To celebrate 2008 coming to a close, we're publishing the list of the FBI's most amazing arrests or convictions for what is now last year. Pessimists might see the list as a sign of troubled times, but optimists should see this as a job well done.
Enjoy and happy New Year from the folks that make you want to say, OhMyGov!
JANUARY
Kansas City: Islamic Charity Charged With Terrorist Financing; Former US Congressman Charged With Money Laundering
The
Islamic American Relief Agency (IARA) and several of its former
officers were charged with engaging in prohibited financial
transactions. Also charged in the case was former U.S. Congressman Mark
Deli Siljander. Full Story
Miami: Jose Padilla and Others Sentenced on Terrorism Charges
Jose
Padilla, Adham Amin Hassoun, and Kifah Wael Jayyousi were sentenced on
charges of conspiracy to murder, kidnap and maim as well as for providing material
support to terrorists. Full Story
Boston: Indictment for Threatening to Use Weapons of Mass Destruction
Michael
A. Crooker was indicted on charges of possession of toxins (ricin and
abrin) and threatening to use weapons of mass destruction against
federal officials. Full Story
FEBRUARY
New York: 62 Organized Crime Members and Associates Indicted on 30 Year Crime Span
As
a result of a massive coordinated law enforcement initiative, sixty-two
defendants associated with the Gambino, Genovese and Bonanno organized
crime families were charged with three decades worth of crimes. Full Story
Washington Field Office: DOD Employee Arrested in Chinese Espionage Case
Gregg
William Bergersen, a Weapons Systems Policy Analyst at the Defense
Security Cooperation Agency, Department of Defense, was arrested for
passing classified documents to the People’s Republic of China. Full Story
Miami: Five Individuals Indicted for $200 Million Hedge Fund Fraud
Michael
Lauer, founder of Lancer Group Hedge Fund, and four others were
indicted on conspiracy and wire fraud charges in a $200 million hedge
fund fraud. Full Story
MARCH
New Haven: Former Sailor Found Guilty of Terror Ties
Hassan
Abu-Jihaad, formerly known as Paul R. Hall, was found guilty of
disclosing classified information related to national defense and
providing material support to an organization having ties to al-Qaeda. Full Story
Cincinnati: Financial Enterprise Executives Found Guilty in $3 Billion Fraud Scheme
Five
former executives of National Century Financial Enterprises were found
guilty of conspiracy, fraud and money laundering in a $3 billion
security fraud scheme. Full Story
San Juan: Governor Indicted on Public Corruption Charges
Puerto
Rico Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila and 12 associates were charged on a
27-count indictment which include federal program fraud, tax crimes,
and conspiracy. Full Story
APRIL
Chicago: Indictment for Stealing Trade Secrets Bound for China
Hanjuan
Jin, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in China, was indicted on charges
of stealing business trade secrets from her employer, a
telecommunications company, and attempting to take them to China. Full Story
Washington Field Office: $960,000 Settlement in Sale of Defective Bulletproof Vests
Protective Products International Inc. has agreed to pay the U.S. $960,000 for selling defective Zylon bulletproof vests. Full Story
Tampa: Egyptian Students Face Terrorism Charges
Ahmed
Abdellatif Sherif Mohamed and Youssef Samir Megahed were charged with
possession of explosive materials, a destructive device and a
bomb-making video. Full Story
MAY
Washington Field Office: Guilty Plea in Espionage Charge Involving China
Tai Shen Kuo pled guilty to conspiracy to deliver national defense information to the People’s Republic of China. Full Story
New York: Guilty Plea in Fraud Scheme Involving Adoption of Disabled Children
Judith
Leekin pled guilty to fraudulently obtaining $1.68 million of adoption
subsidies to care for adopted children and using the funds for her
lavish lifestyle while keeping the children restrained in their beds. Full Story (pdf)
Newark: Former Mayor Pleads Guilty
Former
New Jersey Assemblyman and Orange Mayor Mims Hackett, Jr. pled guilty
to accepting a bribe in exchange for using his official influence as
mayor. Full Story (pdf)
JUNE
Washington Field Office: Congressional Chief of Staff Pleads Guilty
John
C. Albaugh, former Chief of Staff to Member of the U.S. House of
Representatives, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services
wire fraud. Full Story
Operation Malicious Mortgage Nets 406 Individuals
Charges in Operation Malicious Mortgage, a nationwide takedown of
mortgage fraud schemes which inflicted approximately $1 billion in
losses, were brought in every region of the country. Full Story
JULY
Anchorage: State Senator Indicted on Public Corruption Charges
A
federal investigation into public corruption in the State of Alaska led
to the indictment of John Cowdery on bribery and conspiracy charges. Full Story
Columbia: Mayor Indicted for Public Corruption
Union
Mayor E. Bruce Morgan and Union Building and Zoning Director Jeffery
Lawson were indicted for conspiring to extort bribes from contractors
seeking business with the city. Full Story
AUGUST
Anchorage: U.S. Senator Indicted
Theodore F. Stevens was charged with making false statements on his U.S. Senate financial disclosure forms. Full Story
Army Scientist Sole Culprit in Anthrax Attacks
Army scientist, Bruce Ivins, was determined to have acted alone in the 2001 anthrax attacks which killed five people. Full Story
Houston: U.S. District Judge Charged
U.S.
District Judge Samuel B. Kent was charged with the attempted aggravated
sexual assault and abusive sexual contact of a Deputy Clerk assigned to
his courtroom. Full Story
SEPTEMBER
175 Cartel Members and Associates Arrested
Project
Reckoning, a multi-agency law enforcement effort targeting the Gulf
Cartel, resulted in the arrest of 175 individuals, and the seizure of
$60 million and more than 40 tons of illegal drugs. Full Story
Norfolk: Physicist Arrested for Illegally Exporting Space Launch Data to China
Dr.
Shu Quan-Sheng, President of AMAC International, a high-tech company,
was arrested for illegally exporting hydrogen liquefier technical data
to the People’s Republic of China and bribing Chinese government
officials. Full Story
OCTOBER
San Diego: Former CIA Executive Director Pleads Guilty
Former
Central Intelligence Executive Director Kyle “Dusty” Foggo pled guilty
to using his position to cause the CIA to hire companies in which he
had a personal interest. Full Story
FBI Coordinates Global Effort to Nab “Dark Market” Cyber Criminals
A
two year undercover operation, Dark Market, which joined forces with
international law enforcement, resulted in 56 arrests and $70 million
in economic loss prevention. Full Story
Washington Field Office: Chuckie Taylor Convicted
In
the first U.S. case to charge an individual with criminal torture, Roy
Belfast Jr. aka Chuckie Taylor, son of former Liberian President
Charles Taylor, was convicted of torturing people in Liberia. Full Story
NOVEMBER
Little Rock: Chief of Police Indicted
Former Sheridan Police Chief David Hooks was charged with embezzling city funds. Full Story
Los Angeles: ICE Official and Wife Indicted on 75 Additional Charges
ICE
Assistant Chief Counsel Constantine Peter Kallas and his wife, Maria
Kallas, were charged in a 75-count superseding indictment in connection
with a scheme to take bribes from immigrants seeking citizenship. Full Story
Dallas: Holy Land Foundation and Leaders Convicted
The
Holy Land Foundation of Relief and Development and five of its leaders
were found guilty of illegally funneling at least $12 million to the
Palestinian terrorist group, Hamas. Full Story
DECEMBER
Birmingham: Mayor and Others Indicted
Birmingham
Mayor Larry P. Langford; lobbyist Albert W. LaPierre; and investment
banker William B. Blount were indicted in connection with a
long-running bribery scheme. Full Story
Chicago: Illinois Governor Arrested
Governor
Rod R. Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff John Harris were arrested on
federal corruption charges including conspiring to trade or sell the
Illinois’ Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. Full Story
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