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Greasing the Wheels?; Missing Girl; Deadly Bat Attack
Aired April 14, 2005 - 13:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: More alleged fraud in oil-for-food. As you know if you've been watching CNN, a Texas oil man and two of his front men stand accused of slipping illegal payoffs into their payments for prewar Iraqi crude. The feds say the money enriched Saddam Hussein at the expense of the people that the U.N. program was designed to sustain.
We get the latest now from CNN senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth -- Rich.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, David Chalmers is the name. He has been indicted. And the federal government says he, in effect, becomes the first American involved and indicted with oil-for-food corruption scandal.
He's a Texas oil businessman. In about one hour, he's going to face his first appearance.
The oil-for-food case turned into a cash cow for the Saddam Hussein regime. The Security Council, 10 years ago today exactly today, when they set up this programming, allowed Saddam to choose which vendors, which businesses he would be dealing with when they purchased oil and he received humanitarian goods for the citizens of his country living under existing Security Council sanctions.
Now Chalmers has been charged with three felonies, including wire fraud, breaking the economic embargo with Iraq, and transactions of a financial nature with a stat sponsor of terrorism. It was all involving kickbacks and surcharges involving middlemen. And the government of Iraq is described by U.S. attorney David Kelley.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID KELLEY, U.S. ATTORNEY: And what the defendants are alleged to have done to further this scheme is threefold.
First, the defendants at Bayoil, led by David Chalmers and assisted by Irving Dionissiev paid inflated commissions to allocation holders, or oral industry brokers, knowing and intending that a portion of these commission payments were earmarked for the kickbacks to the Hussein regime.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: Now, the money was supposed to be -- most of it did go into an escrow account which was monitored by the U.N. But to get more money and to grease the wheels, as you've been saying, Kyra, money was paid through third parties, third companies.
Saddam asked for more money. If you want to do business with the Iraqi government, he said, you're going to have to pay these commission commissions. And many people at the U.N. and the Security Council, they were aware of all of this. But the U.S. was very eager to keep the sanctions on Iraq.
And, in fact, today, the secretary-general, Kofi Annan, somewhat publicly for the first time going after the U.S. and Britain, saying they turned a blind eye to other aspects of the program and corruption, smuggling, smuggling through Jordan and Turkey, because the said they with allies of the U.S.. And he also asked for more balanced media coverage to show how widespread this was and it just doesn't involve the U.N.
Back to you, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Richard, could this be a domino effect? Could we see more American businessmen or women caught up in the scheme?
ROTH: Oh, definitely. The shoes will keep dropping.
One man already indicted. An Iraqi-American, Samir Vincent, has already cooperated. And it's believed that his cooperation resulted in some of the other indictment announcements today.
PHILLIPS: Richard Roth, we'll stay on the story. Thanks so much -- Miles.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, $40 a pill, give or take, 290,000 pills. You do the math. It all adds up to a world of trouble, however, for two Air National Guard troops charged with smuggling ecstasy aboard their C-5 Galaxy cargo plane, largest cargo plane in the U.S. inventory.
That was during an official flight from Germany. The drugs were found. The men arrested on Tuesday, after an otherwise routine mission to drop off training supplies in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. The captain, by the name of Franklin, Franklin Rodriguez, and Master Sergeant John Fong, could face 40 years in prison if convicted.
PHILLIPS: In Ruskin, Florida, the search continues for missing teenager Sarah Michelle Lunde. She disappeared Sunday. And police are questioning sex offenders in that area.
The latest now from our Susan Candiotti.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Among the 100 or so volunteers that are helping out this day, Mark Lunsford, whose daughter Jessica was killed allegedly by a sex offender who lived practically across the street from them. This happened about a month and a half ago, about 100 miles from here. Mark Lunsford saying he is here to lend support to Sarah Lunde's mother, who is desperately trying to find her daughter.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I spoke with Mr. Lunsford, as a matter of fact. And he said he came down here to help.
He asked to be hooked up with a search team. We have done that. He also said that he would be here to speak with Kelly May, if she choose to do that. I have spoken with Kelly May, and she said that she is more than thrilled that Mr. Lunsford has come down to help.
CANDIOTTI: Police say one convicted sex offender of about 24 living here in the town of Ruskin, population about 8,000, has captured their attention. His name, David Onstott. He was arrested Tuesday night on unrelated charges and appeared in court this day for arraignment on a charge of failing to register at least once a year in Florida, as required by Florida law.
Now, Sarah is only 13 years old. She is said to be very active in her church. She does come from a broken home.
