sierra donaven

Sierra Donaven began her career with ATF in July 1984 as a special agent - criminal investigator, assigned to Group I, Supervisor Kathleen Kubucki, Detroit Field Division, SAC Bernard LaForest. Dave Krug, Group III, Arson Investigations, was her second supervisor. Supervisors Kubucki and Krug knew the job as investigators; and administrators having credentials deeming one worthy and deserving to supervise. They advocated high standards of 1.) "responsibility and accountability for one's own actions; 2.) integrity; 3.) methodical and thorough investigation work supported by reports containing the who, what, when, where, how and why; 4.) strong evidence chain of custody; and 5.) being supported in and giving support to others in his/her work.

Agent Donaven's resume evidences dedication to her work and in depth investigation skill set.

Certificates of Training
1984  Criminal Investigation School, Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy, Glynco, GA
1985  New Agent Training, ATF Academy, FLETC
1985  Reid Technique of Interviewing and Interrogation (Chicago, IL)  
1987  Undercover Investigative Techniques, ATF Academy, FLETC
1988  Fire Investigation School, Michigan State Police, Lansing, MI
1989  New Agent Instructor Training, ATF Academy, FLETC
1992  Advanced Agent Safety and Survival Seminar, ATF Academy, FLETC
  The Interagency Committee on Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Washington, DC
1994  Counter Drug Investigations, U.S. Army (Fort McClellan, AL)
  Investigative Analysis Course, U.S. Army (Fort Huachura, AZ)
1995  Supervisor Development, MSP, Lansing, MI
1996  Complex Investigations Seminar, ATF Academy, FLETC
1997  The Interagency Committee on Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Washington, DC
  Scientific Content Analysis, Laboratory for Scientific Interrogation (Phoenix, AZ)
  Advanced Workshop on Scientific Content Analysis  
1999  Alcohol and Tobacco Diversion, Orlando, FL
  Diversity Career Impact Program Training Conference, Memphis, Tennessee
2000  Great Lakes Regional OCDETF Conference, Lake Geneva, WI
2003  Advance Interviewing Techniques, ATF, Orlando, FL  

Special Act or Service Awards & Commendation Letters
1984  Physical Efficiency Battery Test Award, FLETC
1985  Physical Efficiency Battery letter of Commendation, ATF Academy
1986  Commendation Letter, United States Attorney, Detroit, MI
1987  Special Act or Service Award, ATF
1989  Special Act or Service Award, ATF
1990  Special Act or Service Award, ATF
1991  Special Act or Service Award, ATF
  Commendation Letter, FBI, Detroit
1992  Eastern Michigan University, MI
1994  Special Act or Service Award, ATF
  Career Service Award Certificate and Pin, ATF
1995  Commendation Letter, United States Secret Service, Detroit
1996  Commendation Letter, ATF  
1998  Special Act or Service Award, ATF
1999  On-The-Spot Cash Award, ATF   
  Career Service Award Certificate and Pin,  ATF
2000  Commendation Letters, Detroit and St. Paul Field Divisions  
  Commendation Letter, United States Attorney, Detroit
2001  Special Act or Service Awards, ATF
  Special Act or Service Award, OCDETF
  Commendation Letter, ATF
  Commendation Letter, Department of Public Safety, Beverly Hills, MI  
2004  Commendation Letter, ATF  
  Service Award and (Return of) U.S. Credentials & Treasury Badge, retired, ATF  
2005  Service Award cont., Receipt of U.S. Justice Department Badge, retired, ATF

Project Outreach – Certificates/Appreciation Letters
1984 – 2002
Barber Middle School, Highland Park, MI
Liberty Middle School, Highland Park, MI
Vista Maria, Detroit, MI
Rochester School District, MI
American Business Women’s Association, Chapter, Detroit, MI
Mackenzie’s Skillman Substance Abuse Program, Detroit, MI
Hudson Webber Foundation, Detroit, MI
Wayne State University, College of Liberal Arts, MI

