On November 16, 2012, the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York reported that Adis Medunjanin was sentenced to life in prison for attempting to commit several suicide terrorist attacks inside the United States.  Medunjanin and co-defendants were days away from bombing the New York City subway in September 2009 before caught by authorities.

According to court documents, Medunjuanin, Najibullah Zazi, and Zarein Ahmedzay traveled to Afghanistan in 2008 and soon received terrorist training in Waziristan.  During their training, they learned how to operate AK-47s, PK machine guns, and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.  They were eventually encouraged to returned to United States and perform “martyrdom” in areas like the NYC subway system, Grand Central Terminal, Times Square, the New York Stock Exchange, and other areas.  

The defendants returned to the United States and planned to conduct suicide bombings during Ramadan in August and September of 2009.  Zazi bought chemicals in August of 2009 to make the explosive called TATP (triacetone triperoxide).  The plot was soon discovered by law enforcement, and bomb-making residue was found in hotel rooms where the construction of the devices occurred.  

Law enforcement issued a search warrant for Medunjanin’s residence on January 7, 2010, and a high speed pursuit ensued.  In a last-ditch effort, Medunjanin attempted to cause a high-speed accident on the Whitestone Expressway and said the following in a phone call to 911 before the accident: “We love death more than you love your life.”

Seven defendants have been convicted in connection to the terrorist plot on New York City so far.  

Assistant Attorney General Monaco announced, “Adis Medunjanin was today held accountable for his role in one of the most serious terrorist plots against the homeland since 9/11. Were it not for the combined efforts of the law enforcement and intelligence communities, the suicide bomb attacks that he and others planned would have been devastating.”

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

On November 21, 2012, the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri announced that Michael Brandon Smith of O’Fallon, Missouri, pled guilty to pointing a high-powered laser at a Metro St Louis Air Support Police helicopter on May 18, 2012.  

The helicopter was performing a routine police patrol on May 18, and the helicopter was dispatched at about 10:00 p.m. for a possible burglary at a school near 200 Meriwether in St. Charles County.  While the helicopter was searching for the possible burglar, the pilot and observer noticed the aircraft was struck with a powerful green laser beam several times.  The helicopter was forced to exit the airspace of the Meriwether property because of the laser.  

The helicopter soon flew toward the direction of the laser and was struck again.  The pilot and observer were still able to tell the source of the laser was coming from the 2700 block of Red Cedar Parc Drive South in O’Fallon.  Smith was intoxicated and standing in the driveway with the laser by the time O’Fallon police reached his residence.  The observer onboard the helicopter suffered some short-term visual loss from the laser.  

Tim Feeney, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s St. Louis Division, stated: “Shining laser pointers at aircrafts is not harmless.  It is dangerous for pilots.  This case is among the first nationwide to be prosecuted under a new federal law that specifically says pointing a laser beam at an aircraft or its flight path is a federal felony.”  

Smith faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.  He is scheduled for sentencing on February 15, 2013.  

The case was investigated by the FBI and the O’Fallon Police Department.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

On October 16, 2012, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced that Oscar Marquez was charged with four counts of violating the Hobbs Act and four counts of using a firearm to commit the crime of violence.  He violated the Hobbs Act by “interfering by robbery with a business involved in interstate commerce.”

According to the indictment, Marquez robbed a total of four businesses in Albuquerque between May 28, 2012 and June 9, 2012.  He used a firearm in all of the robberies, and he discharged the firearm in the last two robberies.  The co-defendant, Rebecca Aquilar, was involved in the last set of robberies.  

Marquez is charged with robbing Captain D’s restaurant on May 28, robbing Cricket Wireless Store on May 29, robbing King Wireless Store on June 7, and robbing another Cricket Wireless Store on June 9.  He used a firearm during all of the robberies, and he discharged the weapons during the robberies of the Cricket Wireless Stores.  

Marquez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 for each count of violating the Hobbs Act.  Using a firearm in furtherance of a crime has a mandatory sentence of 7 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.  Discharging a firearm during a crime of violence has a mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.  

Rebecca Aguilar was arraigned and released on the same day to a halfway house.  She is on supervision until her trial.  

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Violent Crimes and Major Offender Squad as well as the Albuquerque Police Department’s Armed Robbery Unit.  The two squads work under a program called that New Mexico Federal Gang Task Force which targets the most dangerous offenders.  

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

On November 28, 2012, Ashley Nicole Richards and Brent Justice of Houston were indicted for making what US Attorney Kenneth Magidson calls “animal crush videos.”  Both of the defendants have remained in state custody since August 15, 2012, but they are expected to go into federal custody and make an initial court appearance soon.  

An “animal crush video” is any “photograph, motion-picture film, video or digital recording, or electronic image that depicts actual conduct in which one or more living non-human mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians is intentionally crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled, or otherwise subjected to serious bodily injury, and is obscene” as defined under the Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act of 2010.  