The church provided a home video of her, shot here washing a car last December. There's also a photograph of her taken on Saturday night. She was part of a church outing, and friends say she had a great time when she came home.
Now, she has run away from home before. But authorities say she has always returned home. And friends say it is totally out of character for her to be away this long without phoning someone.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, Ruskin, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: And the Hillsborough Sheriff's Department is urging anyone with information to give them a call. The tip line is 813-247- 8200. That number again, 813-247-8200.
O'BRIEN: Other news "Across America" for you.
Off the market. A Florida man has finally sold his clapboard home and 160 acres of land for $5 million. For years, Jesse Hardy rejected the state's repeated offers to buy his property. Says he wanted to hold on to a dying rural lifestyle. His land will be used for the multibillion-dollar Everglades restoration plan.
There will be a lighter load for air travelers, quite literally. The TSA begins its ban on cigarette lighters. Starting today, lighters are banned everywhere on a plane. And passenger cannot check them into their bags, just like other dangerous items.
And in Los Angeles, a freak freeway crash. Police say road debris smashed through the windshield of a minivan being killing two people. They're not sure if the object was intentionally thrown or if it hit the van by accident.
PHILLIPS: It's a case of teen angst turned deadly, according to some witnesses. A 13-year-old California boy is accused of beating his teammate to death with a baseball bat after a game. A candlelight vigil was held for the victim last night. Reporter Juan Fernandez with CNN affiliate KCAL has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JUAN FERNANDEZ, REPORTER, KCAL (voice-over): A friend of 15- year-old Jeremy Rourke come together, trying to make sense of his untimely death.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was in shock. I didn't -- I, like -- deep in my heart, I knew there was no saving that boy.
FERNANDEZ: Jeremy was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. His good friend and teammate, just 13 years old, now charged with his murder.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All the kids are friends. We've all grown up together. All the kids have grown up together. The younger brother was best friends with this other child.
FERNANDEZ: Witness say that friendship became strained when Jeremy teased his 13-year-old friend about losing a baseball game.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Next thing you know, the boy pulled out a bat and he, like, kind of hit him once in the side and once up around the neck. And then he just hit him really with tremendous force to the head. And I just -- I saw his head just -- it sounded like a pumpkin getting hit with a bat.
FERNANDEZ: At Jeremy's school, where he was in the ninth grade, both students and teachers met with grief counselors.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was just stunned. And I don't know why anyone would do that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was nice. I don't see him like attacking anybody or doing anything to get in like that kind of thing, you know. But, it's like, I don't see why somebody would do that.
FERNANDEZ: Rick Shade (ph) is a friend of Jeremy's family. Mother has a message.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She made the comment that, by no means was the kid a monster. Don't make him into -- that he was a very good kid. They were friends, believe it or not.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Thanks to our affiliate KCAL for that report. The 13- year-old is in custody for investigation of murder now, and prosecutor are expected to get the case.
Straight ahead, he United States has a Department of Defense, but should it also have a department of peace? Straight ahead on LIVE FROM, Congressman Dennis Kucinich and best-selling author Marianne Williamson join us to talk about a bill proposing a secretary of peace.
And can you get too much of a good thing? New medical research suggests that drinking too much water could actually be fatal. That's ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Straight to the Justice Department now. United States Attorney General Alberto Gonzales talking about the largest fugitive hunting law enforcement mobilization in American history. He's telling us about Operation Falcon.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
ALBERTO GONZALES, ATTORNEY GENERAL: ... dedicate every Victims' Rights Week to remembering the suffering of victims and to reaffirming our nation's commitment to build a more compassionate justice system, a justice system that puts the needs of its victims -- of victims at its core.
First and foremost among those needs is the need for victims to see perpetrators apprehended and prosecuted for their crimes. In conjunction with this year, as National Victims' Rights Week, the Justice Department, together with our partners in the state and local law enforcement communities, launched Operation Falcon earlier this month, the nation's largest effort to track down and arrest fugitives from justice.
Operation Falcon was a cooperative law enforcement effort coordinated by the United States Marshals Service and involving a host of our friends in the Justice community across the nation, from the Secret Service, DEA and ATF, to local sheriffs, police, troopers and parole officers. This joint federal, state and local operation involved a total of 25 federal law enforcement agencies, 204 state law enforcement agencies, 364 local police departments and 360 county sheriff departments.
I am pleased to announce the results of this unprecedented cooperation. Operation Falcon has led to the highest number of arrests ever recorded for a single initiative of its kind.
