On October 19, 2012, the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana announced that 13 members of the Hackton Criminal Organization were charged with 22 counts in a superseding indictment.  The charges relate to violent crimes to aid in racketeering crimes.  

Those charged in the superseding indictment include the following: Walter Porter, “Urkel”; Nakia Hankton; Shirley Hankton; Telly Hankton, “Third”;Thomas Hankton, “Squirt”; Troy Hankton; George Jackson, “Black”; Derrick Smothers, “Dump”; Andre Hankton; Kevin Jackson; Netthany Schexnayder; Sana Johnson; and Terrell Smothers.  All of the defendants are from New Orleans.  

The indictment alleges that the defendants were part of a violent drug organization around the city of New Orleans and participated in crimes back to 1996.  Certain members and associates of the criminal organization killed rival drug dealers in the area, threatened witnesses, obstructing justice, and even murdered a witness’ family member in one case.  

Andre Hankton, Telly Hankton, Kevin Jackson, Walter Porter, and Thomas Hankton all face the death penalty for the murders of Darnell Stewart, Jesse Reed, Hasan Williams, and Curtis Matthews.  Most of the defendants are already apprehended, and none of the defendants are considered fugitives at this time.  

U.S. Attorney Jim Letten announced, “Today, as the result of the outstanding work of the men and women of federal enforcement and our partners in the New Orleans Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office, yet another powerful blow has been made against an organization whose numbers are alleged to have committed murder and violence against the community.  My deepest gratitude goes to the dedicated members of our own office, together with special agents of the FBI and ATF, along with DEA and the Marshals Service.”  

The defendants must still be proven guilty in a trial, and no other information has been released by the FBI at this time.  

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation
 

On October 19, 2012, the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced that Emmanuel Duran and John Bowie of Philadelphia each received over 240 years in prison for violent armed robberies of pharmacies, businesses, and homes around the Philadelphia area.  Duran received 240 years and two months, and Bowie received 246 years and two months.  

Both of the men robbed different pharmacies in Philadelphia at gunpoint between February and May of 2010.  Duran and the co-defendant, Raheem Brown, robbed the A&G Auto Body shop located on 2015 N. 19th Street as well.  

During the robbery at the A&G Auto Body, a customer was shot in the leg after he took too long to give money to Duran.  Two of pharmacy robberies involved extreme violence as well.  During one of the robberies, Duran and Bowie fired shots at the people trying to escape the store.  During another robbery, Duran and Bowie forced a pregnant woman to the ground and caused her to be hospitalized for several days.  

Duran, Bowie, and Staten were also convicted for an abduction that occurred in 2010.  The defendants abducted and tortured a man they believed was a drug dealer.  After they failed to get anything of value, they went on to commit three home invasions, get involved in a gun fight, and escaped during a high speed chase.  Duran and Staten robbed Han’s Deli on 1639 Susquehanna Avenue just days later.  

The following pharmacies were robbed by the defendants:

M.D. Pharmacy on 1641 Franklin Street: February 8, 2010 and February 23, 2012
Pharmacy of America on 1500 E. Erie: April 21, 2010
Ellis Pharmacy on 2441 Brown Street: April 29, 2012
Germantown Pharmacy on 5100 Germantown Avenue: May 7, 2010
Henneberry Pharmacy on 828 N. 24th Street: May 25, 2010

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation
 

On October 22, 2012, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that Igor Borodin of Indian Trial, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to delivering counterfeit airbags by air commerce.  The investigation was led by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Department of Transportation (DOT).  

According to court documents, Borodin is part-owner of an auto shop in Charlotte called Krugger Auto.  The search warrant was issued on August 16, 2012, and agents found a total of 99 counterfeit airbags at Krugger Auto and 1,514 counterfeit airbags at Borodin’s residence.  

The investigation found that Borodin bought the counterfeit airbags from China and then resold them on eBay.  Firstly, the airbags did not have hazardous material warnings during the shipments—as required by law.  Secondly, Borodin labeled the counterfeit airbags with registered trademarks of certain automobile manufacturers.  

Borodin is believed to have sold about 7,000 counterfeit airbags online.  Between February of 2011 and May of 2012 alone, Borodin made $1.4 million from selling the counterfeit airbags.  During independent testing in September of 2011, an airbag Borodin sold on eBay failed to inflate.  

