FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending September 4, 2009

Washington, D.C. September 04, 2009

FBI National Press Office (202) 324-3691

FBI Headquarters/Boston: Pfizer Agrees to Pay $2.3 Billion in Health Care Fraud Settlement

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. and its subsidiary Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Inc. agreed to pay $2.3 billion, the largest health care fraud settlement in the history of the Department of Justice, to resolve criminal and civil liability arising from the illegal promotion of certain pharmaceutical products. Full Story
Kansas City: Jury Convicts Three of Conspiracy to Use Fake Diplomatic Identification

David L. Robinson, Daniel W. Denham, and Larry P. Goodyke were found guilty of all charges related to a conspiracy to use fraudulent diplomatic credentials. The co-defendants are involved in various sovereign citizen groups that reject governmental authority and claim that most branches of the federal government are illegitimate entities. Full Story
Miami: Three Charged in Multi-Million Dollar Vacant Land Fraud Scheme

Daniel Stephen, Clotilde Jean, and Patricia DePons were charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud for their participation in a scheme to sell vacant land. Through this scheme, the defendants defrauded more than 1,000 victims of approximately $10.6 million. Full Story
Little Rock: Four Convicted of Civil Rights Charges in Cross Burning Conspiracy

Jacob A. Wingo, Richard W. Robbins, Clayton D. Morrison, and Darren E. McKim pled guilty to conspiring to force a woman and her young children from their home by threats and intimidation because she associated with African-Americans. The four also pled guilty to lying to FBI agents in an attempt to cover up their conduct. Wingo and Morrison pled guilty to an additional charge related to an attempt to burn a cross at the victims’ home. Full Story
Washington Field: Former D.C. Public Schools Employee Sentenced for Stealing Computer Equipment

Hakeem Blaize was sentenced to six months of imprisonment for interstate transportation of stolen goods in connection with his theft of more than $30,000 worth of computers and computer equipment from the District of Columbia Public Schools. Full Story
Houston: Former Accounting Supervisor Indicted for Embezzling Millions from Employer

Diana Simon, a former accounting supervisor for a Houston area chemicals company, was charged with embezzling more than $3.6 million from her employer, Kaneka Texas. Kaneka Texas is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kaneka Japan, a Japanese chemicals company with headquarters in Pasadena, Texas. Full Story
New York: Former NYPD Officer Pleads to Bank Robbery Charges

Christian Torres, a former New York City Police Officer, pled guilty to armed bank robbery, bank larceny, and conspiracy to defraud a bank. Full Story
Detroit: Mortgage Fraud Ring Faces Years in Prison, $1.2 Million in Restitution

Myron L. Hooker, Jr., Peter Garland, Nicole Jackson, and Antwan Mcrea were sentenced for obtaining fraudulent mortgage loans on numerous properties and splitting illegal proceeds among themselves. Hooker was sentenced to 63 months in prison on wire fraud charges, and 40 months for conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, the terms to be served concurrently. The remaining defendants were convicted of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and received various prison terms ranging up to 27 months. In addition to their custodial sentences, they were ordered to pay, in various amounts, more than $1.2 million in restitution. Full Story
Dallas: Former Pro Football Player and Others Charged in Mortgage Fraud Scheme

An indictment was unsealed charging former Dallas Cowboys player Eugene Lockhart, Jr. and eight others in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme they allegedly ran in the Dallas area from 2001 through 200All nine defendants are charged with various offenses related to the scheme, including conspiracy, bank fraud and wire fraud. Full Story
Cincinnati: Six Plead Guilty in Connection with $3.7 Million Jewelry Robbery

Six California men involved in the multi-million dollar robbery of a jewelry merchant attending a trade show in Ohio pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce, punishable by up to 20 years' imprisonment. Full Story

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FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending September 4, 2009