Dear NPDF Member & Supporter:

On August 30th, 2023, ATF Special Agent Carlos Valles was critically injured during an undercover operation, in which numerous violent criminals attempted to rob him at gun point. ATF apprehended nine (9) suspects fleeing the apartment. Six (6) of them were charged in connection to the attempted armed robbery of Agent Valles.

SA Valles, in an undercover capacity, went to a residence in the City of New Orleans for the purpose of purchasing Fentanyl. After entering the apartment, several unknown males entered the room and ordered Valles, at gun point, to lie on the ground. SA Valles was able to escape from the gunmen by exiting the apartment by the balcony. SA Valles fell from the third-floor balcony and sustained serious injuries. He was transported to the hospital and underwent emergency surgery.

The UC rescue team moved in and apprehended the gunmen. Quindele Addison, Coris Addison, Vernel Woodard, Michael Lott, Sheena Lopez and Dianta Lopez were charged for the attempted armed robbery. These defendants have lengthy criminal histories with well over 100 arrests between them. Some of the arrests include Battery of a Police Officer, Resisting Arrest, Unlawful Use of Body Armor, Various Weapons Offenses and numerous Narcotics Offenses.

S/A Valles is currently being treated for the injuries received in the armed robbery attempt at University Medical Center in New Orleans. His family has been devastated by the incident and have incurred significant expenses for out of state travel, lodging and associated costs so they could be with the agent to provide the support he needs during his hospitalization and the long road toward recovery and physical rehabilitation.

Special Agent in Charge (SAC) John B. DeVito of the ATF’s New York Office, has brought the plight of S/A Valles family to the attention of the NPDF and has requested assistance from our Executive Director, Joseph Occhipinti in helping the Agent’s family with travel expenses. In response, the National Police Defense Foundation’s Safe Cop Program, a 501 (c) (3) tax deductible initiative designed to assist law enforcement officers who are shot in the line of duty, has created the Special Agent Carlos Valles Family Support Fund to assist his family in defraying the high cost of out-of-state travel and lodging during his long recovery

Under the leadership and guidance of Executive Director Joseph Occhipinti, The NPDF offers a ten-thousand-dollar reward ($10,000) for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone who shoots at or kills a member of the law enforcement community. In June of 2020, the NPDF Executive Board took the unprecedented step of expanding the Safe Cop reward program to include rewards for the arrest and conviction of any protestor or domestic terrorist who assaults a public safety officer by using a vehicle or by an act of arson.

For additional information contact Safe Cop Administrator Sgt. Mike Barry (Ret) at 732-617-2300 or ATF SAC (Ret) Hugo Barrera, Administrator of the NPDF’s Federal Officers Coalition at 954-430-4901. Thank you.

SSA Joseph Occhipinti (Ret)
Executive Director
National Police Defense Foundation