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Three KC Men Indicted for Kidnapping, Murder

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Three KC Men Indicted for Kidnapping, Murder

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that three Kansas City, Mo., men have been indicted for the kidnapping and murder of a victim they were attempting to rob.

Jonathan M. Bravo-Lopez (also known as “Jonathan Vravo,” and “Shadow”), 23, and Juan D. Osorio (also known as “Spexx”), 24, both of whom are citizens of Mexico residing in Kansas City, Mo., and Marco A. Sosa-Perea, 23, of Kansas City, Mo., were charged in a five-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018.

Bravo-Lopez, Osorio and Sosa-Perea are charged together with one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, one count of kidnapping resulting in death and one count of using a firearm to commit murder. The federal indictment alleges that they conspired to kidnap and attempted to rob a victim identified as “C.E.”, transporting him across state lines from Missouri to Kansas, on April 3, 2017.

According to the indictment, Bravo-Lopez and Osorio arranged to purchase $300 of marijuana from the victim; they traveled with Sosa-Perea to the victim’s residence on April 3, 2017. Bravo-Lopez and Osorio, armed with firearms, allegedly forced the victim into their vehicle and drove to Kansas. When they reached the 200 block of Donovan Road in Kansas City, Kan., the indictment says, the victim was forced out of the car, shot, and left to die on the side of the road.

Additionally, Osorio is charged with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. Osorio allegedly was in possession of an Action Arms .45-caliber handgun on April 7, 2017.

Bravo-Lopez is also charged with illegally reentering the United States after having been deported.

Garrison cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick C. Edwards. It was investigated by the FBI, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department.

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Former Detroit-Based Technology Company CEO Indicted for Multi-Year Bribery Scheme

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Headline: Former Detroit-Based Technology Company CEO Indicted for Multi-Year Bribery Scheme

The former chief executive officer of FutureNet Group Inc., a Detroit-based information technology company, was indicted yesterday for his role in orchestrating a scheme to bribe an official from the City of Detroit to obtain benefits for FutureNet, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

Parimal D. Mehta, 54, of Northville, Michigan, is charged in an 11-count indictment filed in the Eastern District of Michigan with five counts of honest services mail and wire fraud, one count of federal program bribery, and five counts of unlawfully using interstate facilities to commit bribery under Michigan law. 

According to the indictment, from 2009 through August 2016, Mehta made multiple cash payments  to Charles L. Dodd, the former Director of Detroit’s Office of Departmental Technology Services, including two cash bribes hand-delivered by Mehta to Dodd in the restrooms of Detroit-area restaurants in 2016.  Mehta is also alleged to have employed Dodd’s family members at FutureNet and its subsidiaries.  Dodd previously pleaded guilty to bribery on Sept. 27, 2016.

The indictment alleges that Mehta paid these bribes to Dodd in exchange for preferential treatment for his company, FutureNet, which received approximately $7.5 million from Detroit in 2015 and 2016.  According to the indictment, Mehta and FutureNet benefitted from Dodd’s influence over the administration of city contracts, expenditures under those contracts, and the hiring and selection of contract personnel.  The indictment further alleges that Mehta obtained confidential information about Detroit’s internal budgets for specific technology projects.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely allegations.  The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Detroit Division.  Trial Attorneys Robert J. Heberle and James I. Pearce of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section are prosecuting the case. 

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Appeal for information continues as Hackney murder victim

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Appeal for information continues as Hackney murder victim

Detectives investigating the murder of a man in Hackney have named him as they continue to appeal for information.

Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 23:34hrs on Sunday, 28 January to the George Downing Estate, off Cazenove Road in Stoke Newington following reports of a stabbing.

Officers attended and found a 26-year-old man suffering from stab injuries.

He was taken to an east London hospital where he was pronounced dead at 00:32hrs.

The victim was formally identified today, Wednesday, 31 January as Yaya Mbye, 26 (20.11.91) from Hackney.

A post-mortem examination held at Poplar Public Mortuary, held on Tuesday, 30 January gave his cause of death as a stab wound.

Detectives from the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating.

