Beyond Fingerprints
Our New Identification System
Our state-of-the-art Next Generation Identification system will include iris scans, palm prints, and other biometric records. Story

Protecting National Security
One Briefing at a Time
FBI intelligence briefers play a small but vital role in the national security decision-making process. Story

FBI Medics
Special Agents with Special Skills
For more than a decade, our agent medics nationwide have provided care to sick and injured employees and citizens alike. Story

Man Who E-Mailed Threats to Ohio Company, Florida Legislator Sentenced
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:53:06 -0600

Kyle Jeffrey Tschiegg, of Sarasota, Florida was sentenced Columbus, Ohio to 90 months in prison for e-mailing threats, including threats to a Columbus company and threats to cause a candidate to drop out of a race for statewide office in Florida; hacking into e-mail accounts of individuals and companies; and using stolen identity information to commit computer crimes.

Arizona Man Indicted for Multi-Million Dollar Entertainment Ponzi Scheme
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:53:31 -0600

Miko Dion Wady, of Chandler, Arizona, was indicted on charges of wire fraud and transactional money laundering in connection with his perpetration of an entertainment Ponzi scheme that defrauded hundreds of investors out of millions of dollars.

Former Blackwater Contractors Charged with Murders of Two Afghan Nationals in Kabul
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:53:54 -0600

Justin Cannon, of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Christopher Drotleff, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, were charged with crimes including second-degree murder, attempted murder, and firearms offenses while working as contractors for the U.S. Department of Defense in Afghanistan. The indictment alleges that on May 5, 2009, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Cannon and Drotleff shot and killed two Afghanistan nationals and wounded a third.

Thanh Hoang, of Bethesda, Maryland, pled guilty to conspiracy to impede the IRS, arising from a scheme to conceal millions in profits earned from the purchase and sale of foreclosure properties.

Massachusetts Man Sentenced on Child Pornography Charges
Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:52:13 -0600

Johnny Pires, of Middleboro, Massachusetts, was sentenced to five years in prison and five years of supervised release following his prison term for possessing and attempting to receive child pornography.

Connecticut Men Sentenced on Drug Trafficking Charges
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:49:12 -0600

Fernando Vazquez, of Hartford, Connecticut, and Edwin Rodriguez, of Manchester, Connecticut, were sentenced for their participation in a Hartford-area narcotics trafficking ring.

Executives Charged in California for $25 Million Ponzi Scheme
Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:18:15 -0600

John D. Terzakis, of Hinsdale, Illinois, and Robert E. Estupinian, of San Jose, California, were arraigned on charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, in an indictment that accused the pair of operating their company, Vesta Strategies, as a Ponzi-scheme.

Husband of U.S. Airman Sentenced for the Murder of His Stepson in Japan
Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:21:46 -0600

Roberto E. DeLeon, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, was sentenced in Baltimore to 30 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for the murder and assault of his 8-year-old stepson while the family was stationed in Japan.

Texas Women Sentenced for Dealing Methamphetamine
Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:53:00 -0600

Peggy Ann Helm, of Tyler, Texas, and Ashley Ann Walker, of Bullard, Texas, were sentenced to 37 months and 100 months in prison, respectively, for their participation in a drug conspiracy ring distributing methamphetamine to others in the Longview, Texas area.

Member of Florida Drug Gang Sentenced on Narcotics and Gun Charges
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:11:04 -0600

Erick Hinds was sentenced to 248 months in prison on gun and drug charges in connection with a drug trafficking gang that operated in the City of Opa-Locka, Florida.

Man Who E-Mailed Threats to Ohio Company, Florida Legislator Sentenced
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:34:47 -0600

Kyle Jeffrey Tschiegg, of Sarasota, Florida was sentenced Columbus, Ohio to 90 months in prison for e-mailing threats, including threats to a Columbus company and threats to cause a candidate to drop out of a race for statewide office in Florida; hacking into e-mail accounts of individuals and companies; and using stolen identity information to commit computer crimes.

Arizona Man Indicted for Multi-Million Dollar Entertainment Ponzi Scheme
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:45:54 -0600

Miko Dion Wady, of Chandler, Arizona, was indicted on charges of wire fraud and transactional money laundering in connection with his perpetration of an entertainment Ponzi scheme that defrauded hundreds of investors out of millions of dollars.

Former Blackwater Contractors Charged with Murders of Two Afghan Nationals in Kabul
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:24:28 -0600

Justin Cannon, of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Christopher Drotleff, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, were charged with crimes including second-degree murder, attempted murder, and firearms offenses while working as contractors for the U.S. Department of Defense in Afghanistan. The indictment alleges that on May 5, 2009, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Cannon and Drotleff shot and killed two Afghanistan nationals and wounded a third.

Washington Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 8, 2010

Read about our Top Ten news stories of the week, including the indictment of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in connection with the attempted Christmas day bombing of Northwest Airlines flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit; the charging of two former Department of Defense contractors in connection with the murders of two Afghan nationals in Kabul; and the sentencing of a Missouri state representative on federal bribery charges. More

Behavioral Science Unit, Part II
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:46:30 -0600

Behavioral science. That’s what goes on in the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit, created in 1972. Dr. Greg Vecchi is the chief. This broadcast is part of our radio show "FBI, This Week," which is broadcast on ABC Radio Networks.

FBI Releases Bank Crime Statistics for Third Quarter of 2009

The Portable FBI
Our Newest Social Media Initiatives
Building on our efforts to reach people across the Internet, we're highlighting three new and improved social media initiatives. Story

01/07/10 - Ex-CEO of Homestore.com Agrees to Plead Guilty in Scheme that Illegally Inflated Company's Revenue

Leaving a Mark
From Fingerprints to Iris Scans
The retiring FBI fingerprint chief began as a print technician and went on to shepherd the Bureau into a new era of biometrics. Video

FBI Recruiters
Looking to Our Future
Our diverse team of recruiters around the country helps us bring the best and the brightest into our ranks. Story

Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Returns
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:21:38 -0600

Patrick Moriarty, of Troy, Missouri, pled guilty to one count of filing false tax returns.

