Organized crime

Arizona lawmaker calls drug trafficking organizations a threat to the United States

October 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today called for an increased federal focus on strengthening security along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Speaking at a hearing of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, the Arizona lawmaker noted that the U.S. Department of Justice considers Mexican drug traffickers the “greatest organized crime threat” to the United States.

“I remain very concerned about stemming the flow of fugitives, drugs and guns across our southern border,” Giffords told committee members.    » read more »

May 29, 2009 -- Today, Attorney General Eric Holder announced a new International Organized Crime Intelligence and Operations Center (IOC-2) that will marshal the resources and information of nine U.S. law enforcement agencies, as well as federal prosecutors, to collectively combat the threats posed by international criminal organizations to domestic safety and security. Attorney General Holder made the announcement today in Rome at the G8 Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial.    » read more »

May 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON—Today, Attorney General Eric Holder announced a new International Organized Crime Intelligence and Operations Center (IOC-2) that will marshal the resources and information of nine U.S. law enforcement agencies, as well as federal prosecutors, to collectively combat the threats posed by international criminal organizations to domestic safety and security. Attorney General Holder made the announcement today in Rome at the G8 Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial.    » read more »

Financial Industry Accounts for 93 Percent of 285 Million Compromised Records; Most Breaches Avoidable if Proper Precautions Taken

April 15, 2009 -- BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - More electronic records were breached in 2008 than the previous four years combined, fueled by a targeting of the financial services industry and a strong involvement of organized crime, according to the "2009 Verizon Business Data Breach Investigations Report" (DBIR) released Wednesday (April 15).    » read more »

March 24, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Today Deputy Attorney General David Ogden announced increased efforts and reallocation of DOJ personnel to combat Mexican drug cartels in the United States and to help Mexican law enforcement battle cartels in their own country. Deputy Attorney General Ogden was joined in announcing a comprehensive response to the situation on the Southwest border by Department of Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano and Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg.    » read more »

Three Cases Link Terrorists to Piracy Profits

March 3, 2009 -- Organized crime increasingly is involved in the piracy of feature films, with syndicates active along the entire supply chain from manufacture to street sales of pirated movies, according to a new RAND Corporation report.

While crime syndicates have added piracy to criminal portfolios that include drugs, money laundering, extortion and human smuggling, the profits from film piracy also have been used on occasion to support the activities of terrorist groups, according to researchers.    » read more »

Washington, DC -- February 10, 2009 -- The U.S. Chargé d'Affaires to Belize, J.A. Diffily, signed a letter of agreement on February 9, 2009 with the Government of Belize implementing the Merida Initiative, a multi-year regional effort to combat organized crime, gangs, and the trafficking of narcotics and firearms.

Minister of National Security Carlos Perdomo signed the letter on behalf of the Belizean government. Also present was Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of National Security, Lloyd Gillett. The signing of the letter provides an initial $1,008,000 in funding for the first year of the Merida Initiative.    » read more »

Gambino Family Boss, Underboss and Consigliere among 62 charged in federal indictment today

February 7, 2008 -- NEW YORK, N.Y. (February 7, 2008) – New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo announced that a multi-agency investigation led by his Organized Crime Task Force culminated today in the indictment of 62 members and associates of the Gambino, Genovese and Bonanno crime families — including the Gambino family’s boss, underboss, and consigliere.    » read more »

And Top New Jersey Capo On Gambling, Money Laundering And Racketeering Charges

32 Charged in Investigation by NJ Division of Criminal Justice That Also Uncovered Alliance Between Lucchese Family and Bloods Gang to Distribute Drugs and Cell Phones in Prison    » read more »

Organized fraud ring operated out of South Florida and imitated a well-known charity for obtaining proceeds

November 20, 2007 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that a Pinellas man was sentenced to 15 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of probation after he was convicted of multiple charges of racketeering, fraud, grand theft and money laundering.    » read more »

Brown Pride Locos targeted by state officials for organized crime

September 17, 2007 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced a significant victory in the fight against gang violence with the no contest plea and sentencing of a Manatee County gang leader. Jose Angel Lopez is the leader of the Brown Pride Locos, a violent street gang that has terrorized Manatee County through robberies, assaults, violence against law enforcement and other dangerous crimes.    » read more »

August 30, 2007 -- EL CENTRO – California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the “total dismantlement” of a significant Mexican Mafia cell in Imperial and San Diego Counties after a twenty-month investigation led to the indictment of 31 mafia members. The attorney general will prosecute the case with the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office.    » read more »

Man gets 12 years for scheme involving internet sales of airplane parts

August 29, 2007 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that a Bradenton man was sentenced to 12 years in prison after he failed to pay full restitution to his victims as ordered by the Court. Phillip Casciola pled guilty to a criminal charge of organized fraud after authorities determined that he was systematically defrauding consumers across the country through his internet-based company that advertised airplane parts for sale.    » read more »

August 16, 2007 -- Retired NHL hockey star Rick Tocchet is scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow pursuant to his guilty plea to charges of conspiracy and promoting gambling, both in the third degree, for running a multi-million dollar sports gambling ring with a New Jersey state trooper.    » read more »

Request Follows MySpace Survey Which Determined at Least 248 Convicted Sex Offenders in New Jersey Had Profiles on the Popular Website

August 13, 2007 -- Trenton, NJ – New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram today asked a dozen Internet social networking sites to determine whether convicted New Jersey sex offenders have created profiles on their websites, following reports that the popular networking site MySpace had identified 29,000 profiles on its site that had been created by convicted sex offenders.    » read more »