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Former Executive Director of Victim Advocacy Organization Convicted of Two Counts of Wire Fraud

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

Tacoma – The former Executive Director of the Washington Coalition of Crime Victim Advocates (WCCVA) was convicted today of two counts of wire fraud following a six-day jury trial. Cody Benson, 51, formerly of Olympia, Washington, was indicted in July 2021 for her scheme to falsely claim Washington State public grant funding for work that was never done. Jurors deliberated about eight hours before returning the guilty verdicts. U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle scheduled sentencing for April 8, 2024, at 1:30 p.m.

According to records filed in the case, Benson was the head of an Olympia-based non-profit organization that was tasked with training advocates to assist crime victims. In 2013, the legislature appropriated money for this work with a grant administered through the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. Between 2015 and 2017, Benson submitted fraudulent invoices for reimbursement under the grant. She submitted bills for training events that were never held or supplies that were never purchased. In early 2016, she moved away to Italy, yet in the ensuing years, she repeatedly told representatives of the Attorney General’s Office that she was in Washington State doing various outreach and other work. Those representations were false.

By the end of the scheme, WCCVA had only two employees: Benson and her son. The Washington State Attorney General’s Office became concerned about WCCVA’s performance under the grant in early 2018 and began investigating. Benson returned just over $50,000 to the state, but other funds were not recovered. The grant payments ceased, and WCCVA is defunct.

In all, prosecutors argued that WCCVA obtained almost $180,000 from Benson’s false invoices, and that Benson herself obtained approximately $257,000 in net salary and other benefits such as health insurance, retirement plan contributions, and health reimbursement account contributions during the fraudulent scheme.

The case was investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Philip Kopczynski and Yunah Chung.

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Image released of two men after assault in Newham

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Detectives investigating an attack on a man in Newham are releasing images of two men they would like to identify.

A man in his 40s was found with a head injury outside The Queen’s pub in Green Street at around 00:50hrs on 21 October 2023.

It was reported that he had assaulted with a metal pole during a fight involving a group of people.

He was taken to hospital where his injuries were assessed as not life-threatening and he was later discharged.

Officers have carried out a range of enquiries, including recovering CCTV from the area around the pub.

They are now releasing two images of two men they would like to identify.

Anyone who recognises the men is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 320/21Oct. Information can also be shared online.

To remain anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Human Trafficking Awareness Month

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

HAMMOND – Every year since 2010, the President of the United States has proclaimed January “National Human Trafficking Prevention Month” and reaffirmed the United States Government’s commitment to combatting human trafficking in all its forms. 

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana joins in this commitment and will continue to prioritize combatting forced labor, domestic servitude, and sex trafficking of children and adults throughout the District. 

“A crucial and necessary step in combatting Human Trafficking is recognizing potential trafficking situations and taking the further step of reporting these activities to law enforcement,” said United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.  “My office is committed to working with its state and local partners both in law enforcement and through non-governmental organizations, advocacy groups, trauma-informed service providers and community leaders to support victims, prevent trafficking where possible, and  prosecute those who are engaging in  human trafficking.  We are most effective in addressing these situations when the community joins with us to recognize and report ‘red flags’ that may indicate a trafficking situation.  We encourage the public to join us in rooting out these crimes, not only during this month of recognition, but each and every day.” 

Below are a few questions that can help identify whether a potential sex trafficking or labor trafficking situation is occurring.

  • Has the victim been forced or coerced into performing commercial sex acts?
  • Is the victim under the age of 18 and engaged in commercial sex?
  • Is the victim free to contact friends or family without being coached or monitored?
  • Is someone severely limiting the victim’s freedom of movement? 
  • Has the victim or their family been threatened with harm if they attempt to leave?
  • Has the victim been harmed, deprived of food, water, sleep, medical care, or other life necessities?
  • Is the victim in possession of their own travel/identification documents?
  • Are the victim’s wages being unlawfully garnished to pay off a debt or fee?
  • Is the victim allowed to socialize or attend religious services?
  • Has the victim been threatened with deportation or criminal charges?

If a situation arises where the answer to one or more of the above questions is “Yes”, the U.S. Attorney’s Office asks that you to join in the effort to combat human trafficking and report the information.  

