Springfield, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Mary S. Becker, 57, of Jerseyville, IL, was sentenced in federal court, today, for bank fraud, Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced. Becker received a sentence of 63 months in prison, a $100 special assessment, five years’ supervised release, and mandatory restitution in the amount of $4,450,000. The bank fraud took place from at least 2003, through January, 2011, in Jersey County, Illinois. Some of her property traceable to the bank fraud violation was turned over to Jersey State Bank, which included two condominiums in Osage Beach, Missouri, a 38’ boat, vehicles, trailers, motorcycles, and bank stock. Other assets belonging to Becker will be forfeited.

“This sentence is a severe, but just, penalty for such a horrific breach of trust perpetrated by Ms. Becker. Just because you steal without using a weapon does not entitle you to special treatment. Fraudsters, scammers, and thieves will be prosecuted so that we may all be secure in our business dealings.” said United States Attorney Wigginton.

Becker electronically transferred funds from the bank’s corresponding accounts to her own accounts, inflated expenses to a prepaid expense account, and then electronically transferred the funds to her account, took money from a certificate of deposit account and concealed the money in the bank’s general ledger. To perpetuate the scheme, Becker provided false information in the monthly reports to the Board. Becker additionally provided false information to FDIC examiners and to state bank examiners. Becker was employed by the Jersey State Bank since approximately 1976. During her employment she held various positions including assistant cashier, a director of the bank holding corporation, and executive vice-president. Her responsibilities included being in charge of the bank’s general ledger, the corresponding accounts, and she provided regular reports to the president and board members as to the bank’s assets, stability, and financial soundness.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation/Office of Inspector General. The was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Norman R. Smith.

If you suspect or know of an individual or company that is engaging in criminal activity or fraud, you may report this activity by contacting the local Federal Bureau of Investigation at (618) 397-4401 or by mailing information to: Federal Bureau of Investigation, 6701 North Illinois, Suite 200, Fairview Heights, IL 62208

Report Financial Institution Fraud

The FDIC OIG operates a toll-free, nationwide Hotline (1-800-964-FDIC) to provide a convenient way to report suspected instances of fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement in FDIC programs or operations.

• Electronic mail: ighotline@fdic.gov
• Or write:
  Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
  Office of Inspector General: Hotline
  3501 Fairfax Drive
  Room VS-D-9069
  Arlington, VA 22226

Springfield, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Stephen R. Wigginton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced that David R. Childers, 38, of West Frankfort, Illinois, was sentenced in United States District Court in Benton today to a term of 24 months’ imprisonment for his role in receiving fraudulent refunds from false income tax returns submitted to the Internal Revenue Service between 2008 and 2010. Previously, on August 11, 2011, Childers and his wife, Jessica N. Childers, 35, also of West Frankfort, were charged in an information with conspiracy to submit false, fictitious, and fraudulent claims to the United States and receipt of money stolen from the United States. Jessica Childers was also charged with aggravated identity theft. Both Childers pled guilty to the offenses with which they were charged.

Evidence offered in support of the guilty pleas and sentence showed that in January 2008, Jessica Childers began electronically submitting false income tax returns to the IRS using the names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers of real individuals who were deceased. Between January 2008 and March 2010, Jessica Childers submitted 572 such false returns claiming entitlement to $1,532,184 in refunds. From these claims, David and Jessica Childers actually received $998,614.34. These refunds came primarily in the form of direct electronic deposits into David Childers’ bank account. After discovering the scam, federal authorities were able to seize $192,512.55 from David Childers’ bank account of the nearly $1 million the Childers actually received.

In addition to the two-year term of imprisonment, David Childers was ordered to pay $806,101.79 in restitution to the United States Treasury and a special assessment of $200 and was placed on a term of three years’ supervised release to follow his incarceration.

Jessica Childers was sentenced on January 13, 2012, to a 9 year term of imprisonment for her role in the scheme. She was also ordered to pay $806,101.79 restitution to the IRS.

Under federal law, parole has been abolished meaning that both Childers will be required to serve a minimum of 85 percent of their sentences.

