FBI Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending July 1, 2011: Kansas City: Man Who Shot at FBI Agents Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison

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Washington, D.C. July 01, 2011

FBI National Press Office

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1. New York: Three Men Each Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Plotting to Bomb Bronx Synagogues and Shoot Down U.S. Military Planes
   
   Three men were each sentenced to 25 years in prison for plotting to bomb synagogues in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, New York, and to use stinger surface-to-air guided missiles to shoot down military planes located at the New York Air National Guard Base at Stewart Airport. Full Story
   
2. Atlanta: Man Convicted by Jury for Multi-Million-Dollar Fraud Schemes
   After a five-day trial, Jean-Daniel Perkins was found guilty on charges of bank fraud, credit card fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Perkins defrauded American Express, SunTrust Bank, and hundreds of individual credit card holders of millions of dollars. Full Story
   
3. New Orleans: Mayor of Port Allen, Louisiana Convicted of Racketeering
   Derek A. Lewis, the mayor of the City of Port Allen, Louisiana, pled guilty to violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Full Story
   
4. Miami: Doctor Sentenced to 235 Months in Prison for Medicare Fraud
   
   Miami doctor Rene De Los Rios was sentenced to 235 months in prison for his participation in a $23 million HIV injection and infusion Medicare fraud scheme. Full Story
   
5. Los Angeles: Lead Defendant in International Computer Hacking Ring Sentenced in Two Cases to 13 Years in Federal Prison
   Federal judges in two cases imposed sentences totaling 13 years in prison against the Kenneth Lucas, the leader of the domestic arm of an international “phishing” operation that used spam e-mails and bogus websites to collect personal information that was used to defraud American banks. Lucas was sentenced in the second case which involved an indoor marijuana grow at his residence. Full Story
   
6. Baltimore: Prince George’s County Council Woman Leslie Johnson Pleads Guilty to Corruption Charge
   Prince George’s County Councilwoman Leslie Johnson pled guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit witness and evidence tampering in order to obstruct a federal corruption investigation. Full Story
   
7. Washington Field: TBW Executive Sentenced to 30 Years for Role in $2.9 Billion Fraud Scheme
   Lee Bentley Farkas, the former chairman and owner of Taylor, Bean & Whitaker (TBW), was sentenced to 30 years in prison and ordered to forfeit approximately $38.5 million for his role in a more than $2.9 billion fraud scheme that contributed to the failure of TBW and Colonial Bank. Full Story
   
8. Phoenix: Kaibeto Man Charged in Navajo Nation Police Officer Murder
   Victor Bigman was charged by criminal complaint with first-degree murder in the death of Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety Sergeant Darrell Curley. Full Story
   
9. Chicago: Romanian Man Sentenced for Role in International Fraud Scheme Involving Online Auction Websites
   Adrian Ghighina was sentenced in Chicago to 48 months in prison for his role in moving and hiding the illicit proceeds of an international fraud scheme. Full Story
   
10. Kansas City: Man Who Shot at FBI Agents Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison
    
    Nicholas Henry pled guilty to one count of attempting to kill an FBI agent and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Full Story

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Exxon Oil Pipeline Spills into Yellowstone River, Montana

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July 3, 2011

Exxon oil spill in Mont. river prompts evacuations

By MATTHEW BROWN
Associated Press

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LAUREL, Mont. (AP) -- Hundreds of barrels of crude oil spilled into Montana's Yellowstone River after an ExxonMobil pipeline beneath the riverbed ruptured, sending a plume 25 miles downstream and forcing temporary evacuations, officials said.

The break near Billings in south-central Montana fouled the riverbank and forced municipalities and irrigation districts Saturday to close intakes.

The river has no dams on its way to its confluence with the Missouri River just across the Montana border in North Dakota. It was unclear how far the plume might travel.

Cleanup crews deployed booms and absorbent material as the plume moved downstream at an estimated 5 to 7 mph.

"The parties responsible will restore the Yellowstone River," Mont. Gov. Brian Schweitzer said.

A 600-foot-long black smear of oil coated Jim Swanson's riverfront property just downstream from where the pipe broke.

"Whosever pipeline it is better be knocking on my door soon and explaining how they're going to clean it up," Swanson said as globules of oil bubbled to the surface. "They say they've got it capped off. I'm not so sure."

ExxonMobil spokeswoman Pam Malek said the pipe leaked an estimated 750 to 1,000 barrels of oil for about a half-hour before it was shut down. Other Exxon officials had estimated up to 42,000 gallons of crude oil escaped.

Duane Winslow, Yellowstone County director of disaster and emergency services, said the plume was dissipating as it moved downstream. "We're just kind of waiting for it to move on down while Exxon is trying to figure out how to corral this monster," Winslow said.

"The timing couldn't be worse," said Steve Knecht, chief of operations for Montana Disaster and Emergency Services, who added that the plume was measured at 25 miles near Pompeys Pillar National Monument. "With the Yellowstone running at flood stage and all the debris, it makes it dang tough to get out there to do anything."

Brent Peters, the fire chief for the city of Laurel about 12 miles west of Billings, said the rupture in the 12-inch diameter pipe occurred late Friday about a mile south of Laurel.

He said about 140 people in the Laurel area were evacuated early Saturday due to concerns about possible explosions and the overpowering fumes. He said they were allowed to return at about 4 a.m. after fumes had decreased.

Winslow said hundreds of residents downstream were told to evacuate in the early morning hours as authorities knocked on doors, but it's unclear how many did.

In a statement, ExxonMobil said it was sending a team to help with cleanup, and that state and federal authorities had been alerted to the spill. The ExxonMobil Pipeline Company "deeply regrets this release," it said.

Crews were putting out absorbent material along stretches of the river in Billings and near Laurel, but there were no attempts at capturing oil farther out in the river. In some areas oil flowed underneath booms and continued downstream.

The smell of oil permeated the air for miles downstream and through the city of Billings.

"Nobody's been able to lay their eyes on the pipe," Peters said. "Right now, the Yellowstone River is at flood stage. The bank isn't stable enough for anybody to get close."

The cause of the rupture in the pipe carrying crude oil from Belfry, Mont., to the company's refinery in Billings wasn't known. Peters and Malek said speculation involves high water that might have gouged out the river bed and exposed the pipe, which was possibly hit by debris.

"I haven't seen it this high for at least 15 years," Peters said.

Jeb Montgomery of ExxonMobil said the pipe was buried six feet below the riverbed.

The state has received record rainfall in the last month and also has a huge snowpack in the mountains that is melting, which has resulted in widespread flooding in recent weeks.

Three oil refineries are in the Billings area, and Peters said he asked all three to turn off the flow of oil in their pipelines under the river once the leak was reported. He said ExxonMobil and Cenex Harvest Refinery did so, and that Conoco Phillips said its pipe was already shut down.

He said the river where the leak occurred is about 250 yards wide, and that an oil slick appeared to be about 20 feet wide.

"That was the farthest my flashlight would reach," he said.

Laurel, which has about 6,500 residents, is known for a huge Fourth of July fireworks display put on by the fire department. Peters said the town can swell to as many as 50,000 people for the event.

He said the fire department plans to hold the event on Monday.

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Associated Press writer Keith Ridler in Boise, Idaho, contributed to this report.

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Fourth of July Activities in Hermann Start Early in the Day

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A full day of Fourth of July activities in Hermann starts with an early-morning 5K Firecracker Run and ends with a huge riverfront fireworks display. Sponsored by the Hermann Area Chamber of Commerce. SCHEDULE»

Every year the Hermann Area Chamber of Commerce hosts a full day of activities to celebrate the Fourth of July.

    7:00 a.m. — Hermann Firecracker 5K Fun Run
    Starting at Hermann Fitness Source, 124 East 4th Street. Free 5K run/walk for the Hermann Food Pantry. Donate four canned goods to participate.

    11:00 a.m. — Chamber Food Stand Opens at Riverfront Park
    Pulled pork, brats, hot dogs, nachos, potato salad, baked beans, soft drinks. (Open until fireworks.)

    12:00 Noon — Kid's Games at Riverfront Park         
    Turtle Races (bring your own turtle). Youth categories from ages 3-15, plus category for “The Young at Heart.” Bubble gum blowing contest. Hula hoop contest. Age categories from 6-18 and for “The Young at Heart.”

    3:00 p.m. — Parade Line-up and Judging
    Washington and 8th. Call Cathi Utley, 486-5418 or 870-897-5968 to enter. Ribbons for each category; $100Prizes for best use of 175th anniversary theme.

    4:00 p.m. — Parade
    Parade route goes through downtown to Gutenberg. Theme: 175 years of the Fourth of July.

    4:00 p.m. — Food Stands Open at Riverfront Park
    E njoy ice cream treats from the Brush and Palette Club; kettle corn from the Lions Club; funnel cakes and sno-cones from the Boy Scouts.

    5:00 p.m. — Kiddie Tractor Pull at Riverfront Park
    For ages 3-10

    7:30 p.m. — Free City Band Concert at the Amphitheater
    In case of rain, concert will be at the Hermann High School Auditorium

    (DARK) 9:00 p.m. — Fireworks at the Riverfront

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