FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending March 4, 2011

Washington, D.C.
March 04, 2011 FBI National Press Office
(202) 324-3691


1.New Haven: FBI Task Force Arrests 15 More Alleged Participants in New Haven Cocaine Ring

A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging 26 individuals with narcotics trafficking offenses related to the distribution of cocaine in and around New Haven. Full Story


2.San Francisco: Federal Grand Jury Charges Multiple Defendants with Racketeering, Extortion, and Narcotics Crimes Occurring at and Through Two Bay Area Casinos

Fifteen individuals were charged with committing racketeering, extortionate extension of credit, and narcotics offenses at and through two Bay Area casino card clubs, Artichoke Joe's Casino and Oaks Card Club. Full Story


3.Dallas: Three Dallas-Area Men Arrested on Federal Firearms Charges Related to Trafficking Firearms to a Mexican Drug Cartel

Three individuals were arrested on federal firearms charges related to the ongoing investigation of the killing of ICE Agent Zapata. Full Story


4.Los Angeles: Former Upland Mayor, Second City Official Indicted in Federal Corruption Case for Demanding $70,000 in Bribes

John Victor Pomierski, the former mayor of Upland, and the mayor's appointee were indicted on federal corruption charges that outline an extortion scheme targeting two Upland businesses. Full Story


5.New York: Superseding Indictment in New York Charges 25 MS-13 Gang Members

The unsealing of a 70-count third superseding indictment was announced charging 25 members and associates of La Mara Salvatrucha street gang ("MS-13"), with murder, assault with dangerous weapons, witness tampering and retaliation, extortion, narcotics trafficking, firearms offenses, obstruction of justice, and related crimes. Full Story


6.Philadelphia: Health Care Facility Operator Charged with Health Care Fraud, Mail Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft

John Edward McKoy, a former owner and operator of multiple health care facilities, was charged in connection with a scheme to defraud United Health Care Corporation of more than $321,000. Full Story


7.Boston: Delta Airlines Employee Charged with Impersonating a Federal Air Marshal

Abdirahman Y. Hassan was arrested and charged with falsely impersonating a federal air marshal during the course of an investigation into a motor vehicle accident. Full Story


8.Portland: Tigard Man Pleads Guilty to Operating Illegal Money Transmitting Business

Victor Kaganov, pled guilty to operating an illegal money transmitting business. Kaganov, a naturalized citizen living in Tigard, Oregon, emigrated from Russia and set up, on behalf of Russian clients, numerous shell corporations in Oregon. Through these shell corporations, Kaganov moved more than $172 million in and out of the United States to more than 50 countries worldwide in approximately 4,200 wire transactions. Full Story


9.Baltimore: Self-Described “Militant Extremistâ€