FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending September 25, 2009

Washington, D.C. September 25, 2009

New York: Najibullah Zazi Indicted for Conspiracy to Use Explosives

Najibullah Zazi, a resident of Aurora, Colorado and legal permanent resident of the United States from Afghanistan, was indicted in the Eastern District of New York on a charge of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction (explosive bombs) against persons or property in the United States.

New York/Denver: Three Arrested in Ongoing Terror Investigation

FBI agents in Colorado arrested Najibullah Zazi and his father, Mohammed Wali Zazi, for making false statements to federal agents in an ongoing terror investigation. In addition, FBI agents in New York arrested Ahmad Wais Afzali on the same charges.

Dallas: FBI Arrests Jordanian Citizen for Attempting to Bomb Skyscraper

Hosam Maher Husein Smadi was arrested and charged in a federal criminal complaint with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. Smadi, who was under continuous surveillance by the FBI, was arrested near Fountain Place, a 60-story glass office tower in downtown Dallas, after he placed an inert/inactive car bomb at the location.

Charlotte: Superseding Indictment Charges Defendants with Conspiring to Murder Military Personnel, Weapons Violations

A federal grand jury returned a superseding criminal indictment in the Daniel Patrick Boyd matter. The superseding indictment includes all of the charges alleged in the original July 22, 2009 indictment and also includes new charges against Boyd, Hysen Sherifi, and Zakariya Boyd. Charges include conspiring to murder U.S. military personnel at Quantico, Virginia, and various weapons violations.

Springfield: Man Arrested in Plot to Bomb Courthouse and Murder Federal Employees

Michael C. Finton was arrested on charges of attempted murder of federal employees and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction (explosives) in connection with a plot to detonate a vehicle bomb at the federal building in Springfield, Illinois.

New York: Brooklyn Resident Indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Murder Overseas and Conspiracy to Provide Material Support to Terrorists

An indictment was unsealed charging Betim Kaziu, a U.S. citizen and resident of Brooklyn, with conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country and conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists. Kaziu allegedly devised a plan to travel abroad for the purpose of joining a radical foreign fighter group and to take up arms against perceived enemies of Islam.

San Francisco: Five Charged in Scheme to Defraud Government Lending Agency

Donald Daniels, Martin William Washburn, Irina Rebegeneau, and Tapani Koivunen were charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and substantive money laundering counts. Sergei Shkurkin was also charged in a related extortion conspiracy. The charges relate to a scheme to defraud the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, a government lending agency, in connection with a $9.4 million loan.

Philadelphia: Former National Lampoon CEO Pleads Guilty to Securities Fraud

Daniel Laikin, the former CEO of National Lampoon, Inc., pled guilty to his role in a conspiracy to manipulate the company’s stock price from March through June 200National Lampoon is a company based in Los Angeles that is involved primarily in media projects including feature films, television programming, online and interactive entertainment, home video, and book publishing.

Anchorage: Former Alaska State Representative Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Bribery

Former Alaska State Representative Beverly Masek was sentenced to six months in prison by U.S. District Judge Ralph Beistline in Anchorage, Alaska. Masek pled guilty earlier this year to conspiring with former Alaska businessmen Bill J. Allen and Richard L. Smith to commit bribery. Allen was the chief executive officer of VECO Corporation (VECO), a now-defunct multinational oil field services company, and Smith was a VECO vice president. Both pled guilty to multiple federal corruption charges in May 2007 and are awaiting sentencing.

Miami: Six Charged in South Florida Corruption Probe

Federal corruption and other criminal charges were filed against Broward County Commissioner Josephus “Joe” Eggelletion, Broward County School Board Member Beverly Gallagher, former Miramar City Commissioner Fitzroy Salesman, Bahamian attorney Sidney Cambridge, and Florida businessmen Joel Williams and Ronald Owens. A long-term undercover corruption investigation led by the FBI resulted in the filing of three separate complaints, charging the defendants with honest services mail and wire fraud, extortion under color of official right, bribery, and money laundering conspiracy.