Borodin faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine up to $2,250,000.  The plea agreement states that Borodin must forfeit $1,743,400 in illegal proceeds along with his residence, all of the counterfeit airbags, and the $60,000 of cash found at his home.  

U.S. Attorney Anne Tompkins stated, “My office will not allow fake airbags to endanger the safety of the drivers in our communities.  Airbags that do not meet the quality and safety standards of the automobile manufacturers pose a serious threat to human life because they fail to work when they are needed the most, during a car accident.”

This recent guilty plea comes just after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warned of counterfeit airbags earlier this month.  

Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
 

On October 20, 2012, the FBI, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, and the Carlsbad Police Department announced that Aaron Alan Hyman was arrested for the serial robberies that occurred around the San Diego area.  

The investigation began on October 9, 2012, after several robberies occurred by the same suspect.  After surveillance photos were released to the public, a San Diego County Sheriff’s Deputy identified the suspect as Aaron Hyman.  The deputy recognized Hyman from patrols in the past, and the Carlsbad Police Department helped identify Hyman as the Chubby Bandit as well.  

Aaron Hyman managed to rob five banks and a local pharmacy.  He also attempted to rob a sixth bank.  The robberies are listed below:

-the U.S. Bank on 12655 Scripps Poway Parkway in Poway, California was robbed on October 9, 2012 at about 5:32 p.m.
-the Chase Bank on 7176 Avenida Encinas in Carlsbad, California was robbed on October 11, 2012 around 1:03 p.m.
-Hyman attempted to rob the Chase Bank on 607 Lomas Santa Fe in Solana Beach, California October 13, 2012 around 1:30 p.m.
-the Wells Fagro Bank on 276 North El Camino Real in Encinitas, California was robbed on October 15, 2012 at approximately 2:47 p.m.
-the U.S. Bank on 770 Village Drive in Carlsbad, California was robbed on October 16, 2012 around 2:23 p.m.
-the fifth successful robbery occurred at Wells Fargo Bank on 11986 Bernardo Plaza Drive in San Diego, California around 4:11 p.m.
-the CVS pharmacy on 191 Woodland Parkway in San Marcos, California was robbed on October 10, 2012 around 12:38 p.m.

Hyman is booked at the Vista County Jail, and the FBI has not released information about his trial at the current time.

He was arrested around the area of Highway 78 and El Camino Real.  If you have any information about the Aaron Hyman that could be useful to the FBI, you can call (858) 565-1255.  

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

On November 8, 2012, Arnold Gonzales received an 87-month prison sentence and 10 years of supervised release for child sexual exploitation.  He is required to follow sex offender registration requirements as well.  

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico reports that Gonzales worked as a U.S. Army recruiter at the U.S. Army Recruiting Station located in Midland, Texas.  Court documents indicate Gonzales used a computer and cell phone to convince a girl he believed was 12 years of age to have sex, and he was arrested on his way from Oklahoma to meet the girl.  

During the plea hearing, Gonzales admitted that he responded to an advertisement on a website posted by a Curry County Sheriff’s Office undercover agent, which read “Cute/young if age doesn’t matter hit me up.”  A large amount of communication ensued.  Gonzales sent numerous emails and text messages that asked the girl for nude photos and asked what type of sexual acts she would perform.  

Gonzales sent a text message to the undercover agent acting as a young girl on May 1, 2012, and he said he would travel to Clovis the next day to have sex with the girl.  He arrived to the residence the following day and the CCSO undercover agent arrested him immediately.  

The case was investigated by the FBI and the CCSO, and the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force assisted in investigation as well.  The Task Force is made up of 64 agencies at the federal, state, and local level, and the Task Force is funded by the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office.  The New Mexico U.S. Attorney’s Office, Project Safe Childhood, and other federal, state, and local agencies helped as well.  

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlyn E. Rees was in charge of prosecution.  

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

On November 14, 2012, the Federal Bureau of Investigation placed Shaykh Aminullah on the Seeking Information—Terrorism List.  Individuals on this list are believed to be connected with terrorist organizations with hostility toward the United States.  

The FBI wants to question Shaykh Aminullah about his connection and possible material support to al Qaeda, the Taliban, and the Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT).  The LeT has links to al Qaeda and is one of the largest militant groups to date.  The Department of State labeled LeT as a foreign terrorist organization starting in 2001.  

