Law Enforcement News

Defense Contractor Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud

2009-05-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

A defense contractor has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and has admitted to engaging in other bribery-related conduct in connection with contracts in Iraq. According to the plea agreement filed in the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia on Dec. 18, 2007, and unsealed today, Diana Bakir Demilta, a U.S. citizen, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.

MOB BOSS SENTENCED TO LIFE

2009-03-03T01:18:00.000-08:00

The Department of Justice announced on Monday that Colombo organized crime family acting boss Alphonse “Allie Boy” Persico and administration member John “Jackie” DeRoss were sentenced to life imprisonment for their roles in the 1999 murder of Colombo underboss William “Wild Bill” Cutolo, and for tampering with witnesses.During an eight-week trial in late 2007, the evidence established that

Former L.A. Ram Kicker Charged with Rape

2008-07-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

A former pro-football kicker with the L.A. Rams was arrested Thursday on a felony warrant charging him with drugging a female patron at his popular Pomona sports bar and raping her.Zendejas, who retired in 1995 after playing for 10 seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, Houston Oilers, Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers, was arrested early this morning at his Yorba Linda home by Los Angeles

California Man Indicted for Distribution and Possesion of Child Pornography

2008-06-28T16:39:00.000-07:00

Michael Edward Turman, 29, Bakersfield, California was indicted by a federal grand jury, charged with one count of receiving and distributing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.According to Assistant United States Attorney Sherrill A. Carvalho, who is prosecuting the case, from September 28, 2006 until June 16, 2008, Turman possessed, received and distributed images

Maryland Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Receiving Child Pornography Through the Internet

2008-06-28T16:27:00.000-07:00

Scott Carpenter, 44, Dundalk, Maryland, was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison for receipt of child pornography.Carpenter pleaded guilty on April 15, 2008, one day after his criminal trial in Baltimore began on charges of receipt of child pornography, transportation of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. The charges were developed through an FBI investigation

46 Gang Members and Associates Arrested

2008-06-28T14:18:00.000-07:00

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested 46 street gang members and associates during a three-day effort in Richmond, Virginia that ended yesterday as part of an ongoing national program called "Operation Community Shield."Of those arrested, 20 were known gang members and 21 were identified gang associates affiliated with the MS-13, Sur-13, Latin Kings, and Vatos Locos

Texas Man sentenced to Prison for Child Pornography

2008-06-28T13:40:00.000-07:00

Kevin D. Moore, 45, Grand Prairie, Texas, was sentenced on Thursday to a total of 30 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release. Moore was convicted by a Dallas federal jury in March on one count of transporting and shipping child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography.In September 2005, Moore traveled to Ottawa, Canada, with a laptop computer that contained movie

Former City Councilman Pleads No Contest to Child Molestation

2008-06-28T13:37:00.000-07:00

A former Gardena City Councilman was sentenced to eight years in state prison after pleading no contest today to child molestation and continuous sexual abuse of a minor.Oscar Medrano Jr., who served as a Gardena city councilman from March 2003 until he resigned March 11, entered the plea prior to the start of his preliminary hearing. He was immediately sentenced by Torrance Superior Court

Heroes to be Honored

2008-06-24T14:27:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles County District District Attorney Steve Cooley to honor four citizens for the courages actions.Christopher Smith-Lavezzari, 22, spotted a shoplifter chasing a store employee with a Taser gun as he walked into a Sam’s Club in Torrance, CA. Panic-stricken bystanders moved out of the way. But Smith-Lavezzari, a Staff Sargent in the U.S. Air Force, jumped into action.The airman

Man Sentenced to Seven Life Terms for Kidnapping, Rape

2008-06-24T14:16:00.000-07:00

Beverly Hills – The second of two men convicted of kidnapping and robbing a woman from a West Hollywood parking lot, and then repeatedly raping the victim for hours was sentenced today to seven life terms in prison, the District Attorney’s office announced.Denson Henderson, who won’t be eligible for parole before 352 years and four months in prison, said Deputy District Attorney Janis Johnson

Twenty-Six Members of MS-13 Indicted on Federal Racketeering Charges

2008-06-24T13:41:00.000-07:00

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Department of Justice announced today that 26 members of the violent gang known as MS-13 were charged with federal racketeering and related crimes occurring in the United States and El Salvador.The indictment alleges that from 2003 to June 2008, the defendants conspired to operate as a gang; committed four murders; formed a drug trafficking conspiracy involving cocaine

One Man Charged and One Man Convicted of Child Porn Violations

2008-06-18T00:21:00.000-07:00

The Department of Justice announced today that Matthew James Beise, 37, Buffalo, New York, was convicted of one count of transmission of child pornography and one count of mail fraud in connection with the embezzlement of more than $240,000 from a Rockford church.According to court documents, Beise served as the council treasurer for the Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rockford from 1998 to

Update: Man Who Killed Boy Was His Father

2008-06-17T06:48:00.000-07:00

More details are coming out for the shocking story out Turlock. The man who killed the toddler has been identified as the boy's father, Sergio Aguiar, 27. Saturday night Aguiar parked his gold 2002 Toyota pickup westbound in the eastbound lane, and viciously attacked his as horrified passers-bys frantically dialed 911 and tried to stop him. Aguiar seemed calm and spoke of "demons" in the boy. He