From dawn of April 4 to midnight on April 10, the deputy marshals, special agents, officers, detectives, state troopers, investigators and deputy sheriffs involved in Operation Falcon arrested more than 10,300 fugitive from Justice. They cleared 13,851 warrants, seized 243 guns, and arrested 154 gang members.
Thanks to Operation Falcon, more than 160 homicides were cleared. More than 4,200 drug cases were cleared. And more than 550 sex offenders were arrested, 106 of whom were unregistered. In the first 24 hours alone of Operation Falcon, we apprehended 1,489 defendants.
These record fugitive arrest statistics are important for a variety of reasons. Perhaps most importantly, in looking at our arrest numbers, we found that most of these fugitives were not first- time offenders. More than 70 percent had prior arrest records for crimes of violence. These defendants had long rap sheets, and they have been free to roam the streets for far too long.
We know from history and from the bitter experiences of far too many victims that a fugitive with a rap sheet is more desperate, more predatory, and more likely to commit the crimes that plague citizens and communities. Many of those caught in Operation Falcon showed how dangerous some of these fugitive can be.
Eddie Kelly (ph), 24, was wanted by the Dallas Police Department for allegedly shooting a man five times after leaving a drug stash house on February 13, 2005. Thanks to the Operation Falcon team, he was located and arrested.
On April 7 of this year, Operation Falcon members arrested Marcell Baldwin (ph), 21, as he hid in a makeshift cellar of a home in Atlanta, Georgia. Baldwin had been named one of Atlanta's 10 most want fugitive.
Atlanta police sought Baldwin on charges of assault and sexual offense against a child. Baldwin had prior arrests for arson and distribution of controlled substances.
Falcon members tracked down Baldwin and learned he was allegedly operating a crack cocaine distribution house. When Falcon members arrived, they found the house heavily fortified, and it took them approximately a half an hour to gain entry and make the arrest.
Frederick L. Jackson (ph), 44, was indicted in Multnomah County, Oregon, in July of 2004, for 17 counts of sodomy and sexual abuse of multiple victims under the age of 14. The sexual abuse of two girls allegedly occurred over a period of two years. The Portland Police, who had been searching for Jackson, turned the case over to the Operation Falcon team, whose work resulted in Jackson's arrest in Portland.
And it's important to remember that the charges against these individuals are allegations. They remain innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Operation Falcon is an excellent example of President Bush's direction and this department's dedication to deal both with the relatively new terrorist threats in this country and traditional violent crime. It shows the commitment of our federal, state and local partners to make our neighborhoods safer.
We intend to use all our nation's law enforcement resources to serve the people, to pursue justice, and to make our streets and nation safer. We know from September 11 how important it is for law enforcement to work together to share resources, information and expertise.
And I would like to extent my thanks to all the men and women of federal law enforcement, from all ranks, in every level of government, who were involved in Operation Falcon. And as well to state and local officials.
The credit for this successful operation belongs primarily to you. And you're all to be commended.
I particularly wish to recognize representatives of the National Sheriff's Association and the Fraternal Order of Police that are here today.
As president Bush often says, the power of America is in her people. We are compassionate, but we are also a people of deep resolve.
When we work together as citizens and as public servants to ensure every violent offender and every fugitive faces the bar of justice, we unite our compassion and resolve. We show our concern for victims and our commitment to justice.
I thank all of those involved in Operation Falcon for their achievements and for their example. And now I ask the director of the U.S. Marshals Service, Ben Reyna, to comment specifically on Operation Falcon -- Ben.
PHILLIPS: Live from the Justice Department you heard from United States Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Probably one of his first real formal news conferences there talking about Operation Falcon. That stand for Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally.
It's being called the largest fugitive-hunting operation in American history. Going on it to say more than 10,000 fugitives captured in this operation. Individuals accused or convicted of murder, armed robbery, sex offenders, including rape and kidnapping.
We'll continue to follow it and see if any more news comes out of that.
O'BRIEN: Now, in the wake of today's announcement, we look closer at the job of hunting fugitives. The U.S. Marshals go after the worst of the worst. Our Kelli Arena rode along with one of the Marshal Services most successful units for this CNN "America Bureau" report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've got two or three addresses on this guy?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let's get everybody around...
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE DEPT. CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's 4:00 a.m. on a biting cold Chicago morning. A good time to catch bad guys off guard.
These fugitive hunters are among the best in the business. And CNN got a rare front row view.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. The first place we're going, guys, we're going to hit two houses at once.
ARENA: These men and women arrest as many as 500 violent offenders a month -- drug dealers, bank robbers and worse. This morning, they're after a prisoner who escaped from a work release program.
