Child Pornography Penalties Reviewed
The U.S. Sentencing Commission has issued a report, "The History of Child Pornography Guidelines," as a first step in its review of the punishment prescribed for the sexual exploitation of children.
President of Mortgage Company Pleads Guilty to $2.9 Million Bank Fraud
William Everett Nichols, of Alexandria, Louisiana, president and sole shareholder of First Fidelity Mortgage, Inc., pled guilty to defrauding Sabine State Bank in Many, Louisiana out of $2.9 million.
Trustee of Charitable Foundation Guilty in $1.8 Million Mineral Rights Fraud Scheme
Kirby E. Cole, of Shreveport, Louisiana, trustee of The Phillips Foundation, a local trust formed over 45 years ago in order to help fund charitable, religious, educational, literary, and scientific organizations, pled guilty to defrauding the foundation out of more than $1.8 million in Haynesville Shale mineral rights.
Michigan Father and Son Convicted of Defrauding Small Business Owners
Kenneth Mitan and Frank Mitan both of Farmington Hills, Michigan, were convicted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in connection with a scheme that allowed them to fraudulently gain control of four small businesses and deplete the assets.
Louisiana Woman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding American Red Cross
Kiwana Thornton, of Slidell, Louisiana, pled guilty to wire fraud relating to the fraudulent applications she made to the American Red Cross for financial assistance during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Two Indicted in Massachusetts on Terrorism Material Support, Related Charges
Tarek Mehanna, of Sudbury, Massachusetts, and Ahmad Abousamra, a resident of Syria, were indicted in Boston with providing material support to terrorists, conspiracy to kill in a foreign country, multiple false statements to law enforcement, and conspiracy.
New Orleans Official, Two Others Indicted on Federal Bribery and Fraud Charges
Former Chief Technology Officer and Executive Assistant to the Mayor of New Orleans Gregory Meffert; his wife, Linda Meffert; and technology businessman Mark St. Pierre were indicted on charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, money laundering, false statements, and filing false tax returns.
Two Drug Supplies Plead Guilty in Case Targeting Motorcycle Gang Members
David Lee Russell, of Hughson, California, and Dennis Carl Hegwood, of Modesto, California, pled guilty to methamphetamine distribution charges in a case that charged 28 defendants, including sheriff deputies and members of a motorcycle gang that is a support club of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.
Three Virginia Men Plead Guilty to Child Pornography Charges
Ian A. Zearley, of Charlottesville, Virginia; Mark Church, of Louisa, Virginia; and Patrick William Kreutzer, of Mineral, Virginia, pled guilty in separate and unrelated cases to various charges involving the transportation, receipt, and possession of child pornography.
Maryland Woman Pleads Guilty to Embezzling from Health Care Program
Nicole Stepney Turner, of Baltimore, Maryland, pled guilty embezzling more than $237,000 from her former employer, CareFirst, a health care benefit program.