FBI's Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending October 31, 2008

1. Washington Field Office: Chuckie Taylor Convicted

In the first U.S. case to charge an individual with criminal torture, Roy Belfast, Jr., aka Chuckie Taylor, son of former Liberian President Charles Taylor, was convicted of torturing people in Liberia. 

2. FBI Announces the Results of Child Sex Trafficking Sweep

Operation Cross Country II, a three-day multi-agency law enforcement action, led to 642 arrests and the removal of 47 children from the cycle of victimization. 

3. Boston: State Senator Arrested

A long-term covert operation resulted in the arrest of State Senator Dianne Wilkerson on public corruption charges. 

4. Boston: Labor Organizer Charged with Illegal Payment Conspiracy

Harold Tillinghast, organizer for Laborers International Union of North America, was charged with conspiring to make and receive unlawful payments from employers to labor union officials. 

5. Minneapolis: Three Convicted for Intimidating Judge

Robert Bonine Beale, Frederick Ogan Bond, and John Howard Pelton were found guilty of conspiracy to prevent by force, intimidation, and threat a federal judge from presiding over a criminal trial.  (pdf)

6. Sacramento: Arrest in Hoax Mailings

Marc M. Keyser was arrested and charged with sending a hoax letter after mailing packages with sugar packets with the words “Anthrax sample.” 

7. Atlanta: Operation Pay Cut Nabs 41

Operation Pay Cut, a long-term multi-agency investigation targeting cartel-related drug trafficking, resulted in rounding up $22 million, drugs, and a Sheriff’s Deputy. 

8. Baltimore: Singapore Citizen Sentenced

Haniffa Bin Osman was sentenced for providing material support to the Tamil Tigers, a designated foreign terrorist organization.

9. New York: 61 Charged in Insurance Fraud Scam

Two corporations and 61 individuals were charged with engaging in a widespread multi-million dollar no-fault insurance fraud scheme. 

10. Miami: Multi-Million Dollar Ponzi Scheme Operator Charged

Andres Leonel Pimstein was charged with wire fraud in connection with the fraudulent sale of consumer electronics.