The Spring Training Seminar this year covers multiple subjects from drug prosecutions, to an update on Crawford issues, to bankruptcy court and immigration enforcement. Not to mention child death investigations, mortgage fraud, and federal-state cooperation. It is designed to review and update some of the basics, and also to provide some insights about new ways to use available resources.

Thursday, April 16

9:00 - 10:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast

10:00 - 12:00 2009 Methamphetamine Update and Trends In Cultivating Marijuana
This presentation will cover controlling and tracking pseudoephedrine, the need to track the sale of this product and how that related to meth including lab numbers, why we are seeing increases in the number of labs that we saw in late 2008 and early 2009, the need to stay vigilant on this topic, etc. On the marijuana side, we will talk about trends that we are seeing both in indoor and outdoor operations, the Mexican connection as it relates to outdoor grows, etc.
Scott Duff, Special Agent Supervisor
Ohio BCI, Clandestine Drug Lab/Cannabis Suppression Unit

12:00 - 1:00 Lunch

1:00 - 2:00 From Crawford to Giles - Prosecuting Cases Under Current 6th Amendment Analysis
This session will examine current analysis of the Confrontation Clause contained in Crawford v. Washington, Hammon v. Indiana, Davis v. Washington, and Giles v. California. Discussion topics will include; the effect of Crawford and its progeny on prosecutors, strategies for overcoming barriers, effective use of forfeiture by wrongdoing and working with law enforcement to effectively document cases for evidence based prosecution.
Douglas J. Miles, Chief Deputy District Attorney
Fourth Judicial DistrictColorado Springs, CO

2:00 - 2:15 Break

2:15 - 3:15 From Crawford to Giles, continued

3:15 - 4:15 Federal-State Prosecutor Cooperation To Achieve The Maximum Sentence For The Guilty
Methods of working together to charge defendants in federal court and get enhanced sentences on guns, drugs, and in instances of kidnapping or bank robberies and a Hobbs Act charge for some of the serial violent crimes. The process of cross-designation of state prosecutors as Assistant Federal Prosecutors to handle cases and the requirements of that designation. Ronald O'Brien, Franklin County Prosecutor and
David DeVillers, Assistant United States Attorney
United States Attorneys Office
Southern District of Ohio

Friday, April 17

8:00 - 9:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00 - 11:00 Child Deaths and Child Abuse Homicide Investigations
This presentation will give participants a step-by-step procedure on how to obtain a detailed statement from caregivers, how to process a scene even when it appears there is nothing of evidentiary value present and it will demonstrate by the use of photos what kind of injuries investigators will observe in these kinds of deaths.
Detective Jim McCoskey
Columbus Division of Police

11:00 - 11:15 Break

11:15 - 12:15 Mortgage Fraud - More Than Enough Blame To Go Around
This presentation will deal first with the question of what is "mortgage fraud"? The statutes that relate to fraudulent activity involving mortgages. The difference between mortgage fraud and predatory lending. How mortgage fraud can be detected, as well as some of the various schemes that exist in the Northern District of Ohio. It normally takes multiple co-conspirators to execute a mortgage fraud scheme. The presentation will look at the various players and the roll they normally play in the mortgage fraud scheme. This issue will be briefly examined as an impetus as to why the prosecution of mortgage fraud is so important.
Mark S. Bennett, Assistant United States Attorney
United States Attorney's Office
Northern District of Ohio

12:15 - 1:15 Lunch

1:15 - 2:30 The Unexploited Riches Of Bankruptcy Court
Prosecutors and investigators can find assistance in prosecution of various crimes, especially mortgage fraud, if they know where to look in bankruptcy court. This presentation will focus on general principles of bankruptcy laws and the bankruptcy court system. In 2007, there were more than 23,000 bankruptcy cases filed in the Southern District of Ohio. In each of these cases, there is public information available which can assist an investigator whose target has filed bankruptcy. At the end of the session, the participant will understand how the bankruptcy courts operate, the participants in the process, the information available in the bankruptcy court and conduct which may constitute a bankruptcy crime.
Dean P. Wyman
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and Senior Trial Attorney
Office of the United States Trustee

2:30 - 2:45 Break

2:45 - 4:00 Immigration Enforcement And Local Law Enforcement Agencies
This workshop will cover information pertaining to the overall mission of ICE/DRO (Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Detention and Removal Operations) with an emphasis on secure communities, repeat offender, and fugitive operations including the activation of a new Fugitive Operations team in Columbus, Ohio.
Corey A. Price
Assistant Field Office Director
Detention and Removal Operations
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement

OPAA has applied to the Supreme Court for 10.50 hours of CLE credits The room rate at the Hyatt on Capitol Square is $137.00 for single or double occupancy. To make reservations, call 800-233-1234. Be sure to tell them you are with OPAA to obtain our rate. The cut-off date for our block of rooms is Monday, March 23rd. Please note the following: The Hyatt has a 24-hour room cancellation policy. Cancellations must be made 24 hours in advance of 3:00 p.m. on the day of arrival to avoid being charged a one-night penalty as a no show. Hotel check-in time is 3:00 p.m., and check-out time is 12:00 noon.

Our contract with the Hyatt anticipates that attendees will pay the above rate of $137.00 for sleeping rooms. Attendees SHOULD NOT request the government rate.

The registration fee is $200.00 for both days. This covers all handout materials, continental breakfasts, breaks, and lunches on both days. The fee for one day only is $125.00. Due to the expense of producing the training manual, a $40.00 penalty will apply to all cancellations made through April 10th, and a copy of the manual will be sent. To help defray the cost of food guarantees, cancellations after April 10th will be assessed a $100.00 penalty if scheduled to attend both days, and a $75.00 penalty if scheduled for one day only. Please send registrations to OPAA by April 3rd.

If any registrant has special dietary needs, please have them contact Delores at 614-221-1266 so that advance arrangements can be made with the hotel.