Significant Accomplishments  
1986 - 1987  Coordinator/Case Agent: Wayne County Firearms Task Force Program, Detroit, MI;

1986 - 1988  Coordinator/Case Agent:  Special Dangerous Offender Program, Detroit, MI;

1988 - 1989  Coordinator/Case Agent: Armed Career Criminal Program, Detroit, MI

1989 - 1991  Coordinator/Case Agent: Firearms Trafficking Enforcement Program, Detroit, MI
Agent Cashier, management of undercover funds in excess of $100,000, Supervised agents
Evidence Custodian, Undercover Agent effecting purchase of (5) illegally manufactured CIA quality designed silencers

1990 - 1991  Co-Case Agent:  OCDETF Electronic Interception Surveillance (wiretap) investigation of a Detroit based armed narcotics organization involved in the illegal distribution of multiple kilogram quantities cocaine. In addition, served as an undercover agent purchasing weight quantity cocaine evidence in support of the wiretap.  Investigation resulted in evidence seizures of approximately 17 kilograms cocaine; 12 firearms including a full automatic assault rifle, drug proceeds, real estate property and successful prosecution of all defendants.

Co-Case Agent:  Investigation of a Detroit based armed narcotics organization involved in illegal wholesale distribution of multiple kilograms quantity cocaine. In addition, served as an undercover agent purchasing weight quantity cocaine evidence, leading to evidence seizures of firearms, cocaine, drug proceeds and real property, and successful prosecution of all defendants.  

1992 - 1993  Co-Case Agent:   OCDETF wiretap investigation of an armed Detroit based narcotics organization involved in illegal wholesale distribution of multiple kilograms quantity cocaine.  Also served in an undercover capacity obtaining significant intelligence in support of the wiretap.  The investigation resulted in evidence seizures of kilograms quantity cocaine, drug proceeds, firearms, real property, and successful prosecution of all defendants.

1994 - 2000  Co-Case Agent:  OCDETF investigation of a multi-state armed narcotics organization involved in illegal distribution of multiple kilograms quantity crack cocaine. The investigation resulted in evidence seizures of firearms, crack cocaine, records, drug proceeds, and successful prosecution of all defendants.

1999 - 2002  Co-Case Agent:  OCDETF investigation of a Detroit based armed narcotics organization involved in illegal distribution of multiple kilograms quantity cocaine. In addition, acted in an undercover capacity identifying out-of-state couriers of cocaine and drug proceeds.  The investigation resulted in evidence seizures of firearms, records, drug proceeds, real property and successful prosecution of all defendants.

2002 - 2003  Co-Case Agent:  OCDETF wiretap investigation of a Detroit based armed narcotics organization involved in illegal distribution of multiple kilograms quantity marijuana.  The investigation resulted in evidence seizures of 3,000 pounds marijuana, firearms, cocaine; drug proceeds, real estate property, $160,000 Mercedes Benz, and successful prosecution of all defendants.

Collateral Assignments
Undercover Agent
Agent Cashier
Firearms Evidence Custodian
Narcotics Evidence Custodian
Electronic Interception Evidence Custodian
Recruiter
Minority Impact Program Coordinator
Diversity Career Impact Program Coordinator
Internship Coordinator
African American History Programs Coordinator
Combined Federal Campaign Coordinator
Employee Advisory Committee Chairperson
  
Pre-Post Involuntary Retirement
THIS SYNOPSIS RECORD IS A FACTUAL ACCOUNT and only covers the baseless, malicious, and retaliatory attempt Federal prosecution of ATF Special Agent Sierra Donaven, involuntarily retired. This record is made from Official U.S. Department of Justice records and other various authentic records vindicating Agent Donaven. This record is necessary in the interest of justice to set the record straight as the ONLY information made available to the public by the Justice Department reflects their charging of Agent Donaven.

