Phoenix Field Division
Photo used under Creative Commons from Wikimedia user MS
Welcome to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Phoenix Field Division. Our Division is responsible for ATF criminal enforcement and industry regulatory activities in the States of Arizona and New Mexico. Our dedicated work force is comprised of special agents, investigators, explosive enforcement officers, auditors, technicians and support staff.
ATF is committed to reducing violent crime in our neighborhoods. ATF’s Phoenix Field Division special agents combat firearms violence by focusing their investigative efforts on armed violent offenders, career criminals, gun traffickers and gangs. We also work in partnership with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies throughout Arizona and New Mexico to accomplish this mission.
Explosives and arson enforcement is an integral part of ATF’s overall violent crime reduction strategy. ATF’s Phoenix Field Division special agents combat arson and explosives-related crimes by conducting independent investigations and by working in partnership with local and state fire investigators and police bomb squads.
ATF also has the duty of regulating the firearms and explosives industries. Our industry operations investigators work to ensure that all firearms and explosives are stored, handled and sold in a safe manner as mandated by federal law.
We encourage all residents to get involved and assist us in our goal of reducing crime in our communities. Give us a call and let us know what we can do for you. Our phone number is (602) 776-5400.
Division Management Team
- Thomas G. Atteberry
- Special Agent In Charge (SAC)
- Frederick J. Milanowski
- Assistant Special Agent In Charge (ASAC)
- Carlos A. Canino
- Assistant Special Agent In Charge (ASAC)
- Mark K Williams
- Director of Industry Operations (DIO)
- Thomas G. Mangan
- Public Information Officer (PIO)
Division Contact Information
Most Wanted
Albuquerque Gang Member to Serve 40 Years in Prison for Federal Firearms and Drug Trafficking Conviction
September 10, 2012
Albuquerque – This morning, a federal judge in Santa Fe, N.M., sentenced Dominic Saavedra, 29, of Albuquerque, to a 40-year term of imprisonment for his conviction on firearms and drug trafficking charges.More »
ATF Offers $5,000 Reward for Information Related to the Bombing Attack of a Glendale Residence
September 6, 2012
PHOENIX – Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Fred Milanowski of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Phoenix Field Division today announced that they are offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the bombing of a Glendale Arizona residence.More »
Reward $10,000
August 31, 2012
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), is offering a reward of $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the June 29, 2012 arson of:More »
Armed Career Criminal From Grants, N.M., Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Unlawful Posession of Firearms
August 27, 2012
Albequerque – Earlier today, a federal judge sentenced Dustin Dean, to a 15-year-term of imprisonment for being an armed career criminal in possession of firearms.More »
Mexican National Sentenced for his Role in Conspiracy to Acquire "Stinger" Missile and Other Military Grade Weapons
August 23, 2012
PHOENIX – On August 22, 2012, David Diaz-Sosa, 27, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James A. Teilborg to 25 years in federal prison, to be followed by five years supervised release.More »
Eight Defendants Charged with Participation in Anthony, NM, Drug Trafficking Ring Plead Guilty
August 17, 2012
Albequerque – On Jan. 25, 2012, the owners and operators of a pecan farm in Anthony, N.M., their two sons and four others were arrested on a 24-count indictment alleging federal drug trafficking and money laundering offenses.More »
Federal Jury Finds Corrales, N.M. Man Guilty of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
August 6, 2012
Albequerque – On August 2, 2012, a federal jury sitting in Santa Fe, N.M., found Walter Lee Dieter, 53, of Corrales, N.M., guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm after a four-day trial.More »
Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Firerams
July 31, 2012
PHOENIX – On July 30, 2012, Darrell Lee Mayo, 28, of Phoenix, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton to 120 months in federal prison. On March 7, 2012, a federal jury found Mayo guilty of five counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.More »
Roswell Man Sentenced to 16.5 Years for Unlawful Possession of Firearm
