FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending February 25, 2011

Washington, D.C.
February 25, 2011 FBI National Press Office
(202) 324-3691

1.Dallas: Texas Resident Arrested on Charge of Attempted Use of Weapon of Mass Destruction

Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari, 20, a citizen of Saudi Arabia and resident of Lubbock, Texas, was arrested by FBI agents on a federal charge of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction in connection with his alleged purchase of chemicals and equipment necessary to make an improvised explosive device and his research of potential U.S. targets. Full Story


2.Washington Field Office: Virginia Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Providing Material Support and Encouraging Violent Jihadists to Kill U.S. Citizens

Zachary Adam Chesser, of Fairfax County, Virginia, was sentenced to 25 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for communicating threats against the writers of the South Park television show, soliciting violent jihadists to desensitize law enforcement, and attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab, a designated foreign terrorist organization. Full Story


3.Boston: Four Plead Guilty as Charged in North Providence Extortion and Bribery Cases

Three former North Providence town councilmen and a North Providence businessman pled guilty to their roles in four extortion and bribery schemes. In addition, the defendants are jointly liable to forfeit $46,000, representing the total amount of bribe money received. Full Story


4.Atlanta: APS Healthcare Pays $13 Million to Settle False Claims Act Case

Innovative Resources Group, LLC, doing business as APS Healthcare Midwest, reached a $13 million settlement with the United States and the state of Georgia to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act. The government alleges that APS Healthcare submitted false claims to Medicaid through the Georgia Department of Community Health for not providing specialty services related to disease management and case management to members of the Georgia Medicaid Management Program during the period from September 1, 2007 through February 28, 2010. Full Story


5.Minneapolis: Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Hacking into Computer Servers of Local Company and NASA

Jeremy Parker, a 26-year-old Texas man, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud and to hacking into computer networks at a Minnesota business and at NASA. Full Story


6.Jacksonville: Horizon Lines LLC Agrees to Plead Guilty to Price Fixing on Coastal Water Freight Services Between the Continental United States and Puerto Rico

Horizon Lines LLC has agreed to plead guilty and pay a $45 million criminal fine for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices in the coastal water freight transportation industry. Full Story


7.Philadelphia: Fourteen Charged in Drug Distribution Conspiracy

A second superseding indictment was unsealed against 14 Lancaster, Pennsylvania residents. The defendants were charged with conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base and five kilograms or more of cocaine, and related drug and firearms offenses. Full Story


8.Charlotte: Woman Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud, Money Laundering, and Failure to File Tax Returns

Sarah Lavonne Willis agreed to enter a guilty plea to federal charges which were filed in November 2010 alleging health care fraud, money laundering, and failure to file tax returns. Full Story


9.Detroit: Romeo Home Builder Gets Jail Time in Mortgage Fraud Scheme

Giuseppe Cracchiolo was sentenced to six months in prison for his role in a mortgage fraud scheme, followed by three years' supervised release. Cracchiolo was also ordered to serve an additional six months' home confinement and pay restitution of $1,654,500. Full Story


10.New Orleans: Former Harahan Police Officer Charged with Obtaining Property by Fraud

Carol Ney, a resident of Kenner, Louisiana, was charged in a one-count bill of information with obtaining property by fraud concerning programs receiving federal funds. Full Story

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http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press- ... ry-25-2011