal criminal laws and investigation techniques, including the laws related to obstruction of justice. 2. This affidavit is based upon my own personal knowledge of the facts and circumstances surrounding the investigation, and information provided to me by other law enforcement officers. This affidavit does not purport to contain all the information known to me about this case but addresses only that information necessary to support a finding of probable cause for the issuance of a criminal complaint charging Alfredo Rodriguez with obstruction of official proceedings, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1512(c). 3. On October 27, 2009, agents of the FBI met with and interviewed a cooperating witness ("CW"). The CW reported that, while conducting discovery in a pending civil case before the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, he came into contact with Alfredo Rodriguez ("Rodriguez"), who was a subpoenaed witness in the civil case. 4. Rodriguez had been interviewed by FBI agents on January 18, 2007, in connection with a federal criminal investigation into the sexual exploitation of minors. Prior EFTA01130818 Case 9:10-cr-80015-KAM Document 3 Entered on FLSD Docket 12/09/2009 Page 3 of 7 %re 4NO to being interviewed by FBI, Rodriguez had also been contacted and interviewed by local police detectives, and had been asked to produce documents related to the criminal investigation. The civil litigation involving the CW related to civil damages claims made by victims of the criminal activity that formed the basis of the state and federal criminal investigations. 5. The CW explained to agents that Rodriguez had been deposed under oath on two occasions. The first deposition occurred on July 27, 2009, and the second deposition was conducted on August 9, 2009. In connection with those depositions, Rodriguez was served with a subpoena duces tecum that called for the production of several types of documentary evidence. The CW was present for both depositions and Rodriguez testified that he had no documents responsive to the subpoena duces tecum. 6. In August 2009, after the conclusion of the second deposition, the CW received a phone call from Rodriguez. Rodriguez informed the CW that he had additional information that he had not previously disclosed to any law enforcement agency or any of the civil attorneys. Rodriguez described the information as, the Holy Grail or Golden Nugget and explained that he had compiled lists of additional victims in the case and their contact information. Rodriguez explained that the information contained hundreds of additional victims and their phone numbers from diverse geographic locations, including New York, New Mexico, and Paris, France. 7. Rodriguez asked the CW to pay him $50,000.00 and, in return, Rodriguez would turn over the documents relating to the victims. In his initial and subsequent 2 EFTA01130819 Case 9:10-cr-80015-KAM Document 3 Entered on FLSD Docketd 2/09/2009 Page 4 of 7 %Ise communications with Rodriguez, the CW explained to Rodriguez that he was under subpoena to turn over such information and that it would be illegal for Rodriguez to demand money for turning over the information. Rodriguez persisted that he would only turn over the information in his possession in exchange for $50,000.00. 8. On October 28, 2009, in a consensually-monitored phone call, the CW telephoned Rodriguez. Rodriguez again indicated that he would not turn over the information relating to the additional victims without monetary compensation. Rodriguez was told that an associate of the CW would be in touch with him regarding the information and exchange. The associate that the CW referred to was, in fact, an undercover employee (UCE) of the FBI. 9. On October 29, 2009, the FBI UCE contacted Rodriguez via telephone. Rodriguez again explained that he would only turn over the information in exchange for monetary compensation. The UCE advised Rodriguez that it would take several days to acquire the funds and that once the funds were obtained, he/she would contact Rodriguez. During the conversation, Rodriguez admitted that he knew that the information was relevant to the FBI's criminal investigation and was called for by the investigation. Rodriguez explained that he had not turned over the information to the FBI because: (1) it was his "property" and he should be compensated for it; and (2) he was afraid that the target of the investigation would make him "disappear" or otherwise harm him, and the information was his "insurance policy." 10. On November 2, 2009, the UCE made contact with Rodriguez via telephone. 3 EFTA01130820 Case 9:10-cr-80015-KAM Do.0cument 3 Entered on FLSD Docket 12/09/2009 Page 5 of 7 In that conversation, Rodriguez and the UCE continued the discussion regarding the purchase of the documents and scheduled a meeting for the following day. 11. On November 3, 2009, Rodriguez met with the UCE at a predetermined location. During the meeting, Rodriguez produced a small bound book and several sheets of legal pad paper containing hand written notes. Rodriguez explained that he had taken the bound book from his former employer's residence while employed there in 2004 to 2005 and that the book had been created by persons working for his former employer. Rodriguez discussed in detail the information contained within the book, and identified important information to the UCE. In addition, Rodriguez admitted he had previously lied to FBI. Rodriguez asked the UCE about the $50,000.00, took possession of the money, and began counting it. 12. Rodriguez was then detained for Obstruction of Official Proceedings, Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 1512(c), and questioned. After Miranda warnings were administered by agents, Rodriguez waived his rights and signed a written waiver of those rights. Rodriguez admitted that he had the documents and book in his possession and had never turned them over to local law enforcement or the FBI. In addition, Rodriguez advised he had witnessed nude girls whom he believed were underage at the pool area of his former employer's home, knew that his former employer was engaging in sexual contact with underage girls, and had viewed pornographic images of underage girls on computers in his employer's home. Rodriguez was then released from custody for further investigation. 13. The items that Rodriguez had attempted to sell to the UC for $50,000.00 4 EFTA01130821 Case 9:10-cr-80015-KAM Document 3 Entered on FLSD Docket 12/09/2009 Page 6 of 7 Nir were reviewed by an agent familiar with the underlying criminal investigation. As Rodriguez had described, the items contained information material to the underlying investigation that would have been extremely useful in investigating and prosecuting the case, including the names and contact information of material witnesses and additional victims. Had those items been produced in response to the inquiries of the state law enforcement officers or the FBI Special Agents, their contents would have been presented to the federal grand jury. Based upon the foregoing, your affiant believes that probable cause exists to believe that, from at least as early as January 18, 2007 through on or about November 3, 2009, in Palm Beach County, in the Southern District of Florida, and elsewhere, Alfredo Rodriguez did corruptly conceal a record, document, or other object, with the intent to impair the object's availability for use in an official proceeding and otherwise corruptly obstructed or impeded an official proceeding, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1512(c). FURTHER YOUR AFFIANT SAYETH NAUGHT. C A J. P , CIA ENT FEDERAL BUREAU OF VES ATION Sworn to and subscribed before me this ( day of December, 2009. GISTRATE JUDGE 5 EFTA01130822 Case 9:10-cr-80015-KAM Document 3 Entered on FLSD Docket 12/09/2009 Page 7 of 7 %.4 tog UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA Case No. 09-8308-LRJ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA vs. ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ, Defendant. / CRIMINAL COVER SHEET I. Did this matter originate from a matter pending in the Northern Region of the United States Attorney's Office prior to October 14, 2003? Yes X No 2. Did this matter originate from a matter pending in the Central Region of the United States Attorney's Office prior to September 1, 2007? Yes X No Respectfully submitted, JEFFREY H. SLOMAN ACTING U ITED STATES ATTORNEY By: A. MARIE VILLAFA Assistant United States Attorney Florida Bar No. 0018255 500 East Broward Boulevard, 7th Floor Ft Lauderdale, FL 33394 EFTA01130823