Aminullah may have provided funding and recruits to al Qaeda starting in 2008.  He is believed to have provided items like explosive vests and other items to militant organizations in Afghanistan, and the FBI believes he recruited people to conduct suicide bombings.  

Aminullah founded the religious institution called Ganj Madrassa, and the FBI believes he may currently reside in the Ganj District of Peshawar, Pakistan.  He is about 50 years old and about 5’10” tall.  He has light skin, a round stomach, and he has a long dark and grey beard.  He usually wears thick glasses.  

He goes by the following aliases: Fazeel-A-Tul Shaykh Abu Mohammed Ameen Al-Peshawari, Abu Mohammad Amin Bishawri, Sheik Aminullah, Shaykh Ameen, Shaykh Aminullah al-Peshawari, Abu Mohammad Aminullah Peshawari, Abu Mohammad Shaykh Aminullah al Bishauri, and Shaykh Abu Mohammed Ameen al-Peshawari.

Aminullah is one of six people on the Seeking Information—Terrorism List.  This list is for people who are not indicted in the United States, and the list is connected to the Most Wanted Terrorists List.  

If you have any information about Amindullah, especially his whereabouts, you should contact the FBI or the closest American Embassy or Consulate.  The FBI has not released information about whether or not Amindullah is considered armed and dangerous.  

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

On November 14, 2012, the Department of Justice announced that Anthony L Dinunzio received 78 months in federal prison for a racketeering conspiracy that extorted payments from adult entertainment businesses in Rhode Island.  Dinunzio is the acting leader of the New England La Cosa Nostra (NELCN) crime family.  

Court documents indicate that Dinunzio was the NELCN leader since 2002.  He pled guilty, and during the hearing, he admitted to extortion and criminal racketeering in order to obtain between $2,000 and $6,000 per month from the owners and operators of the adult entertainment business.  

Seven leaders, underbosses, members, and associates of the NELCN have admitted to involvement in the extortion conspiracy, have pleaded guilty, and have been sentenced.  The NELCN crime boss Luigi Manocchio received 66 months in prison; Edward Lato received 108 months in prison, Alfred Scivola received 46 months in prison; Raymond Jenkins received 37 months in prison; and associated Richard Bonifiglia and Albino Folcarelli both received 84 months in prison.  Thomas Iafrate is currently serving 30 months in prison.

Assistant Attorney General Breuer stated, “Today, the admitted leader of the New England La Cosa Nostra was sentenced to prison for the years of significant harm he caused to the people of Rhode Island.  Anthony Dinunzio and his NELCN subordinates used threats of violence to extort protection payments from business owners throughout the state, and his sentence sends a powerful message about the department’s determination to hold mafia leaders and associates to account.”

Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell with the Rhode Island State Police stated, “La Cosa Nostra historically prides itself on preying on the weak to exploit their ideology of greed and power.  The factors that brought them ‘power’ have contributed to their demise.”  

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Rhode Island State Police, and the Providence Police Department.  

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation

On November 15, 2012, the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan reported that Jeron Gaskin of Detroit, Michigan pled guilty to federal drug charges.  He was convicted of three counts of drug trafficking before Honorable Patrick J. Duggan in the U.S. District Court in Detroit.  

According to court documents, Gaskin and other members of the Hustle Boys Gang illegally distributed marijuana and transported thousands of Oxycontin, Opana, and other prescription pills through Detroit, southern Ohio, and West Virginia.  They sold the pills out of hotel rooms and three different residences.  The house in Detroit was located on Hamburg Street in East Detroit.  The house was used to distribute marijuana, count pills, package pills, and make shipments to Ohio and West Virginia.  

Court documents also show that Gaskin and others traded pills for firearms.  The firearms and all cash proceeds were stored at the house in East Detroit.  

Gaskin and a total of nine other members with the Hustle Boys Gang were indicted on November 30, 2011.  Mark Davis, William Crews, Darrell Ewing, Deonte Morris, Delmerey Morris, Ashley Sallad, Pinkie Lewis, and Randi Fortner have all pled guilty so far, and William Beal’s trial is still pending.  

