Recently in FBI Category

LA HABRA -- A La Habra man accused of swindling an elderly couple out of nearly $5 million is being sought as a fugitive after skipping a hearing, authorities said.
John Arthur Walthall, 55, failed to show up for a hearing in his case on June 27, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said in a written statement.
FBI agents arrested him on suspicion of multiple counts of wire fraud in 2009 in connection with the alleged scam, officials said.
"The victims, both of whom were in their late 80s, gave Walthall more than $4.7 million dollars to invest in technology aimed at finding gold in abandoned mines," Eimiller said.
"Walthall allegedly told the elderly couple that he had invested more than $3 million of his own money in more than a decade worth of research in the gold extraction process," she added.
The vast majority of the money did not go into investments for the couple, however, authorities allege.
Instead, he's accused of using the money for his own investments and expenses. According to the FBI, Walthall used the victims' money to buy gold, pay alimony and child support payments for four children, pay rent and other expenses and buy luxury items.
In addition, Walthall allegedly used the couple's money to buy two SUVs and a heavy-duty pickup truck, make a $10,000 payment to a film school and purchase a hyperbaric oxygen chamber worth about $60,000, Eimiller said.
When arrested, FBI agents found $500,000 worth of gold coins under the bed of his La Habra home.
Walthall is scheduled for trial Sept. 13.
He was ordered to appear in court June 27th for a hearing after investigators determined he was exaggerating a medical condition to delay his trial, officials said. When he didn't show up for the hearing, the FBI labeled him a fugitive.
Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 888-226-8443.

From a Justice Department Press release:

As part of the Justice Department's nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming general elections, Assistant United States Attorney Dennis Mitchell will again serve as the District Election Officer during the November 2 general election, United States Attorney André Birotte Jr. announced Friday.

Since 2006, AUSA Mitchell has served as District Election Officer to handle citizen complaints concerning potential violations of the federal Voting Rights Act.

As District Election Officer during next week's balloting, AUSA Mitchell will ensure that complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses made to federal authorities will be properly handled and, if appropriate, thoroughly investigated.

AUSA Mitchell will serve as District Election Officer for the Central District of California, which includes the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.

"Every allegation of any voting rights abuse is an extremely serious matter," said United States Attorney André Birotte Jr. "Every citizen is entitled to vote without interference or discrimination. Citizens should not hesitate to report possible violations of voting rights laws."

Have a complaint? Register it at: 213- 894-2484 to report possible election fraud and voting rights abuses.

The FBI will also make special agents available to hear complaints. Their number is 310-477-6565.

Press release from Laura Eimiller at the FBI:

FBI Agents and detectives with multiple law enforcement agencies in three counties are seeking the public's assistance in learning the identity of the "20 Questions Bandits," a group of at least four unidentified men believed to be responsible for eleven takeover bank robberies in Ventura, Orange and Los Angeles Counties.

U.S. Bank, East West Bank, Cathay Bank and several Bank of America locations were targeted by the bandits. Bank of America is offering a reward of up to $100,000* in exchange for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individuals responsible for these robberies.

During the various robberies, the bandits were extremely violent and, in some cases, displayed weapons. Witnesses have described four black males, in some cases armed with guns, who have forced bank employees and customers inside the bank to comply with their demands for cash and to follow their instructions.

In some cases, the bandits also robbed victims of personal belongings. During the initial robberies linked to this group, the suspects asked several questions while inside the bank, according towitnesses and were, therefore, nicknamed the "20 Questions Bandits."

The most recent robbery attributed to the "20 Questions Bandits" occurred on April 2, 2010 at a Bank of America in the city of Newport Beach.

The group is also believed responsible for robberies in El Monte and Rowland Heights, Eimiller said.

Emigdio Preciado,  whose picture has been on billboards, the FBI's 10 Most Wanted List and the television program America's Most Wanted, returned to the US Tuesday, according the the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. 

This from FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller:

FBI Director, Robert Mueller, has named two veteran agents, Daphne Hearn and Bill Lewis, to serve in the position of Special Agent in Charge (SAC) in the Los Angeles Field Office. Additional information about SAC Lewis and Hearn can be found in the attachments; their photos are also attached.

