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For Immediate Release
August 24, 2007
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Washington D.C.
FBI National Press Office
(202) 324-3691
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FBI’S TOP TEN NEWS STORIES
FOR THE WEEK ENDING AUGUST 24, 2007
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. Full
Story
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. Full Story
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. Full Story
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. Full
Story
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. Full Story
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. Full Story
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. Full
Story
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. Full
Story
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. Full Story
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. Full
Story
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