July 19, 2012
LAS CRUCES – U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced that yesterday in federal court in Las Cruces, Raul Roger Orona, Jr., 29, of Roswell, N.M., was sentenced to 16 ½ years in prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm.More »
Fugitive on ATF's Most Wanted List Captured
July 12, 2012
PHOENIX, AZ. – On July 9, 2012, Daniel Munoz Perez, 26, of Blackwater, Ariz., was arrested when he attempted to enter the United States near San Diego, Calif. Perez is wanted in connection with aggravated assault and armed robbery charges.More »
ATF National Response Team to Investigate Church Fire
June 29, 2012
PHOENIX, AZ. – The National Response Team (NRT) of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has been activated by request from the City of Tolleson to investigate a fire at the LDS Church. On June 29th, at approximately 2:30 a.m., a fire destroyed the LDS Church located at 701 North 95th Avenue, Tolleson, Arizona. Participating agencies include the Tolleson Fire and Police Department.More »
Fruitland Man Receives 30–Month Prison Sentence for Unlawful Possession of Firearm
June 25, 2012
ALBUQUERQUE — This morning, a federal judge sentenced Donovan Cortez, 34, to a 30-month term of imprisonment for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Cortez, a member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Fruitland, N.M., will be on supervised release for two years after completing his prison sentence. More »
Gang Member Receives 102–Month Prison Sentence for Armed Robbery of Fast Food Restaurant
June 22, 2012
ALBUQUERQUE — This morning, a federal judge sentenced Manuel Hernandez, 25, of Albuquerque, N.M., to a 102–month term of imprisonment for his conviction on federal firearms and Hobbs Act charges. Hernandez, an admitted member of the Northside Locos Gang, will be on supervised release for five years after he completes his prison sentence.More »
Former Columbus, New Mexico Mayor Sentenced to Federal Prison in Federal Firearms Trafficking Case
June, 14, 2012
United States Attorney Robert Pitman that 52–year–old Eddie Espinoza, former Village of Columbus (NM) mayor, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison in connection with a firearms straw purchasing and trafficking operation.More »
ATF Offers $10,000 Reward for Information Related to Detonation of Three Recent Improvised Explosive Devices
May 31, 2012
PHOENIX — Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Phoenix Field Division Special Agent in Charge Thomas Atteberry today announces a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the recent criminal bombings in Glendale and Phoenix, Arizona. ATF, FBI, Glendale Police Department, and the Phoenix Police Department are currently investigating these incidents.More »
Dennis Mahon Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Scottsdale Bombing Case
May 22, 2012
PHOENIX — Today, Dennis Mahon, 61, of Davis Junction, Ill., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 40 years in prison for conspiracy to damage buildings and property by means of explosive (Count 1), and malicious damage of a building by means of explosive (Count 2) to run concurrently, and 33 months on distribution of information related to explosives (Count 3) to also run concurrently. Following a six–week trial in February 2012, a federal jury found Mahon guilty on all three counts in the superseding indictment in the 2004 bombing of the City of Scottsdale Office of Diversity and Dialogue, and the injury to Donald Logan and other victims.More »
Surpirse Felon Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Firearms
May 16, 2012
PHOENIX – On May 15, 2012, James Arthur Lewis, 34, of Surprise, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 87 months in federal prison. Lewis pleaded guilty on Jan. 3, 2012, to felon in possession of firearms.More »
Drug Courier Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Cocaine Trafficking and Gun Violation
March 20, 2012
PHOENIX, Ariz. — On March 19, 2012, Lisa Rajaphone Sayamontry, 47, of Oakhurst, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James A. Teilborg to 15 years in the Bureau of Prisons. Sayamontry was found guilty of Conspiracy to Possess With Intent to Distribute 5 Kilograms or More of Cocaine, Possession with Intent to Distribute 5 Kilograms or More of Cocaine, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense by Judge Teilborg following a bench trial held before him on December 13–14, 2011.More »
Mexican National Sentenced for her Role in a Conspiracy to Acquire Stinger
