Phoenix — The Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS), along with the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, arrested three suspects accused of using an Arizona trucking company as a front to defraud California’s Beverage Container Recycling Program out of $16.1 million. This program allows Californians to recycle cans and bottles for a monetary return.

Investigators allege that the owner of Bustillos Trucking company, 49-year-old Miguel Bustillos, of Glendale, Arizona, operated his company for the sole purpose of smuggling out-of-state recyclable materials into California in order to defraud the California Redemption Value (CRV) program. Bustillos and truck driver, 57-year-old Anthony Sanchez, of Tucson, along with a third suspect from Los Angeles, are suspected of defrauding the beverage recycling program over the past three years. The CRV is a program in which a monetary value is awarded to those who return empty aluminum cans and/or plastic bottles for recycling.

AZDPS detectives, in coordination with California DOJ agents, served three search warrants in Arizona. Authorities seized a total of 27,860 lbs. of empty beverage containers from a collection yard in Phoenix. Approximately 19,300 lbs. of aluminum and 8,560 lbs. of plastic were packed and loaded onto trucks destined for California. Under the CRV program, the combined value of the recyclable containers is over $42,000.

On November 7, Miguel Bustillos and Anthony Sanchez were both arrested by detectives and extradited to California. The third suspect is a Los Angeles resident and was arrested in California. All three suspects are facing charges in California for felony recycling fraud, attempted grand theft, and conspiracy.

“Thanks to our good working relationship with California authorities, these suspects were caught operating an illegal enterprise in Arizona while defrauding Californians.” Said Lt. Colonel Danny Lugo, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigations Division.

Mr. Baumeister left his residence at approximately 0700 hours on 12/11/18 for a bike ride and has not been seen or heard from since. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s ten (10) years ago and takes medication for it every three (3) hours. If missed he will rapidly become disoriented to the point that he can not walk or communic520-ate.

His residence has been searched finding his wallet, with ID and credit cards, along with his medications. If he had not taken any meds with him he would have missed approximately six (6) doses to this point in the investigation. Per the wife Mr. Baumeister has no other known medical issues or conditions.

A check with his cell phone provider has found that the phone is no longer active. The last ping placed it in the Vail area of Tucson, AZ.    

In recent months, retired AZDPS employees have joined forces to create a threefold memorial ride. The memorial ride is set to honor our fallen troopers, celebrate the 50th anniversary of AZDPS, and let current troopers know they will never be forgotten.

Terry Johnson, badge #2479, grew tired of only seeing former AZDPS employees at funerals, so over the past couple of years he decided to organize motorcycle rides throughout Arizona, that had many retired police officers in attendance. The scope of Terry’s motorcycle ride has now grown after being contacted by Capt. Michael Denney, badge #1440. They came up with the plan of honoring the fallen, celebrating AZDPS’ anniversary and recognizing current employees with a multi-day charity memorial motorcycle ride happening in late 2019.

The multi-day ride will be comprised of three rides: northern, southern and central Arizona, and will include a visit to all thirty monuments of the fallen AZDPS troopers. While at the monuments, a brief ceremony will be held, a wreath will be placed, and a moment of silence will be observed. At the culmination of each ride, a barbecue will be held in the respective region for AZDPS employees, retirees, ride participants and volunteers, and family members of the fallen troopers and employees to honor those lives and celebrate the 50th anniversary of AZDPS.

The first ride is scheduled to take place on September 21, 2019 and will encompass a ride throughout northern Arizona with a barbecue in Flagstaff. The second ride is scheduled to take place on October 19, 2019 and will encompass a ride throughout southern Arizona with a barbecue in Tucson. The last ride is scheduled for November 2, 2019 and will encompass a ride throughout central Arizona. At the conclusion of the central region ride, participants will gather in Phoenix and ride in parade formation to the AZDPS Headquarters where a ceremony will be held and conclude with a barbecue.

All net money raised during the multi-day event will be donated to the Concerns of Police Survivors, Arizona Chapter (C.O.P.S., AZ). There will be door prizes, raffle prizes, silent auction items and other items that will be given away on the last day of the event, October 19, 2019.

You do not have to ride a motorcycle to be involved in the event. For additional information on riding and the event, please visit the Fallen Hero Memorial Ride event page .