FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending May 18, 2012

Washington, D.C.
May 18, 2012 FBI National Press Office
(202) 324-3691

1.Headquarters: FBI Releases 2011 Preliminary Statistics for Law Enforcement Officers Killed in the Line of Duty

The FBI announced that 72 of the nation’s law enforcement officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty during 2011. Full Story


2.Seattle: Financial Advisor Indicted in $46 Million Investment Fraud Scheme

Mark F. Spangler, a long-time Seattle financial advisor, was charged with wire fraud, money laundering, and investment advisor fraud. Full Story


3.Dallas: Reward for Information About the Recent Mailings of White Powder Letters in the North Texas Area

Representatives from FBI Dallas and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service announced a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, prosecution, and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the recent mailings of letters containing white powder in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Full Story


4.Phoenix: State Representative Charged in Bribery Scheme

Paul Ben Arredondo, a member of the Arizona House of Representatives, was charged with bribery, fraud, attempted extortion, and false statements in connection with receiving more than $6,000 in tickets to sporting and special events. Full Story


5.Birmingham: Former Organ Center Executive Sentenced for Fraud

Demosthenes Lalisan, the former director of the Alabama Organ Center, was sentenced to 13 months in prison for his role in a scheme to take kickbacks from a funeral home that did business with the organ center. Full Story


6.Los Angeles: Manager of International Computer Hacking Ring Sentenced for Defrauding Banks

Nichole Michelle Merzi was sentenced to five years in prison for her role in an international phishing operation that used spam e-mails and bogus websites to collect personal information in an effort to defraud American banks. Full Story


7.Washington: Former U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Manager Pleads Guilty in Alleged $30 Million Bribery and Kickback Scheme

Kerry F. Khan, a former program manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, pled guilty for his participation in a scheme that allegedly involved more than $30 million in bribes and kickback payments and the planned steering of a government contract potentially worth $1 billion. Full Story


8.Jacksonville: Man Indicted for Sextortion and Cyberstalking

Christopher P. Gunn was indicted on multiple charges involving the online sextortion and cyberstalking of girls ranging in age from 13 to 17 years old. Full Story


9.Baltimore: Chief Financial Officer Sentenced in $78 Million Dream Home Mortgage Fraud Scheme

Carole Nelson was sentenced to 29 months in prison for money laundering in connection with her participation in a massive mortgage fraud scheme that falsely promised to pay off homeowners’ mortgages on their “Dream Homes.” Full Story


10.San Francisco: Mongols Motorcycle Gang Member Sentenced for Murder

Christopher Bryan Ablett, a member of the Modesto Chapter of the Mongols outlaw motorcycle gang, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of the president of the San Francisco chapter of Hells Angels. Full Story

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FBI — FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending May 18, 2012