Background on Los Angeles FBI hierarchy:

The Los Angeles Field Office is headed up by an Assistant Director in Charge, who is chiefly responsible for all operations in the seven counties that comprise the Central District of California. (Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, SLO, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino and Riverside).

The Assistant Director in Los Angeles oversees four individuals who carry the title, "Special Agent in Charge," who are responsible for the following four branches, in no particular order of importance here, covering all FBI program areas:

• Criminal Division
• Counterterrorism Division
• Counterintelligence & Cyber Division
• Intelligence Division

SAC Lewis and SAC Hearn will serve as SAC of the Criminal Division and the Intelligence Division, respectively.

Director Mueller also recently appointed Steven Martinez as Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. Mr. Martinez, who most recently was in charge of the FBI in Las Vegas, will replace Salvador Hernandez, who recently retired. Mr. Martinez will report to Los Angeles later this month and I will issue a press release locally at that time to announce his formal arrival.

SAC Hearn and SAC Lewis are expected to arrive Los Angeles within the next several weeks.

The FBI Friday released several documents from its files on actress/model Anna Nicole Smith.

The third matter regarding Ms. Smith that the FBI investigated was an allegation that she contemplated the murder of E. Pierce Marshall, the son of her deceased husband. There are three sections to this release: 166C-LA-223601; 166C-LA-223601, 1A, Volume 1; and 166C-LA-223601, 1A, Volume 2. This release consists of one section of investigative case file and two volumes of 1A envelopes. 1A envelopes contain case materials retained as evidence (in this instance, materials like interview notes), documents obtained from other police agencies, and other items gathered in the course of the investigation. All of these files are redacted because of laws protecting personal privacy.

This from the Burbank Leader:

From Celeste Fremon at Witness LA:

Alex Sanchez had a second bail hearing on Wednesday afternoon. He did not get bail. Nor was he denied it.

Alex, if you'll remember, is the former MS-13 gang member turned highly honored gang intervention leader and head of the well-regarded nonprofit, Homies Unidos. A month ago, Sanchez was named in a federal racketeering indictment and accused of plotting the murder of a rival gang member. The case alleges Sanchez was leading a double life: while a good guy by day, by night he was the premier shot caller--AKA leader--of a particularly violent clique of MS-13.

At the last bail hearing held on June 30, 110 people wrote letters of support--including city leaders and a wide array of clergy. Friends and colleagues put up $1.2 million in surities against any bail. To sweeten the deal, Tom Hayden put up his house toward the hoped for bond. Sanchez was denied bail anyway.

Sanchez's attorney appealed the bail decision, and Wednesday's hearing was the result. But rather than settle the matter, U.S. District Judge Manuel L. Real decided to continue the bail issue until August 17, nearly a month from now.

On the surface this might sound like just another case of justice delayed. But, there is a lot more to this story.

In case you are interested, here's a copy of the Alex Sanchez indictment. And, a piece written by Tom Hayden for The Nation.

At left is Susan Bendigo, also known as Susan Lim. She's a federal fugitive in a 42-defendant case involving shady nurses operating out of Santa Fe Springs. 

FBI agents honed their skills in identifying and collecting evidence from bodies at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in May at the annual "Body Farm" field study class. Bodies are buried and left to decompose so that agents can dig them up, study them and gain experience in body recovery.

The following comes from the FBI's Web site:

The bug expert gathered FBI agents around the table to introduce his maggots. He selected a mature one from a watery dish and held it up to his eyepiece, staring through its translucent carapace like a jeweler appraising a precious stone.

"All of these, if you look, have a gut in them," said Dr. Ian Dadour, a forensic entomologist, explaining how pinpointing a maggot's age can tell a lot about what it's eating. "So this means they're still feeding...they haven't used all their food up."

READ MORE

An FBI investigation that lead to the federal indictment of several members of MS13 details murders, drug deals, robberies and witness intimidation that even in dry legal language is quite chilling.