If you are a victim of human trafficking, suspect you know one, or have seen a situation you think may involve trafficking please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733), or your local law enforcement. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911. If you believe a child is involved in a trafficking situation, submit a tip through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s Call Center at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).

Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.

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Federal Inmate Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder and Attempted Murder of Fellow Inmates at the Terre Haute Federal Penitentiary

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

TERRE HAUTE- Rodney Curtis Hamrick, 58, a federal inmate formerly housed at the United States Penitentiary, in the Terre Haute Federal Correctional Complex, has been sentenced to life in federal prison after pleading guilty to first degree murder and assault with intent to commit murder.

According to court documents, Rodney Hamrick, Richard Warren, and Robert Neal were all inmates housed within the Communications Management Unit of the U.S. Penitentiary at the Terre Haute, Indiana, Federal Correctional Complex. On November 10, 2018, Warren notified a prison officer that he had been stabbed and assaulted in his cell by Hamrick. Officers secured Hamrick and confiscated a homemade weapon resembling an icepick used to stab Warren.

Inside Hamrick’s cell, Officers also found inmate Robert Neal covered in a sheet with a pillowcase tied over his face and neck, his hands bound behind his back, and multiple puncture wounds in his chest. Neal had no pulse and was later confirmed by medical staff to be dead. The official autopsy noted eleven stab wounds to Neal’s chest, but the ultimate cause of death was strangulation.

In an interview with FBI agents, Hamrick admitted to planning to attack Neal and Warren in advance. Hamrick lured Neal into his cell to help with legal paperwork, then binding him and strangling him with a cord. When the cord broke, Hamrick strangled Neal to death with his bare hands. Hamrick then stabbed Neal multiple times to ensure he was dead. Neal was 68-years-old when Hamrick murdered him.

Hamrick then entered Warren’s cell and immediately attacked him, grabbing Warren from behind and stabbing him in the neck. Warren was able to escape Hamrick’s grasp and protect himself from further stabs until another inmate arrived and Hamrick left Warren’s cell.

At the time he committed these crimes, Hamrick was serving a life sentence imposed in 2007 by the Eastern District of Virginia for using a destructive device in an attempted crime of violence. This sentence was imposed following seven prior federal convictions for offenses including violent threats against public officials and federal buildings, attempted escape, and multiple offenses involving manufacturing and mailing destructive devices—some of which detonated and injured others. After Hamrick murdered Neal and attempted to murder Warren, the Bureau of Prisons transferred Hamrick from Terre Haute to the ADMAX administrative security U.S. Penitentiary in Florence, Colorado.

“It is clear from Rodney Hamrick’s lifelong pattern of violent crime, culminating the horrific attacks he perpetrated in the Terre Haute prison, that he should never live another day outside of federal prison,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “I commend the diligent work of the FBI and our federal prosecutors to hold this defendant accountable. I sincerely hope that the completion of this prosecution brings some measure of closure and peace to Mr. Neal’s family and the surviving victim.”

FBI investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Jayson W. McGrath and William L. McCoskey, who prosecuted this case.

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Update 206 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts were yesterday granted access to the reactor hall of unit 6 of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) after previously having not been given access, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.

On Friday last week, the ZNPP had not given permission for the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to the ZNPP (ISAMZ) team to access the unit 6 reactor hall, proposing instead that the team enter the area in about a week’s time. However, access was granted yesterday. Director General Grossi welcomes this constructive step.

While in the reactor hall, the team observed main components of the reactor, confirming the cold shutdown state of the reactor. While the team was present in the reactor hall, the operators transferred the operation of the cooling pumps of the spent fuel pool from one safety train to another.

During a walkdown to the other areas of unit 6 yesterday, the team visited the turbine hall of unit 6 but were once again denied access to some areas of the hall. The IAEA ISAMZ teams have been unable to access all parts of the turbine hall of each unit since 18 October last year.

The team also visited the safety system rooms of unit 6 to again assess the status of the boric acid deposits previously found. During its visit, the team observed the presence of boric acid deposits in three rooms. The IAEA experts also visited the unit 6 emergency diesel generators.

