FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 23, 2011

Washington, D.C.
December 23, 2011 FBI National Press Office


1. Headquarters: FBI Releases Preliminary Semiannual Crime Statistics for 2011
Statistics released in the FBI’s Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report indicate that the number of violent crimes reported in the first six months of 2011 and the number of property crimes decreased 3.7 percent. The report is based on information from more than 12,500 law enforcement agencies.

2. DOJ/FBI: Man Charged with Participation in Murder and Attempted Murder of ICE Agents Extradited from Mexico
Julian Zapata Espinoza was extradited from Mexico to the U.S. to face charges related to his alleged participation in the murder of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Agent Jaime Zapata and the attempted murder of ICE Special Agent Victor Avila.

3. New Haven: Fourteen Romanian Citizens Charged in Internet Phishing Scheme
Fourteen Romanian citizens were charged with conspiracy, fraud, and identity theft offenses stemming from their alleged participation in an extensive Internet phishing scheme.

4. Honolulu: Former Grant Administrator and Legal Assistant of American Samoa Non-Profit Legal Aid Corporation Plead Guilty to Stealing More Than $150,000 in Federal Grant Funds
A former grant administrator and her daughter pled guilty to stealing more than $150,000 in federal grant funds awarded to a non-profit corporation in the U.S. territory of American Samoa.

5. San Diego/Los Angeles: $20,000 Reward Offered in Search for “Geezer Bandit” Serial Bank Robber
Several law enforcement agencies are seeking the public’s assistance to identify and arrest the “Geezer Bandit,” who is believed responsible for 16 bank robberies dating back to August 28, 2009.

6. San Francisco: Convent Employee Charged with Embezzling More Than $100,000 from Catholic Nuns
A former employee for the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary Catholic Convent was charged with 14 counts of wire fraud and three counts of mail fraud in connection with allegedly embezzing cash and charging personal expenses to a convent charge card.

7. Houston: Six Plead Guilty in 3000+ Pound Marijuana Case
A total of six men pled guilty in a case involving the smuggling of more than a ton of marijuana concealed in pallets of watermelons. One man remains a fugitive.

8. Indianapolis: Three Indicted on Charges of Wire Fraud, Money Laundering
Three individuals were indicted for their alleged role in defrauding an investor out of $1.7 million over the course of six months in 2007.

9. Boston: Man Sentenced to 166 Months for Arson of Church
A man was sentenced to nearly 14 years in prison stemming from his role in the arson of the Macedonia Church of God in Christ, a predominantly African-American church, just hours after the election of President Barack Obama.

10. Albuq
uerque: Man Pleads Guilty in $74 Million Ponzi Scheme
Douglas F. Vaughan pled guilty to wire and mail fraud charges that involved his operation of a Ponzi scheme in which he fraudulently obtained more than $74 million from approximately 600 investors who were promised extraordinary returns.