Former Military Official Sentenced for Bribery Involving $206M Korean Contract
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:30:36 -0600

Former Army and Air Force Exchange Service official Henry Lee Holloway was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in a bribery conspiracy involving a $206 million telecommunications contract in Korea, and for not reporting the bribes he accepted on his income tax returns.

Georgia Armed Robber Sentenced to Life in Prison
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:43:16 -0600

Adolphus Dixon, of Atlanta, Georgia , was sentenced to serve life in federal prison on charges of armed commercial robbery, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and attempted bank robbery.

Exec Pleads Guilty to Role in Largest Hedge Fund Insider Trading Case in History
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:50:19 -0600

Anil Kumar, a former senior partner and director at the global management consulting firm McKinsey, pled guilty in Manhattan federal court to conspiring to commit insider trading crimes with Raj Rajaratnam, a partner of Galleon Management, LLC, and the portfolio manager of the Galleon Technology Funds.

Arkansas Nurse Sentenced for Role in Health Care Fraud Scheme
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:19:26 -0600

Geffrey Alan Yielding, of Jacksonville, Arkansas, was sentence to 78 months in prsion for violating the health care anti-kickback statute and for falsifying documents in an effort to conceal his crime.

Illinois Man Sentenced for Enticing Minor Boys to Engage in Sexual Activity
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:26:43 -0600

Matthew Calek, of Chicago, was sentenced to 55 years in federal prison for enticing two minor boys to engage in sexual activity after having committed previous sex crimes against minors and while registered as a sex offender.

North Carolina Man Sentenced on Heroin Distribution Charges
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:10:39 -0600

Michael Eugene Goodwin, of New Hanover County, North Carolina, was sentenced to 168 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute heroin. This case was brought as a part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Operation entitled "Don Quixote," investigating importers and multi-level distributors of cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, Ecstasy, and gang activity associated with this distribution.

North Carolina Man Sentenced in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:14:41 -0600

Gerron Allen Brown, of Sharpsburg, North Carolina, was sentenced to 210 months in prison for his involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy in Beaufort County and the surrounding area.

Oklahoma Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:22:35 -0600

Joshua Allen Toney, of Porum, Oklahoma, pled guilty to bank robbery and to using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

Missouri Man Indicted on Child Pornography Charges
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:28:19 -0600

Christopher Ellison, of Troy, Missouri, was indicted on federal charges of possession of child pornography.

North Dakota Man Sentenced for Assaulting Federal Officer
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:35:49 -0600

Kenneth Lee Demarce, Sr., of St. Michael, North Dakota, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for kicking and spitting into the face of a police chief while being taken into custody for a tribal offense on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation.

Missouri Man Indicted for Robbing Minnesota Banks
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:38:12 -0600

Dorrell Emmanuel King, of Belton, Missouri, was indicted on charges of robbing two Minnesota banks.

Pennsylvania Man Sentenced for Distributing Cocaine
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:00:39 -0600

Brandon E. Thomas, of Donora, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 30 months in prison on his conviction of violating federal drug laws.

Pennsylvania Woman Sentenced on Heroin and Crack Charges
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:03:35 -0600

Jessica R. Bailey, of Johnstown Pennsylvania, was sentenced to five years of probation on her conviction of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and crack cocaine.

Louisiana Banker, Customer Sentenced for Structuring Transactions
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:13:53 -0600

Former bank vice-president William H. Maxwell and bank customer Franklin E. Hutson, both of Farmerville, Louisiana, were each sentenced to one year of probation for structuring $120,000 in bank transactions at First United Bank of Farmerville in 2004 to evade federal reporting requirements.

Louisiana Woman Sentenced for Transporting Illegal Aliens
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:18:30 -0600

Joan Comeaux, of Sulphur, Louisiana, the ringleader of a large-scale operation to transport illegal aliens, was sentenced to 51 months in prison.

Oregon Man Sentenced for Traveling to Illinois for Sex with Minor
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:25:09 -0600

Paul R. Bradley, of Clackamas, Oregon, was sentenced in Benton, Illinois to 20 years in prison for interstate travel for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

Connecticut Man Sentenced for Role in Drug Distribution Ring
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:25:22 -0600

Byron Turner, of Hartford, Connecticut, was sentenced to more than six years in federal prison on narcotics and firearms charges.

Nineteen Indicted in Texas in $15 Million Cybercrime Conspiracy
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:46:00 -0600

A federal grand jury in Dallas returned a superseding indictment week charging 19 defendants in a massive cybercrime conspiracy. This indictment supersedes a September 2, 2009, indictment that charged nine of the defendants in the conspiracy.

Ex-CEO Guilty in Scheme that Illegally Inflated Company Revenue
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:58:39 -0600

Stuart Wolff, of Westlake Village, California, the former chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Homestore.com, has agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to commit securities fraud through a scheme that artificially inflated the company's online advertising revenue to make the publicly traded company appear to be more profitable to Wall Street analysts.

California Antiques Dealer Faces Charges of Selling Fake Picasso for $2 Million
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:05:31 -0600

West Hollywood, California antiques dealer Tatiana Khan was named in a federal fraud case involving the $2 million sale of a fake Pablo Picasso that she paid an artist $1,000 to fabricate.

