On September 25, 2012, the FBI announced that a man in Westmoreland County, PA and a man in Allegheny County, PA were charged with possessing material that depicted sexual exploitation of minors.

The man charged in Westmoreland County is Joshua J. Gildea who last resided at 116 South 7^th Street in Youngwood, Pennsylvania.  During his indictment, the court found that Gildea had possession of images and videos on his computer files that depicted minors in sexual conduct.  The FBI, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Greensburg Police Department were responsible for the investigation.  

The man charged in Allegheny County is Harold J. Grant, III who last resided at 411 Halket Street in North Versailles.  He pleaded guilty to his charges before Senior United States District Judge Gustave Diamond.  During his guilty plea, Grant admitted that his possessed thousands of still images on his computer files that contained images of children engaging in sexual conduct.  The FBI states these children were very young, and some of them were even infants.  The FBI was the sole investigative body in the case against Grant, and Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting Grant’s case. 

Each defendant can face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.  Grant’s sentencing is scheduled for January 23, 2012, and the FBI has not specified a sentencing date for Gildea. 

Project Safe Childhood is partly responsible for bringing forward these two cases.  The initiative was launched by the Department of Justice in May of 2006 in response to the child sexual exploitation and abuse.  The initiative is led by the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. You can find out more information about Project Safe Childhood at www.usdoj.gov/psc. 

Sources: Federal Bureau of Investigation

On September 19, 2012, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives increased the award to $50,000 for information that can lead to the arrests of the person or persons who caused the fire at the Islamic Center of Joplin on July 4, 2012.  The original award was issued at $15,000 on July 16, but the FBI is willing to award $40,000 and the ATF is willing to award $10,000. 

Public Affairs Specialist, Bridget Patton, of the FBI in Kansas City reports that around 3:30 a.m. on July 4, 2012, an arson fire was started on the roof the Islamic Center in Joplin, Missouri.  Video surveillance showed that a white male walked up to the building, threw an ignited object onto the roof, and fled.  The fire was contained to the roof. 

The FBI reports that another fire occurred at the Islamic Center in Joplin on August 6, 2012.  The actual cause of the fire on August 6 remains in question, but the fire consumed the entire building and the property suffered a total loss.  No one was in the building at the time of the fire. 

The FBI and ATF have increased the rewards to motivate the public to increase assistance in the investigation.  If you have information about the crime, contact one of the phone numbers below:

·  The FBI Joplin Field Office at (417) 206-5700

·  The ATF at 888-ATF-FIRE or (417) 837-2100

·  The Jasper County Sherriff’s Office at (417) 358-8177

·  The Missouri Arson Hotline at 1-800-392-7766

The investigation is being led by the FBI, the ATF, the Missouri Division of Fire Safety Office, and the Jasper County Sherriff’s Department.  You can find press releases, surveillance videos, and enhanced images of the suspect at https://www.fbi.gov/kansascity. 

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

Two high-profile cases in Houston showcase the metropolitan area’s reputation for serious types of crime.  On September 21, 2012, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Texas reported that Jesus Martinez—a Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputy—admitted to aiding in the delivering of controlled substances. 

The indictment for the case states that Martinez aided in the delivery of Methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA), or Ecstasy, around the Houston Area on or around July 23, 2012.  Because the drug is a schedule I controlled substance and Martinez is a police officer, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. 

The FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas Rangers, HCSO, and the Houston Police Department investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim McAlister is in charge of prosecution. 

The second high-profile case in Houston is still ongoing.  The Houston FBI Bank Robbery Task Force has announced that around 12:46 p.m., an armed man entered an Amegy Bank on 400 North Sam Houston Parkway East.  The man was wearing a ski mask and flashing a pistol. 

The FBI reports that the armed robber pointed his gun at the tellers before exiting the building with the cash.  The co-conspirator was driving white dodge neon.  None of the tellers were injured in the robbery. 

The bank robber is described as Hispanic and male.  He was wearing gray hoodie, blue shorts, and carried a red tote bag.  The FBI has released the following photos:

The Crime Stoppers are offering a reward of $5,000 for any information that leads to the arrest of the bank robber and the accomplice.  You can contact the Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS, or you can call the FBI Houston Office at 713-693-5000.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

According to Crime Alerts under the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Christopher Robert Metsos is wanted for conspiracy to act as an unregistered agent of a foreign government as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering. 

