Success Stories

Chicago RCFL

Somali Sentenced in Plot to Destroy Ohio Shopping Mall - A Somali immigrant was sentenced to 10 years in prison for plotting to blow up an Ohio shopping mall along with another man who was also convicted of being a terrorist with Al Qadea. The Chicago RCFL (CGRCFL) supported a federal joint task force investigating the crime, and one of its Examiners from the Will County Sheriff’s Office, made significant contributions toward indicting Nuradin M. Abdi, 35, formerly of Columbus, Ohio. Click here to read the full story.

Former Illinois Governor George Ryan Sentenced (Chicago, IL) Although former Illinois Governor George Ryan was sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison in 2006 for accepting cash, gifts, free vacations, and favors in exchange for government contracts while in office—he has yet to serve one day in jail. That could soon change as Ryan’s appeals have run their course, and U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer set a date of November 7, 2007 for Ryan to report to prison along with co-defendant Larry Warner... (Posted: 11/01/07)

Guilty: The Public Corruption Trial of Chicago Mayor’s Former Aide n class="blacknormal">Chicago Mayor Richard Daley’s ex-patronage chief Robert Sorich, 43, was convicted of two counts of mail fraud and acquitted of two counts of mail fraud on July 6, ending a five-week jury trial. Jurors convicted two other former officials of mail fraud, and a fourth was convicted of lying to an FBI agent... (Posted: 07/13/06)

CHICAGO RCFL AIDS IN THE CONVICTION OF A CHILD PORNOGRAPHER One year ago, Barry Eytcheson, an unemployed computer engineer, was arrested for allegedly sharing child pornography over the Internet, and later admitted that he had collected child pornography for years. Investigators working with the Chicago RCFL, also learned that Eytcheson made a sexually explicit video and took lewd photographs of a child between June and November 2004... (Posted: 5/17/2006)

Former Trader Receives Heavy Sentence Although it appeared to be a suicide, an investigation supported by the CGRCFL that was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Chicago Police Department (a CGRCFL participating agency), and the U.S. Attorney's Office revealed a far different conclusion... (Posted: 03/01/06)

Greater Houston RCFL

GUILTY: JURY CONVICTS TWO TOP ENRON EXECUTIVES After six days of deliberations, a jury convicted Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling of conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud in one of the biggest business scandals in U.S. history. Lay was also convicted of bank fraud and making false statements to banks in a separate trial non-jury trial (regarding his personal banking) before U.S. District Judge Sim Lake ... (Posted: 05/25/06).

SENTENCED: EX-ENRON CFO LEARNS FATE Former Enron Chief Financial Officer Andrew Fastow learned his fate after pleading guilty to a variety of charges related to the company’s collapse in 2004. Click here to read the full story... (Posted 09/27/06)

Heart of America RCFL

RCFL Program Named "Honorable Mention" in Government Computer News Awards - The RCFL Program's Case Agent Investigative Review initiative was named honorable mention in the annual Government Computer News (GCN) Awards--the only Department of Justice winner in this year's competition. According to its website, the GCN Awards, now in their 21st year, "recognize federal, state and local government for extraordinary IT accomplishments and significant contributions to the performance of their agencies." Click here to view a full list of the 10 winners and 10 honorable mentions.

Jury Sentences Lisa Montgomery to Death – A federal jury convicted Lisa Montgomery, 39, for the murder of 23-year Bobbi Jo Stinnett, and for kidnapping her unborn baby. Digital evidence helped lead investigators to Montgomery – with help from Examiners assigned to the Heart of America RCFL. Click here for the full story.

Alleged Abduction Was a Hoax On April 11, 2006, 16-year old Kelsey Stelting placed a frantic 9-1-1 call, claiming that she was abducted at gunpoint while outside her Independence, Missouri home. An Amber Alert was issued, and the FBI brought in 30 agents to join police and county officers in the search. The Heart of America RCFL was part of the team – as is often the case when an Amber Alert is issued within an RCFL’s service area. Now safely at home, the teenager admitted that it was all a hoax. Click here to read a joint statement from the Independence Police Department and the FBI. (Posted: 4/14/06).

Intermountain West RCFL

CONVICTED CHILD KILLER SENTENCED TO DEATH Convicted pedophile and child murderer Joseph Edward Duncan III was sentenced to death – click here to read the full story and how the Intermountain West RCFL supported this investigation.

Warren Steed Jeffs Found Guilty St. George Utah - On September 25, 2007, the trial of Warren Steed Jeffs, leader of a polygamous sect, ended with a guilty conviction. The eight-member state jury rendered a unanimous verdict—finding Jeffs guilty as an accomplice for the rape of a 14-year old follower to her 19-year old cousin. The young woman, now 21, testified that she was forced into the marriage which led to nonconsensual sex. After the trial ended, she spoke outside the courthouse and said, "The trial has not been about religion nor a vendetta. It is simply about child abuse and preventing further abuse." Under Utah law, even with parental consent, a 14-year old is not permitted to marry.

Miami Valley RCFL

Terrorism Suspect Pleads Guilty Christopher Paul, 44, a U.S. citizen born in Columbus, Ohio pleaded guilty on June 3, 2008 of "conspiring with others to use a weapon of mass destruction against targets in Europe and the U.S. He will serve 20 years in prison. The Miami Valley RCFL provided digital forensics support to the Southern Ohio Joint Terrorism Task Force, which conducted the five-year worldwide investigation. Click here to read the press release issued by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio.

New Jersey RCFL

Bilski Sentenced May 30, 2008 - Clement Bilski, 45, was sentenced to 80 years in New Jersey State prison with a minimum period of parole ineligibility of 61 years. Bilski was convicted of 143 counts, of which there were 52 counts of first degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, 15 counts of second degree Sexual Assault, 74 counts of second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child (filming) one count of third degree Promoting Obscene Material and one count of third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child (sexual conduct). All 143 counts involved the same victim and occurred between 1998-2003, when the victim was between the ages of two and six. The New Jersey RCFL was part of a task force, along with two of its participating agencies, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey State Police, which supported the investigation. Read more.

North Texas RCFL

Holy Land Conviction Five former leaders of a U.S.-based Muslim charity were recently convicted of funding more than $12 million to the Palestinians terrorist group Hamas. The North Texas RCFL supported the investigation - examining approximately 500 computers and an Examiner testified in Federal court. Click here to learn more.

Philadelphia RCFL

Philadelphia News Anchor Sentenced Former TV anchor Larry Mendte, 51, a well-known media personality in Philadelphia, completed his fall from grace after being sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mary A. McLaughlin to six months of house arrest. Mendte pleaded guilty in federal court for hacking into former colleague Alycia Lane’s s mail account and reading over 500 personal and confidential messages. The Philadelphia RCFL supported the investigation – click here for the full story.

Edward Anderton Sentenced for Identity Fraud Sentenced

November 14, 2008 - Edward Anderton, one-half of the aptly name “Bonnie & Clyde of Identity Fraud,” received a four-year prison sentence for stealing personal information from friends, co-workers and neighbors to support a lavish lifestyle. The Philadelphia RCFL is supporting the investigation – click here to read the full story.

Michael Curtis Reynolds of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for offering to help al-Qaida detonate propane trucks along the Trans-Alaskan and Transcontinental Pipelines, along with blowing up the Standard Oil company in Perth Amboy, New Jersey and the Williams Refinery in Opal, Wyoming. The Philadelphia RCFL provided support to this case. Click here to read the full story.

Rocky Mountain RCFL

Rocky Mountain RCFL is Recognized for Outstanding Work - The Adams County (Colorado) District Attorney praised the work of the Rocky Mountain Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory (RMRCFL) in a press release dated January 30, 2007. The investigation involved unlawful sexual contact--click here to learn more.

San Diego RCFL

Federal Courthouse Bombing Two people plead guilty to bombing the U.S. Courthouse in San Diego that occurred on May 4, 2008. The San Diego RCFL (SDRCFL) supported the FBI investigation – performing audiovisual analysis of footage from courthouse cameras. Click here to read the press released issued by the FBI Press Office.

09/26/08: Prison Time for Man on Drug and Porn Charges SAN DIEGO - A San Diego man who sold 250 grams of cocaine and received obscene material on his computer was sentenced Friday to more than 11 years in federal prison. William Edward Fessler, 37, also known as Kareem Montano, had been charged with distribution of cocaine base and transportation of obscene matter. He pleaded guilty July 1. Fessler's 135-month sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw.

International Child Pornography Ring Busted Dubbed “Operation Hamlet,” the investigation of an international child pornography ring led by the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and supported by the SDRCFL - who invested over 500 man hours in this investigation - was dismantled, with one of the main participants recently sentenced to life in prison... (Posted: 03/06/06)

Former Congressman Sentenced Ex-Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham was sentenced on March 3rd to 8 years and four months in prison for conspiring to commit bribery, honest services fraud, and tax evasion. The SDRCFL supported this investigation... (Posted: 03/06/06)

Western New York RCFL

December 18, 2008: Child Predator Pleads Guilty Admitted child predator Mitchell W. Brokob pleaded guilty to four counts of predatory sexual assault against a child, one count of kidnapping second degree and one count of kidnapping second degree as a sexually motivated felony. He kidnapped and sexual assaulted a 12-year old North Tonawanda girl. The Western New York RCFL supported the investigation - click here for the full story.

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