Between Fall 2002 and Summer 2003, the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section (Washington, DC) and the U.S. Office of Inspector General conducted a baseless and malicious covert Title III Electronic Interception Drug Trafficking investigation of Agent Donaven and one Frank Matthews. During that period, Agent Donaven was co-case agent on a Title III Electronic Interception OCDETF investigation, with the IRS, DEA, FBI, Detroit Police Department and U.S. Attorney’s Office (Detroit), of a Detroit based armed narcotics organization involved in illegal distribution of multiple kilograms quantity marijuana. Agent Donaven had four (4) independent Sources of Information that provided significant information on the organization and each SOI's information was corroborated and documented in official ATF ROI's, placed in the POD investigation case file along with applicable notes and same ROIs were disseminated to participating Federal agencies.

In August 2003, Robert Beckman, an FBI agent with whom Agent Donaven had previously work, contacted her and requested assistance on an investigation.  Subsequently Agent Donaven went to what she thought was a meeting on the investigation and instead learned that she was in fact the “target” of the investigation.  Agent Donaven was detained and stripped of every right afforded her under the U.S. Constitution and any and all applicable Federal employee’s rights. Then an interrogation commenced in which Agent Donaven was falsely accused of and badgered with a line of questioning that she was assisting Frank Matthews aka David Whitty in some alleged drug trafficking organization. At a point in time, Agent Beckman told Agent Donaven, “I want you to know Sierra that I told all concerned departments head that you did not willingly and intentionally help him in his drug trafficking.” Agent Donaven, first, could not even comprehend the false allegations put before her and second, she was devastated because there was not one bit of truth to such allegations.  Agent Donaven provided a factual detailed and concrete accounting of her activities and associations supported by her “thorough” criminal investigation work, documents in the control of all agencies with whom she was actively working, documents already filed with the U.S. District Court (Detroit) and other records having exculpatory evidentiary value and relative to her association with Matthews. She offered to call Matthews right then and there to clear any misunderstanding up to no avail. That day, the entire matter could have been resolved justly.  Instead AFTER the interrogation, Donaven was further stripped of her firearm, badge, credentials and all other ATF property and placed on paid administrative leave. Despite the fact that the Justice Department now knew the truth, the vicious lie that Agent Donaven was involved in drug trafficking activity blazed throughout the law enforcement community like an out of control raging fire. The aftermath resulted in Agent Donaven sustaining life threatening and long term injuries.  

On 12/31/2003, Matthews was murdered in the early morning hours upon his departure from Platinum Night Club, Detroit, MI. Two (2) .22 caliber bullets to his abdomen would ensure that a cover up of all sorts would continue; instill enough fear in Agent Donaven to silence her alongside continued efforts to discredit her. A proper investigation of Matthews' murder has yet to be conducted; and information provided to a Justice Department official relative to his homicide, pursuant to bureau policy and procedure, was to be officially documented in an ROI has yet to surface. That ROI and another one relative to a phone call witnessed by Agent Donaven between one of her SOI's and a Justice Department official has yet to surface. Both ROIs SHOULD have been disclosed according to Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, Due Process and the U.S. Constitution to Agent Donaven; and provided to Detroit Police Department having primary jurisdiction to investigate Matthews' homicide.

In January 2004, Agent Donaven received an involuntary retirement aka constructive retirement. The agency documented as the bases a heated disagreement between her and her supervisor that occurred in Summer 2002 even though Agent Donaven and the supervisor resolved their difference timely; Agent Donaven went on to serve a two month acting group supervisor detail alongside her investigation duties; continued to support other agents in their work; Agent Donaven was never relieved of any position nor collateral assignment during her 19-1/2 year career, no issues with integrity, evidence, misappropriation of funds, etc.

In August 2004, as part of an award, the Justice Department returned to Agent Donaven her credentials and badge, the very ones seized from her 08/2003. The commendation letter accompanying her credential and badge thanked Agent Donaven for her service and contributions to ATF and the Justice Department.

