FBI’S Top Ten News Stories
For the Week Ending November 2, 2007
1. San Francisco: Operation Cyberstorm Defendants Sentenced for Operating Scheme to Defraud Microsoft Corporation
Mirza Ali and his wife, Sameena Ali, Keith Griffen and William Glushenko were sentenced for devising a scheme to obtain discounted software worth more than $29 million from Microsoft under false pretenses. Full Story
2. Richmond: Priest Pleads Guilty in Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme
Rodney L. Rodis, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and money laundering. Rodis, the parish priest for St. Jude Church and for the Immaculate Conception Church, engaged in a scheme to embezzle from both parishes.
3. New York: Hexcel Corp. Agrees to Pay $15 Million For the Sale of Defective Bullet-Proof Vests
Hexcel Corporation has agreed to pay the U.S. $15 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act in connection with its role in the manufacture and sale of defective Zylon bullet-proof vests.
4. Phoenix: Former HHS OIG Special Agent Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Forgery Charges
Scott Allen Gompert, former Special Agent with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and forging the signature of a judge.
5. Los Angeles: Sheriff Indicted in Long-Running Corruption Scheme
Michael S. Carona, the elected sheriff/coroner of Orange County, his wife, Deborah Carona, and three of his friends have been named in a wide-ranging corruption indictment of scheming to exploit Carona’s position in order to enrich themselves.
6. Sacramento: Indictments for Hacking into University’s Computer System to Make Unauthorized Grade Change
John Escalera and Gustavo Razo, Jr. were indicted on charges of conspiracy, honest services wire fraud, unauthorized access of computer, and identity theft related to a grade changing scheme perpetrated against the California State University in Fresno.
7. Newark: Abdullahu Admits Supplying Weapons to Illegal Aliens Charged with Planning Attacks on Military Personnel
Agron Abdullahu pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide firearms and ammunition to illegal aliens who allegedly plotted to kill U.S. soldiers at various installations.
8. Dallas: Woman Sentenced for Falsely Accusing Trooper of Violating Her Civil Rights
Kristina Marie Sheppard was sentenced to 16 months in prison for making false statements by accusing a Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper of violating her civil rights.
9. Anchorage: Former State Representative Convicted on Public Corruption Charges
Former Alaska State Representative Victor H. Kohring was found guilty of conspiracy, bribery, and attempted extortion. Kohring is the third former member of the Alaska House of Representatives to be convicted this year of corruption crimes.
10. Birmingham: Former District Attorney Convicted of Rights Violations
Former District Attorney for Franklin County John Pilati was convicted on five counts of violating the civil rights of five young men by subjecting them to unreasonable searches while acting under the color of law. The victims’ testimony demonstrated a pattern of sexual abuse of the young men.