Man Sentenced for Role in Armed Bank Robbery in Which Employee was Shot
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:42:53 -0600

Sharman Said, of Burtonsville, Maryland, was sentenced to 14 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for armed robbery and use of a firearm during a crime of violence in connection with his role as the "look-out" during an armed bank robbery in which a conspirator shot a bank employee in the hand and the ensuing chase by law enforcement encompassed four counties.

Louisiana Bank Employee Sentenced for Embezzling Nearly $1 Million
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:45:09 -0600

Nancy Baudin Lemoine, of Marksville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for making nearly $1 million in unauthorized withdrawals from the bank where she was formerly employed.

Former Colombian Paramilitary Leader Sentenced in Florida
Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:52:33 -0600

Jesus Maria Alejandro Sanchez-Jimenez, a former leader of Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC), a paramilitary and drug-trafficking organization based in Colombia, was sentenced in Florida to 235 months in prison and a money judgment of $117,466,000 on multiple drug-related charges.

Michigan Man Pleads Guilty in Ohio to Coercion and Enticement of Minor
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:57:36 -0600

David Jeremy Zobel, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, pled guilty in Dayton, Ohio to one count of coercion of a minor for driving two minor females from Xenia to Toledo and engaging in sexual activity with both of them.

Nineteen Indicted in Texas in $15 Million Cybercrime Conspiracy
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:33:11 -0600

A federal grand jury in Dallas returned a superseding indictment week charging 19 defendants in a massive cybercrime conspiracy. This indictment supersedes a September 2, 2009, indictment that charged nine of the defendants in the conspiracy.

California Antiques Dealer Faces Charges of Selling Fake Picasso for $2 Million
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:33:48 -0600

West Hollywood, California antiques dealer Tatiana Khan was named in a federal fraud case involving the $2 million sale of a fake Pablo Picasso that she paid an artist $1,000 to fabricate.

01/11/10 - Shawn Henry Named Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Washington Field Division

01/11/10 - Michael B. Ward Named Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Newark Division

Michael B. Ward Named Special Agent in Charge of Newark Division
Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:58:43 -0600

Director Robert S. Mueller, III has named Michael B. Ward special agent in charge of the FBI's Newark Division. Mr. Ward most recently served as deputy assistant director of the Counterterrorism Division's Operations Branch II at FBI Headquarters.

Pennsylvania Man Sentenced for Conducting Illegal Business with Iran
Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:53:11 -0600

Ali Amirnazmi, of Berwyn, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to four years in prison on one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), three counts of violating IEEPA, three counts of making false statements to federal officials, and three counts of bank fraud.

Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Telemarketing Stock Fraud Scheme
Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:53:37 -0600

John A. Reece, of St. Augustine, Florida, pled guilty in Atlanta to operating a telemarketing scheme in Marietta, Georgia that defrauded dozens of foreign individuals into investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent companies.

Anthony Wayne Ballard, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced to 17 years on prison for distributing cocaine with a street value of $1.3 million. Ballard also admitted participating in an identity theft scheme.

Ohio Man Sentenced for Committing Two Bank Robberies
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:15:07 -0600

Mark Joy, of Canton, Ohio, was sentenced to 115 months in prison for robbing two banks.

Seven Indicted in Ohio on Drug Conspiracy Charges
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:14:26 -0600

Seven individuals were indicted in Ohio on charges of conspiring to possess powder cocaine, cocaine base (crack), and marijuana with the intent to distribute.

Virginia Man Indicted on Cocaine Trafficking Charges
Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:19:58 -0600

Luis Soto Quintero, of Nokesville, Virginia, was indicted on charges of conspiring to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine as part of a cocaine trafficking ring that operated in Virginia and Maryland.

California Health Care Worker Guilty of Illegally Reading Patient Records
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:31:47 -0600

Huping Zhou, of Los Angeles, a former UCLA Healthcare System employee, pled guilty to four counts of illegally reading private and confidential medical records, mostly from celebrities and other high-profile patients.

Connecticut Construction Company Pleads Guilty to Federal Tax Charge
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:19:11 -0600

Bethel, Connecticut-based Worth Construction Company pled guilty in Hartford to one count of aiding and abetting in the filing of a false federal income tax return.

Man Convicted in North Carolina on Robbery, Firearm Charges
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:44:59 -0600

Taj Maurice Pittman, responsible for multiple robberies in Davidson, Rowan and Cabarrus Counties, North Carolina, was convicted of nine federal offenses, including robbery and firearms violations.

Former Head of Illegal Offshore Gambling Business Sentenced in Missouri
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:55:24 -0600

U.K. citizen David Carruthers, the former Director and CEO of BetOnSports, a large illegal offshore sports wagering business, was sentenced in St. Louis, Missouri to 33 months in prison.

California Real Estate CPA, Wife Plead Guilty in Mortgage Fraud Schemes
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:05:28 -0600

Kevin Patrick Sluga and his wife, Leslie Sluga, of Bakersfield, California, pled guilty to wire fraud in connection with their participation in mortgage fraud schemes.

Former Fugitive Sentenced in Texas in Mortgage Fraud Scheme
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:15:56 -0600

James Ragnauth, a defendant charged in a mortgage fraud case who was on the lam for about six weeks and apprehended on a shrimp boat in the Caribbean Sea by the U.S. Coast Guard in March 2009, was sentenced in Dallas, Texas to 37 months in federal prison.

Former New York Attorney Sentenced for Theft of Tribal Funds
Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:23:20 -0600

Timothy Toohey, of Lewiston, New York, pled guilty in Buffalo to stealing money from the Seneca Nation of Indians.

Oregon Man Charged in Connection with Incident on Aircraft
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:25:46 -0600

Joseph Hedlund Johnson, of Salem, Oregon, was charged with the federal crime of interference with the performance and duties of a flight crew member or attendant in connection with an incident that occurred on a January 6, 2010 Hawaiian Airlines flight from Oregon to Hawaii.