Metsos is wanted for the first charge because he failed to register as an agent of a foreign government from 1993 to 2005.  During the same time, Metsos is believed to have taken part in a money laundering scheme where money was illegally transferred to co-conspirators who also happened to be unregistered agents. 

On June 25, 2010, the United States District Court in the Southern District of New York issued an arrest warrant for Metsos in connection to conspiracy to act as an unregistered agent and conspiracy to engage in money laundering.  He was arrested on June 29, 2010, but he posted bail and fled immediately.

Authorities believe Metsos may have fled to Russia.  The FBI notes that he has traveled all over the world, and he may wear a moustache and eyeglasses.  The FBI also warns that Metsos has a black belt in martial arts. 

Christopher Robert Metsos may go by the following aliases:

·  Pavel Kapustin

·  Gerard Martin Kelleher

·  Diego Cadenilla Jose Antonio

·  Luis Miguel Alarcon-Correas

·  Patrick Allen Woolcocks

·  Peter Michael Franklin

·  Graham Douglas Cox

·  Pavel Gukov

·  Sean Proinnsias O’Donaill

Christopher Robert Metsos was born on June 16, 1956, and he uses numerous birthdates along with his different aliases.  He has brown eyes and light brown hair, but he is balding.  He is about 6’0” tall and weighs about 180 to 195 pounds.  He has a scar on his chest and burn/pock marks on both of his arms. 

The FBI is offering a reward up to $50,000 for information that leads to the arrest of Christopher Robert Metsos.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

On September 24, 2012, the US Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Oklahoma reported that 10 defendants were charged with a total of 81 counts for an illegal gambling operation and money laundering. 

The defendants are listed below:

·  Teddy Dryden Mitchell of Oklahoma City

·  Dryden Ryley Mitchell of Oklahoma City

·  Billy Nick Mitchell of Oklahoma City

·  David Bruce Loveland of Oklahoma City

·  Jerry Wayne Gilchrist of Oklahoma City

·  Michael Lee McCullah of Ardmore, Oklahoma

·  Justin Edward Musgrove of Midwest City, Oklahoma

·  Richard Allen Hancock of Yorba Linda, California

·  Gary John Gibb of Reno, Nevada

·  Gortation Management, a Costa Rican corporation

The indictment states that the defendants operated and maintained “high stakes” poker games in Oklahoma City at 640 N.W. 150^th.  The defendants also took bets and wagers for sporting events, operated an illegal internet gambling website, laundered the proceeds, and engaged in numerous crimes in connection to the illegal gambling. 

The FBI reports that income was made from at least 400 games of poker every single week.  The defendants apparently took a percentage or “rake” of commission from the winnings.

The FBI also reports that Teddy Mitchell, Dryden Mitchell, Loveland, Hancock, Gibb, and Gortation Management in Costa Rica planned to launder more than $8.1 million from the gambling operation.  Teddy Mitchell owned several businesses, and the bank accounts were used to launder the money. 

Prosecutors are seeking a judgment of more than $8.1 million along with the forfeiture of 24 pieces of real property, vehicles, and various accounts. 

The FBI reports that Teddy Mitchel, Dryden Mitchell, David Loveland, Richard Hancock, and Gary Gibb all face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.  Billy Mitchell, Jerry Gilchrist, Michael McCullah, and Justin Musgrove all face up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

On September 24, 2012, the US Attorney’s Office in the District of New Mexico reported that Jeremiah Jackson of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was sentenced to two concurrent life imprisonment terms for the killing of two women while trying to deter apprehension following a bank robbery. 

The details of the crime are as follows.  Jackson robbed the bank located at the corner of Louisiana and Candelaria NE around 10:00 a.m. on April 6, 2010.  He presented a note to tellers and received about $2,400 in cash.  He drove away in a van, but the bank manager caught the license plate number and description of the vehicle before Jackson could get away. 

A police officer with the Albuquerque Police Department observed Jackson at a nearby convenience store.  Jackson pulled out the parking lot and knew he was being followed.  A high-speed chase soon followed.  The officer followed Jackson as he exited from I-40 and drove down Coors Blvd and Quail SW, he tried to turn a corner too fast and slammed into a concrete median. 

The van went airborne before landing on a car occupied by Kimberly Aragon-Nunez and Janice Flores.  Ms. Aragon-Nunez was a mother of three and Ms. Flores was a mother of two.  Jackson did not try to help the victims and fled the scene.  Both women sustained fatal injuries.

During the trial, the parents, children, and siblings of the deceased victims told the court of the impact of the crimes on the families.  Each family was robbed of their time with the victims, and the judge did not waiver in sentencing Jackson to two consecutive life sentences. 

The case was investigated by the FBI and Albuquerque Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Presiliano Torrez and Raul Torrez. 

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

According to a report released by the FBI on September 7, 2012, new and expectant parents need to be aware of new trends and precautions to protect their infant from abduction.

The FBI reports that while infant abductions are rare compared to other types of crime, they do happen.

For example, a woman 28 years of age was shot and killed in Texas by a 30 year-old-woman who then proceeded to kidnap the infant—only three days old—from the pediatric center.  Fortunately, the child was rescued only six hours later.

Criminals are now creating more elaborate crimes because simply walking out of a hospital with an infant is now difficult.  Most newborns have a security bracelet that will trigger an alarm unless removed.

A recent case in January of 2012 highlights the growing complexity of infant abductions.  According to the FBI, a 32-year-old woman in Florida formed a friendship with a younger mother on a social networking website.  The woman said she too has a newborn and the baby was in the hospital.  The new mother then invited the older woman to her home to spend the night, and while the new mother was in the shower the next morning, the older woman abducted the young infant.

The older woman deleted her profile from the social networking website, but she was still caught and arrested.  The baby was returned to the mother.

The FBI recommends that expectant and new parents take the following precautions to deter child abductors:

1.       New parents should not post colored balloons outside of home that announce a newborn or baby shower.

2.       Parent needs to stay particularly aware in public.  Be suspicious of someone who asks too many questions about your pregnancy and baby.

3.       Adjust your privacy settings for social networking sites so strangers cannot see your personal information.

4.       Report any suspicious behavior immediately.

5.       Women between the ages of 17 and 33 are most likely to abduct a newborn.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

On November 1, 2012, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced the sentencing of Rezwan Ferdaus.  He pleaded guilty to “attempting to damage and destroy a federal building by means of an explosive and attempting to provide material support to terrorists.”  U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns sentenced Ferdaus to 17 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release.  

According to evidence presented at the trial, Ferdaus started designing and constructing detonation devices for improvised explosive devices (IED) starting in January of 2011.  He provided a total of 12 modified mobile phones to undercover FBI agents who he believed were members of al Qaeda and wanted to kill U.S. soldiers stationed overseas.

After the deliveries were made to undercover agents, Ferdaus asked later how many American soldiers the devices had killed.  He even made a 20-minute instructional video—which the undercover agents recorded—on how to make detonators out of cell phones.  

Ferdaus planned to fly a drone aircraft filled with grenades into the Pentagon used a GPS device.  He told the undercover agents he found a website that sold small, drone-like airplanes that could travel up to 100 mph.  He proceeded to travel to Washington, D.C. in May of 2011 to conduct surveillance and photographed the two buildings.  

In May and June of 2011, he gave specific instruction to the undercover agents on how to conduct the attacks.  He told the agents that his plan “ought to result in the downfall of this entire disgusting place.”  

In September of 2011, Ferdaus told the undercover agents to deliver three grenades, six automatic AK-47 assault rifles, and C-4 explosives to him at a storage facility he rented.  Ferdaus was arrested shortly after receiving the weapons and explosives.  

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Pirozzolo stated, “As is evident from the facts of this case, Mr. Ferdaus posed a significant threat to the people of the United States.  His actions were self-initiated, deliberate, and dangerous.  He intended to unleash horrific acts of violence against the people of the United States both here and abroad.”

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation