AFTER NEARLY THREE YEARS, FUGITIVE MURDER SUSPECT ARRESTED IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

FROM:  U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE 
For Immediate Release
Contact:
January 17, 2015 Kevin Neal, Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal
District of Massachusetts 
Jimell Griffin, Senior Inspector 
Domestic Investigations
USMS Office of Public Affairs 
U.S. Marshals 15 Most Wanted Fugitive Arrested in Dominican Republic 
Fugitive allegedly killed military veteran; fled the country
 Peter Castillo (Captured)

Washington – After only three months on the U.S. Marshals 15 Most Wanted fugitive list, suspected murderer Peter Castillo is now in custody after he was arrested Thursday, Jan. 15, in the Dominican Republic.

Castillo, 26, was wanted for allegedly shooting and killing 22-year-old military veteran Stephen Perez on May 10, 2012, following an altercation that occurred in the Boston Theater District. The Boston Police Department immediately identified Castillo as the shooter, and a warrant was issued charging him with homicide. Shortly after the incident, Castillo allegedly fled to New York then to the Dominican Republic where he had extensive ties.

“The arrest of Peter Castillo is a testament to how effective and valuable our relationships are with our international and domestic law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Marshals Service Director Stacia Hylton.

“Because of these strong partnerships and the global network they provide, Castillo’s attempt to flee and disappear in another country after murdering a member of our military proved unsuccessful. We will never rest in seeking those who murder or assault our public servants,” said Hylton.

The manhunt for Castillo gained momentum when U.S. Marshals developed significant information leading them to believe he was at a residence in the city of Santo Domingo. Marshals forwarded the information to the country’s Direccion Nacional Control de Drogas Fugitive Task Force whose members responded to the location. Upon arrival, authorities discovered Castillo, with the help of local neighbors, fled the residence and hid in the neighborhood. After a brief search, authorities located and arrested him at approximately 6:15 p.m.

On Saturday, U.S. Marshals escorted Castillo back to the U.S. He is currently being held in a U.S. jail awaiting transfer to Massachusetts.

“Today, I want to commend the deputies of the U.S. Marshals Service and the officers of the Boston Police Department for their steadfast commitment to Castillo’s apprehension in the Dominican Republic” said John Gibbons, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts.

“I would also like to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of the United States Attorney’s Office, which assisted in securing the arrest warrant, and charging Castillo with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution; the Dominican Direccion Nacional Control de Drogas (DNCD) Fugitive Task Force for their assistance in the apprehension; and Interpol Washington for issuing the red notice that helped facilitate the arrest."

“Countless hours of collaborative investigative work by the agencies involved and sheer determination have finally brought Castillo to justice,” said Gibbons. “I hope his arrest brings some comfort to the family of Stephen Perez.”

"I want to commend the U.S. Marshals, our law enforcement partners in the Dominican Republic, as well as, the members of the Boston Police Homicide and Fugitive Apprehension Units for the shared efforts and team first approach that lead to the arrest of Peter Castillo,” said Boston Police Commissioner William Evans.

“Castillo’s capture should send a strong, clear message to anyone who cruelly and callously takes the life of another in our city that although you can certainly run and attempt to hide, BPD investigators, working hand-in-hand with our federal partners, will ultimately run you down, find you and bring you to justice."

“Stephen Perez was a young man who certainly deserved better. What began as a night out with friends in Boston’s Theater District on April 28, 2012 ended in an unthinkable tragedy and the loss of a young man who had proudly served his country as U.S. Army sniper in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Undoubtedly, Stephen Perez deserved more including a long life well beyond his 22 years. Today, our thoughts and prayers go out to the Perez family and it is our sincere hope that the news of today’s arrest will provide for them some small measure of comfort and relief," Evans said.

“This defendant’s capture and return to U.S. soil is a major step toward justice for Stephen Perez,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley.”

“It’s a moment his family, his friends, and his fellow veterans have awaited for too long. We expect to arraign him on a first-degree murder indictment at the earliest opportunity.”

U.S. CONGRATULATES PEOPLE ON DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ON THEIR INDEPENDENCE DAY

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 
Secretary's Remarks: Dominican Republic's Independence Day
02/27/2014 09:32 AM EST
Dominican Republic's Independence Day

Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
February 27, 2014

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the Government and people of the Dominican Republic on the 170th anniversary of your independence.

