Work In Progress

This week’s offering of the FBI’s Top 10 stories has information on cases involving public corruption, financial fraud and sex trade trafficking.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending February 5, 2010

1. FBI Laboratory: Letter to the Editor on FBI’s Scientific Work in Anthrax Case

   Read a letter sent by D. Christian Hassell, Ph.D, director of the FBI Laboratory, to The Wall Street Journal in response to a recent opinion piece about the anthrax investigation. Full Story

2. Dallas: State Representative Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges, Agrees to Resign

   Gladys E. “Terri” Hodge, who was to go on trial early next month on charges outlined in a 31-count indictment charging 14 public officials and their associates with offenses related to a bribery and extortion scheme involving affordable housing developments in the Dallas area, pleaded guilty. Hodge, who was elected to the Texas House of Representatives, District 100, in 1996, and re-elected to the same position in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008, has agreed to resign her office and never seek or hold future public office. Full Story  

3. San Francisco: Mountain View Woman Convicted of Wire Fraud and Witness Tampering

   Judy “Miu Wan” Yeung was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, eight counts of wire fraud, and three counts of witness tampering. The jury found that Yeung engaged in a mortgage fraud conspiracy between approximately December 2004 and January 2007 that defrauded mortgage lenders and financial institutions of $6.5 million. Full Story

4. Atlanta: Citizen of Mexico Sentenced for Role in Federal Sex Trafficking Conspiracy

   Miguel Rugerio, a Mexican national, was sentenced to federal prison on charges of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and related immigration offenses, and of transporting one of the victims of the conspiracy, a young Mexican woman identified as “N.M.,” in interstate and foreign commerce for purposes of prostitution. Full Story

5. Miami: Statement by Special Agent in Charge John V. Gillies Regarding Super Bowl Preparations

   Read about the FBI’s efforts in preparing for Super Bowl XLIV. While the Miami-Dade Police Department is leading the law enforcement effort, the FBI’s role is to protect and defend against terrorist threats. Full Story

6. Los Angeles: Guilty Plea in Ponzi Scheme Based on Bogus Investments in Latex Gloves After 9/11 Attacks

   Miguel Salazar pleaded guilty to federal mail fraud charges for running a Ponzi scheme that took nearly $700,000 from victims who thought they were investing in latex gloves, which were portrayed as being in high demand following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Full Story

7. Albany: Syracuse Man Charged with Stealing Trade Secrets

   Shalin Jhaveri was arrested and charged with stealing trade secrets and proprietary information from his employer, Bristol-Myers-Squibb. The complaint alleges that during his employment with Bristol-Myers-Squibb, Jhaveri stole numerous trade secrets as part of a plan to establish a pharmaceutical firm in his native India, which would compete with Bristol-Myers-Squibb in various markets around the world. Full Story

8. New York: Aafia Siddiqui Found Guilty of Attempting to Murder U.S. Nationals in Afghanistan and Six Additional Charges

   Aafia Siddiqui was found guilty in Manhattan federal court on charges related to the attempted murder and assault of U.S. nationals and U.S. officers and employees in Afghanistan. Siddiqui was found guilty of all charges against her following a 14-day jury trial. Full Story

9. Chicago: Business Owner Indicted for Minority Contract Fraud

   The owner of a Chicago company certified as a minority- and woman-owned business, her husband, and her company were indicted today on federal fraud charges for allegedly steering minority contracts through the company and collecting more than $9.5 million in fraudulent payments from three projects, including two at O’Hare International Airport. The company, Azteca Supply Co., allegedly fraudulently received $9,695,168, between 2001 and July 2008 while being hired as a sham contractor on runway and restroom projects at O’Hare for the City of Chicago, and on a landscaping project at a new Metra commuter rail station for the south suburban Village of Orland Park. Full Story

10. El Paso: Federal Jury Convicts Former El Paso Criminal District Court Judge Manuel Barraza

    Former El Paso Criminal District Court Judge Manuel Joseph Barraza was found guilty of charges related to a bribery scheme. The jury convicted Barraza of two counts of wire fraud and the deprivation of honest services and one count of making false statements. The jury acquitted Barraza of one count of mail fraud. Full Story

A new Facebook site hits on something that gets joked about a lot when someone from here hits it big.

“I’m from Gastonia….Where?….Near Charlotte” is the answer a lot of folks give when they’re telling outsiders where they’re from.

From a newsroom view, it’s always frustrating to hear someone say they’re from “Charlotte” when they actually live and work in Gaston County. I can’t think about any specific examples of this happening, but it has.

I’d like to know what people think of this exchange and whether they use it themselves and what it means.

I start my day around 5:30 each morning, which means some things happen to me when no one else is around to either help or laugh at me.

Tuesday was one of those days. As I was driving into the magistrate’s office I noticed that my vision had gone haywire. I started to worry, figuring my sight was so bad that I’d have to go to the eye doctor. I went to the magistrate’s office, said hello to Chris and Robert who were on duty and went back home to type in the “morning report.”

When I got home, my vision was no better. Then my wife asked what had happened to my left lens in my glasses. It was gone.

Well, after searching the house to no avail, I purchased a new lens for $97.  A steep price, but at least I got it that day.

The experience reminds me of one of my favorite - or children’s least favorite sayings: Oh, said the blind man as he picked up the hammer and saw.

And by the way neither magistrate judge Robert Rush or Chris West noticed my missing eyepiece.

I just found out that a local chef is on the Food Network.

This local salesman is being billed as one of the “worst” chefs in America, and he’ll compete with other bad cooks to see who can improve the most.

I hate to admit it, but I enjoy the Iron Chef contests as well as “who’ll be the next …..” shows. This is one show that did not appeal to me though, but I’m sure I’ll start watching it now.

We should have a story on the local contestant soon.

Growing up in south Florida I knew a lot of people from Haiti so I’ve paid close attention to the earthquake that has further devastated the poorest country in the western hemisphere.

But what’s sad is that there will be some who try to take advantage of such a tragedy by scamming those who want to help. Not only will they rob good-hearted people, but they’re stealing from those who need the help the most right now.

Here’s some tips to watch out for and avoid Haiti earthquake scams, courtesy of the FBI:

01/13/10—The FBI today reminds Internet users who receive appeals to donate money in the aftermath of Tuesday’s earthquake in Haiti to apply a critical eye and do their due diligence before responding to those requests. Past tragedies and natural disasters have prompted individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organization and/or a good cause.

Therefore, before making a donation of any kind, consumers should adhere to certain guidelines, to include the following:

Anyone who has received an e-mail referencing the above information or anyone who may have been a victim of this or a similar incident should notify the IC3 via www.ic3.gov.

A friend of mine passed along some encouraging words to me this morning that come from the late U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy.  Here’s what my friend had to say, followed by the statements from Kennedy.

I was really impressed with these words by Ted Kennedy from his memoir, “True Compass.” They were shared at a Senate prayer breakfast in 1999, not long after the death of John F. Kennedy Jr. Ted lost his older brother Joe in World War II, his sister Kathleen to a plane crash in 1948, Jack in 1963, Bobby in 1968, and his daddy in 1969. His son, Teddy Jr., lost a leg to cancer in 1973. Given all that, here is what he said,:

I wrote a story today about how police still give speeding tickets on Christmas Day. That reminded me of a trip to see my sister in San Antonio over the Christmas holiday in 1989.

In the middle of nowhere, Texas, I was a little heavy-footed on a four-lane rural highway. It was Christmas Eve and a trooper nailed me. It was the middle of the day, cold, but no rain or snow. I figured I’d play my charm card.

“Sir, it’s Christmas Eve, can’t we work something out?” I asked, expecting him to say, “You’re right. You’re sober, traveling to see relatives. I’ll give you a break and have a Merry Christmas.”

Well, this trooper apparently mistook my “can we work something out” for a bribe. He sternly asked me what I meant and let me know he wasn’t playing.

All of a sudden I began to worry that I was going to somehow turn a speeding ticket into a night in a Texas pokey over Christmas. Well, I backed off asking for any favors, took my ticket and drove on to the Alamo.

That was better than a night in the pokey.

“Dragnet” is my favorite TV show of all time so it’s not surprising I count its ‘Christmas’ show as my favorite holiday treat.
Don’t remember ‘Dragnet’ having a Christmas-themed show?
Well, I hope I’m not giving too much away.
But the episode is about Joe Friday and his partner investigating the theft of a ‘Baby Jesus’ from a poor church. At the end of the show, a young boy comes in with the ‘Baby Jesus’ in the back of a wagon he’s pulling.
The tough detectives ask the boy why he would take the ‘Baby Jesus?’
He answers by saying that he had prayed to ‘Baby Jesus’ for a wagon for Christmas and that he promised him the first ride if his wish was answered.

It’s amazing how man unsolved Civil Rights-Era cold cases the FBI is trying to investigate as part on an initiative to bring some closure to that part of our history.

As part of that effort, the FBI is trying to locate 33 next-of-kin in cases that stretch across the country.

Here’s your chance to help:

As part of the Civil Rights-Era Cold Case Initiative, the FBI is currently re-assessing more than 100 unsolved or inadequately solved racially motivated homicides from the civil rights era. The FBI intends to notify the victims’ families of the results of the investigation. Unfortunately, however, due to the passage of time and the migration of many families, the FBI has been unable to identify the next of kin in 33 cases. The names and circumstances of these victims are listed below in hopes that the public may be able to provide information that can assist the FBI in locating surviving family members.

Atlanta Division:

A.C. Hall: A.C. Hall was shot and killed on October 11, 1962, in Macon, Georgia, after being identified by a Caucasian woman as the man who stole a pistol from her car. The woman observed a person breaking into her car and the police responded. The officers drove her and her husband through the neighborhood to find the perpetrator. The couple identified Hall as the person who may be responsible and after a foot chase he was shot and killed by the officers.

Arthur James Hill: Arthur James Hill was allegedly shot and killed on August 20, 1965, by an individual during an altercation with a group of Caucasian men in Villa Rica, Georgia. One of the men who shot Hill stated that Hill was pulling out a shotgun when Hill was shot.

Ernest Hunter: Ernest Hunter was arrested in Savannah, Georgia, on September 13, 1958. Later that day, he was shot and killed by a police officer following an alleged struggle inside the holding cell at the police station. Hunter was arrested after he interfered with the officer’s attempts to give Hunter’s wife a traffic citation.

Maybelle Mahone: On December 5, 1956, a Caucasian male shot and killed Maybelle Mahone in her home in Molena, Georgia.

Clarence Horatious Pickett: Clarence Horatious Pickett was beaten by a police officer on December 21, 1957, in Columbus, Georgia, while Pickett was in jail. Pickett died as a result of his injuries on December 23, 1957.

Birmingham Division:

Nathan Johnson: On May 8, 1966, two police officers in Alabaster, Alabama, stopped Nathan Johnson for driving under the influence of alcohol. Johnson was transported to the station where he allegedly struggled with one of the officers and was shot and killed.

William Lewis Moore: On April 23, 1963, William Moore was shot and killed by an individual near Attalla, Alabama. Moore, a postal worker from Baltimore, Maryland, and a former Marine had begun a solo march from Chattanooga, Tennessee, en route to Jackson, Mississippi, to deliver a letter to the governor urging the integration of the University of Mississippi.

Johnny Robinson: Johnny Robinson was a 16-year-old African-American who was shot and killed by a police officer in Birmingham, Alabama, on September 15, 1963, during the aftermath of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.

Columbia Division:

James Waymers: On July 10, 1965, James Waymers was killed in Allendale, South Carolina, after an argument with an individual regarding Waymers’ efforts to string electrical wires into the home of an African American.

Dallas Division:

John Earl Reese: On October 22, 1955, John Earl Reese, a 16-year-old African-American male was shot and killed by two men who fired several rounds into a predominantly African-American café in Gregg County, Texas.  Two other African-American females were shot, but survived the attack.

Jacksonville Division:

Joseph Hill Dumas: On May 5, 1962, Joseph Dumas was killed in Perry, Florida, by a law enforcement officer who may have shot him accidentally during a traffic stop. Dumas and his family were detained during the stop in Taylor County, Florida.

Jackson Division:

Eli Brumfield: Eli Brumfield was stopped for speeding in McComb, Mississippi, on October 13, 1961. When Brumfield allegedly jumped from his car with knife, he was shot and killed by the police officer.

Silas Ernest Caston: Silas Ernest Caston was shot and killed by a law enforcement officer in Hinds County, Mississippi, on March 1, 1964.

Jimmie Lee Griffin: Jimmie Lee Griffin’s body was discovered on a local highway near Sturgis, Mississippi, on September 24, 1965.

Ernest Jells: Ernest Jells was shot to death on October 20, 1963, in Clarksdale, Mississippi, by a police officer after Jells allegedly pointed a rifle at officers who were attempting to arrest him for stealing a banana from a local grocery store.

William Henry Lee, aka, John Patrick Lee: Lee’s body was discovered near railroad tracks in Rankin County, Mississippi, on February 25, 1965. Lee may have walked away from his disabled vehicle to seek assistance.

George Love: George Love was shot and killed near Ruleville, Mississippi, on January 8, 1958, by police officers after Love allegedly shot and seriously wounded a Ruleville night marshal who sought to question Love about a robbery.

Neimiah Montgomery: Neimiah Montgomery stopped at a gas station on August 10, 1964, in Cleveland, Mississippi, and asked the attendant to put gas in his car. Montgomery allegedly refused to pay for the gas and attacked the attendant. A police officer shot and killed Montgomery when he arrived on the scene.

Jessie James Shelby: Jessie Shelby was shot and killed by a police officer in Yazoo City, Mississippi, on January 21, 1956.

Ollie Shelby: Ollie Shelby was shot and killed on January 22, 1965, while he was incarcerated in the Hinds County Jail in Mississippi.

Ed Smith: Ed Smith was allegedly shot and killed on April 27, 1958, in State Line, Mississippi.

Isaiah Taylor: Isaiah Taylor was shot and killed on June 26, 1964 in Ruleville, Mississippi, by a police officer following a traffic stop.

Mobile Division:

Hiliard Brooks: On August 13, 1952, Hiliard Brooks was shot and killed by a police officer over a dispute regarding whether or not Brooks paid his bus fare.

Rogers Hamilton: On October 22, 1957, one or two men came to Rogers Hamilton’s home in Lowndes County, Alabama, and took him out of his house. Hamilton got into the truck with the men. His mother found Hamilton’s body in the road. He had been shot and killed.

Bessie McDowell: Two men went to Bessie McDowell’s home in Andalusia, Alabama, in 1956 to collect a debt from an individual who resided with McDowell. When the individual fled, the men shot into the house and accidentally struck McDowell killing her.

James Earl Motley: On November 20, 1966, James Motley was detained by a police officer in Elmore County, Alabama, during a traffic stop. After an alleged altercation with responding officers, he was transported to the police station. He was later found dead in the holding cell.

Archie Wooden: Archie Wooden was sixteen years old when he allegedly cut his leg on the branch of a tree and bled to death in 1967 in Camden, Alabama.

New Orleans Division:

Izell Henry: Two individuals claimed that they found Izell Henry in a roadside ditch about a mile from his home in Greensburg, Louisiana, on July 28, 1954. They transported him to Lallie Kemp Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

David Pitts, Albert Pitts, Marshall Johns, Ernest McPharland: On July 23, 1960, an individual shot and killed four of his employees in Monroe, Louisiana.

New York Division:

Jimmy Powell: On July 16, 1964, Jimmy Powell was fifteen years old when he was shot and killed by a police officer in New York City for allegedly charging at the officer with a knife.

San Antonio Division:

Preston Bolden: On May 8, 1953, Preston Bolden was found dead in the vicinity of 419 Nolan, in the proximity of the 600 block of North Walnut Street in San Antonio, Texas, near a railroad track. Bolden’s neck was broken.

Ann Thomas: Ann Thomas’ partially-clothed body was found on April 8, 1969, near the intersection of Rotary Street and Hamil in San Antonio, Texas. She had been sexually assaulted and shot four times in the head.

Ladislado Ureste: Ladislado Ureste was found on April 22, 1953, by a police officer near Concepcion Park in San Antonio, Texas. He was taken to a local hospital where he died.
 

IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING NEXT OF KIN FOR ANY OF THESE VICTIMS, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL FBI OFFICE OR THE NEAREST AMERICAN EMBASSY OR CONSULATE.

ROBERT S. MUELLER, III DIRECTOR FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535 TELEPHONE: (202) 324-3000

I’ve really enjoyed reading the Gazette’s look at cold cases over the past few weeks. It’s hard enough to have a loved one murdered, but not to know who did it or have any closure would be unbearable.

Here’s a 30-year-old murder case that was solved with the help of some new technology from the FBI.

May 1977. A man is beaten to death in a suburb of San Diego. Police find a smudged latent print at the scene and search it against California state fingerprint files. No match is found, no leads developed, no suspect identified.

May 2007. The investigating agency—the Escondido Police Department—creates a cold case squad and reopens the 1977 murder case. This time around, law enforcement is able to take advantage of an investigative tool that was not in existence 30 years earlier—the FBI’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) that ties together fingerprint records from around the country. Several hits are made in IAFIS and a suspect is identified.

This is just one example of the thousands of cases investigated every year by state and local law enforcement around the country that get an assist from IAFIS. It was also the case chosen by our Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division to receive its 2008 IAFIS “Hit of the Year” award presented late last year.

The Hit of the Year is the brainchild of our CJIS Division, which created the award in 2007 in response to a survey of law enforcement agencies that were asking for more details of major cases solved when IAFIS identified latent prints. The award, presented annually at the International Association for Identification conference, was given out for the first time in 2007. Details about the award-winning case are also published in a CJIS publication available online to all law enforcement.

The Escondido case was selected for recognition because of the persistence of the cold case squad members and the California state fingerprint analyst. Their efforts led to not only an identification but an arrest as well…30 years after the murder.

Here are some of the case details.

Shortly after the Escondido Police Department cold case squad was formed, the team began looking into the 1977 murder. In addition to two homicide detectives, members of the team included two retired officers—one who had actually been on patrol in Escondido the night of the murder—and a retired FBI agent.

The squad interviewed more than 30 people across the country and reviewed crime scene photos. They also submitted photographs of the smudged print to the California Department of Justice, where a latent print analyst checked state databases as well as the Bureau’s IAFIS.

Within 16 minutes, IAFIS kicked out 20 possible matches for comparison. The state analyst determined a definite match—to a convicted murderer who had been arrested in several states and was currently living in Reno, Nevada, out on lifetime parole after the murder of a Reno woman.  

The suspect was arrested by Reno authorities and extradited to San Diego. He pled guilty to the murder of the Escondido man and is now back in prison, where he belongs.

Looking for nominations.

If you work at a police department and you think you’ve got a great case for consideration for the 2009 Hit of the Year, e-mail the details to the CJIS Division’s Latent Technology Development Team at ltdt@leo.gov. The award will be presented in August at the International Association for Identification conference in Tampa. Best of luck!