Sex Trafficking Arrests from Multistate Crackdown On Monday, June 23rd, the FBI crackdown sex trafficking arrests lead them to save several children across multiple states in the country, reportedly rescuing 168 children. In addition to the children saved from sex trafficking – many of whom had never been reported missing – the FBI stated that they had arrested 281 pimps and arrested on federal charges. "These are not faraway kids in faraway lands," FBI Director James Comey said in announcing the annual enforcement push known as … [Read more...]
Lexington County Sheriff Indicted on Bribery, Wire Fraud Charges
June 20, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Sheriff Metts Indicted on Federal Charges of Bribery, Wire Fraud South Carolina’s longest-serving sheriff has been indicted on federal charges, including wire fraud and bribery, making him the 8th sheriff in the last 4 years to face federal charges or an investigation in the state. According to US Attorney Bill Nettles, 68-year-old Lexington County Sheriff James Metts faces 10 charges of accepting bribes, as well as federal charges of wire fraud and conspiracy. The 28-page indictment states that Metts allowed friends to buy favors, … [Read more...]
Strippers in Connection with Credit Card Scam Face Federal Charges
June 14, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Criminal Ring of Adult Entertainers Face Federal Charges for Credit Card Theft Federal authorities arrested four women in connection with a scam ring made up of adult entertainers in New York City, who stole credit card information, drugged their clients, and ran up extravagant bills. The women face several federal charges, including grand larceny and conspiracy. Samantha Barbash, 40, Roselyn Keo, 29, Marsi Rosen, 28, and Karina Pascucci, 26, were four of the ringleaders involved in the credit card scam. Barbash, Keo, and Rosen were … [Read more...]
Freddie Grant’s Federal Charges Appeal Denied
June 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Judges Affirm Freddie Grant’s Federal Charges Conviction On Tuesday, June 3rd, three judges upheld Freddie Grant’s conviction on federal charges including possession of ammo as a convicted criminal. Last April, Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Grant to 17 years in prison on the federal charges, based in part upon Grant's long history of criminal behavior. Reportedly, Grant has been committing armed and violent crimes since he was 20 years old. Grant was convicted of assault with grievous bodily harm, as well as possession with intent … [Read more...]
Ex-Banker Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud, Other Charges
June 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Ex-Banker, Presumed Dead, Pleads Guilty to Multiple Bank Fraud Charges A former banker from Georgia, who disappeared for two years and was declared dead before being discovered, pleaded guilty to 17 counts of bank fraud, securities fraud, and wire fraud, on Thursday, June 5th. Price was indicted by the Southern District of Georgia and the Eastern District of New York after he successfully defraud dozens of investors and a bank. Now that he has pleaded guilty to the federal charges, Price faces up to 30 years in prison, plus millions of … [Read more...]
Former Charlotte Mayor Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud
June 5, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Former Mayor of Charlotte, NC Pleads Guilty to One Charge of Wire Fraud After a meteoric and much-applauded rise to power and fame, and a short 6 month stint in the mayor’s office, former Charlotte, NC Mayor Patrick Cannon has pleaded guilty to one federal charge of wire fraud. His single guilty plea in federal court was to one count of honest services wire fraud, which carries a potential sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Cannon was arrested in March on federal charges for wire fraud, bribery, and extortion. An FBI … [Read more...]
Additional Federal Charges Issued in Boston Marathon Bombing
June 3, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Arrest Leads to Additional Federal Charges in Boston Marathon Bombing A fourth acquaintance of the Boston Marathon Bomber has been arrested and indicted on federal charges of conspiracy and obstruction of justice, according to federal investigators. In an indictment unsealed on Friday, May 30th, 23-year-old Khairullozhon Matanov of Quincy, Mass, was charged with one count of destroying, altering, and falsifying records, documents, and material objects in a federal investigation. Reportedly, Matanov deleted information from his computer … [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...]
Ringling Bros Racketeering Lawsuit Settled
May 22, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Humane Society Agrees to Settle Racketeering Lawsuit Against Ringling Bros Circus On Thursday, May 15th, the Humane Society of the United States has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed 14 years ago against Feld Entertainment, the parent company of Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus, for $15.75 million. In retaliation, Feld filed a racketeering lawsuit against the animal rights groups. The Humane Society, along with other animal rights groups, filed a lawsuit against the entertainment company primarily because of unsubstantiated … [Read more...]
Man Sentenced for Sending Ricin Letters to President
May 21, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Man Receives Federal Sentence for Sending Ricin Letters to President Obama After extensive wrangling with his plea deal, James Everett Dutsche was sentenced on Tuesday, May 20th, to 25 years in federal prison, after a one year trial, for sending ricin-laced letters to President Obama. The 42-year-old Dutsche was a martial arts instructor before his arrest. Prosecutors said that he attempted to frame another man for the ricin letters, which he sent to the president, a senator, and a judge. He changed his story several times in the last week, … [Read more...]