Pennsylvania Man Sentenced for Conducting Illegal Business with Iran
Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:54:08 -0600

Ali Amirnazmi, of Berwyn, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to four years in prison on one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), three counts of violating IEEPA, three counts of making false statements to federal officials, and three counts of bank fraud.

Four Louisiana Men Sentenced for Drug Violations
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:17:02 -0600

Four residents of Marrero, Louisiana were sentenced to varying prison terms for their participation in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack) and 500 grams or more of cocaine hydrochloride.

Pennsylvania Mortgage Attorney Pleads Guilty in Fraud Scheme
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:21:42 -0600

Mortgage attorney Robert Danenberg, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pled guilty after four days of trial in federal court to a charge of wire fraud conspiracy in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme.

Washington Man Pleads Guilty to Theft of Tribal Funds
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:27:26 -0600

Aaron Todd Bryan, of Taholah, Washington, a tribal member and an employee of the Quinalt Tribe working as a supervisor of the Employment and Training Program at the Taholah Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, admitted that he stole more than $5,000 in gift cards from the program while employed there.

Washington Tribal Member Sentenced for Raiding Customer Accounts
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:29:52 -0600

Walter Anthony Moses, an enrolled member of the Tulalip Tribe, was sentenced in Seattle, Washington to three months in prison for stealing nearly $20,000 in 'points' from customer accounts at a tribal casino while he was employed as a Rewards Club supervisor.

Leader of $47 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme Sentenced in Washington
Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:33:04 -0600

Viktor Kobzar, of Federal Way, Washington, was sentenced to five years in prison for conspiring to commit bank fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, and filing a false personal income tax return in connection with his role as the leader of a $47 million mortgage fraud scheme.

Former Federal Juror Charged in Texas with Jury Tampering
Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:38:25 -0600

Maximino Gonzalez, of Palmview, Texas, a former juror, was indicted on charges of conspiring to obstruct jury deliberations with the goal of acquitting two defendants (his brothers) and contempt of court.

Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Telemarketing Stock Fraud Scheme
Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:47:56 -0600

John A. Reece, of St. Augustine, Florida, pled guilty in Atlanta to operating a telemarketing scheme in Marietta, Georgia that defrauded dozens of foreign individuals into investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent companies.

Indiana Man Sentenced for Role in Mortgage Fraud Scheme
Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:12:33 -0600

Mark Roth, of Indianapolis, was sentenced to 43 months in federal prison for wire fraud money laundering in connection with his role role in a multi-million dollar mortgage fraud scheme operated by Robert Penn. Roth was found responsible for 25 fraudulent loans amounting to more than $5 million.

Two Sisters Rescued
Through a Unique Set of Clues
How a young girl's glasses helped lead investigators to the men who had been sexually abusing the girl and her sister. Story

1/11/2010 - Hedge Fund Manager who Bilked Relatives Out of $25 Million Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison

1/11/2010 - Unlicensed Orange County Mortgage Broker Sentenced to Nearly Six Years in Prison in $40 Million Fraud Scheme

Op-Ed on FBI’s Post-9/11 Counterterrorism Efforts

The following op-ed, published on January 11, 2010 in The New York Post, was written by former FBI Assistant Director James Kallstrom. Kallstrom, who is currently a member of the FBI Director’s Advisory Group, was also director of the New York Homeland Security Agency.

Ever since 9/11, critics have suggested that the FBI isn't up to its task as our nation's lead counterterrorism agency.

Yet, as the nation focused on the failures of the intelligence community in the Christmas Day bombing attempt over Detroit, last Friday saw two more arrests in the ongoing FBI investigation of a plot to bomb New York City first exposed by the September arrest of Najibullah Zazi.

It's easy to stand on the periphery, without the benefit of real-world experience, and render judgments with the benefit of hindsight. But counterterrorism cases are extremely complex and often require a relatively quick series of judgments, often with incomplete information. Counterterror investigations and intelligence gathering aren't black and white, simple, or easy.

America went on a war footing against terrorism only after 9/11. Before then, our government viewed international terrorism strictly as a law-enforcement matter, giving the FBI the responsibility to address it. In that period, the FBI had significant accomplishments, including the apprehension of the 1993 World Trade Center bombers within six days; preventing attacks on New York's most important landmarks with the arrest and conviction of the "Blind Sheik;" sending agents in 1998 to East Africa, where they quickly solved the two US embassy bombing cases without the assets normally available to investigators in America; and, in 2000, dispatching agents after the USS Cole bombing to Yemen, where they determined that al Qaeda terrorists had carried out the bombing. During this period, the Justice Department severely and unnecessarily restricted the FBI's ability to share intelligence information, and Congress acted haltingly to properly resource, fund and provide the legal framework for the FBI's counterterrorism program, including new technology required to defend the nation.

Post-9/11, as al Qaeda and other Muslim extremist groups have demonstrated their obsession with radicalizing U.S. Muslims, the FBI has disrupted a number of plots.

While some claim that collecting and analyzing intelligence is a new phenomenon in the FBI culture, in fact, the FBI's intelligence and counterintelligence mission began before World War II and predates the creation of the fabled OSS and the CIA. Indeed, the FBI has long honed the skills and techniques necessary for success in protecting against international terrorism—using informants, undercover operations, and court-ordered electronic surveillance. Historically, the FBI has collected and analyzed information, whether the threat was the Soviet Union, domestic terrorist groups like the Klu Klux Klan, or organized crime.

Yet such critics as Gabriel Schoenfeld (in his Dec. 4 Post op-ed, "The FBI Bungles on Terror Again") assert, "It's high time to look at creating a new and separate domestic counterterrorism…agency along the lines of Great Britain's MI5."