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Undercover officers target luxury watch robbers in the West End and Soho

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

The Met have today released details of an innovative undercover operation to target watch robbery using its new, more precise approach to tackle crime affecting London’s communities.

The data-driven, intelligence-led operations pinpointed hotspots where a group of men were causing misery to those passing through central London boroughs.

In the six-month period prior to October 2022 [April-September 2022] there were over 300 luxury watches stolen across the three boroughs of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham.

Intelligence showed suspects targeting victims leaving pubs and nightclubs, most of whom were intoxicated and in a vulnerable state.

The suspects’ MO was to offer drugs/sex workers before taking them to quiet side streets to rob them, or approach them from behind before violently attacking them for their property.

In response to the rocketing number of offences, officers from the Met Covert Policing Command and central London robbery team set up two operations to identify the robbers.

These featured undercover officers** wearing luxury watches and posing as members of the public at the times and locations we knew these criminals operated in, with the aim of catching them red-handed.

The operations ran from October to December 2022 and March to October 2023 within Soho – which along with the other hotspots of Mayfair and the south part of Kensington and Chelsea, accounted for 40% of all watch robberies in London at the time.

Overall both operations resulted in 31 arrests and 27 successful charges, leading to 21 convictions to date. Of this group of 21, 14 individuals have so far been sentenced to a total of 26 years overall, with other cases pending.

They also successfully reduced the watch robbery rate across not just the borough of Westminster (which Soho is part of) but also the boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham as well.

The first operation from October to December 2022 saw a drop of 28% in watch robberies across the three boroughs by the end of that three-month period – [43 watch robberies in Oct 22 came down to 31 in Dec 22].

Whilst the second operation from March to October 2023 reduced watch robberies by 15.8% [361 robberies from March-Oct 2023 compared to 429 over same period in 2022] across the three boroughs.

Furthermore, comparing summer 2022 – before the operations started – to summer 2023, the number of watch robberies was halved across those same three boroughs – 113 in July 2022 down to 55 in July 2023.

Ben Russell, Commander for Met Intelligence, said: “This is a rare chance to give the public insight into the work done by our undercover officers, which resulted in 31 robbers arrested in a 12-month period, all caught red-handed trying to steal high value watches in the heart of the West End. Fourteen have already been sentenced, with more awaiting sentencing and other cases pending.

“Using data and intelligence, we identified the locations and times where these crimes were taking place and deployed undercover officers into the area, as part of our precision-based approach to fighting crime.

“By targeting the people causing the most harm and the locations most frequently linked to crime, we are having a greater impact on keeping our communities safe.

“Undercover operations will always carry an element of personal danger and, while we risk assess all our operations thoroughly, all the officers involved demonstrated extraordinary courage and determination.”

The Met has also released CCTV clips of four incidents during the two operations in Soho that dramatically display the bravery of the UC officers who took part.

UC deployments are just one of a wide range of measures the Met has employed to bear down on personal robbery offences. These include proactive patrols in hotspots across the capital and working with local and pan-London teams to develop insightful intelligence.

The Met is also keen to help educate the public to enable them to do all they can to minimise their chance of becoming a victim. When out and about, it is important that people remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings.

We would advise owners of high value watches to photograph for insurance purposes, consider property-marking and registering on a property register database, which can help increase the chances of retrieval of stolen items.

Our ‘Look Up, Look Out’ campaign encourages members of the public to pay attention to who is around them, keep valuables out of sight, and where possible plan their route before travelling.

We would advise anyone who is a victim of a robbery or who has seen a robbery take place not to risk their personal safety but call 999.

Further guidance can be found at: https://www.met.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/protect-yourself-from-crime/mugging-street-robbery

NOTES TO EDITORS: **NB: For clarity, UC refers to Met officers working in covert policing, carrying out full time police undercover work. This differs from officers working in plain clothes.

Additional statistics:

General robbery offences:

-Between April and September 2022 there were nearly 2,000 robberies across Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham.
-The Soho area accounted for 31 per cent of all those 2,000 offences – to put this into perspective this area is about one per cent of the size of those three boroughs put together.

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Fairfield County Man Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Prison for Armed Bank Robberies in Athens, Marietta

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A career bank robber was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 162 months in prison for armed robberies he committed in Athens and Marietta in 2020.

William E. Johnson, 58, of Lancaster, committed armed robberies in August 2020 in Athens and October 2020 in Marietta. As part of his sentence, he will pay more than $50,000 in restitution.

According to court documents, on Aug. 17, 2020, Johnson brandished a firearm at Hocking Valley Bank on East State Street in Athens. Johnson wore a prosthetic forehead and nose, skin-toned arm sleeves/gloves, makeup and a COVID mask, all designed to disguise his appearance.

Johnson ordered employees to get on the floor and then emptied several drawers of cash. In total, he took more than $25,000. After stealing the cash, he tied the employees’ hands with zip ties. Johnson ordered the bank manager to give him the keys to the bank manager’s car and the manager complied. Johnson fled the bank in the stolen vehicle.

On Oct. 22, 2020, Johnson robbed the Citizens Bank on North Second Street in Marietta. Johnson was wearing a full-length Halloween-style mask that made him appear to be an old man and wore a red hood pulled up around his face.

Johnson possessed a gun and forced his way behind the tellers’ counter. He emptied several drawers, stealing $11,390.

At the time, Johnson had a warrant out for his arrest for a pending indictment for a bank robbery in Williamstown, West Virginia.

Law enforcement officers spotted Johnson driving in West Virginia on the evening of the Marietta bank robbery and pulled him over. Johnson attempted to flee on foot, telling officers they would have to kill him to take him into custody again. Officers tased Johnson and placed him under arrest.

Officers searched Johnson’s vehicle and located more than $9,000 in cash, a loaded handgun, zip ties and his disguises.

Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Cincinnati Division; the Athens, Marietta, Williamstown, W.Va. and Parkersburg, W.Va. police departments; the Washington County and Wood County, W.Va. sheriff’s offices; and the West Virginia State Police announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorneys Noah R. Litton and S. Courter Shimeall are representing the United States in this case.

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Saskatchewan — Saskatchewan RCMP: on duty in your community – Monday, January 8 to Sunday, January 14, 2023, inclusive

Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Please note all information below occurred within the time period above, unless otherwise noted.

Saskatchewan RCMP – Your Provincial Police Service

Investigative Recap

January 8: Update: Yorkton RCMP advises residents of an increased police presence on Tupper Avenue in Yorkton

January 9: Calls about a messy room, a broken vending machine and a campsite being invaded by bugs make top 10 calls that “missed the mark” in 2023

January 9: On January 9, 2024 at approximately 2:50 p.m., La Ronge RCMP received a report of a house fire on Chief James Roberts Street in Air Ronge.

Officers responded immediately. La Ronge Regional Fire Department responded to the fire, and La Ronge RCMP assisted at the scene.

Responding emergency personal observed illicit drugs and drug paraphernalia in the residence.

As a result, officers located and seized approximately 51 grams of fentanyl, 138 grams of an unknown substance, 13 grams methamphetamine, a sawed-off rifle and a rifle, ammunition, and other drug paraphernalia.

An adult male and a youth male were arrested on warrant at the scene. An adult female was also arrested at the scene.

32-year-old Scott Boehr from Southend and 19-year-old Kaydence Charles from La Ronge are each charged with:

  • two counts, unsafe storage of firearms, Section 86(2), Criminal Code;
  • two counts, possession for a firearm/prohibited weapon when knowing possession unauthorized, Section 92(3), Criminal Code;
  • two counts, possession of weapon for dangerous purpose, Section 88(2), Criminal Code;
  • two counts, possession of restricted firearm/prohibited weapon with ammo without license/registration, Section 95(2), Criminal Code;
  • two counts, weapons possession contrary to order and fail to surrender authorization, Section 117.01(3), Criminal Code; and
  • three counts, possession for the purpose of trafficking, Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Scott Boehr was also charged with four counts, fail to comply with release order condition, Section 145(5)(a), Criminal Code. Kaydence Charles was additionally charged with three counts, fail to comply with release order condition, Section 145(5)(a), Criminal Code.

We are unable to identify the youth male as per the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

All three accused appeared in La Ronge Provincial Court on January 11, 2024.

January 10: Located: Coronach RCMP asks public to report whereabouts of wanted male

January 11: Update: Prince Albert RCMP investigating arson

January 12: Battlefords RCMP seeks public assistance locating missing 34-year-old male

January 12: Yorkton RCMP investigating robbery and serious assault

January 12: Prince Albert RCMP investigating after firearm discharged at residence, vehicle

January 12: Update: Canora RCMP continue to seek public assistance locating missing 67-year-old male

Coronach RCMP seeks public assistance identifying male involved in multiple break and enters

The Coronach RCMP request the public’s assistance in identifying a male in relation to a series of break and enters to businesses.

Sometime between the evening hours of February 28 and the morning hours of March 1, 2023, several businesses in Coronach were broken into. In each instance, only cash was stolen.

In the early hours of March 30, 2023, several businesses in Ogema were broken into. Only cash was stolen.

Coronach RCMP believes this is the same male responsible for multiple business break and enters in small communities throughout southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba over several years based on the businesses targeted, his entry methods, and the items stolen.

The RCMP is now releasing surveillance footage photos from some of the businesses targeted in hopes that someone may be able to identify the person in connection with the investigation.

The suspect is described as a man between the ages of 30 to 50 years old. He has sandy brown hair that is balding on top. He wears glasses and is known to wear hoodies, Mechanix brand gloves, a dark backpack, and a black reusable face mask.

Anyone who has information that could help further the investigation is asked to contact either their local detachment by calling 310-RCMP (310-7267) or the Coronach RCMP at 306-267-1830. Information can be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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Winnipeg — Stony Mountain escapee located and arrested by the Manitoba Integrated Violent Offender Apprehension Unit

Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

On January 10th, 2024, 24-year-old Terry Dutko, an inmate from Stony Mountain Institution escaped lawful custody during a supervised visit in Winnipeg.

The Winnipeg Police Service Major Crimes Unit, working with the Manitoba Integrated Violent Offender Apprehension Unit (MIVOAU), an integrated team consisting of Manitoba RCMP and Winnipeg Police Service officers, led the investigation to safely locate and apprehend the escaped inmate.

On January 15, 2024, MIVOAU officers attended to a residence on Toronto Avenue in Selkirk where they were further assisted by officers from the Selkirk RCMP Detachment and RCMP Police Dog Services (PDS).

As the officers approached the residence, Dutko was observed exiting from the rear of the home and attempted to flee.

Dutko was placed under arrest but refused to comply with demands from police. PDS Phox was deployed to assist officers with the arrest. Dutko continued to resist by kicking and punching the police dog but officers were able to get Dutko into custody. Dutko sustained injuries from his interaction with the police dog. He was taken to hospital where he was treated and released.

Two officers, one from the Selkirk RCMP Detachment and a WPS officer, were injured as a result of the arrest. They were treated and released.

Terry Dutko was returned to the custody of Stony Mountain Institution and will face charges including Unlawfully at Large, Resisting Arrest x2 and Assaulting a Police Officer x2.

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Springfield, Illinois, Woman Sentenced to 54 Months for Bank Robbery

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Springfield, Illinois, woman, Heather Horrighs, 44, was sentenced on January 10, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless to 54 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for bank robbery.

At the sentencing hearing, the Court found that Horrighs and co-defendant Theodis Parnell jointly planned to rob the Alliance Community Bank located at 6530 North IL-29 in Springfield, IL. On September 13, 2021, Parnell drove Horrighs to the area of the bank where he remained in the vehicle with the engine running. Horrighs then entered the bank with a package that she said contained a bomb. After receiving money from two tellers, Horrighs left the bank and Parnell acted as the getaway driver. The pair stole a total of $12,888 from the bank. Parnell was previously sentenced to 51 months in federal prison.

Horrighs was indicted in November 2021 and pleaded guilty in January 2023. She has remained in the custody of the United States Marshal Service since her arrest.

The statutory penalties for bank robbery are up to 20 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years supervised release.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Springfield Field Office, with assistance from the Springfield Police Department and the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Z. Weir represented the government in the prosecution.

The case against Horrighs and Parnell is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.