Desert Messenger

4 www.DesertMessenger.com September 6, 2017 UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE VFW VFW Members & Guests are invited to join us for: NOTE: VFW Auxiliary is collecting coupons you may have that you won't use. These go to the military families who can use them up to 6 months after expiration. Please help us in this endeavor to assist our Veterans. Coupons can be left at Post, Mt. Quail Cafe, General Store, Community Thrift Store or Lutheran Church. We are also collecting labels for the school and National Home for Children. You can leave items at the same locations as coupons. VFW Post 769 VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS 305 N. Central, Quartzsite, AZ, 928-927-7697 SEPT 01 – Breakfast 8 am to 10 am. Biscuits and gravy -- $3.00/2 biscuits; $2.50/1 biscuit; eggs $3.00 Donation – members and guests. To be daily with possibly more options added later SEPT 04 – Flag lowering at 9 am; Softball games 5 pm SEPT 06 – Beer, Brats and Kraut – 12 noon to 4 pm (to be held every Wednesday during season SEPT 09 – VFW and AUXILIARY MONTHLY MEETINGS – 10:00 a.m. SEPT 10 – DISTRICT 1 VFW AND AUXILIARY MEETING AT Parker 7061 SEPT 11 – PATRIOT'S DAY – FLY YOUR FLAGS. Flag lowering at Post at 9 a.m.; Ceremony at Cecilia's Garden at Bells – 6 pm; BBQ at Post following at 7 pm. Mon- day night Football season begins. Specials every Monday night during Football season SEPT 13 – MEAT DRAWS BEGIN EVERY WEDNESDAY during season – 2 -4 PM SEPT 15 – POW/MIA DAY—FLY YOUR FLAGS Flag raising POW/MIA Flag at 9 am at Post; Missing Man table ceremony following flag raising. PLEASE CHECK AT POST AS ADDITIONAL EVENTS MAY BE SCHEDULED Check at the Post or on the VFW Post 769 website for information on additional activities being planned. www.vfwpost769.org Comrades meet –2nd Saturday each month –10:00 a.m. at Post Auxiliary meets – 2nd Saturday in the dining room area at 10:00 a.m. House Committee meeting – 2nd Saturday each month -9:00 a.m. at Post Alleged sexual exploitation of a minor From La Paz Co. Sheriff's Dept. ALLEGED SEXUAL EXPLOITA- TION OF A MINOR. EHRENBERG, Ariz. — An Arizona man is expected to make his initial appearance in state court Friday following his arrest by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for allegedly sexually exploiting at least one 13-year-old girl. Alejandro Ledesma, 20, from La Paz County, Arizona, will remain in custody pending his arraignment on four counts of sexually exploit- ing a minor. These criminal charg- es resulted from an investigation by HSI Phoenix in collaboration with the La Paz County Sheriff's Department."This arrest represents one of many predators that Home- land Security Investigations targets to protect our youth from preda- tors who sexually exploit children," said Scott Brown, special agent in charge of HSI Phoenix. "HSI routinely works with our local law enforcement partners to combat this type of crime." During the course of the probe, investigators examined over 20 im- ages and videos discovered on the defendant's electronic devices. HSI special agents have already identi- fi ed one 13-year-old female victim in North Carolina. As the inves- tigation progressed at the scene, HSI special agents also identifi ed two other unknown young girls in images and videos participating in lewd acts. Anyone with information about Ledesma – or his internet chat room handle "Donk_Malandrine" is encouraged to call HSI's toll-free tip line: 1-866-2DHS-ICE [1-866- 234-7423]. "The La Paz County Sheriff's De- partment was happy to work with HSI in this investigation, said Wil- liam D. Risen, the La Paz County Sheriff. "Detective Johnson did a great job communicating with HSI and coordinating the local response to ensure a safe and effective ar- rest. We look forward to working together in the future." Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. If convicted of four counts of sexually exploiting a minor, Ladesma would face a mandatory minimum penalty of 40 years in state prison and a poten- tial maximum penalty of up to 96 years. This case is being prosecuted by the La Paz County Attorney's Offi ce. This investigation was conducted under HSI's Operation Predator, an international initiative to pro- tect children from sexual preda- tors. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 16,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex traffi cking of children. In fi scal year 2016, more than 2,600 child predators were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 800 victims identi- fi ed or rescued. HSI encourages the public to re- port suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2- ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From out- side the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802- 872-6196. Suspected child sexual exploita- tion or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800- THE-LOST. For additional infor- mation about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI's Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page. HSI is a founding member of the Virtual Global Task force, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.

• Cover