The United States is proud of its thriving Dominican-American community. Each and every day, some 1.5 million Dominican-Americans contribute to our nation’s economic vitality and culture while maintaining a deep connection with their Dominican roots.

In the spirit of friendship and mutual respect, the people of the United States are working with the people of the Dominican Republic on citizen security, economic opportunity, clean energy development, and respect for human rights.

As you gather in celebration, I wish you a happy Independence Day.

DOL HAS LABOR CONCERNS REGARDING DOMINICAN SUGAR SECTOR

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 
US Labor Department issues report on labor concerns in Dominican sugar sector, announces $10 million project in agriculture

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez today released a report regarding labor concerns in the Dominican sugar sector in response to a public submission filed under the Labor Chapter of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). The department also announced a $10 million project to reduce child labor and to improve labor rights and working conditions in the Dominican agriculture sector.
Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez stated, "Today we are releasing a report that highlights labor concerns in the Dominican sugar sector and shortcomings in the Dominican government's ability to identify and address them. The report recommends a way forward and notes that we stand ready to help. Working together with the Dominican government, we look forward to making a real difference in these workers' lives."

The report is a response to a submission by Father Christopher Hartley, which alleged that the government of the Dominican Republic failed "to enforce labor laws, as required under Chapter 16 of the CAFTA-DR, as these relate to the Dominican sugar industry."

The department conducted a detailed review of all information obtained from the government of the Dominican Republic, the submitter, workers, industry and other stakeholders. The report finds evidence of apparent and potential violations of labor law in the Dominican sugar sector, concerning: (1) acceptable conditions of work with respect to minimum wages, hours of work, and occupational safety and health, such as payments below the minimum wage, 12-hour work days, seven-day work weeks, lack of potable water, and the absence of safety equipment; (2) a minimum age for the employment of children and the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor; and (3) a prohibition on the use of any form of forced or compulsory labor.

The report also discusses the department's concerns with respect to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Additionally, it highlights significant procedural and methodological shortcomings in the labor inspection process that undermine the government's capacity to identify labor violations. The report offers 11 recommendations to the government of the Dominican Republic to address the report's findings and improve enforcement of Dominican labor laws in the sugar sector. The Department of Labor will review the status of implementation of the recommendations six months and then 12 months after publication.

The Department of Labor is committed to engaging with the government of the Dominican Republic to address the concerns identified in the report and to assisting the government with implementing the report's recommendations. This commitment is evidenced by the $10 million, four-year project that the Department of Labor announced today to reduce child labor and improve labor rights and working conditions n the Dominican agriculture sector. This project builds on many years of Department of Labor's technical assistance to the Dominican Republic, including $16 million in funding since 1998 to eliminate child labor.

U.S.-MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICAN NATIONS INCREASE COOPERATION FOR LOW CARBON ELECTRICITY

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

President Obama and Leaders of Mexico and Central America Expand Low Carbon Electricity Cooperation

Fact Sheet
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
May 4, 2013

During his May 2-4 visit to Mexico and Costa Rica, President Obama met with heads of state of Central America, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic to discuss U.S. economic engagement and the Connecting the Americas 2022 (Connect 2022) initiative, launched by Colombia at the 2012 Summit of the Americas. As a key component of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas, Connect 2022 seeks to provide, within a decade, all citizens of the hemisphere with access to reliable, clean, and affordable electricity through increased electrical interconnection. High electricity prices in Central America undermine investment and jobs and affect the lives of all citizens. With Mesoamerica’s rich geothermal, solar, wind, and hydropower resources, a diversified, lower carbon power sector can counteract these challenges.
Interconnection creates larger markets that can help attract the $25 billion in power sector investments needed in Central America by 2030. Through the Central American Electrical Interconnection System (SIEPAC) project – which connects Central American electricity grids from Guatemala to Panama – a vibrant electricity market bringing additional economic opportunity, clean energy investment, and energy security to the region will soon be a reality. To advance this shared objective, leaders agreed to convene a Connect 2022 Mesoamerican ministerial in June 2013, hosted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Washington, D.C., at which Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns will deliver a keynote address.
The United States is supporting these efforts. U.S. companies are now associated with over 4 gigawatts (GW) lower carbon generation capacity in Mesoamerica. Since 2010, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has invested in eight clean energy activities in Mexico and Central America, including support for feasibility studies, pilot projects, study tours, and other technical assistance. The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of the United States are tracking potentially several hundred million dollars in new clean energy investments in the region:
A $29 million loan EXIM to a Honduran company will expand generation at the Cerro de Hula Wfrom
ind Farm, using equipment manufactured in Pennsylvania;
U.S.-based Sempra Energy plans to begin construction soon on a 156 megawatts (MW) wind farm in Baja California, which will send clean renewable energy to San Diego;
A 120 MW plant being developed in northern Mexico would use U.S. natural gas and Mexico’s transmission grid to send cleaner electricity to Guatemala; and
Nevada’s Ormat Technologies, Inc. will soon break ground on a 35 MW geothermal plant – Honduras’ first. Ormat also operates and plans to expand on plants in Guatemala.

