FBI's Top Ten News Stories For the Week Ending November 30, 2007
For the Week Ending November 30, 2007

1. Operation Bot Roast II Reveals Growing Criminal Use of Botnets

The FBI announced the results of the second phase of its investigation into a growing and serious problem involving the criminal use of botnets, collections of compromised computers under the remote command and control of a criminal “botherder.” 

2. Cincinnati: Somali Sentenced for Conspiracy to Provide Material Support to Terrorists

Nuradin M. Abdi, a Somali national residing in Ohio, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. 

3. Chicago: Guilty Plea in Attempt to Use Weapon of Mass Destruction

Derrick Shareef pled guilty to attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction in planning to set off grenades at a shopping mall. 

4. Atlanta: Hardbody Harrison Found Guilty on Human Trafficking Charges

Former professional wrestler Harrison Norris, Jr. also known as “Hardbody Harrison,” was found guilty on multiple charges of sex trafficking and slavery. 

5. Washington Field Office: Qantas Airways Pleads Guilty

Australian-based Qantas Airways pled guilty for its role in a conspiracy to fix rates for international cargo shipments and agreed to pay a $61 million criminal fine. 

6. New York: 83-Year-Old Texas Oilman Sentenced to One Year in Prison and Fined $11 Million

Oscar S. Wyatt, Jr., pleaded guilty to participating in a scheme to pay illegal surcharges to the former government of Iraq in connection with the purchase of crude oil under the Oil-for-Food Program. 

7. San Diego: Project Safe Childhood Nabs Music Teacher

Three former British bankers—Gary Steven Mulgrew, Giles Robert Hugh Darby, and David Bermingham—pled guilty to wire fraud arising from their secret and illegal deal with Andrew Fastow and Michael Kopper, Enron Corp. officers. 

8. Houston: Three Former British Bankers Plead Guilty in Enron Case

Three former British bankers—Gary Steven Mulgrew, Giles Robert Hugh Darby, and David Bermingham—pled guilty to wire fraud arising from their secret and illegal deal with Andrew Fastow and Michael Kopper, Enron Corp. officers. 

9. Oklahoma City: Three Inmates Convicted of Conspiracy to Extort Warden’s Property

Russell Dean Landers, Clayton Heath Albers, and Barry Dean Bischoff were convicted of conspiring to impede the duties of federal prison officials and mailing threatening communications with the intent to extort. 

10. Jackson: Lawyers Indicted on Attempt to Influence Judge

Attorneys Richard F. “Dickie” Scruggs, David Zachary Scruggs, Sidney A. Backstrom, Timothy R. Balducci and Steven A. Patterson were indicted on charges of attempting to influence a Circuit Court Judge.