Police shoot, kill man who savagely beat toddler to death near Turlock, CA

2008-06-16T06:42:00.000-07:00

This is the most horrific and saddest thing I have read in a long time. I caution everyone before reading further that this story may be difficult to stomach.On Saturday night, in rural Turlock, California, a 27 year old crazed man stopped on the side of W. Bradberry Road, pulled a boy and his car seat out of his truck and beat him savagely. Numerous passerby's stopped and tried to intervene. Dan

FBI Seeks The Braves Cap Bandit

2008-06-12T21:35:00.000-07:00

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the conviction of a man responsible for a string of bank robberies in Northern California.The man is believed to be responsible for at least 11 bank robberies in Livermore, Fremont, Union City and Milpitas. His most recent robbery occured Tuesday at the the Comerica Bank in Milpitas.The robber is described as a clean-shaven

Texas Methamphetamine Distributors Sentenced

2008-06-12T21:23:00.000-07:00

Convicted methamphetamine distributors, Randal Reagan Whitaker, a/k/a “Bob the Builder,” and Michael Lynn Miller, Jr., a/k/a “Mumbling Mike,” were sentenced Tuesday. Whitaker received 188 months in prison, while Miller was sentenced to 85 months for his role. Each pled guilty in March to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.On December 7, 2007, an Abilene police

Oregon Man Sentenced for Interstate Travel with Intent to Engage in Sexual Acts with a Minor

2008-06-12T20:26:00.000-07:00

The Department of Justice announced today that Richard Hoyt Wales, 60, Medford, Oregon, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for interstate travel with intent to engage in sexual acts with a minor. Wales pleaded guilty to the charge on March 14, 2008 and admitted that he communicated via an internet chat room with an undercover officer posing as a mother of a 12-year-old daughter and

Missouri Man Convicted of Federal Child Pornography and Drug Charges

2008-06-10T22:48:00.000-07:00

The Department of Justice announced today that Andrew Charles Kain, Washington, Missouri, was convicted of one felony count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute within 1000 feet of a school and one felony count of possession of child pornography.Kain possessed numerous images of child pornography on his computer in March 2006, in Franklin County, and was found to be in possession

More than 100 gang members and associates nabbed in Georgia

2008-06-10T22:22:00.000-07:00

ATLANTA – More than 100 gang members and associates were arrested as a result of a state-wide initiative in Georgia led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents.Of those arrested, 122 were gang members and five were gang associates. Seven cases will be presented for federal prosecution for illegal re-entry after deportation. Nineteen were arrested for state charges and/or

Texan Sentenced to 18 Years for Child Porn

2008-06-03T22:20:00.000-07:00

Joe McDonald, 48, of Fort Worth, Texas, was sentenced May 30th to 210 months (17.5 years) in prison, the Department of Justice Announced.McDonald admitted possessing five still images from the Internet of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. All of the images involved males, including sexual contact between an adult male and an infant male child.McDonald will also be required to forfeit

Safety Awareness Community Gathering & Candlelight Vigil Scheduled for June 1, 2008

2008-05-28T17:44:00.000-07:00

On June 1, 2007, almost one year ago, Lucely “Lilly” Aramburo allegedly walked out of her fiance’s home with nothing on her feet, in her pajamas, with 2 bungee cords. She has not been seen or heard from since.Lilly’s story is one that is not unique. There are families all over the Miami area who are searching for their loved ones and are seeking answers. We hope that all families of missing

Daly City Woman Sentenced to 34 Months for Counterfeit Handbags

2008-05-28T16:58:00.000-07:00

Nancy Tan Pua, 50, of Daly City, California, was sentenced last week to 34 months in prison for her role in a scheme to sell counterfeit designer goods, including handbags, on eBay and at her store in Richmond, California.Ms. Pua pleaded guilty on February 8, 2007 to mail fraud, wire fraud, trafficking in counterfeit goods, and money laundering. According to the plea agreement, Ms. Pua admitted

Tucson Man Convicted of Child Pornography Charges

2008-05-21T18:02:00.000-07:00

Andrew Edward Flyer, 26, of Tucson, Arizona, was found guilty of two counts of Attempted Transportation and Shipping of Child Pornography and two counts of Possession of Child Pornography by a federal jury last Friday. Sentencing is set before Judge Zapata on August 11, 2008.The evidence at trial showed that on March 9 and March 10, 2004, while acting in an undercover capacity, an agent from the

California Man Sentenced to 64 Months Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

2008-05-20T13:49:00.000-07:00

The Department of Justice announce today that Gordon Jensen, 48, of Cupertino was sentenced to 64 months in prison for possessing child pornography.Jensen plead guilty on February 6, 2008, and admitted in the plea agreement that in June 2006 he had knowingly possessed images of child pornography that he had downloaded from child pornography websites. Jensen admitted possessing over 130 images of

Two Houston Men Plead to Child Pornography Charges

2008-05-19T18:07:00.000-07:00

The Department of Justice announced on Thursday that two men, Victor Saavedra and Keith Hernandez, both plead guilty to receipt of child pornography.The case against Saavedra, 55, of Houston, was initiated when a concerned mother in Pennsylvania reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that her 14-year-old daughter had been asked to send nude pictures of herself