FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending May 21, 2010
| Washington, D.C. May 21, 2010 |
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Kansas City: Al Qaeda Supporter Pleads Guilty to Supporting Terrorist Organization
Khalid Ouazzani pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a conspiracy to provide material support to the terrorist organization al Qaeda. He also pleaded guilty to bank fraud and money laundering. Full Story
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Charlotte: North Carolina Man Charged with Fatal Shooting on Indian Reservation
James Ernest Lespier, 31, of Cherokee, an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, was arrested on a charge of murder in connection with a fatal shooting which allegedly took place on the reservation on May 18, 2010. Full Story
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San Juan: Edwin Bernard Astacio Espino Charged for the Helicopter Shooting at the San José Ward
A complaint was filed against Edwin Bernard Astacio Espino for willfully damaging and/or disabling an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. The defendant shot fire at a helicopter operated by the San Juan Municipal Police in interstate or foreign commerce, along with federal and state law enforcement agents. Full Story
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Denver: Eric Dodd, the "Portfolio Bandit," Indicted for 11 Metro Denver Bank Robberies
Eric Dodd, age 38, was indicted by a federal grand jury late Tuesday on 11 counts of bank robbery. Dodd, also known as the “Portfolio Bandit,” was arrested without incident by an FBI SWAT Team. Full Story
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Louisville: Two Sentenced in $2 Million Scheme to Defraud Department of Veterans Affairs
Thomas Darrell Bryant, age 39, of LeRoy, West Virginia, and Joe Davis Snooks, Jr., age 62, of Roundhill, Kentucky, were each sentenced to one year and one day in prison, in United States District Court, Louisville, Kentucky, for participating in a scheme to defraud the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) through the filing of fraudulent military disability claims. Full Story
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Dallas: Massive Drug Trafficking Enterprise Busted in East Texas, 44 in Custody on Federal Drug Charges
A combined task force led by the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division arrested individuals charged with involvement in a methamphetamine manufacturing and distribution criminal enterprise on May 19-20, 2010 in the Panola, Rusk, Gregg, Upshur, Marion, and Cherokee Counties, Texas areas. Agents and officers executed approximately 50 federal arrest warrants. Eighteen defendants have previously been arrested on similar charges in recent months. Full Story
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San Francisco: Ponzi Scheme and Mortgage Fraud Mastermind Sentenced
The founder and head of Chicago Development and Planning was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in prison, and ordered to pay more than $9 million in restitution for wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering. Full Story
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New Haven: Derby Man Admits Making Bomb Threats at New Haven Office Building
Juan Rivera, Jr., 42, of Derby, pleaded guilty in New Haven to one count of conveying false information or perpetrating a hoax for making a bomb threat at a New Haven office building. Full Story
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Boston: Two Chinese Nationals Convicted of Illegally Exporting Electronics Components Used in Military Radar and Electronic Warfare
Following a five-week trial, a federal jury in Massachusetts found two Chinese nationals guilty of illegally conspiring to violate U.S. export laws and illegally exporting electronic equipment from the United States to China. Several Chinese military entities were among those receiving the exported equipment. Full Story
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San Diego: Six Charged with Wire Fraud Based on $20 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme
A 10-count indictment was unsealed charging six individuals with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. The defendants are charged with submitting false and fraudulent mortgage loan applications and related documents to banks and other lending institutions, thereby inducing the institutions to make approximately 36 loans totaling approximately $20,800,000. Full Story