In evaluating this naive and discredited suggestion, we need to consider the following:

• Americans have rejected the notion of a national police force for over 200 years. The FBI was not established as a law-enforcement agency until 1933, precisely because the republic wanted to limit the authority of those whom protect our civil liberties.


• The FBI is designed to be as transparent as possible for the purpose of protecting the nation, as well as the rights and liberties enshrined in the Constitution. The oversight provided by Congress, the courts, and others have ensured the FBI did not evolve into a secret police force operating in the "Perpetual Black."


While England's MI-5 might be viewed as a panacea, it needs to be examined in light of the long, painful history of its operations in Northern Ireland. Moreover, MI-5 didn't protect England from the London Subway bombings and other acts of terrorism.


It would be difficult, if not impossible, for a myriad of state, local, and federal law-enforcement officials to have effective liaison with a secret domestic police operation.


A painful lesson learned from 9/11 is that the bifurcation of our intelligence and law-enforcement competencies leads to "stove piping" of information—a formula for disaster. Creating a separate secret-police organization would revive that failed model—weakening and balkanizing the law-enforcement and intelligence communities, rather than creating a united, seamless effort.


While many terrorism and legal experts have weighed in, the most qualified critics are the Brits themselves. If fact, many senior British law-enforcement officials criticize the MI-5 model and prefer the FBI's dual criminal and intelligence/terrorism roles.

This isn't to say the FBI can't do a better job integrating these disciplines and more broadly coordinating within the larger intelligence and law enforcement communities. Yet the fact these structures don't always perform seamlessly doesn't suggest the current process is dysfunctional.

Having devoted a considerable amount of my life in the "arena," I am confident the dedicated men and women of the FBI will continue to perform at a very high professional level to protect this great nation, while adhering to constitutional principles and the rule of law.

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Unlicensed California Mortgage Broker Sentenced in $40 Million Fraud Scheme
Mon, 11 Jan 2010 10:29:33 -0600

Jared Tornow, of San Clemente, California, who acted as a mortgage broker under several umbrellas, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for his conviction on tax evasion, mail fraud, and credit card fraud charges related to a mortgage fraud scheme that caused at least $7 million in losses.

California Hedge Fund Manager Sentenced in $25 Million Ponzi Scheme
Mon, 11 Jan 2010 10:33:30 -0600

After admitting that he ran a Ponzi scheme that targeted family members and close friends and caused them to lose more than $25 million, Bradley L. Ruderman, the founder and manager of two Beverly Hills hedge funds, was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison.

Man Pleads Guilty in California Arson Plot Linked to Domestic Terrorist Organization
Mon, 11 Jan 2010 10:40:56 -0600

Steven James Murphy, a Los Angeles-area man who installed a gasoline bomb in a multi-million dollar condominium development under construction in Pasadena, pled guilty to a federal conspiracy charge in which he admitted working on behalf of the Earth Liberation Front.

Texas Man Sentenced for Robbing Two Banks
Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:13:31 -0600

Tyrone Luvoid Hutcherson, of Tulia, Texas, who was convicted of robbing two banks in Plainview and Amarillo, was sentenced to serve 20 years in federal prison.

Former Public Works Official Sentenced in Oklahoma on Bribery Charges
Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:16:54 -0600

Albert S. Martinez, the former Field Engineering Manager at the Tulsa Public Works Department in Oklahoma, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the Citizens of Tulsa of his honest services and for accepting bribes.

Minnesota Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Charge
Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:33:00 -0600

Leslie Oldson, Sr., of Pine Ridge, Minnesota, pled guilty to conspiring with others to distribute cocaine on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Minnesota Man Sentenced on Drug Charge
Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:34:51 -0600

Ferris White Bull, of Pine Ridge, Minnesota, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for distributing cocaine.

U.S. Army Major Charged with Smuggling Cash from Iraq, Making False Statements
Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:44:53 -0600

U.S. Army Major Charles E. Sublett, of Huntsville, Alabama, was arrested following his indictment in Memphis, Tennessee on charges of bulk cash smuggling and making false statements to a federal agency.

Member of New Jersey Robbery Crew Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Term
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:59:01 -0600

Ruben Rosado, of Rahway, New Jersey, a principal member of the so-called "Route 35 Crew," was sentenced to 334 months in federal prison for committing 11 armed bank robberies, a home invasion robbery, and two other robberies between August 2006 and November 2007.

Iowa Man Pleads Guilty to Document Fraud Conspiracy
Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:32:07 -0600

Brent Beebe, of Postville, Iowa, a top manger at Agriprocessors, pled guilty to his participation in a conspiracy to obtain fake documents for workers.

Maine Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery
Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:47:22 -0600

Randy Krog, of Lisbon, Maine, pled guilty to one count of bank robbery.

Contractor Sentenced in Bribery Scheme, Separate Arson Insurance Fraud Scheme
Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:51:45 -0600

Louis Pisani, Jr., of Silver Spring, Maryland, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for conspiracy to commit bribery and obstruction of an agency investigation, arising from a scheme to influence contracting at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center; and in a separate case, mail fraud in an arson insurance fraud scheme.

Virginia Man Charged in Colorado for Disruptive Behavior Aboard Aircraft
Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:59:31 -0600

Muhammad Abu Tahir, of Glen Allen, Virginia, was charged in Denver, Colorado with interference with a flight crew following his unruly behavior aboard an AirTran Airways Flight that was forced to land in Colorado Springs, Colorado on January 8, 2010.

Connecticut Couple Charged with $6.2 Million Bank Fraud and Money Laundering
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:20:41 -0600

Former Webster Bank employee Susan A. Curtis and her husband, Gary J. Stocking, both of Naugatuck, Connecticut, were arrested on bank fraud and money laundering charges in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud Webster Bank of approximately $6.2 million.

Nevada Man Pleads Guilty to Giving Kickbacks to Michigan Union Boss
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:21:14 -0600

Joseph Roxlyn Jewett, of Las Vegas, Nevada, pled guilty to giving a kickback to the former leader of the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters. The former union boss had engineered the use of Jewett's company as a consultant on a deal involving the construction of a casino that was funded by the Carpenters Pension Trust Fund.

Superseding Indictment Filed Against Alleged Somali Pirate Captain
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:21:38 -0600

A superseding indictment was filed in Manhattan federal court against Abduwali Abdukhadir Musé alleging that, in addition to his participation in the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama container ship in the Indian Ocean and the subsequent taking of the captain of the ship as a hostage, Musé and others hijacked two ships before the Maersk Alabama, the second of which is still being held hostage.

California resident Benjamin Osmanson, the former operator of the Highgate Manor, in Highgate, Vermont, was sentenced to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering related to his scheme to defraud mortgage lenders by submitting false loan applications in the names of "investors."

Connecticut Woman Sentenced on Embezzlement, Tax Charges
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:30:44 -0600

Melissa Laliberte, of Wallingford, Connecticut, was sentenced to 51 months in prison for embezzling more than $700,000 from a Meriden-based credit union and for failing to pay income taxes on the embezzled funds.

Connecticut Couple Charged with $6.2 Million Bank Fraud and Money Laundering
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:42:38 -0600

Former Webster Bank employee Susan A. Curtis and her husband, Gary J. Stocking, both of Naugatuck, Connecticut, were arrested on bank fraud and money laundering charges in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud Webster Bank of approximately $6.2 million.

Former South Carolina Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charge
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:49:10 -0600

Former Horry County Police Officer David Courtney Childers, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, pled guilty to possession of child pornography.

Superseding Indictment Filed Against Alleged Somali Pirate Captain
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:52:21 -0600

A superseding indictment was filed in Manhattan federal court against Abduwali Abdukhadir Musé alleging that, in addition to his participation in the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama container ship in the Indian Ocean and the subsequent taking of the captain of the ship as a hostage, Musé and others hijacked two ships before the Maersk Alabama, the second of which is still being held hostage.

Purchasing Official at a New York City Hospital Pleads Guilty to Bid Rigging
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:01:11 -0600

Freddy Deoliveira, a New York Presbyterian Hospital purchasing official, pleaded guilty to conspiring to rig bids on re-insulation services contracts.

Four Michigan Residents Indicted in Mortgage Fraud Case
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:11:23 -0600

Melvin A. Johnson, Curtiss Johnson, Brady Muse, Jr., and Lanita J. Gatewood, all of the Detroit, Michigan area, were indicted on charges of wire fraud and interstate transportation of money taken by fraud in connection with their participation in a scheme to defraud mortgage lenders.

Nevada Man Pleads Guilty to Giving Kickbacks to Michigan Union Boss
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:14:14 -0600

Joseph Roxlyn Jewett, of Las Vegas, Nevada, pled guilty to giving a kickback to the former leader of the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters. The former union boss had engineered the use of Jewett's company as a consultant on a deal involving the construction of a casino that was funded by the Carpenters Pension Trust Fund.

01/13/10 - Haitian Earthquake Relief Fraud Alert

1/12/2010 - Man Sentenced to Over 13 Years in $21 Million Ponzi Scheme That Cost Dozens of Victims Their Life Savings

The FBI reminds Internet users who receive appeals to donate money in the aftermath of Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti to apply a critical eye and do their due diligence before responding to those requests. Past tragedies and natural disasters have prompted individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organization and/or a good cause.

Kentucky Drug Distribution Ring Leader Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 10:12:30 -0600

Lazelle Maxwell, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced in Covington, Kentucky to 30 years in prison for leading a group of several individuals responsible for distributing more than 400 grams of crack and more than 500 grams of heroin over a period of approximately five months in 2008.

Four Sentenced in Kentucky for Roles in Prescription Drug Distribution Conspiracy
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 10:24:28 -0600

Four individuals were sentenced in Covington, Kentucky for their roles in a conspiracy with a former Augusta, Kentucky doctor that involved the illegal distribution of prescription drugs. All four defendants posed as patients in order to obtain prescriptions for controlled substances as part of the conspiracy.

Drug Conspiracy Investigation Results in Three Dozen Prison Sentences in Georgia
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 10:28:29 -0600

Dozens of prison sentenced have been handed down in Georgia following an investigation into a large, sophisticated cocaine trafficking organization linked to Mexican drug cartels that used the metro Atlanta area as the transshipment point for more than 7,000 kilograms of cocaine.

California Man Charged in Multi-Million Dollar Investment Fraud Scheme
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 10:50:55 -0600

Luis Fernandez, of Folsom, California, was charged with money laundering and wire fraud in connection with operation of an investment fraud scheme that caused approximately $2.1 million in losses to investors.

Federal Employee Pleads Guilty in Virginia to Theft of Government Funds
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:11:04 -0600

Pamela J. Stewart, a former supply management specialist in the food services department at the Federal Correctional Complex in Petersburg, Virginia, pled guilty to one count of theft of government funds by falsifying her overtime status over an eight-year period and receiving $100,000 of compensation for overtime that she did not work.

Former City Official Indicted in New Jersey on Bribery Charges
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:16:51 -0600

John Guarini, a former Jersey City Housing Department employee, was indicted on charges in connection with his acceptance of $50,000 in corrupt cash payments in exchange for his official influence and assistance on real estate development matters in Jersey City.

Massachusetts Woman Sentenced for Filing False Tax Return
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:23:40 -0600

Margherita Mauro, of Reading, Massachusetts, was sentenced to six months in prison for filing tax returns that were false because they omitted significant income she received from her work as a real estate paralegal.

California Man Sentenced in $21 Million Ponzi Scheme
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:38:28 -0600

John Anthony Miller, of San Clemente, California, was sentenced to more than 13 years in prison for his perpetration of a Ponzi scheme that caused more than $21 million in losses to dozens of investors.

Michigan Clinic Manager Pleads Guilty in Medicare Fraud Scheme
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:25:32 -0600

Miami resident Ingrid Mazorra pled guilty to participating in a conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program in connection with her operation of a fraudulent infusion and injection clinic in Livonia, Michigan that routinely billed the Medicare program for services that were medically unnecessary or were never provided.

Arizona Man Sentenced for Aggravated Assault
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:55:41 -0600

Matthew Zepeda, of Sacaton, Arizona, was sentenced to 75 months in federal prison for shooting a man on the Ak-Chin Indian Reservation.

Louisiana Woman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding American Red Cross
Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:20:05 -0600

Mechell Turner, of Hammond, Louisiana, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud relating to fraudulent applications for financial assistance she made to the American Red Cross.

Louisiana Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud Related to Hurricane Relief Funds
Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:24:14 -0600

Aleta M. Jones, of La Place, Louisiana, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud relating to a series of fraudulent applications for financial assistance that she submitted to the American Red Cross.

Former Execs of Video Relay Services Company Guilty of Defrauding FCC Program
Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:29:03 -0600

Anthony Mowl, the former assistant vice president of business development for Viable Communications Inc., and Donald Tropp, the former human resources manager for Viable, pled guilty to engaging in a conspiracy to defraud the Federal Communications Commission's Video Relay Service program of more than $2.5 million.

Texas Man Guilty of Bank Fraud and Identity Theft Violations
Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:33:40 -0600

Clifford Wayne Robertson, of Murphy, Texas, pled guilty to charges of bank fraud and identity theft.

Texas Man Sentenced for Bank Fraud
Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:40:00 -0600

Bryan L. Moore, of Fling, Texas, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison on two counts of bank fraud in connection with writing a series of non-negotiable checks.

Former Massachusetts Police Detective Charged in Corruption Matter
Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:50:35 -0600

Anthony Bickerton, a recently retired veteran detective of the Stoughton Police Department, who also currently serves on the Stoughton School Committee in Massachusetts, was arrested on charges of making false statements and representations to the FBI in an ongoing public corruption matter.

Louisiana Woman Pleads Guilty to Forged Securities Charges
Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:57:59 -0600

Faye Germany Laurent, of Prairieville, Louisiana, pled guilty to making, uttering, and possessing forged securities in connection with a scheme in which she obtained money and property of her employer totalling in excess of $1.5 million over a six-year period to which she was not entitled.

Anthony Mowl, the former assistant vice president of business development for Viable Communications Inc., and Donald Tropp, the former human resources manager for Viable, pled guilty to engaging in a conspiracy to defraud the Federal Communications Commission's Video Relay Service program of more than $2.5 million.

Former Massachusetts Police Detective Charged in Corruption Matter
Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:06:17 -0600

Anthony Bickerton, a recently retired veteran detective of the Stoughton Police Department, who also currently serves on the Stoughton School Committee in Massachusetts, was arrested on charges of making false statements and representations to the FBI in an ongoing public corruption matter.

Thirteen Michigan Residents Arrested and Charged for $14.5 Million Medicare Fraud
Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:26:59 -0600

Thirteen residents of the Detroit, Michigan area were arrested and charged in connection with an alleged home health care scheme to defraud the Medicare program of more than $14.5 million.

Brothers Plead Guilty in Conspiracy to Hold Thai Workers in Forced Labor in Hawaii
Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:27:29 -0600

Alec Sou and Mike Sou, co-owners of Aloun Farm, pled guilty in Honolulu, to conspiring to commit forced labor. The brothers each face up to five years in prison for their respective roles in a labor trafficking scheme that held Thai agricultural workers in service at Aloun Farm through a scheme of debts, threats, and restraint.

Three More Charged with Headley in Mumbai and Demark Terrorism Plots
Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:27:51 -0600

A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment adding three defendants--Tahawwur Rana, Ilyas Kashmiri, and a retired Pakistan Major--to charges filed last month against David Coleman Headley, alleging that they and others participated in conspiracies involving a planned terrorist attack against a Danish newspaper and the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, that killed approximately 164 people, including six Americans.

Gregg T. Rennie, of Quincy, Massachusetts, who worked as a host on a radio talk show entitled "Your Money," was convicted of wire fraud and securities fraud in connection with his perpetration of a Ponzi scheme in which he stole no less than $3.2 million from a number of victims.

Massachusetts Man Sentenced on Drug and Gun Charges
Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:44:55 -0600

Terrell Baptiste, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, was convicted of conspiring to distribute almost 400 grams of crack cocaine, as well as possessing a handgun and more than 500 rounds of ammunition, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Three Charged in California in Scheme to Illegally Export Technology to Iran
Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:51:36 -0600

Jiraiir Avanessian, of Glendale, California, and Farhoud Masoumian and Amirhossein Sairafi, both of Iran, were charged in a conspiracy to ship items from the United States to Iran, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and in violation of U.S. sanctions imposed on the country of Iran.

Wisconsin Man Indicted for Traveling to Minnesota Intending to Have Sex with Minors
Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:21:03 -0600

Gabriel Vitali Matthias, of Madison, Wisconsin, was indicted for allegedly traveling to Minnesota for the purpose of having sexual relations with two minor females.

Indiana Man Indicted on Child Pornography Charges
Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:27:23 -0600

Charles L. Musselman, of Richmond, Indiana, was indicted on charges of distributing and possessing child pornography.