For now, this neighborhood is quiet. Chances for a fight drop off dramatically if the bad guys are woken out of a sound sleep.
Still, going into someone's home without knowing what's inside is dangerous work. U.S. Marshal John Ambrose brings along a little extra help.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've got tools -- tools coming up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Open the door now or I'm taking it down!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, ma'am, or it's coming down! Right now!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's it, it's open. Go!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get on the ground.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On the ground, ma'am. You get on the ground like I told you!
ARENA: The tip that led them here is only hours old, but it's stale. They missed their man.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nobody knows nothing. I'm shocked.
ARENA: That's Ed Farrell. He's fast tracked. A marshal for only eight years and already one of just 18 inspectors nationwide. Part of his job is to get some dirt from people on scene and to work informants.
ED FARRELL, U.S. MARSHAL: This job, we're in the information business. And it comes down to people skills. If you're going to be successful at this job, you've got to have people skills.
ARENA: His buddy, John Ambrose, says you either have what it takes or you don't. It's in his blood.
Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, Ambrose comes from a long line of police officers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who's got the back?
ARENA: His dad was an award-winning cop. That is, until he and nine others were convicted of taking money from drug dealers to look the other way. He died of a heart attack a year into his sentence.
Ambrose and a lot of others say his dad was wrongly accused. Still, Ambrose serves the government with a vengeance, the same government that imprisoned his father.
JOHNN AMBROSE, U.S. MARSHAL: I think sometimes when I get frustrated, I take an extra second or two to thing about something or look at a case. You know, as corny as it may sound, I feel like he may -- he's nudging me in a direction or opens my eyes to something.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just in the event that he was able to get out...
ARENA: The team is juiced about another target, an alleged child rapist. As they get close to the scene, they're briefed by another marshal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's been molesting his stepdaughter since she's about 4 or 5 and raping her since she's about 8. The reason they found out was because she just got pregnant.
ARENA: The fugitive staying with family, including his little niece.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Police. Come to the door.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Open up the door. Open the door right now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Open the door right now. Get on the ground!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get on the ground! Get on the ground!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get on the ground.
ARENA: It's the kind of case that gets under everyone's skin.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It really is mind-boggling that people would keep a child in a house and they know what he's wanted for. It's a shame.
ARENA: Shannon Metzger is the only female marshal permanently assigned to a regional fugitive task force in the country, and the mother of a 3-year-old girl. She's a former West Pointer and track star who should never be underestimated.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know, when I'm covering the back of a house and the guy jumps out, chances are he isn't going to take pity on me because I'm a female. He's going to maybe even, you know, take me on harder because he thinks he can. And when he does, he's in for a rude awakening.
ARENA: This team does nothing but hunt fugitives, 24/7. They're available to help the 10 state and local agencies who contribute members of the force.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The last cameraman who did that had his nose bit off.
ARENA: The work is rewarding and draining.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I got you for doing nothing. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I came home...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What (EXPLETIVE DELETED) you coming home late for? What's so important that you can't get home on time?
ARENA: Sarah Jawalt (ph) is a corrections officer assigned to the task force. With 34 years under her belt, she says she's tough, but fair. Some time ago, she helped this woman with a parole violation so she wouldn't go back to jail, so she could stay home and raise her kids.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You had a chance to stay out here and raise your children, not your mother raise your children. Those are your babies. You raise them!
ARENA: There's no time for emotion. The hunt never ends. They want to pay a call on an alleged drug dealer accused of selling crack to undercover officers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Police, open the door! If you don't open the door, it's coming down! It's your last chance to take the door!
ARENA: This time, they get their man and several thousand dollars in cash.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's dope money right there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not guilty.
ARENA: A lot of work goes into a night like this, but these guys make it look easy. Task force leader Jeff Shanks (ph) says that's the way it should be.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our closure rate is 92 percent. So the odds are, if we're going to look for you, you're going to jail. You might as well just give yourself up.
ARENA: By the time most other citizens are on their way to work, the Great Lakes Regional Task Force is just about rapping up for the day.
Kelli arena, CNN America Bureau, Chicago.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
PHILLIPS: A U.S. department of peace. What do you think? Congressman and former presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, along with best-selling author Marianne Williamson, join me to talk about the legislation.
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange. It's another beer bout. Miller and Bud go at each other once again. I'll tell you who won this round next on LIVE FROM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, it's a bitter beer battle, with Miller scoring a knockout against arch rival Budweiser.
O'BRIEN: Well, does it taste great or is it less filling and all that? I don't know.
Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange with that and more.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired April 14, 2005 - 13:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: More alleged fraud in oil-for-food. As you know if you've been watching CNN, a Texas oil man and two of his front men stand accused of slipping illegal payoffs into their payments for prewar Iraqi crude. The feds say the money enriched Saddam Hussein at the expense of the people that the U.N. program was designed to sustain.
We get the latest now from CNN senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth -- Rich.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, David Chalmers is the name. He has been indicted. And the federal government says he, in effect, becomes the first American involved and indicted with oil-for-food corruption scandal.
He's a Texas oil businessman. In about one hour, he's going to face his first appearance.
The oil-for-food case turned into a cash cow for the Saddam Hussein regime. The Security Council, 10 years ago today exactly today, when they set up this programming, allowed Saddam to choose which vendors, which businesses he would be dealing with when they purchased oil and he received humanitarian goods for the citizens of his country living under existing Security Council sanctions.
Now Chalmers has been charged with three felonies, including wire fraud, breaking the economic embargo with Iraq, and transactions of a financial nature with a stat sponsor of terrorism. It was all involving kickbacks and surcharges involving middlemen. And the government of Iraq is described by U.S. attorney David Kelley.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID KELLEY, U.S. ATTORNEY: And what the defendants are alleged to have done to further this scheme is threefold.
First, the defendants at Bayoil, led by David Chalmers and assisted by Irving Dionissiev paid inflated commissions to allocation holders, or oral industry brokers, knowing and intending that a portion of these commission payments were earmarked for the kickbacks to the Hussein regime.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: Now, the money was supposed to be -- most of it did go into an escrow account which was monitored by the U.N. But to get more money and to grease the wheels, as you've been saying, Kyra, money was paid through third parties, third companies.
Saddam asked for more money. If you want to do business with the Iraqi government, he said, you're going to have to pay these commission commissions. And many people at the U.N. and the Security Council, they were aware of all of this. But the U.S. was very eager to keep the sanctions on Iraq.
And, in fact, today, the secretary-general, Kofi Annan, somewhat publicly for the first time going after the U.S. and Britain, saying they turned a blind eye to other aspects of the program and corruption, smuggling, smuggling through Jordan and Turkey, because the said they with allies of the U.S.. And he also asked for more balanced media coverage to show how widespread this was and it just doesn't involve the U.N.
Back to you, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Richard, could this be a domino effect? Could we see more American businessmen or women caught up in the scheme?
ROTH: Oh, definitely. The shoes will keep dropping.
One man already indicted. An Iraqi-American, Samir Vincent, has already cooperated. And it's believed that his cooperation resulted in some of the other indictment announcements today.
PHILLIPS: Richard Roth, we'll stay on the story. Thanks so much -- Miles.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, $40 a pill, give or take, 290,000 pills. You do the math. It all adds up to a world of trouble, however, for two Air National Guard troops charged with smuggling ecstasy aboard their C-5 Galaxy cargo plane, largest cargo plane in the U.S. inventory.
That was during an official flight from Germany. The drugs were found. The men arrested on Tuesday, after an otherwise routine mission to drop off training supplies in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. The captain, by the name of Franklin, Franklin Rodriguez, and Master Sergeant John Fong, could face 40 years in prison if convicted.
PHILLIPS: In Ruskin, Florida, the search continues for missing teenager Sarah Michelle Lunde. She disappeared Sunday. And police are questioning sex offenders in that area.
The latest now from our Susan Candiotti.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Among the 100 or so volunteers that are helping out this day, Mark Lunsford, whose daughter Jessica was killed allegedly by a sex offender who lived practically across the street from them. This happened about a month and a half ago, about 100 miles from here. Mark Lunsford saying he is here to lend support to Sarah Lunde's mother, who is desperately trying to find her daughter.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I spoke with Mr. Lunsford, as a matter of fact. And he said he came down here to help.
He asked to be hooked up with a search team. We have done that. He also said that he would be here to speak with Kelly May, if she choose to do that. I have spoken with Kelly May, and she said that she is more than thrilled that Mr. Lunsford has come down to help.
CANDIOTTI: Police say one convicted sex offender of about 24 living here in the town of Ruskin, population about 8,000, has captured their attention. His name, David Onstott. He was arrested Tuesday night on unrelated charges and appeared in court this day for arraignment on a charge of failing to register at least once a year in Florida, as required by Florida law.
Now, Sarah is only 13 years old. She is said to be very active in her church. She does come from a broken home.
The church provided a home video of her, shot here washing a car last December. There's also a photograph of her taken on Saturday night. She was part of a church outing, and friends say she had a great time when she came home.