Missile and Other Military–Grade Weapons
March 6, 2012
PHOENIX — On March 5, 2012, Emilia Palomino–Robles, 42 of Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James A. Teilborg to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years supervised release. Palomino–Robles entered a guilty plea on April 13, 2011, to one count of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute over 500 grams of Methamphetamine for her role as a courier delivering both 2,029 grams of actual pure methamphetamine and $139,900 to be used as a partial payment for military–grade weaponry that was ultimately destined for export and transfer to a Mexican drug trafficking organization in the Republic of Mexico.More »
Federal Jury Finds Dennis Mahon Guilty in Scottsdale Bombing Case
February 24, 2012
PHOENIX – Dennis Mahon, 61, of Davis Junction, Ill., was found guilty of the 2004 bombing of the City of Scottsdale Office of Diversity and Dialogue, and the injury to Donald Logan and other victims. Specifically, a federal jury in Phoenix found Dennis Mahon guilty of Conspiracy to Damage Buildings and Property by Means of Explosive, Malicious Damage of a Building by Means of Explosive, and Distribution of Information Related to Explosives. Daniel Mahon was found not guilty as charged in Count One of the superseding indictment. The case was tried before U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell. The defendant is being held after trial. Sentencing is set before Judge Campbell on May 22, 2012.More »
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Aiding and Abetting the Use of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense
February 13, 2012
PHOENIX — On Feb.8, 2012, Octavio Rivera–Mendez, 36, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty to Aid and Abet Use of Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense in federal district court in Phoenix. Sentencing is set for April 23, 2012.More »
Valley Man Sentenced to 24 Months for Possessing and Transporting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)
February 7, 2012
PHOENIX — Jeffrey Harbin, 29, of Apache Junction, Ariz., was sentenced on February 6, 2012, by U.S. District Judge Neil V. Wake to 24 months’ incarceration. Harbin pleaded guilty on September 26, 2011, to one count of Unlawful Possession of an Unregistered Destructive Device and one count of Unlawful Transportation of Explosive Materials.More »
Belen Man to Serve 70 Months in Prison and Pay $10,000 Fine for Unlawful Possession of Firearm
February 3, 2012
ALBUQUERQUE — Today in federal court, a U.S. District Judge sentenced James Cramberg, 42, of Belen, N.M., to a 70–month term of imprisonment to be followed by a three–year term of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The Judge also imposed a $10,000 fine on Cramberg.More »
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
February 2, 2012
ALBUQUERQUE – This afternoon in federal court in Albuquerque, Robert Hammons, 62, a resident of Albuquerque, NM, was sentenced to a 15-year term of imprisonment for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hammons will be on supervised release for three years after he completes his prison sentence. Hammons was arrested on June 22, 2007 and has been in federal custody since that time.More »
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of Assault Rifle
February 1, 2012
PHOENIX — On January 31, 2012, Ramon Arturo Amaya–Salazar, 38, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty to being an Alien Unlawfully in Possession of a Firearm in federal district court in Phoenix.More »
Bloomfield Man Sentenced to 77 Months for Federal Firearms Conviction
January 30, 2012
ALBUQUERQUE — U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced that earlier today Domingo Castillo, 33, of Bloomfield, N.M., was sentenced to 77 months of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release for his felon in possession of a firearm conviction.More »
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearm
January 24, 2012
ALBUQUERQUE – Earlier today, a federal judge sentenced Larry Pam, 35, of Albuquerque, to a 180-month term of imprisonment for being a armed career criminal in possession of a firearm. He will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence.More »
Armed Career Criminal Receives 188 Months Prison Sentence for Unlawful Possession of Firearm
January 12, 2012
ALBUQUERQUE — This afternoon, a U.S. District Judge sentenced, Roman Kirby, 37, of Albuquerque, to a 188–month term of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.More »