City Official Sentenced in Oklahoma on Bribery Charges
Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:38:30 -0600

Larry Wayne Baker, formerly the Design Engineering Manager for the Public Works Department in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 44 months in prison for his participation in a bribery scheme involving a Tulsa public works project.

Ohio Construction Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Bribing Postal Official
Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:44:39 -0600

Jeffrey G. Baker, of Columbia Station, Ohio, pled guilty to one count of misprision of a felony for not reporting that he was paying a contracting officer with the U.S. Postal Service to secure contracts for his company.

New Jersey Consultant Indicted for Allegedly Providing Cash Bribes to City Official
Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:04:45 -0600

Joseph Cardwell was indicted in Newark, New Jersey in connection with his agreement to provide a $10,000 bribe payment to a Jersey City official in order to influence that official regarding real estate development matters in Jersey City.

Thirteen Michigan Residents Arrested and Charged for $14.5 Million Medicare Fraud
Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:14:57 -0600

Thirteen residents of the Detroit, Michigan area were arrested and charged in connection with an alleged home health care scheme to defraud the Medicare program of more than $14.5 million.

Arizona Man Convicted of Aggravated Assault of Girlfriend
Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:21:13 -0600

Calvin Bryan Evanston, of Parker, Arizona, a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, was found guilty by a federal jury of aggravated assault for causing serious bodily injury to the victim, his girlfriend of eight years.

Arizona Couple Indicted for Assault and Child Abuse
Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:22:34 -0600

Royce Paul Paddock and his wife, Anna Laura Paddock, both of Tuba City, Arizona, were indicted in connection with seriously assaulting and abusing a 5-year-old girl who was under their guardianship.

Construction Project Manager Sentenced in Alabama for Fraud, Money Laundering
Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:29:23 -0600

Scott M. Hippard, of Gulf Breeze, Florida, the project manager for condominium construction at Bridge Street Town Centre in Huntsville, Alabama, was sentenced in Birmingham to 2.5 years in prison for mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.

Connecticut Man Pleads Guilty in Embezzlement Scheme
Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:35:12 -0600

Peter C. Yarasavich, of Milford, Connecticut, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud in connection with his embezzlement of nearly $150,000 from his former employer.

Maryland Men Convicted in Connection with Armored Car Robbery
Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:41:00 -0600

Donald Cromwell, Jr. and Walter Morsely, both of Baltimore, Maryland, were convicted of the May 9, 2008 armed robbery of a Dunbar armored car at the Lexington Market.

Georgia Deputy Convicted of Seeking Sex with Minor
Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:47:56 -0600

Gregory Todd Bowden, of Byron, Georgia, a former Bibb County Sheriff's Deputy, was found guilty of enticing a 7-year-old girl to engage in sex.

Former Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Convicted of Civil Rights Charges
Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:52:26 -0600

Michael Anthony Higgins, a former Texas Department of Public Safety trooper, was convicted in Corpus Christi of violating federal law by willfully stealing money from motorists he stopped on the highway while working as a trooper.

Former Continental Airlines Employee Sentenced for Defrauding Employer
Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:54:24 -0600

Rebecca Anne Dewvall, formerly with Continental Airlines' corporate security team, was sentenced in Houston, Texas to a year in federal prison for executing a scheme to defraud Continental Airlines through its Electronic Travel Certificate program.

Texas Couple Found Guilty of Bank Robbery
Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:00:15 -0600

Kimberly Michelle Kirkwood and Mark Anthony Owens, both of Beaumont, Texas, were convicted in connection with the armed robber of the bank where Kirkwood was employed as a teller.

Exec Charged in New York with Stealing $1.5 Million in Real Estate Investment Scheme
Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:18:28 -0600

Elviston Ramasir, the president of Home Free Realty, Inc., was charged in New York for allegedly orchestrating a scheme involving purported investments in foreclosed real estate properties in which he stole over $1.5 million for his personal use.

Brothers Plead Guilty in Conspiracy to Hold Thai Workers in Forced Labor in Hawaii
Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:28:23 -0600

Alec Sou and Mike Sou, co-owners of Aloun Farm, pled guilty in Honolulu, to conspiring to commit forced labor. The brothers each face up to five years in prison for their respective roles in a labor trafficking scheme that held Thai agricultural workers in service at Aloun Farm through a scheme of debts, threats, and restraint.

Former Fugitive Sentenced in California for 1992 Drug Trafficking Offense
Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:35:47 -0600

Donnell Hatcher, who was a fugitive for 12.5 years, was sentenced in San Francisco to 240 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin, a sentence which will run consecutive to a previously-imposed 200 month sentence.

Four Plead Guilty in South Carolina Corruption Probe
Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:19:05 -0600

Guilty pleas were entered in Columbia, South Carolina by former Union County Sheriff Wesley Howard Wells, Former County Tax Assessor Willie E. Randall, Jr., and Union County residents Willard Dee Farr and Lapriest Darnell Beacham as a result of a long term investigation into public corruption in Union County.

Three More Charged with Headley in Mumbai and Demark Terrorism Plots
Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:23:06 -0600

A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment adding three defendants--Tahawwur Rana, Ilyas Kashmiri, and a retired Pakistan Major--to charges filed last month against David Coleman Headley, alleging that they and others participated in conspiracies involving a planned terrorist attack against a Danish newspaper and the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, that killed approximately 164 people, including six Americans.

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FBI's Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 15, 2010

Read about our Top Ten news stories of the week, including possible scams arising in the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake; the charging of three men in a scheme to illegally export technology to Iran; and charges against 13 individuals in connection with a $14.5 million Medicare fraud scheme. More

FBI's Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 15, 2010
Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:38:57 -0600

Read about our Top Ten news stories of the week, including possible scams arising in the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake; the charging of three men in a scheme to illegally export technology to Iran; and charges against 13 individuals in connection with a $14.5 million Medicare fraud scheme.