Robert D. Foley, III, Special Agent in Charge, stated: “This drug trafficking conviction sends a strong message that these crimes will not be tolerated in our communities.  As a result of the hard work and commitment by the FBI Violent Crime Task Force and our law enforcement partners our streets are safer.”

U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade stated: “Street gangs that engage in armed drug trafficking lead to violence in our neighborhoods.  Dismantling this group is an important step to improving public safety on Detroit’s east side.”

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Violent Crime Task Force and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.  

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation
 

On November 30, 2012, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that Kyung Hwa Choi and Sun Hee Kim were returned to South Korea by officers under ICE’s Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).  One was wanted by her home country for sex trafficking, and the other was wanted for a large-scale financial fraud scheme.  

An arrest warrant was issued for Choi in March 2008 for financial fraud.  The warrant stated that Choi and another co-defendants defrauded investors out of $8 million from 2000 to 2008.  Choi entered the United States on a tourist visa a month after the arrest warrant was issued, and she was only allowed to stay in the United States for six months.  She was arrested by ERO officers with the help of the U.S Marshals Fugitive Task Force in October 2012.  

Kim faces charges for sex trafficking in South Korea.  A South Korean consulate in Los Angeles informed ERO about Kim’s outstanding criminal warrant earlier in 2012.  Her warrant accused her of buying three Korean women for $20,000 in 2005 and then forcing them to engage in prostitution around the Los Angeles area.  She was taken into custody in August 2012.  

Timothy S. Robbins, the field office director for ERO Los Angeles, stated: “Foreign criminal fugitives who seek to escape responsibility for their actions by fleeing to the United States will find no sanctuary in Southern California.  As these two cases make clear, ICE is working closely with law enforcement agencies here and abroad to protect public safety and hold criminals accountable – no matter where they commit their crimes.”  

ERO has removed over 500 foreign fugitives from the United States since October 1, 2009.  ERO works with ICE’s Office of International Affairs, Interpol, and foreign consular offices in the United States to find foreign fugitives.  

Source: Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Sexual harassment allegations made against the chief executive officer of Waffle House, a Southern regional chain of diners, have put harassment back into the media spotlight.  The accusations against Waffle House Chief Executive Officer Joe Rogers come from his longtime housekeeper and sexual partner.

The woman, Mye Brooke Bindle, is 43 years old, unmarried, and has two children.  According to the accuser, what began as verbal sexual harassment quickly escalated into sexual assault.  She was told that in order to retain her job, she would be required to perform sex acts on Rogers.

According to Brindle, she engaged in as little sexual activity as she could, but was still frequently touched and pressured for sex acts by Rogers.  She continued to work for him for eight years, according to court records, and quit at the time that her son, Bryson Brindle, received a full tuition college scholarship to play football at Presbyterian College.

The police report also describes several other ways in which Rogers allegedly sexually harassed the victim.  He forced her to purchase pornography because he knew it would cause her sexual humiliation, and walked around his house naked where he knew she would be.

When Rogers was served with court papers for the harassment allegations, he denied them categorically, but did not deny having had sexual encounters with his ex-housekeeper.  He claimed, however, that all of these encounters had been completely consensual, though “boneheaded.”

One piece of evidence that may be able to clear the entire case up is likely to be the subject of a tense evidentiary battle in the days and weeks to come.  During the period in which Bindle claims she was harassed, the alleged victim says she made recordings of the sexual encounters between herself and Rogers.  Some of the recordings contained only audio of the alleged harassment, while other recordings included both audio and video.

These tapes were submitted to the bench by Bindle's attorneys, and were subsequently sealed by Cobb Superior Court Judge Grant Brantley after Rogers' attorneys stated that the tapes had been made without Rogers' consent or notification and would be detrimental to their client.  The judge agreed that the public should not be able to see the tapes and sealed them for the time being.

According to Rogers' attorneys, the tapes simply show consensual sexual encounters and were made for blackmail purposes.  Rogers claims that the accusations against him have been part of a sustained extortion attempt from Brindle.  According to him, he was contacted by Brindle's attorneys in July with threats and intimidation, and they only sued after he refused to give in to settlement demands.

Initially, all records about the case were sealed when it was filed initially in October.  However, after repeated leaks to the press, the court decided to open the filings for public viewing, which quickly led to a media frenzy surrounding the case.

Sources: cnbc.com, abcnews.com, upi.com