U.S. MARSHALS TO AUCTION SEIZED AIRCRAFT

FROM: U.S. U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE
U.S. Marshals Preview Seized Aircraft to be Sold at Public Auction
San Juan, PR
–
The U.S. Marshals recently conducted a preview of six aircraft in Aguadilla that will be sold at public auction Sept. 5 in Midland, Texas.

The aircraft were part of a seizure conducted in December 2011 shortly after a search warrant was executed by the Drug Enforcement Administration in relation to the investigation of Santo Seda-Rodriguez.

Seda-Rodriguez, owner and pilot of Jeshua Air Services, was the subject of an investigation by the Dominican National Drug Enforcement authorities as well as a federal investigation in the U.S., after 58 kilograms of cocaine were seized in an aircraft allegedly recorded under his name at the Americas International Airport in the Dominican Republic. The next day Seda-Rodriguez’s body was found in the Dominican Republic by local authorities, allegedly beaten to death.

The auction will take place at the Midland International Airport in the Aeromod hanger at 2506 North Pliska Drive. The U.S. Marshals will sell the aircraft "as is," and reserve the right to pull any aircraft from the auction at any time prior to the sale date without notice.

"The U.S. Marshals Service plays a critical role by managing and selling assets seized and forfeited by federal law enforcement agencies nationwide," said U.S. Marshal Orlando Rivera of the District of Puerto Rico.

Proceeds generated from asset sales are used to compensate victims, supplement funding for law enforcement initiatives, and support community programs.

ISAAC AND THE HURRICANE HUNTERS

Photo Credit:  NASA
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

'Hurricane Hunters' Track Isaac as Southcom, Northcom Prepare
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23, 2012 - With Tropical Storm Isaac bearing down on the Dominican Republic and Haiti and threatening to strengthen over the eastern Caribbean, the "Hurricane Hunters" from the Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron are in the air, relaying critical data to National Weather Service forecasters in Miami.

Meanwhile, staffs at both the U.S. Southern and Northern Commands are monitoring the storm closely and ensuring they are ready to provide support to civilian authorities, including the U.S. Agency for International Development and Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Three six-person crews from the 53rd WRS and their maintainers and support staff deployed to St. Croix from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., last weekend, Air Force Lt. Col. Jon Talbot, the squadron's chief meteorologist, told American Forces Press Service. Operating out of the international airport there, they began flying their specially equipped C-130J Hercules aircraft through the storm Aug. 21.

On a typical mission that can run up to 12 hours, the aircrews crisscross the storm in what the teams call an "alpha pattern," he explained. Sophisticated onboard instruments and small canisters dropped by parachute to the ocean's surface collect accurate measurements of the storm's location and intensity.

That information is fed continuously to the National Hurricane Center via an onboard satellite link. In addition, the aircraft sends automated messages every 10 minutes, relaying barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, and other measurements.

"The reason this data is critical is because, with satellites, you can track where storms are and get a general picture, but you can't peer into the storm and physically measure what is happening at the ocean's surface," Talbot said. "That is the important piece of information you need to know when it comes to providing warnings to the public. The emergency management community needs to know what is going on near the surface of the ocean, because those are the winds that are going to come ashore."

With about six missions already under their belts during the past three days, Talbot said, the pace will pick up considerably as Isaac moves west toward the United States. "Currently, we are doing about three missions a day, but that will go up to four or five when the storm comes within 300 miles of the U.S. coastline," he said.

The Hurricane Hunters expect to move west along with the storm, redeploying to Keesler Air Force Base to resume those missions beginning this weekend. In the event that the crews have to evacuate Keesler, Talbot said, they already have alternate operating sites lined up. "We track these things pretty closely, because if we end up having to jump from here, we still have to continue flying and providing that data while we are evacuating our own resources," he said. "It becomes a big, tangled web, but it always works out pretty well."

As a precaution, aircraft and ships are being moved out of the storm's possible path and other assets are being secured, according to Southcom spokesman Army Lt. Col. Darryl Wright. Planning teams are busy running rehearsal meetings and preparing to verify personnel and resource requests, if USAID issues them, he said.

Wright emphasized that military support, if provided, would be part of a coordinated U.S. response led by civilian authorities. "We conduct close coordination and planning and provide DOD support to relief efforts upon request," he said. "Through this close coordination, we ensure that we respond with the most efficient means available to the U.S. government."

In terms of disaster response, Wright said efficiency is typically more important than speed in reducing suffering and saving lives.

Northcom, too, is in a monitoring mode. But with the storm expected to intensify late this weekend when it hits the Atlantic and the Florida Straits, the command deployed a defense coordinating officer and element to Puerto Rico on Aug. 20 to support FEMA, John Cornelio, Northcom's media operations chief, told American Forces Press Service.

The element of about 20 people is assessing the situation and standing ready to provide assistance, if requested. "We have learned the value of being forward enough to cut down on the response time, if required," Cornelio said.

With Isaac's path still anyone's guess, officials say it's too soon to know whether it will hit Tampa, site of next week's Republican National Convention. Northcom has a team deployed there to support the Secret Service during the convention, Cornelio reported.

TWO INDIVIDUALS ACCUSED OF COMMISSION RIP-OFF IN $163 MILLION DOMINICAN RESORT INVESTMENT SCHEME

Photo:  Dominican Republic.  Credit:  Wikimedia.
FROM:  U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
May 31, 2012
The Securities and Exchange Commission charged James B. Catledge and Derek F.C. Elliott, and certain of their related entities, with making material misrepresentations to investors in connection with the unregistered sale of interests in two resorts in the Dominican Republic.

The SEC alleges that Catledge, a Nevada resident, and Elliott, a Canadian citizen and resident of the Toronto area, raised more than $163 million from approximately 1,200 investors between the fall of 2004 and 2009. The securities offered, called “Residence” and “Passport” investments, represented timeshare and ownership interests, respectively, in the Cofresi and Juan Dolio resorts in the Dominican Republic

The complaint alleges that Catledge and Elliott promised investors a secure return of 8% to 12% annually on the Residence investment and 5% on the Passport investment. Investors were assured that their principal was safe, and that they would share in the projected appreciation in the value of the resorts. According to the SEC’s complaint, investor funds were not used to construct the properties, as had been represented, but instead were largely used for other purposes, including the payment of exorbitant undisclosed commissions and promised returns to earlier investors. The SEC alleges that, of the nearly $164 million raised from investors, approximately $59 million (36%) was used to pay commissions to Catledge, Elliott and several of their related entities, among others.

The SEC’s complaint seeks disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, financial penalties, and permanent injunctive relief against Catledge, Elliott, Sun Village Juan Dolio, Inc., EMI Sun Village, Inc. and EMI Resorts (S.V.G.), Inc. to enjoin them from future violations of the federal securities laws. As to Catledge and Elliott only, it also seeks an injunction against acting as an unregistered broker-dealer. The complaint also names D.R.C.I. Trust, which was beneficially owned by Catledge, as a relief defendant in this matter.
The SEC’s investigation was conducted by staff attorney Alison J. Okinaka and senior staff accountant Norman J. Korb in the Commission’s Salt Lake Regional Office. Senior trial counsel Thomas M. Melton is leading the litigation.

The SEC acknowledges the assistance of the Ontario Securities Commission, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.