Thursday, August 30, 2007

FBI NEWS & INFO TOP 10 ENDING AUGUST 24th

Alan note: sometimes, like the past few days, work pressures or investigative activity, has prevented regular posting of articles, even some which were partly ready. I have tried to post the Daily Anti-Terror News Briefs despite the time restrictions, so if nothing else you are kept abreast of events related to terrorism. Other than downloading the related gruesome photos and placing them into the appropriate sections, the horrifying Indonesian Islamic 'regression' in their society and continued murder of Chinese ethnic Indonesians (mostly Chrisitians), a mind boggling realization, is about to be posted in the next couple of days. This article graphically underlines and confirms that fundemental Islam is NOT a religion of peace BUT OF BODY PIECES! See for yourselves. The photos are not altered in any way and mostly come from official Indonesian sources. The difference of what you will see and what happens in Iran is that within the Islamic Regime of the Iran Mullahs it is a 100 times worse but does not reach the streets and an ability for the press to photograph it. Far more murders and tortures and unbelievable physical abuse take place in the shadows of some 100 UNOFFICIAL secret prisons into which people disappear as often as not never to reappear - in addition to the hell holes like Evin prison and other formal Mullah dungeons. In the meantime, check out the FBI News headings of the week and view the Terror News page. A new video (on the Videos page) of a contortionist might interest you as much as it intreagued me. On the Iran front a lot is going on behind the scenes at the moment but not for public disclosure. Washington D.C.FBI National Press Office (202) 324-3691 FBI’S TOP TEN NEWS STORIES FOR THE WEEK ENDING 8/24 1. San Antonio: U.S. Army Major, Wife, Sister Indicted in Procurement Fraud Major John Cockerham, Jr., his wife, Melissa Cockerham, and his sister, Carolyn Blake, were indicted on bribery, money laundering, obstruction charges, and conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government arising out of the major’s service as an army contracting officer in Kuwait. Cockerham allegedly guaranteed that a contractor would receive a contract in return for the payment of money. Cockerham and others accepted $9.6 million in bribe payments on Cockerham’s behalf through bid-rigging schemes. 2. Detroit: Man Sentenced for Civil Rights Violation Michail Aronov was sentenced to 90 months in prison and over $1 million in restitution for his role as one of the ringleaders in a conspiracy to force Eastern European women to work as exotic dancers in strip clubs. Aronov was convicted for conspiring to violate the civil rights of the dancers through involuntary servitude, as well as immigration and money laundering conspiracies. 3. New York: Guilty Pleas in Oil-for-Food Case David B. Chalmers and two corporations that he operated pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud related to the payment of secret illegal surcharges to the former Government of Iraq in connection with the purchase of crude oil in the UN Oil-for-Food Program. Ludmil Dionissiev, who helped facilitate the export of the oil, pleaded guilty to smuggling charges. Chalmers faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment as well as millions of dollars in fines and restitution. 4. New Orleans: Former Head of Film Commission Charged With Bribery While serving as Director of the Louisiana Film Commission, Mark S. Smith approved fraudulently inflated movie budgets submitted by a film production company in order for the film company to receive state credits. Smith, in return, accepted cash bribes. Smith was charged with Conspiracy and Bribery in Connection with a Program Receiving Federal Funds. 5. San Juan: Individual Arrested for Destruction of Energy Facility Angel Colon-Vargas was arrested in Seattle, Washington by FBI Agents for destroying an electrical tower owned by the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority. The tower collapsed as a result of the removal of aluminum beams which supported the corner beams of the tower. A short time afterwards, Colon-Vargas traveled to Seattle to live with relatives. 6. Portland: Seattle Attorney Found Guilty in Online Child Sexual Exploitation Case Seattle attorney, William Brook Knowles, was found guilty of “Enticement and Coercion of a Minor” and “Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct with a Minor” as a result of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online predators. The defendant entered an AOL chat room and began corresponding with an undercover FBI Agent posing as a 14-year-old girl. 7. New York: Textron Inc. Agrees to Pay Fine in Connection With Payment of Kickbacks by Its Subsidiaries Textron Inc. has acknowledged responsibility for the actions of several of its French subsidiaries which paid kickbacks between 2000 and 2003 to the Iraqi government in order to obtain contracts with the Iraqi ministries. Textron Inc. has agreed to pay a fine in the amount of $1.15 million as part of the Department of Justice’s ongoing investigation into the UN “Oil for Food” Program. 8. New Haven: Guilty Plea in Internet “Phishing” Scheme Michael Dolan pleaded guilty to participating in an elaborate “phishing” scheme that targeted and victimized AOL subscribers. Through the “phishing” schemes, the AOL subscribers unknowingly would submit their personal information - name, social security number, and other information – to Dolan which he then used to make online purchases and to produce counterfeit debit cards. 9. Columbia: Indictment in Sex Trafficking Case Three Mexican nationals were indicted for conspiring to bring Mexican women, at least one of which was 14 years old, into South Carolina for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex. The indictment also charges them with various immigration violations including harboring of illegal aliens. The Attorney General has made the prosecution of human trafficking crimes a top priority. 10. Buffalo: Sting Snags Heroin Network The Safe Street Task Force executed 18 federal arrest warrants and 9 federal search warrants culminating a two-year investigation into illegal drug trafficking and related crimes. This investigation centered around the “Pedro Antonetty Crew,” operating on the west side of Buffalo. Members of this distribution criminal enterprise sold large quantities of heroin in Western New York and have been involved in acts of violence. Check this website for full stories: http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel07/topten_082407.htm

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