Press Release
For Immediate Release
April 16, 2010
Washington D.C.
FBI National Press Office
(202) 324-3691


FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending April 16, 2010

Baltimore: Former NSA Senior Executive Indicted in Maryland

A federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment charging former National Security Agency senior executive Thomas A. Drake with the willful retention of classified information, obstruction of justice, and making false statements. Full Story

Boston: Appeals Court Upholds Lawyer’s Conviction in Stolen Art Case

The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed the conviction and seven-year prison sentence of former Massachusetts state prosecutor Robert M. Mardirosian on charges that he possessed stolen property that had crossed a U.S. boundary knowing it to be stolen. The case arose from the 1978 theft of seven paintings from Stockbridge, Massachusetts—the largest burglary from a private residence in Massachusetts history and one of the largest art thefts in the U.S. The alleged thief, David Colvin, left the paintings with Mardirosian, a defense attorney and former assistant district attorney in Middlesex County. Four months later, Colvin was murdered. Full Story

Minneapolis: Apple Valley Man Pleads Guilty to Orchestrating $190 Million Ponzi Scheme

Trevor Gilson Cook pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of tax evasion in connection with a massive Ponzi scheme. In his plea agreement, Cook admitted that he schemed to defraud no fewer than 1,000 people out of approximately $190 million by purportedly selling investments in a foreign currency trading program. Full Story

Philadelphia: Cocaine Kingpin Convicted in Murder of a Federal Witness

Maurice Phillips of Maryland, the leader of the Phillips Cocaine Organization (PCO), was convicted of all eight counts against him, including the murder-for-hire of a federal witness. A hearing to determine whether Phillips should be sentenced to death will begin Monday, April 19, 12010. PCO was a multi-state, multi-million-dollar cocaine distribution organization which distributed cocaine throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Phillips was convicted of conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy to commit money laundering, concealment of money laundering, tampering with a witness by murder, and aiding and abetting. Full Story

Cincinnati/Louisville: Three Arrested on Federal Explosives Charges

FBI agents from the Louisville and Cincinnati field offices, along with ATF agents, arrested three individuals on federal charges that they illegally possessed and delivered explosives. In addition, agents executed four federal search warrants in Ohio and one in Kentucky as the result of the same investigation. A federal complaint alleges that two of the defendants sold 12 blocks of military C4 explosives and that the third defendant conspired with the them to obtain and deliver the explosives. Full Story

San Diego: SPAWAR Defendants Sentenced to Prison

The last of seven defendants previously charged with corruption and fraud charges related to defense contracting at Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), a military organization based in San Diego, were sentenced this week. Former SPAWAR branch head Gary Alexander was sentenced to 75 months of imprisonment and ordered to forfeit $332,072 and to pay $171,288.41 in restitution. Department of Defense subcontractor Elizabeth Ramos was sentenced to serve 18 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay $123,448.41 in restitution. Ramos’ spouse, Louis Williams, was sentenced to serve one year and one day in prison. All three pleaded guilty last year to defrauding the United States Navy in connection with the award of several defense subcontracts. In addition, Alexander pleaded guilty to filing false tax returns. Full Story

Richmond: Roanoke Neo-Nazi Sentenced for Threats, Witness Intimidation

William A. “Billâ€