Now, she has run away from home before. But authorities say she has always returned home. And friends say it is totally out of character for her to be away this long without phoning someone.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, Ruskin, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: And the Hillsborough Sheriff's Department is urging anyone with information to give them a call. The tip line is 813-247- 8200. That number again, 813-247-8200.
O'BRIEN: Other news "Across America" for you.
Off the market. A Florida man has finally sold his clapboard home and 160 acres of land for $5 million. For years, Jesse Hardy rejected the state's repeated offers to buy his property. Says he wanted to hold on to a dying rural lifestyle. His land will be used for the multibillion-dollar Everglades restoration plan.
There will be a lighter load for air travelers, quite literally. The TSA begins its ban on cigarette lighters. Starting today, lighters are banned everywhere on a plane. And passenger cannot check them into their bags, just like other dangerous items.
And in Los Angeles, a freak freeway crash. Police say road debris smashed through the windshield of a minivan being killing two people. They're not sure if the object was intentionally thrown or if it hit the van by accident.
PHILLIPS: It's a case of teen angst turned deadly, according to some witnesses. A 13-year-old California boy is accused of beating his teammate to death with a baseball bat after a game. A candlelight vigil was held for the victim last night. Reporter Juan Fernandez with CNN affiliate KCAL has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JUAN FERNANDEZ, REPORTER, KCAL (voice-over): A friend of 15- year-old Jeremy Rourke come together, trying to make sense of his untimely death.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was in shock. I didn't -- I, like -- deep in my heart, I knew there was no saving that boy.
FERNANDEZ: Jeremy was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. His good friend and teammate, just 13 years old, now charged with his murder.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All the kids are friends. We've all grown up together. All the kids have grown up together. The younger brother was best friends with this other child.
FERNANDEZ: Witness say that friendship became strained when Jeremy teased his 13-year-old friend about losing a baseball game.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Next thing you know, the boy pulled out a bat and he, like, kind of hit him once in the side and once up around the neck. And then he just hit him really with tremendous force to the head. And I just -- I saw his head just -- it sounded like a pumpkin getting hit with a bat.
FERNANDEZ: At Jeremy's school, where he was in the ninth grade, both students and teachers met with grief counselors.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was just stunned. And I don't know why anyone would do that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was nice. I don't see him like attacking anybody or doing anything to get in like that kind of thing, you know. But, it's like, I don't see why somebody would do that.
FERNANDEZ: Rick Shade (ph) is a friend of Jeremy's family. Mother has a message.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She made the comment that, by no means was the kid a monster. Don't make him into -- that he was a very good kid. They were friends, believe it or not.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Thanks to our affiliate KCAL for that report. The 13- year-old is in custody for investigation of murder now, and prosecutor are expected to get the case.
Straight ahead, he United States has a Department of Defense, but should it also have a department of peace? Straight ahead on LIVE FROM, Congressman Dennis Kucinich and best-selling author Marianne Williamson join us to talk about a bill proposing a secretary of peace.
And can you get too much of a good thing? New medical research suggests that drinking too much water could actually be fatal. That's ahead.
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PHILLIPS: Straight to the Justice Department now. United States Attorney General Alberto Gonzales talking about the largest fugitive hunting law enforcement mobilization in American history. He's telling us about Operation Falcon.
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ALBERTO GONZALES, ATTORNEY GENERAL: ... dedicate every Victims' Rights Week to remembering the suffering of victims and to reaffirming our nation's commitment to build a more compassionate justice system, a justice system that puts the needs of its victims -- of victims at its core.
First and foremost among those needs is the need for victims to see perpetrators apprehended and prosecuted for their crimes. In conjunction with this year, as National Victims' Rights Week, the Justice Department, together with our partners in the state and local law enforcement communities, launched Operation Falcon earlier this month, the nation's largest effort to track down and arrest fugitives from justice.
Operation Falcon was a cooperative law enforcement effort coordinated by the United States Marshals Service and involving a host of our friends in the Justice community across the nation, from the Secret Service, DEA and ATF, to local sheriffs, police, troopers and parole officers. This joint federal, state and local operation involved a total of 25 federal law enforcement agencies, 204 state law enforcement agencies, 364 local police departments and 360 county sheriff departments.
I am pleased to announce the results of this unprecedented cooperation. Operation Falcon has led to the highest number of arrests ever recorded for a single initiative of its kind.
From dawn of April 4 to midnight on April 10, the deputy marshals, special agents, officers, detectives, state troopers, investigators and deputy sheriffs involved in Operation Falcon arrested more than 10,300 fugitive from Justice. They cleared 13,851 warrants, seized 243 guns, and arrested 154 gang members.
Thanks to Operation Falcon, more than 160 homicides were cleared. More than 4,200 drug cases were cleared. And more than 550 sex offenders were arrested, 106 of whom were unregistered. In the first 24 hours alone of Operation Falcon, we apprehended 1,489 defendants.
These record fugitive arrest statistics are important for a variety of reasons. Perhaps most importantly, in looking at our arrest numbers, we found that most of these fugitives were not first- time offenders. More than 70 percent had prior arrest records for crimes of violence. These defendants had long rap sheets, and they have been free to roam the streets for far too long.
We know from history and from the bitter experiences of far too many victims that a fugitive with a rap sheet is more desperate, more predatory, and more likely to commit the crimes that plague citizens and communities. Many of those caught in Operation Falcon showed how dangerous some of these fugitive can be.
Eddie Kelly (ph), 24, was wanted by the Dallas Police Department for allegedly shooting a man five times after leaving a drug stash house on February 13, 2005. Thanks to the Operation Falcon team, he was located and arrested.
On April 7 of this year, Operation Falcon members arrested Marcell Baldwin (ph), 21, as he hid in a makeshift cellar of a home in Atlanta, Georgia. Baldwin had been named one of Atlanta's 10 most want fugitive.
Atlanta police sought Baldwin on charges of assault and sexual offense against a child. Baldwin had prior arrests for arson and distribution of controlled substances.
Falcon members tracked down Baldwin and learned he was allegedly operating a crack cocaine distribution house. When Falcon members arrived, they found the house heavily fortified, and it took them approximately a half an hour to gain entry and make the arrest.
Frederick L. Jackson (ph), 44, was indicted in Multnomah County, Oregon, in July of 2004, for 17 counts of sodomy and sexual abuse of multiple victims under the age of 14. The sexual abuse of two girls allegedly occurred over a period of two years. The Portland Police, who had been searching for Jackson, turned the case over to the Operation Falcon team, whose work resulted in Jackson's arrest in Portland.
And it's important to remember that the charges against these individuals are allegations. They remain innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Operation Falcon is an excellent example of President Bush's direction and this department's dedication to deal both with the relatively new terrorist threats in this country and traditional violent crime. It shows the commitment of our federal, state and local partners to make our neighborhoods safer.
We intend to use all our nation's law enforcement resources to serve the people, to pursue justice, and to make our streets and nation safer. We know from September 11 how important it is for law enforcement to work together to share resources, information and expertise.
And I would like to extent my thanks to all the men and women of federal law enforcement, from all ranks, in every level of government, who were involved in Operation Falcon. And as well to state and local officials.
The credit for this successful operation belongs primarily to you. And you're all to be commended.
I particularly wish to recognize representatives of the National Sheriff's Association and the Fraternal Order of Police that are here today.
As president Bush often says, the power of America is in her people. We are compassionate, but we are also a people of deep resolve.
When we work together as citizens and as public servants to ensure every violent offender and every fugitive faces the bar of justice, we unite our compassion and resolve. We show our concern for victims and our commitment to justice.
I thank all of those involved in Operation Falcon for their achievements and for their example. And now I ask the director of the U.S. Marshals Service, Ben Reyna, to comment specifically on Operation Falcon -- Ben.
PHILLIPS: Live from the Justice Department you heard from United States Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Probably one of his first real formal news conferences there talking about Operation Falcon. That stand for Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally.
It's being called the largest fugitive-hunting operation in American history. Going on it to say more than 10,000 fugitives captured in this operation. Individuals accused or convicted of murder, armed robbery, sex offenders, including rape and kidnapping.
We'll continue to follow it and see if any more news comes out of that.
O'BRIEN: Now, in the wake of today's announcement, we look closer at the job of hunting fugitives. The U.S. Marshals go after the worst of the worst. Our Kelli Arena rode along with one of the Marshal Services most successful units for this CNN "America Bureau" report.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've got two or three addresses on this guy?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let's get everybody around...
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE DEPT. CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's 4:00 a.m. on a biting cold Chicago morning. A good time to catch bad guys off guard.
These fugitive hunters are among the best in the business. And CNN got a rare front row view.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. The first place we're going, guys, we're going to hit two houses at once.
ARENA: These men and women arrest as many as 500 violent offenders a month -- drug dealers, bank robbers and worse. This morning, they're after a prisoner who escaped from a work release program.
For now, this neighborhood is quiet. Chances for a fight drop off dramatically if the bad guys are woken out of a sound sleep.
Still, going into someone's home without knowing what's inside is dangerous work. U.S. Marshal John Ambrose brings along a little extra help.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've got tools -- tools coming up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Open the door now or I'm taking it down!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, ma'am, or it's coming down! Right now!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's it, it's open. Go!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get on the ground.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On the ground, ma'am. You get on the ground like I told you!
ARENA: The tip that led them here is only hours old, but it's stale. They missed their man.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nobody knows nothing. I'm shocked.
ARENA: That's Ed Farrell. He's fast tracked. A marshal for only eight years and already one of just 18 inspectors nationwide. Part of his job is to get some dirt from people on scene and to work informants.
ED FARRELL, U.S. MARSHAL: This job, we're in the information business. And it comes down to people skills. If you're going to be successful at this job, you've got to have people skills.
ARENA: His buddy, John Ambrose, says you either have what it takes or you don't. It's in his blood.
Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, Ambrose comes from a long line of police officers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who's got the back?
ARENA: His dad was an award-winning cop. That is, until he and nine others were convicted of taking money from drug dealers to look the other way. He died of a heart attack a year into his sentence.
Ambrose and a lot of others say his dad was wrongly accused. Still, Ambrose serves the government with a vengeance, the same government that imprisoned his father.
JOHNN AMBROSE, U.S. MARSHAL: I think sometimes when I get frustrated, I take an extra second or two to thing about something or look at a case. You know, as corny as it may sound, I feel like he may -- he's nudging me in a direction or opens my eyes to something.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just in the event that he was able to get out...
ARENA: The team is juiced about another target, an alleged child rapist. As they get close to the scene, they're briefed by another marshal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's been molesting his stepdaughter since she's about 4 or 5 and raping her since she's about 8. The reason they found out was because she just got pregnant.
ARENA: The fugitive staying with family, including his little niece.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Police. Come to the door.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Open up the door. Open the door right now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Open the door right now. Get on the ground!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get on the ground! Get on the ground!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get on the ground.
ARENA: It's the kind of case that gets under everyone's skin.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It really is mind-boggling that people would keep a child in a house and they know what he's wanted for. It's a shame.
ARENA: Shannon Metzger is the only female marshal permanently assigned to a regional fugitive task force in the country, and the mother of a 3-year-old girl. She's a former West Pointer and track star who should never be underestimated.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know, when I'm covering the back of a house and the guy jumps out, chances are he isn't going to take pity on me because I'm a female. He's going to maybe even, you know, take me on harder because he thinks he can. And when he does, he's in for a rude awakening.
ARENA: This team does nothing but hunt fugitives, 24/7. They're available to help the 10 state and local agencies who contribute members of the force.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The last cameraman who did that had his nose bit off.
ARENA: The work is rewarding and draining.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I got you for doing nothing. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I came home...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What (EXPLETIVE DELETED) you coming home late for? What's so important that you can't get home on time?
ARENA: Sarah Jawalt (ph) is a corrections officer assigned to the task force. With 34 years under her belt, she says she's tough, but fair. Some time ago, she helped this woman with a parole violation so she wouldn't go back to jail, so she could stay home and raise her kids.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You had a chance to stay out here and raise your children, not your mother raise your children. Those are your babies. You raise them!
ARENA: There's no time for emotion. The hunt never ends. They want to pay a call on an alleged drug dealer accused of selling crack to undercover officers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Police, open the door! If you don't open the door, it's coming down! It's your last chance to take the door!
ARENA: This time, they get their man and several thousand dollars in cash.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's dope money right there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not guilty.
ARENA: A lot of work goes into a night like this, but these guys make it look easy. Task force leader Jeff Shanks (ph) says that's the way it should be.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our closure rate is 92 percent. So the odds are, if we're going to look for you, you're going to jail. You might as well just give yourself up.
ARENA: By the time most other citizens are on their way to work, the Great Lakes Regional Task Force is just about rapping up for the day.
Kelli arena, CNN America Bureau, Chicago.
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O'BRIEN: Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
PHILLIPS: A U.S. department of peace. What do you think? Congressman and former presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, along with best-selling author Marianne Williamson, join me to talk about the legislation.
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange. It's another beer bout. Miller and Bud go at each other once again. I'll tell you who won this round next on LIVE FROM.
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PHILLIPS: Well, it's a bitter beer battle, with Miller scoring a knockout against arch rival Budweiser.
O'BRIEN: Well, does it taste great or is it less filling and all that? I don't know.
Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange with that and more.
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