In Fall 2004, actions liken to salt thrown on open wounds, the Justice Department give notice to Agent Donaven that she was target of a malicious, baseless and retaliatory investigation for trumped up misdemeanor computer fraud allegations.

In the meantime meanwhile, in June 2005, the Justice Department gave Agent Donaven her Justice Department badge.

Then came heavier injury, this time liken to acid poured on an open wound, in November 2005, the Justice Department charged Agent Donaven by Information, in which Matthews was only identified as Subject X, with one (1) count misdemeanor computer fraud based on false evidence and suppression of exculpatory evidence that vindicated her. In an effort to continue her silence and discredit, and rev up the pressure to make her plead, someone involved in the investigation and prosecution and with the means to affect it, lead the Detroit News to cover the case by reporting significant false and damaging information painting Agent Donaven in a false light.  

As Agent Donaven continued her plea for justice by appealing directly to the Federal prosecutor(s), she faced further humiliation, retaliation and coercion to plead.  The Justice Department filed a deliberately falsified superseding Information charging her with an additional baseless count of computer fraud in which the subject second subject was only identified as Subject Y. Subject Y was under investigation by Agent Donaven and the OCDETF Taskforce of which she was part, and was a primary target; ROIS documented Agent Donaven's investigation of Subject Y and her SOI's contribution with respect to Subject Y.  

As it became even more apparent that those involved in the prosecution AND defense of Agent Donaven were willing to take whatever criminal steps to force her into a plea, she took matters into her own hands and filed a motion requesting to represent herself.  She explained in detail her reasons including violations of her rights and cover up of exculpatory evidence vindicating her. As a direct result of her efforts, in 2006, the case was dismissed.

"And to the rouge agent who stated that he/she should have me killed because of his/her agency's continued declination to promote him/her, you sold your badge, you got away with it, but you have a conscious; and you have to face God." And the Justice Department thought I was the "dirty" one!   

Matthew 12:20 - A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory.

In 2009, Agent Donaven received official records from the Justice Department and learned the following:  

That there never was ANY allegation made to the Justice Department that Agent Donaven was involved in ANY criminal activity.

That on 8/12/2003, Agent Donaven told the truth about her association with Matthews.

That Agent Donaven was not involved in ANY criminal activity.

That there never was any such order by the Justice Department to retire Agent Donaven; instead the documents clearly show she was involuntarily retired through deceptive practice.

That reports deliberately misrepresenting material facts and as blatant as stating that Agent Donaven was not charged and reports suppressing exculpatory evidence vindicating Agent Donaven were submitted to the Justice Department. Agent Donaven was handcuffed, fingerprinted, photographed, appeared before Magistrate Virginia Morgan, had to report to Pre Trial Service and make other court appearances and yet OIG Agent Nick Candela submitted an ROI to the Justice Department in which he states that "they did not charge Agent Donaven."  


Psalm 138:8 - The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever…

One’s man’s association with another is not a truth that criminal involvement is afoot, and nor a truth of full knowledge of another man’s activities.  Law enforcement professionals and officers of the court having a high standard of integrity uncovers truthfully the truth of a man’s alleged offense; those professional e can answer who, what, when, where, how and why supported by evidence just as is expected of a credible and reliable Source of Information; those professionals seek only the TRUTH but the rogue ones seek to destroy the truth and wipe the corruption off their hands by any means criminal.

Deuteronomy 16:19 - Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.

"My Faith is My Prayer and Walk"

Special Agent Sierra Donaven
ATF - Badge# 2438


There is no religion higher than the truth - Madame Blavatsky, Theosophy

I have felt lost, I have lost, I have wept many a years, I have felt an emptiness I have never known, I have been afraid that a bullet would strike me silent, though you may see me smile for I will always be kind, my heart hurts, my hands tremble but when my JRT Frankie licks my cheeks some how I know that that's God telling me to on hold.