FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending March 11, 2011
Washington, D.C.
March 11, 2011 FBI National Press Office
(202) 324-3691
1.Norfolk/New York: Thirteen Somalis and One Yemeni Indicted on Piracy, Kidnapping Charges
Thirteen Somalis and one Yemeni were indicted in Norfolk, Virginia on piracy and kidnapping charges in connection with pirating a yacht and taking hostage four U.S. citizens, who were ultimately killed before their release could be secured. Details
2.El Paso/DOJ: Thirty-Five Members and Associates of Barrio Azteca Gang Charged with Racketeering and Other Offenses, Including 10 Charged in U.S. Consulate Murders in Juarez, Mexico
Thirty-five members and associates of the Barrio Azteca gang were charged in a third superseding indictment with various counts of racketeering, murder, drug offenses, money laundering, and obstruction of justice. Details
3.Baltimore: Pakistani National Indicted in Scheme to Illegally Export Restricted Goods and Technologies to Pakistan
Nadeem Akhtar was indicted on charges related to a scheme to illegally export items that are used directly or indirectly in activities related to nuclear reactors and the processing and production of nuclear-related materials. Details
4.Seattle: Washington Man Arrested in Connection with Attempted Bombing of MLK Day Parade
Kevin William Harpham was arrested and charged in connection with the placement of the improvised explosive device alongside the planned Martin Luther King Jr. Day Unity March route on January 17, 2011, in Spokane, Washington. Details
5.Philadelphia: Colorado Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Provide Material Support to Terrorists
Jamie Paulin Ramirez, a U.S. citizen and former resident of Colorado, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists. Ramirez faces a potential maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine at sentencing. Details
6.Washington Field: East Coast Rape Task Force Arrests Suspect in New Haven
Aaron H. Thomas was arrested in connection with the East Coast Rape Cases. He allegedly committed more than 12 attacks from 1997 to 2009. Details
7.Phoenix/Tucson: Twelve Arizonans Indicted in Multi-Million-Dollar Mortgage Fraud Schemes
Two indictments were announced charging 12 Arizonans for their involvement in multi-million-dollar mortgage fraud conspiracies. The defendants fraudulently obtained more than $19 million in loans and more than $5 million in "cash back" loan proceeds. Details
8.San Juan: Puerto Rico Senator and Businessman Convicted in Bribery Scheme
Puerto Rico Senator Hector Martinez Maldonado and Juan Bravo Fernandez, the former president of one of the largest private security companies in Puerto Rico, were convicted for their roles in a bribery scheme involving legislation beneficial to Bravo Fernandez's business. Details
9.Los Angeles: Orange County Couple Arrested on Federal Charges of Bilking Banks Out of $130 Million in Line of Credit Scam
A Newport Coast couple was arrested after being indicted on federal charges of defrauding a consortium of eight banks, including Bank of America, out of approximately $130 million. Details
10.CJIS: FBI Announces Initial Operating Capability for Next Generation Identification System
The FBI announced new technology designed to revolutionize law enforcement's ability to process fingerprints has reached its initial operating capability. The Next Generation Identification System delivers an incremental replacement of the FBI's Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System. Details
