FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending June 11, 2010

Washington, D.C. June 11, 2010

FBI National Press Office (202) 324-3691

Birmingham: Joint Statement by United States Attorney Joyce White Vance and FBI Special Agent in Charge Patrick Maley Regarding the Joran van der Sloot Investigation

In April of this year, the FBI and U.S. Attorney's office in Birmingham, Alabama initiated an investigation into allegations of criminal conduct by Joran van der Sloot related to the disappearance of Natalee Holloway in Aruba five years earlier. Prior to law enforcement's involvement, Van der Sloot offered to provide information to an individual regarding the location of Natalee Holloway's remains and the circumstances of her death in exchange for $250,000.00. The FBI-led investigation was conducted in conjunction with Aruban authorities. The U.S. Attorney filed a criminal complaint charging van der Sloot with extortion and wire fraud on June 3, 2010. Full Story
El Paso: Assault on Federal Officer Investigated

Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents responded to a group of suspected illegal aliens being smuggled into the U.S. from Mexico near the Paso del Norte port of entry. Two subjects were detained while others ran into Mexico and began throwing rocks at one of the agents, resulting in the agent discharging his weapon several times, striking one 15-year-old subject who later died. Full Story
Headquarters: “Project Deliverance” Results in More Than 2,200 Arrests During 22-Month Operation, Seizures of Approximately 74 Tons of Drugs and $154 Million in U.S. Currency

Attorney General Eric Holder announced the arrest of more than 2,200 individuals on narcotics-related charges in the United States and the seizure of more than 74.1 tons of illegal drugs as part of a 22-month multi-agency law enforcement investigation known as “Project Deliverance.” During the portion of the operation that occurred this week, which targeted the transportation infrastructure of Mexican drug trafficking organizations in the United States, especially along the Southwest border, 429 individuals in 16 states were arrested. Full Story
New York: Sixteen Members of International Organized Crime Group Charged with Kidnapping, Narcotics, Robbery, and Firearms Offenses

Sixteen defendants were charged with various counts of kidnapping in aid of a racketeering enterprise, narcotics trafficking, robbery and firearms possession. Three defendants remain at large. Full Story
Miami: Fort Lauderdale Attorney Sentenced to 50 Years in Billion-Dollar Ponzi Scheme

Attorney Scott Rothstein of Fort Lauderdale was sentenced in connection with the operation of a $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme through the defunct Ft. Lauderdale law firm Rothstein Rosenfeldt and Adler, P.A. The sentence follows Rothstein’s January 27, 2010 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to violate the racketeering influenced corrupt organization statute, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, and two counts of wire fraud. Full Story
Newark: Two New Jersey Men Arrested and Charged with Conspiring to Kill Persons Outside the United States

Two New Jersey men were arrested and charged in a federal criminal complaint with conspiring to kill, maim, and kidnap persons outside the United States. Mohamed Mahmood Alessa and Carlos Eduardo Almonte were taken into custody at JFK International Airport in New York on Saturday. They intended to take separate flights to Egypt on their way to Somalia to join designated foreign terrorist organization Al Shabaab and wage violent jihad. Full Story
Boston: Not Guilty Pleas by Former Town Councilmen Indicted for Extortion and Bribery

Three former North Providence, Rhode Island town councilmen pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court to indictments charging them with bribery and extortion. Joseph S. Burchfield, Raymond L. Douglas III, and John A. Zambarano were indicted by a federal grand jury on May 27, 2010. Full Story
Columbia: Greenville Fugitive in Federal Fraud Case Stemming from State Child Custody Battle Apprehended in Thailand

Federal fugitive Samuel Lee Horton, of Greenville, South Carolina, was located in Phuket, Thailand, and escorted back to the United States by FBI special agents. He will be taken before a United States Magistrate to have an initial appearance on the charges which he faces. On May 5, 2009, Horton was charged with violating a custody order involving his 3-year-old child. Upon receiving information that Horton had taken the child outside of the United States, a federal warrant for his arrest for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution was issued by a magistrate judge. Full Story
New York: U.S. Citizen Sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court to 15 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to al Qaeda

Syed Hashmi, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for conspiracy to provide material support to al Qaeda. Hashmi's 15-year sentence, imposed in Manhattan federal court, is the maximum penalty allowed by law. Full Story
Detroit: West Branch Resident and His Son Arrested and Charged with Sending a Threatening Communication to Congressman

A resident of West Branch, Michigan and his son have been charged in a criminal complaint with conspiring to threaten to assault, kidnap, or murder a United States official, U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak, in connection with his official duties. Full Story

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FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending June 11, 2010