FBI Media Release
Special Agent in Charge Manuel E. Mora

660 Mesa Hills Drive El Paso, TX 79912

To: All print and broadcast media

Contact: Special Agent Andrea Simmons, 915.832.5373

On 09/15/2006, Alvin Ray Woodard, Jr., age 26, of Odessa, Texas, was arrested by the West Texas Area Major Offenders (WAMO) Task Force. The WAMO Task Force is composed of officers and agents of the Ector County Sheriff's Office, the Odessa Police Department, and the FBI. Woodard is charged by complaint with federal weapons violations under Title 18, United States Code, Section 922. Woodard faces up to five years imprisonment if convicted of the charges.

Woodard has only been charged with a crime and should be presumed to be innocent.

WAMO is part of the nationwide Safe Streets Program, which seeks to benefit local communities by reducing violent crime. Through the Safe Streets Program funding has been made available to WAMO to pay for local officer overtime, leased vehicles, specialized equipment, and other expenses.

Any person with information about gang activity is encouraged to contact the WAMO Task Force at 432-570-0255.

Questions regarding this press release should be directed to Supervisory Senior Resident Agent William S. Vanderland at 432-570-0255.