Press Release
For Immediate Release
December 4, 2009
Washington D.C.
FBI National Press Office
(202) 324-3691

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 4, 2009

FBI Headquarters: FBI Continues to Seek Information about Robert Levinson

December 3, 2009, marked 1,000 days since American citizen Robert Levinson—a retired FBI special agent—went missing on March 9, 2007 during a business trip to Kish Island, Iran. As the FBI is the lead agency in the investigation of the disappearance of Americans overseas, we continue to seek information about Mr. Levinson’s whereabouts, well-being, and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance. Full Story
Miami: Fort Lauderdale Attorney Charged in Billion-Dollar Ponzi Scheme

A five-count criminal information was filed charging attorney Scott Rothstein of Fort Lauderdale with one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization statute, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, and two counts of wire fraud. In addition, the information seeks the forfeiture of $1.2 billion, including 24 pieces of real property, numerous luxury cars, boats, and other vessels, jewelry, sports memorabilia, business interests, bank accounts and more. Full Story
Chicago: Canopy Financial Co-Founder Jeremy Blackburn Facing Federal Fraud Charges Alleging Deceit in $60 Million Stock Sale

A co-founder of Canopy Financial, Inc., a health care transaction software company, is facing federal fraud charges alleging that he defrauded investors by creating and distributing false information about Canopy’s financial condition. The defendant, Jeremy Blackburn, allegedly deceived a private equity firm that invested more than $60 million in Canopy stock by submitting a bogus auditor’s report and falsified bank statements to the investment firm. Full Story
Atlanta: Former Senior Manager Pleads Guilty to Stealing the Home Depot’s Trade Secrets

Guillermo Martinez pleaded guilty to a criminal information that charged him with stealing trade secrets from his former employer, The Home Depot. Full Story
Philadelphia: Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Charged with Fraud and Subscribing to a Materially False Federal Income Tax Return

An information was filed charging Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael T. Toole with honest services fraud and subscribing to a materially false federal income tax return. The charges together carry a maximum possible penalty of 23 years in prison and a fine of $350,000. Full Story
St. Paul: Tom Petters Found Guilty of Orchestrating $3.65 Billion Ponzi Scheme

A federal trial jury convicted Thomas Joseph Petters of orchestrating a $3.65 billion Ponzi scheme. Petters, who was originally indicted in December 2008, was found guilty of 10 counts of wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and five counts of money laundering. Full Story
Miami: FBI Announces Return of Pre-Columbian Artifacts to Peru and Ecuador

Miami FBI Special Agent in Charge John V. Gillies announced the return of 153 pre-Columbian artifacts to the countries of Peru and Ecuador. Full Story
San Antonio: Army Officer, Wife, and Relatives Sentenced in Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme Related to DOD Contracts in Support of Iraq War

A former U.S. Army contracting officer, his wife, his sister, and his niece were sentenced for their participation in a bribery and money laundering scheme related to bribes paid for contracts awarded in support of the Iraq war. Full Story
Dallas: Major Methamphetamine Trafficking Ring Leader and Founder of Aces and Eights Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Pleads Guilty

Bobby Duwayne Froman, the leader of a motorcycle gang that is a support club of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, pleaded guilty to his role as the leader and organizer of a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking organization that obtained large quantities of methamphetamine from California and distributed that methamphetamine throughout West Texas. Full Story
FBI Headquarters/New York: Computer Scammers Target Holiday Shoppers

This holiday season, the FBI is warning holiday shoppers to be aware of cyber criminals and others looking to commit fraud. Headquarters Release | New York Release

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