The investigation into the case was conducted by the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James M. Cutchin.

The Park Forest Police Station. (Photo: Gary Kopycinski)

Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)–Editor's Note: We continue our reporting on news from police reports. Besides covering the many stories from around Park Forest that otherwise might go unnoticed, we want to bring more complete coverage of police reports than is reported by other local media.

An arrest does not mean that a person is guilty. All those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty. It is the policy of eNews Park Forest to not remove items in the public record from publication. If your name is listed in the police reports, we will only add information relevant to the final disposition of the case at hand, e.g. "Mr. Smith was subsequently acquitted," "Mr. Smith entered a guilty plea," or "All charges against Mr. Smith were subsequently dropped." We will do so upon receiving and verifying proof of such disposition.

Persons wishing to leave anonymous information on any criminal matters including narcotics or gang activity are encouraged to call 708-748-1309 and leave a message on Detective Beilke's voice mail.

A door of a residence in the 200 block of Indiana Street was reported damaged on January 24. Glass was shattered and the door was bent, according to police.

Four copper-colored solar powered lawn lights were reported stolen from the front yard of a residence in the first block of Rich Court on January 25.

A juvenile was arrested on January 25 and charged with resisting a police officer and battery when an officer working at Rich East High School was advised that a group of students were preparing to fight.

Seventeen catalytic converters were reported stolen from vehicles parked in the 2200 block of Western Avenue on January 26. The total value of the item stolen is estimated at $8500, according to police.

Scott D. David, 21, 119 Well St., Park Forest, was arrested on January 26 and charged with domestic battery when police were dispatched to the 100 block of Well Street in reference to a report of a domestic disturbance.

A 26-inch Vizio LCD TV valued at $350, a PS3 game valued at $50, and $50 of video equipment were reported stolen from a residence in the 300 block of Douglas Street on January 26.

A 55-inch Insignia LED television valued at $700, six black surround-sound speakers valued at $300, and approximately 30 to 40 Blu Ray DVDs valued at $500 were reported stolen from a residence in the first block of Ash Street on January 26.

A window of a residence in the 300 block of Todd Street was reported shattered on January 26.

A silver Movado watch, a white gold ring with three diamonds, and a gray Cricket touch screen phone were reported stolen from a resident at gunpoint in Court H-2, off Western Avenue, on January 26.

A silver iPod valued at $200 was reported stolen at gunpoint from a juvenile walking in the 200 block of Shabbona Drive on January 27.

A door of a residence in the 300 block of Sauk Trail was reported kicked in on January 27. Nothing appeared to be stolen from the residence. The steel door was valued at $700.

A window of a residence in the 100 block of Marquette Street was reported shattered on January 27.

A black HP notebook computer valued at $300, a black and gray Compaq Presario laptop valued at $300, and a wallet containing $19 cash were reported stolen from a residence in the 200 block of Indiana Street on January 27. A sliding door to the residence was also reported shattered.

A window of a residence in the 200 block of Arrowhead Street was reported shattered on January 29.

A resident told police on January 29 that a relative used her name without her permission when she was pulled over and issued traffic citations by police. The resident said she discovered two traffic citations in a vehicle used by a relative issued in her name. Police are investigating.

A window of a residence in the 200 block of Farragut Street was reported shattered on January 30. Nothing appeared to be missing from the residence. Police were dispatched when the burglar alarm at the residence sounded.

A community balcony at a residence in the 100 block of North Arbor Trail was reported damaged on January 30.

A Nintendo Wii video game system and a black BB gun valued at $200 were reported stolen from a residence in the 300 block of Osage Street on January 30.

A juvenile was issued a municipal citation charging disorderly conduct when police were dispatched to the 400 block of Watseka Street to investigate a report of unlawful use of a weapon. The juvenile told police that he had a BB gun. The incident occurred on January 30.

A Sony VAIO laptop computer valued at $1500, an Xbox 360 game system valued at $300, and several items of jewelry were reported stolen from a residence in the 100 block of Hemlock Street on January 30.

A garage door in the 200 block of Sycamore Drive was reported damaged by a car on January 30. The damage is estimated at $500. Police have suspect information and continue to investigate.

An older-model Sears washing machine valued at $200 was reported stolen from outside a residence in the 400 block of Suwanee Street on January 31.

The driver's side window of a vehicle parked in the first block of Gibson Road was reported shattered on January 31.

The driver's side window of a vehicle parked in the 200 block of Krotiak Road was reported shattered on January 31.

Approximately 60 feet of one half-inch copper pipe was reported stolen from a residence in the 400 block of South Orchard Drive on January 31.

Police say three college textbooks valued at $450 total and $50 cash were stolen from a vehicle parked in the first block of Rich Court on January 31.

Sergio M. Richardson, 29, 4316 Applewood Ln., Matteson, and Jasmine Q. Baynard, 28, 2940 W. Augusta Blvd., Chicago, were arrested on January 31 and charged with trespassing and criminal damage to property when police were dispatched to the first block of North Street to investigate a burglar alarm.

Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- A resident told police that, while walking northbound on Western Avenue at Dogwood Street, he was approached by two individuals who robbed him after striking him in the head with a glass bottle, punching and kicking him.

One of the suspects is described as a white male, 18 to 19 years of age, between 5'6" and 5'8", with spiked hair, wearing a blue and orange Chicago Bears jacket. The second suspect is described as a black male, 18 to 19 years of age, 5'9", with a short Afro, wearing white Nike gym shoes.

Police collected evidence and detectives are investigating.

Companies Agree to Pay a Total of $548 Million in Criminal Fines–Includes Second Largest Criminal Fine Ever for an Antitrust Violation; Executives Agree to Serve Prison Time

WASHINGTON—(ENEWSPF)—January 30, 2012. Two Japanese suppliers of automotive electrical components–Yazaki Corporation and DENSO Corporation–have agreed to plead guilty and to pay a total of $548 million in criminal fines for their involvement in multiple price-fixing and bid-rigging conspiracies in the sale of parts to automobile manufacturers in the United States, the Department of Justice today announced. Four executives, all Japanese nationals, have also agreed to plead guilty and to serve prison time in the United States. 

Yazaki has agreed to pay a $470 million criminal fine–the second largest criminal fine obtained for a Sherman Act antitrust violation–and DENSO has agreed to pay a $78 million criminal fine. The four executives from Yazaki–Tsuneaki Hanamura, Ryoji Kawai, Shigeru Ogawa and Hisamitsu Takada–will serve prison time ranging from 15 months to two years. The two-year sentences would be the longest term of imprisonment imposed on a foreign national voluntarily submitting to U.S. jurisdiction for a Sherman Act antitrust violation. The fine amount and prison sentences are subject to court approval.    

“As a result of the Antitrust Division’s ongoing criminal investigation of price fixing and bid rigging in the auto parts industry, more than $748 million in fines have been obtained–which already surpasses the total amount in criminal fines obtained by the division for all of last fiscal year,” said Sharis A. Pozen, Acting Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. “Criminal antitrust enforcement remains a top priority and the Antitrust Division will continue to work with the FBI and our law enforcement counterparts to root out this kind of pernicious cartel conduct that results in higher prices to American consumers and businesses.” 

“I would like to commend the employees of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office and the Department of Justice Antitrust Division, for their fine work on this very important antitrust investigation. This team has devoted countless hours to the investigation and I appreciate their devotion to the mission. The companies involved in this case conspired to the price fixing and bid rigging of automotive parts. This criminal activity has a significant impact on the automotive manufacturers in the United States, Canada, Japan and Europe and had been occurring at least a decade. The conduct had also affected commerce on a global scale in almost every market where automobiles are manufactured and/or sold,” said FBI’s Special Agent in Charge Andrew G. Arena. 

According to court documents filed today in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in Detroit, Yazaki, DENSO, Hanamura, Kawai, Ogawa, Takada and their co-conspirators carried out the conspiracies by agreeing, during meetings and conversations, to allocate the supply of the named products on a model-by-model basis and to coordinate price adjustments requested by automobile manufacturers in the United States and elsewhere. They sold automotive electrical components to automobile manufacturers at inflated prices and engaged in meetings and conversations for the purpose of monitoring and enforcing adherence to the agreed-upon bid-rigging and price-fixing scheme. 

According to a three-count felony charge, Yazaki engaged in three separate conspiracies: to rig bids for and fix, stabilize and maintain the prices of automotive wire harnesses and related products from 2000 through 2010; to rig bids for and fix, stabilize and maintain the prices of instrument panel clusters from 2002 through 2010; and to fix, stabilize and maintain the prices of fuel senders from 2004 through 2010. All three conspiracies involved products sold to customers in the United States and elsewhere.

Automotive wire harnesses are automotive electrical distribution systems used to direct and control electronic components, wiring and circuit boards in cars. Instrument panel clusters, also known as meters, are the mounted array of instruments and gauges housed in front of the driver of an automobile. Fuel senders reside in the fuel tank of an automobile and measure the amount of fuel in the tank.  

According to a two-count felony charge, DENSO engaged in conspiracies to rig bids for and to fix, stabilize and maintain the prices of electronic control units (ECUs) and heater control panels (HCPs) sold to customers in the United States and elsewhere. An ECU is an embedded system that controls one or more of the electronic systems or subsystems in a motor vehicle. HCPs are located in the center console of an automobile and control the temperature of the interior environment of a vehicle.

According to four separate one-count felony charges, Hanamura, Kawai, Ogawa and Takada each engaged in a conspiracy to rig bids for and to fix, stabilize and maintain the prices of automotive wire harnesses and related products sold to customers in the United States and elsewhere. The department said that the individuals participated in the conspiracies at various times from at least as early as January 2000, until at least February 2010. During the conspiracies, the individuals held the following positions:   Hanamura was a branch manager at Yazaki North America in Columbus, Ohio, and a Honda division sales manager in Japan; Kawai was director of Toyota Sales of Yazaki North America in Lexington, Ky., and vice division head of Yazaki’s Toyota Business Unit in Japan; Ogawa was assistant section manager and later section manager in Yazaki’s Honda Business Unit in Japan, and branch manager in Yazaki’s   Honda Sales Unit and later director at Yazaki North America in Columbus; Takada was assistant manager in Yazaki’s Toyota Business Unit, director of Yazaki North America in Lexington, and manager of a sales department of Yazaki’s Toyota Business Unit in Japan. According to the plea agreements, which are subject to court approval, Ogawa and Takada have each agreed to serve 15 months in a U.S. prison.   Hanamura and Kawai have each agreed to serve two years in a U.S. prison.    Each of the four executives has also agreed to pay a $20,000 criminal fine.   According to the plea agreements, Yazaki, DENSO, Hanamura, Kawai, Ogawa and Takada have all agreed to assist the department in its ongoing investigation into the automotive parts industry.   

On Nov. 14, 2011, Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd. pleaded guilty and was sentenced to pay a $200 million fine for its role in the wire harnesses price-fixing and bid-rigging conspiracy. Three of Furukawa’s executives also pleaded guilty. The court sentenced two of the executives to 15 and 18 month prison sentences, to be served in the United States. Sentencing of the third executive, who agreed to serve a year and a day in prison in the United States, is scheduled for Feb. 28, 2012.  

Yazaki and DENSO are charged with price fixing in violation of the Sherman Act, which carries a maximum $100 million criminal fine for a corporation. Hanamura, Kawai, Ogawa and Takada are also charged with a violation of the Sherman Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine for an individual. The maximum fine for both a company and an individual may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine.

Today’s charges arise from an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into bid rigging, price fixing and other anticompetitive conduct in the automotive parts industry, which is being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s National Criminal Enforcement Section and the FBI’s Detroit Field Office with the assistance of the FBI headquarters’ International Corruption Unit. Anyone with information concerning the focus of this investigation is urged to call the Antitrust Division’s National Criminal Enforcement Section at 202-307-6694 or the FBI’s Detroit Field Office at 313-965-2323.

