Hackers Who Broke Into Gambling Machines Cleared of Federal Charges Two gambling hackers who took advantage of a software bug in modern gambling machines have been cleared of federal charges just in time for the Thanksgiving holidays. On Friday morning, November 21st, a federal judge cleared John Kane, 55, and Andre Nestor, 42, of all federal charges, including wire fraud and computer fraud. The two were arrested in July 2009 at the Silverton Casino Lodge in Las Vegas for hacking into some of the video poker machines to win a small fortune. … [Read more...]
Five Points Shooter Arraigned for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm
November 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Man Who Paralyzed USC Student in Five Points Shooting in Federal Court for Charges of Felon in Possession of a Firearm The suspect charged with accidentally shooting and paralyzing a USC student after firing a gun in Five Points has been denied bond after receiving federal charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Michael Juan Smith, 20, was in court on Tuesday, November 19th, for violating federal law stating that convicted felons cannot possess firearms. He entered a plea of not guilty, but was denied bond. On October 13th, … [Read more...]
Internet Pimp Gets 14 Years for Federal Charges
November 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Federal Charges of Racketeering and Child Prostitution Land “Internet Pimp” in Prison A man that, according to authorities, was beaten as a young child into joining the Bloods street gang, has been sentenced to serve 14 years in federal prison on serious federal charges, including racketeering. Joshua Kitt, aka “Metro,” 24 years old, pleaded guilty to the charges in April, and was sentenced on Monday, November 18th, in a South Carolina federal court. Evidence presented at Kitt’s trial showed that, although the young man was forced to … [Read more...]
More People Sought in Massive Bank Fraud Ring
November 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment
More Suspects Sought in Huge South Carolina Bank Fraud Operation On Thursday, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department announced that they had uncovered more suspects in a massive bank fraud scheme. Nine suspects have been arrested so far. The latest investigations into the bank fraud ring uncovered almost 90 individuals who had been recruited to open new bank accounts with TD Bank, Wells Fargo, and Wood Forest Bank in South Carolina. Opening an account cost as little as $100, then accounts were established and a book of starter checks were … [Read more...]
Ohio Jury Finds Mystery Man Guilty of $100 Million Charity Fraud Case
November 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Jury Finds Man Guilty of $100 Million Navy Charity Fraud Case Out of Florida On Thursday, November 14th, an Ohio jury found a man guilty of charity fraud to the tune of $100 million, based on a business he set up in Florida to raise funds for Navy veterans. The man is referred to in much of the trial as “Mr. X,” because of some confusion about his name. He claims he is a man named Bobby Thompson, but prosecutors and authorities both say that he is actually a former attorney named John Donald Cody. Authorities traced the name Bobby … [Read more...]
Three More Men Plead Guilty in Jonathan Pinson Federal Kickback Case
November 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Former SC State Trustees Plead Guilty in Federal Kickback Charges Related to Jonathan Pinson’s Case Three men have pleaded guilty to charges related to Jonathan Pinson’s federal kickback trial. The men – Lancelot Wright, Robert Williams, and Phillip Mims – pleaded guilty on Wednesday, November 6th, in a federal court in Charleston, SC. Prosecutors allege that the three falsified invoices and used loans for purposes other than what they were intended for, part of which was to purchase land in Jonathan Pinson’s federal … [Read more...]
Federal Judge Denies Brett Parker’s New Trial Request
November 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Brett Parker and Associate’s Gambling Case Will Not Receive a New Trial On Tuesday, November 5th, a federal judge denied a request for Brett Parker and his business associates, his father Jack Parker and Douglas E. Taylor. In September, the three men were found guilty of running an illegal gambling operation. Brett Parker’s attorneys asked for a new trial in the wake of allegations against a key witness for the prosecution, who is now undergoing his own federal fraud trial. US District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie filed a 19-page order on … [Read more...]
Blythewood Businesswoman Faces Breach of Trust Charges
November 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Businesswoman in Blythewood, SC Faces Breach of Trust Charges Involving State Contract Just two weeks prior, New Venue Technologies was honored for being one of the top performing businesses in South Carolina; as of Friday, November 1st, the company’s president is in jail on charges of breach of trust for stealing state money. The State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) arrested Terris Shirelle Riley, 39, of Blythewood on breach of trust charges – specifically, breach of trust with fraudulent intent involving $10,000 or more. The maximum … [Read more...]