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Holmes, who leads the investigation, said: “I believe there was a level of planning into this murder and I am interested in hearing from anybody who may have seen or heard anything in the area of the housing estate in the late part of Sunday evening. 

I am particularly interested in tracing three males who were dressed in dark clothing who I believe were responsible for this attack. I believe they arrived and left the scene of the murder in a silver car believed to possibly be a Mercedes estate and I would like to hear from anybody who may have seen anything or may have any information about the murder if this young man.

I am also appealing to anyone who could help us to piece together the final days and hours of Yaya’s life. Did you see him in the area that night or had you seen or spoke to him in the days leading up to his death?”

No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8345 1570 or 101 or you can Tweet information to @MetCC.

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org

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Detectives issue CCTV to trace two men in connection with Hackney murder

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Detectives issue CCTV to trace two men in connection with Hackney murder

Detectives investigating the fatal stabbing of Daniel Frederick in Hackney continue to appeal for information to identify two individuals in images that have been released.

The moving footage and stills show two men walking along Clissold Road shortly before 18:00hrs on the day of the murder. Police believe that one of the men was possibly caught up in the attack and was injured.

Police were originally called at 17:48hrs on Monday, 8 January to reports of a man assaulted outside Burns House in Shakspeare Walk, N16. Officers attended and found 34-year-old Daniel Frederick, who lived locally, suffering from stab injuries. He was taken to an east London hospital by the London Ambulance Service where he died at 23:47hrs.

A post-mortem examination took place at Poplar Mortuary on Wednesday, 10 January and gave cause of death as a stab wound.

Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating and are continuing to appeal for information.

Detective Inspector Paul Considine, who leads the investigation, said: “From the information I have, it seems that Daniel may have been mistaken for somebody else. He appears to be a completely innocent victim who was walking through the estate when he was subjected to an unprovoked attacked.

“I hope these images will jog the memory of anyone who might have seen these men or know them – please contact us urgently. I believe one of the two men, the one in the darker jacket, may well have sustained an injury to his right leg during the attack which might be consistent with a stab wound.

“We are also still appealing in general for any witnesses or anyone with information who has not yet spoken to us to come forward.”

A 26-year-old man [A] was arrested on the evening of Wednesday, 10 January on suspicion of murder. He was subsequently released under investigation pending further enquiries.

A 16-year-old boy [B] was arrested on suspicion of murder on the morning of Monday, 22 January, and subsequently bailed until a date in mid-February.

Two further arrests were made on Monday, 29 January, in Essex.

An 18-year-old man [C] has been charged with Daniel’s murder. A 41-year-old woman, arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, has been bailed to a date at the end of February.

The woman has been bailed to a date at the end of February.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8345 3734 – you can also Tweet information to @MetCC.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org

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FBI Media Alert: FBI Offers $1,000 Reward in Navajo Nation Homicide

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

Headline: FBI Media Alert: FBI Offers $1,000 Reward in Navajo Nation Homicide

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the death of Durwin Merrill Davis.

On July 1, 2015, Davis’ body was discovered outside a residence in Vanderwagen, New Mexico.

Autopsy results indicate Davis, 23, died of a gunshot wound to the chest.

The FBI and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety are investigating.

Anyone with information regarding this homicide is asked to contact the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office at (505) 889-1300.

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Bloomington Man Receives 2017 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award for His Efforts to Decrypt Ransomware as a Public Service

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

Headline: Bloomington Man Receives 2017 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award for His Efforts to Decrypt Ransomware as a Public Service

SPRINGFIELD, IL—Sean M. Cox, special agent in charge of the FBI Springfield Division, announced that Michael Gillespie, creator of ID Ransomware and Malwarehunters.com of Bloomington, Illinois, has been selected as the recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award for 2017.

This special award, presented on behalf of the Director of the FBI, was formally created in 1990 as a way to honor individuals and organizations for their efforts in combating terrorism, cybercrime, illegal drugs, gangs, and other crimes leading to violence in America. Michael Gillespie is one of 56 individuals or organizations around the United States who will receive this award this year. Mr. Gillespie is being recognized for his public service, devotion and assistance to victims of ransomware in the United States and Internationally.

Michael first authored the website https://id-ransomware.malwarehunterteam.com/in March of 2016. This website enables victims of ransomware to submit data such as ransom notes and encrypted file samples which are analyzed in an attempt to determine which strain the victim was infected with. In response, the victim is provided with information to where they can learn more about the particular strain of infection, including method of and keys for decryption if available. ID Ransomware receives upwards of thousands of submissions a day and can identify nearly 500 strains of ransomware.

In addition to having cracked and decrypted multiple ransomware strains himself, Michael is plugged into a network of leading cybersecurity experts with whom he collaborates to analyze the malware and discover means of decryption so that victims can avoid paying ransom and recover their data.

Michael also develops custom applications which he offers free of charge to victims to help them recover from ransomware attacks. Examples of these tools are RansomNoteCleaner, which removes ransom notes left behind after a ransomware infection, and CryptoSearch, a tool used to find files encrypted with ransomware. Michael is active on twitter (@demonslay335) and the forums of BleepingComputer.com where he interacts with victims to further ensure they are able to recover their data when possible.

Michael is married, and employed by Facet Technologies, Bloomington, Illinois, as a software analyst.

Christopher Wray, Director of the FBI, will present the Director’s Community Leadership Award to Mr. Gillespie during an official ceremony held at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C., in April of 2018.

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FBI Chicago Announces Recipient of Director’s Community Leadership Award

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

Headline: FBI Chicago Announces Recipient of Director’s Community Leadership Award

CHICAGO—Jeffrey S. Sallet, special agent in charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced today that Sally B. Hazelgrove, president, Restoring the Path-Crushers Club, and a 2017 FBI Chicago Citizens Academy graduate has been named the 2017 recipient of the FBI’s Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA) for the Chicago Division.

The FBI presents this award annually on behalf of its Director, Christopher Wray. It was established in 1990, as a way to honor individuals and organizations for their endeavors to prevent federal crimes and to enhance law enforcement efforts in their communities.

Ms. Hazelgrove was selected by the Chicago Division for her dedication and ground breaking work to keep local youth from becoming involved in gang activity. Eight years ago, she moved her family to Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood to help “change it from the inside.” After obtaining a grant, Ms. Hazelgrove opened the Crushers Club. Its mission is to provide at-risk youth with a strong alternative to gangs by giving them a support network and crucial life skills. The Crushers Club works to fulfill its goals by offering these youth the chance to pursue a sport they have a strong interest in—boxing. It also gives them a chance to develop leadership skills that are rooted in four ideals—ownership, discipline, love, and respect. So far, more than 350 at-risk youth have participated in the Crushers Club. As a result, many of them have successfully completed probation, graduated from high school, and stayed away from gang activity.

“Ms. Hazelgrove’s visionary efforts have made her an extremely valuable resource, not only for law enforcement, but for the Chicago community as a whole, as she does her part to combat violent crime,” said SAC Sallet.

A luncheon honoring Ms. Hazelgrove is scheduled for 12 P.M. on January 30, 2018, at Harry Caray’s Restaurant, 33 West Kinzie, Chicago. She will also join DCLA recipients selected by other FBI field offices across the nation at an awards ceremony to be held in Washington, D.C. this spring, where she will be personally recognized and honored by Director Wray.

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Hartford Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl Involved in Two Overdose Deaths

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

Headline: Hartford Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl Involved in Two Overdose Deaths

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that RUBEN MORALES, 44, of Hartford, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday in Hartford federal court to one count of distribution of heroin and fentanyl.

This matter stems from an ongoing statewide initiative targeting narcotics dealers who distribute heroin, fentanyl or opioids that cause death or serious injury to users.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 24, 2016, Hartford police officers and emergency medical personnel responding to reports of unresponsive individuals discovered two male overdose victims in different locations on Zion Street in Hartford.  A 33-year-old victim was pronounced deceased shortly after he was discovered in the rear parking lot of an apartment complex on Zion Street.  At the scene, officers seized various items of drug-related paraphernalia.  Officers found a 25-year-old victim on the rear porch of an apartment on Zion Street.  The victim was transported to the hospital and later pronounced deceased.

The Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner subsequently determined that the 33-year-old victim’s death was caused by a combination of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, and the 25-year-old victim’s death was caused by a combination of cocaine, ethanol, and fentanyl.

The investigation revealed that MORALES supplied fentanyl-laced heroin that both victims consumed shortly before they died.

In January and February 2017, members of the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crime Gang Task Force conducted six controlled purchases of heroin from MORALES.  Subsequent lab analysis confirmed the presence of fentanyl in some of the heroin purchased.

MORALES was arrested on a federal complaint on February 16, 2017.

MORALES is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on May 2, 2018, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years.  He is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing.

The FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crime Gang Task Force includes members from the FBI, Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha Freismuth.

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CEO of Mortgage Lender Charged with Making False Statements to HUD

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: CEO of Mortgage Lender Charged with Making False Statements to HUD

John Seckel, of Newtown, Pennsylvania, was charged by information with four counts of making false statements to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Seckel had been the CEO of Seckel Capital, LLC, an FHA-approved mortgage lender in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  

For the years 2012 to 2015, Seckel Capital, LLC, was a mortgage lender in Bucks County that was approved by the Federal Housing Administration to originate mortgage loans that would be insured by the FHA. John Seckel maintained the status of Seckel Capital as an FHA-approved lender during this time period by making false statements to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In particular, on four occasions from 2013 to 2016, Seckel filed audited financial statements for Seckel Capital that Seckel had forged. Seckel also, four times, filed certifications falsely claiming that he had met the net worth and other requirements to be approved as an FHA lender. 

If convicted the defendant faces a maximum statutory sentence of eight years’ imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laurie Magid.

An Indictment, Information or Criminal Complaint is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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Oklahoma City Man Previously Sentenced To 272 Months, $37,958 Restitution For Multiple Charges Found Guilty On Additional State Charges

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Oklahoma City Man Previously Sentenced To 272 Months, $37,958 Restitution For Multiple Charges Found Guilty On Additional State Charges

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that, on December 8, 2016, JEREMY DWAYNE LAVORCHEK, age 28, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 272 months imprisonment, and ordered to pay $37,958.33 in restitution for POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE SCHEDULE II CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C); ROBBERY INVOLVING CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2118(a); and CARJACKING, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119(1). 
    
The charges and lengthy sentence were the result of Lavorchek’s violent armed robbery of Ernie’s Pharmacy, located in Muskogee, Oklahoma, on December 9, 2015.  Lavorchek used a handgun to threaten the employees of Ernie’s Pharmacy to steal Opioid pharmaceutical drugs.  In attempting to flee the scene of the pharmacy robbery, Lavorchek carjacked a woman waiting in the pharmacy drive-thru by threatening her and her 2-year-old son with a gun and forcing her to drive him from the crime scene.  Lavorchek was charged in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and sentenced by United States District Judge Ronald White.  

On March 5, 2016, Lavorchek committed an equally violent armed robbery of the Legacy Drug Store in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma.  Lavorchek and a second accomplice used handguns to tie up three employees and steal large amounts of Opioid pain medications.  Police arrested Lavorchek as he fled the scene of the robbery.  The Garvin County District Attorney’s Office charged Lavorchek with nine counts of robbery, assault and kidnapping.

On January 27, 2018, a State of Oklahoma jury of seven woman and five men found Lavorchek guilty on all counts and recommended a sentence of life in prison on all nine counts.  Lavorchek is expected to be formally sentenced in March 2018.

United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester commented, “We are proud to have worked with District 21 District Attorney, Greg Mashburn, in coordinating the federal and state prosecutions of a dangerous serial criminal.  The U. S. Attorney’s Office and the Garvin County District Attorney’s Office shared evidence and strategies in an effort to achieve the maximum sentences for Lavorchek, thereby protecting the people of Oklahoma by ensuring he would never be free to commit further violent acts. This team effort demonstrates the success that we can have when state and federal agencies work together in the common cause of protecting the public.”