Former Professor at Georgia Tech Indicted on Racketeering Charges for Funneling $1 Million Into His Company On December 30th, a former professor at Georgia Tech was indicted on racketeering charges for using the college’s funds to funnel $1 million in equipment into his personal business. Joy Laskar faces two counts of racketeering for allegedly stealing $1 million from Georgia Tech. He was indicted by a Fulton County Grand Jury. Laskar worked as the director of the Georgia Electronic Design Center (GEDC) at Georgia Tech, and began … [Read more...]
Warners Bros Faces Racketeering Lawsuit for “The Conjuring”
March 28, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Major Hollywood Producing Studio Warners Bros Faces Racketeering Lawsuit Warner Bros and New Line Cinema, two major Hollywood production companies, face a racketeering lawsuit filed by a film producer over “The Conjuring” and its sequels. Producer Tony DeRosa-Grund has been battling Warner Bros for the past year over a rights dispute in “The Conjuring,” and has now added racketeering charges to the lawsuit against the Hollywood giant, filed in Texas. The racketeering charges claim that New Line Cinema LLC, a subsidiary of Warner Bros, … [Read more...]
3 Men Guilty of Federal Fraud Charges for Defrauding Shaw Air Force Base
March 6, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Three Men Plead Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges for Defrauding Shaw Air Force On Wednesday, October 1st, three men who had construction contracts with Shaw Air Force Base pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges that they committed contractor fraud. James Autry "Audi" Clemens, 60, of Johnston; Larry Baker, 64, of Cameron; and Steven Crandall, 59, of Salisbury, N.C., pleaded guilty to charges of theft of government funds, and one count of money laundering, in connection with the fraud scheme. Reportedly, the men inflated the costs of … [Read more...]
Former Union Boss Begins Racketeering and Conspiracy Trial
January 9, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Trial Begins for Former Ironworkers Union Leader for Racketeering and Conspiracy On Monday, January 5th, a former Union boss for the Ironworkers Local 401 in Philadelphia went to trial for federal charges including intimidation, racketeering and conspiracy. Other defendants in the case opted to a plea deal, so “the Don” will stand trial alone. According to federal prosecutors, 73-year-old Joseph Dougherty created “goon squads” within the ironworkers’ union, which he used to threaten builders, smash beams, and burn down jobsites if potential … [Read more...]
Uber, Lyft Face Racketeering Charges in Connecticut
May 30, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Ridesharing Services Uber and Lyft Charged with Racketeering by Cab Companies In Connecticut, two booming ridesharing services, Uber and Lyft, face charges of racketeering in a lawsuit filed by cab and livery companies, which allege that the two ridesharing services “prey parasitically” on established businesses. The Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) gives the government discretion to investigate and prosecute the operation of an illegal business or enterprise, including a fraudulent scam, for an individual or … [Read more...]
Allstate Awarded $3.8 Million in RICO Trial
April 28, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Allstate Insurance Awarded $3.8 Million in Trial Against RICO Violators After a 6-week jury trial, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas ruled that defendants in a RICO violations trial would pay $3.8 million to Allstate, whom they defrauded. The jury found Michael Kent Plambeck, D.C., Jennifer Giessner, Douglas Friedman, Randal Toca, and other persons and entities guilty of racketeering, in violation of the Federal Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), and the Ohio Corrupt Practices … [Read more...]
White Supremacist Pleads Guilty to RICO Charges
March 13, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Leader of Aryan Nation Pleads Guilty to RICO Charges The leader of the Aryan Brotherhood in Texas has pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, or RICO, charges that included murder, kidnapping, and drug trafficking. On Friday, March 7th, Larry Max Bryan, who goes by the nickname “Slick,” pleaded guilty to RICO charges in federal court in Houston. He faces up to 25 years in prison for his crimes. According to the RICO filings, he orchestrated several crimes from prison. The 52-year-old RICO suspect has spent all but 5 years of his adult … [Read more...]
“Goodfellas” Mobsters Arrested on RICO Charges for 1978 Lufthansa Heist
January 29, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Criminals Who Inspired “Goodfellas” Arrested on RICO Charges Related to Lufthansa Heist in 1978 Five men believed to be mobsters have been arrested by federal authorities on RICO charges related to a 1978 heist of a Lufthansa flight at the John F. Kennedy Airport in New York. The heist landed the gang members around $5 million in cash, and $1 million in jewels, which is worth about $20 million today. The December 11th, 1978 heist was one of the largest cash thefts in US history, and was referenced in the 1990 film “Goodfellas.” On … [Read more...]
Guilty Verdict Issued in First RICO Cybercrime Case
December 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Man Charged with RICO Cybercrimes Over the Internet Ruled Guilty A young man from Arizona was arrested for RICO crimes involving identity theft, and is the first person in the US to be found guilty of cybercrime using federal racketeering legislation. David Ray Camez, 22, was convicted by a federal jury in Las Vegas on Friday, December 6th, under the Racketeering and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). The verdict came after a three-week trial, in which Camez was charged for identity theft under RICO laws for stealing identities through his … [Read more...]
Lee County Ex-Sheriff Convicted by Federal Jury
November 15, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Lee County Ex-Sheriff E.J. Melvin was convicted of more than 30 drug conspiracy and racketeering charges, according to Fox News. Melvin was arrested in May of this year after the FBI obtained several wire tap recordings which showed Melvin was planning to organize a drug bust, take possession of the drugs, and then redistribute them. Melvin's attorney Jack Swerling stated that Melvin was playing along with undercover agents in an effort to protect his confidential informants. He further stated witnesses for the prosecution could not be … [Read more...]