Source: justice.gov

CHICAGO—(ENEWSPF)—January 30, 2012. A federal jury today convicted Alex Campbell, 45, a northwest Chicago suburban massage parlor owner, of various federal crimes including sex-trafficking, forced labor, harboring illegal aliens, confiscating passports to further forced labor and extortion involving four foreign women whom he mentally and physically abused while forcing them to work for him between July 2008 and January 2010.  Campbell was found guilty of three counts each of forced labor, harboring illegal aliens for financial gain, and confiscating passports and other immigration documents to force the victims to work, and one count each of sex trafficking by force and extortion. The jury deliberated approximately two to three hours beginning last Thursday afternoon following a three-week trial in U.S. District Court.  The trial showed that Campbell, who formerly operated the Day and Night Spa on Northwest Highway in Mt. Prospect, Ill., used violence and threats of violence to force three women from the Ukraine and one from Belarus to work for him without pay and, at times, little to no subsistence. 

Campbell, also known as “Dave” and “Daddy,”  formerly of Glenview, Ill., remains in federal custody without bond and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life on the sex-trafficking count alone, as well as prison terms ranging from a maximum of 5 to 20 years on each of the remaining counts. 

U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman scheduled a hearing on post-trial motions for April 19, 2012.  No date was immediately set for sentencing. 

“The Civil Rights Division is committed to bringing human traffickers to justice and to protecting the victims of modern-day slavery,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “These crimes against the individual rights of the most vulnerable members of our society will not be tolerated in the United States.” 

“I commend the prosecutors and investigators for their dedication and teamwork in working with the victims to bring this case to trial and achieve a successful result,” said Patrick J. Fitzgerald, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. 

“Forced labor and sex trafficking preys upon vulnerable women and is tantamount to modern-day slavery,” said Gary J. Hartwig, Special Agent-in-Charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Chicago.  “The jury has vindicated the rights of four women who suffered mental and physical abuse, sexual exploitation, extortion and threats of deportation, all so Alex Campbell could make a profit.  HSI is at the forefront of the government's fight against human trafficking.  We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to combat this serious crime.” 

All four victims testified as government witnesses at trial, as well as co-defendant, Danielle John, 25, who pleaded guilty before trial to two counts of harboring illegal aliens for financial gain and is also awaiting sentencing. 

The testimony and evidence showed that Campbell recruited and groomed foreign women without legal status in the United States to become part of his “Family,” which he claimed was an international organization that would provide them with support.  He offered them jobs in his massage parlor, a place to live, assistance with immigration and lured each of them to enter into a romantic relationship with him. After gaining their trust, he forced the victims to get tattooed with his moniker, which he said made them his property and allowed him to stop paying them.  At the same time, he acquired the women’s passports and visas.  The women were forced to work long hours every day and do as Campbell instructed them, and they were beaten and punished if they disobeyed him. 

Trial testimony established that Campbell confiscated passports and identity documents from three of the victims, as well as harbored and transported them to ensure their continued labor.  Campbell forced one victim to engage in commercial sex acts with customers at various other massage parlors, but not at the Day and Night Spa, which testimony showed he operated “cleanly” to avoid problems with law enforcement. He extorted another victim to pay him more than $25,000 to leave the “Family” by threatening to send a sexually-explicit video recording to her parents in Belarus. 

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation, which was coordinated by the Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force.  The task force, together with the Salvation Army Family and Community Services STOP-IT Initiative Against Human Trafficking, operate a toll-free hotline, (877) 606-3158, which victims of trafficking or those with information about human trafficking can call for assistance.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diane MacArthur and Steven Grimes and Special Litigation Counsel John Richmond of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.

Source: justice.gov

The Park Forest Police Station. (Photo: Gary Kopycinski)

Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)–Editor's Note: We continue our reporting on news from police reports. Besides covering the many stories from around Park Forest that otherwise might go unnoticed, we want to bring more complete coverage of police reports than is reported by other local media.

An arrest does not mean that a person is guilty. All those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty. It is the policy of eNews Park Forest to not remove items in the public record from publication. If your name is listed in the police reports, we will only add information relevant to the final disposition of the case at hand, e.g. "Mr. