FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending June 1, 2012

Washington, D.C.
June 01, 2012 FBI National Press Office
(202) 324-3691


1.Chicago: CEO and Head Trader of Sentinel Management Indicted in $500 Million Fraud Scheme

Chief Executive Officer Eric A. Bloom and Head Trader Charles K. Mosley were indicted for allegedly defrauding more than 70 customers before the firm collapsed. Full Story


2.Washington Field: Leader of MS-13 Gang Sentenced for Sex Trafficking Multiple Teens

Rances Ulices Amaya was sentenced to 50 years in prison for recruiting girls as young as 14 from middle schools, high schools, and homeless shelters and forcing them to engage commercial sex acts on behalf of the gang. Full Story


3.Buffalo: Police Officer and Co-Conspirator Charged with Operating Large-Scale Marijuana Grow Operation

Jorge Melendez and Jason Elardo were arrested for allegedly manufacturing more than 100 marijuana plants, among other charges. Full Story


4.Indianapolis: Man Sentenced to 115 Years for Production, Distribution of Child Pornography

Larry Everett Hodge was sentenced to prison for multiple charges relating to the production of sexually explicit material involving an 8-year-old girl he volunteered to care for after school. Full Story


5.San Francisco: Founders of S3 Partners Charged in Real Estate Investment Fraud Scheme Targeting the Elderly

Melvin Russell “Rusty” Shields, Michael Sims, and Sam Stafford were arraigned on 33 counts of conspiracy, wire, mail, bank, and securities fraud for allegedly defrauding numerous individual investors and banks out of more than $21 million. Full Story


6.Washington Field: Alleged White Supremacist Arrested for Illegally Possessing Fully Automatic AK-47

Douglas Howard Story, who has expressed hatred and support for violence toward a number of political figures, was charged with making a firearm in violation of the National Firearms Act. Full Story


7.Denver: Twenty-Two People Indicted in Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization

Twenty of the defendants indicted for the trafficking of methamphetamine and international money laundering have been arrested, and two others are considered fugitives from justice. Full Story


8.Miami: Leader of Massive Staged Car Accident Ring Sentenced

Oscar Luis Franco Padron was sentenced to eight years in prison for orchestrating phony automobile accidents and defrauding insurance companies of millions of dollars. Full Story


9.Sacramento: Computer Technician Sentenced for Role in Identity Theft Scheme

Michael Garcia was sentenced to 57 months in prison for fraud in connection with computers and in connection with an access device. Full Story


10.New Haven: Congressional Campaign Finance Director Charged with Conspiring to Conceal Origin of Contributions

Robert Braddock allegedly conspired to accept conduit campaign contributions, which are contributions made by one person in the name of another person. Full Story

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FBI — FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending June 1, 2012