According to the seven-count indictment, Justice and Richards created eight videos showing the torturing and killing of puppies and kittens.  The disturbing and obscene videos were created from February 2010 to August 2012 and then distributed.  Authorities have not noted if the heinous videos were distributed over the internet or by hand.  

Richards and Justice remain innocent until proven guilty.  

If they are convicted, Richards and Justice face a maximum penalty of seven years in prison for each of the animal crush charges and up to five years for each obscenity charge.  Each count carries a maximum fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release as well.  

The Houston Police Department initially investigated the case and began to work with the FBI’s Field Office in Houston.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Zack is in charge of prosecution.  

It’s a sad reality when innocent animals that could have otherwise had a happy and long life are subjected to such grotesque human acts.  

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation
 

On November 21, 2012, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced that Joshua Bodean Smith of Colorado Springs, Colorado was found guilty of two counts of armed robbery that violated the Hobbs Act.  He was also convicted of two counts of possessing a firearm during a violent crime.  

Bianca Sota, the co-defendant, was named in the indictment, but she was acquitted of similar crimes.  

Smith is scheduled for sentencing on February 22, 2012 before U.S. District Court Judge Christine M. Arguello.  

The indictment and facts made at trial indicate Smith robbed a store on South Nevada Avenue called Cricket Communication Store on August 31, 2010. He also robbed a Burger King restaurant on October 11, 2010 near the Fort Carson military base, and he used a firearm during both of the robberies.  

Smith now faces up to 20 years for each counts of armed robbery that violated the Hobbs Act.  He faces a mandatory and consecutive 10 years to life for using a firearm during the first robbery, and he faces a mandatory and consecutive 25 years to life for using a firearm during the second robbery.

U.S. Attorney John Walsh stated: “The defendant in this case used a deadly weapon during two robberies. Thanks to the trial team, the FBI, Colorado Springs Police Department, and Army Investigators, he faces decades in federal prison—and Colorado is a safer place.”

The FBI, Colorado Springs Police Department, and the Army Criminal Investigation Division at Fort Carson investigated the case.  

James Yacone, FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge, stated: “On behalf of the FBI, I would like to thank the jury for its service.  The verdict for Smith is a just result in light of the violent acts he committed and the manner in which he endangered innocent citizens.”

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation
 

On November 9, 2012, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland reported that Jason James Savedoff of New York, New York was sentenced to 366 days in prison and two years of supervised release.  He conspired to steals original documents from Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, George Washington, John Adams, and multiple other historical figures from museums and historical societies.  

During the plea agreement, Savedoff admitted that he and Barry Landau, the co-defendant, stole manuscripts and other documents from the Maryland Historical Society, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the Connecticut Historical Society, and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library.  

Before stealing the documents, the two men made lists of documents from important historical figures and figured out what signatures had the most value.  They often visited the museums and posed as researchers.  They used aliases to hide their true identities, and they stole the documents by hiding them in hidden pockets in their sport coats and outerwear.  The co-defendants were able to distract museum curators as they stole the documents.  

The defendants made a checklist for each document that included the author, the document’s date, the document’s collection, the museum card catalogue number, any microfilm for the document, markings on the document, and more.  The defendants were able to hide the card catalogue entries so museum aids were unable to notice the document was missing.  

When Landau’s apartment was searched, authorities found of 6,000 items that were stolen around the United States.  These documents were signed by George Washington, John Adams, Franklin Roosevelt, Marie Antoinette, Karl Marx, and Sir Isaac Newton.  The documents are in the process of being returned to museums and proper owners.  

Landau was sentenced to seven years in prison, and he is required to pay restitution of $46,525.  

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation
 

On November 9, 20912, the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York reported that 38 defendants part of United States v Andrew Russo, et al—what the Justice Department calls the “largest single-day operation against La Cosa Nostra—pleaded guilty to federal charges.  The defendants are leaders, members, and general associates for the “Colombo Family.”

Andrew Russo explained his role as street boss and admitted to racketeering and operating illegal gambling businesses.  During an earlier plea proceeding, Russo also admitted to murdering the Colombo family underboss, Joseph Scopo, in 1993.  Benjamin Castellazzo also pled guilty to racketeering and extortion.  Richard Fusco admitted to his role as consigliere for the Colombo Family and also pled guilty to extortion.  

Andrew Russo, Dennis Delucia, Joseph Savarese, Ilario Sessa, and Angelo Spata accounted for the last five guilty pleas.  Savarese and Sessa admitted to extortion to collect debts.  Savarese admitted to assaulting a victim for collection of $13,000, and Sessa admitted to using a knife during the extortion.  

Most of the defendants face a maximum of 20 years in prison.  As part of the plea agreement, the defendants have agreed to forfeit $5,576,550.39 of criminal proceeds.

FBI Assistant Director Mary Galligan said, “The dwindling strength of all five La Cosa Nostra families is cause for optimism that their pernicious influence in various industries—and their violence in pursuit of that violence—will become a thing of the past.  The FBI will continue to address the threat posed by the Colombos and the other families until it has been eradicated.”

The case is being prosecuted by Elizabeth A. Geddes, Allon Lifshitz, and Gina M. Parlovecchio—all Assistant United States Attorneys.  

United States Attorney Loretta E. Lynch stated, “These convictions mark an important event in this office’s continued efforts to entirely dismantle the Colombo family.”

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation
 

On October 31, 2012, Wifredo A Ferrer, US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Michael B Steinbach, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Field Office, announced that a Miami resident and a Mexican national were charged and pled guilty to attempting to sell the stolen Matisse painting called “Odalisque in Red Pants.”  

Pedro Antonia Marcuello Guzman of Miami, Florida and Maria Martha Elisa Ornelas Lazo of Mexico City pled guilty on July 17, 2012.  Marcuello pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport and sell stolen property, transporting stolen property over state lines, and possession of a piece of stolen property—in direct violation of 18 USC § 371, 2314, and 2315.  Ornelas pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport and sell property that was stolen.  The two defendants are scheduled for sentencing on January 22, 2013.  

Marcuello faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and Ornelas faces up to five years in prison.  “Odalisque in Red Pants” was stolen from the Caracas Museum of Contemporary Art in Caracas, Venezuela around December of 2002.  

Court documents indicate that Marcuello met with FBI undercover agents from December of 2011 to July 13, 2012.  During the meetings, Marcuello agreed to sell the painting for $740,000 and have the painting smuggled into the United States from Mexico.  After the agreement, Ornelas smuggled the stolen painting into the United States on July 16, 2012.  The two defendants gave the painting to the undercover officers the following day, and they were arrested at the time of the monetary transaction.  

The FBI’s Art Crime Team, the FBI Legal Attaché in Caracas and Paris, the Office of International Affairs under the Department of Justice, and the Department of Justice Attaché in Paris helped with the investigation.  

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

On October 17, 2012, the US Marshals Service announced that Inspector John Long of the US Marshals’ Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force will receive the Department of Justice, Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism.  He is receiving the award for risking his life during field duties when he saved the life of a woman in the Eastern District of Virginia.  

During an investigation, Inspector Long noticed that a woman came running and screaming out of her home.  She was chased by Johnny Jones, a wanted fugitive, and he was ripping at her hair and holding a pistol in his other hand.  

Inspector Long immediately exited his vehicle and pointed a service rifle at Jones.  After he demanded Jones to drop his gun, the fugitive released the woman and ran back inside of her home.  Inspector Long safely placed the women in his vehicle and called for the rest of his team that was conducting surveillance nearby.  

Jones proceeded to flee from the house—where he broke in using a brick—and he ran through the neighborhood into a patch of woods.  Inspector Long chased after Jones, and he eventually spotted him crawling out of a shed with the gun in his hand.  Inspector Long pointed his rifle at Jones a second time and demanded that he drop the weapon.  Jones threw the gun and surrendered on the spot.  

Jones was wanted for abduction, grand larceny, and probation violation after serving time for rape, abduction, using a firearm, breaking and entering, theft, and malicious wounding.  He is a registered sex offender in Virginia as well.  

Jones received 6 ½ years in prison for the offenses that occurred on the day Inspector Jones risked his life.  He will face more time for the probation violations.  

Source: U.S. Marshals Service

On October 18, 2012, the Portland FBI announced that the Oregon Financial Institutions Security Task Force (FIST) is offering a reward of $5,000 for any information that leads to the arrests of the two armed men who robbed the West Coast Bank on September 10, 2012.  

The robbery occurred at about 3:15 p.m. at the West Coast Bank on 5686 Commercial Street SE in Salem, Oregon.  The first suspect stood and watched at the door as the other suspect went up to the teller’s counter, flashed a handgun, and demanded money.  The men eventually left in a stolen truck, but the truck was found abandoned after a short amount of time.  

The first suspect is a white male in his 40s or 50s.  He is about 6’0” tall, and he has a medium build.  During the robbery, he wore a welder’s mask, a dark sweatshirt with a hood, and blue jeans.  

The second suspect is a white male in his 40s to 50s as well.  The man is between 5’9” and 5’10” and he has a thin build.  During the robbery, he wore dark goggles and a dark baseball hat with light lettering.  He was also wearing a dark long-sleeved shirt, dark pants, and blue jeans under the pants.  

If you have any information about the suspects or their current location, you need to contact the FBI in Salem immediately at (503) 362-6601.  You can also call the FBI in Portland at (503) 224-4181 or the Salem Police at (503) 540-2352.  

The FBI announces that FIST is an effort between local, state, and federal law enforcement to help protect banks, savings and loans, and credit unions.  The goal of FIST is to reduce the amount of crimes committed against these financial institutions.  

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation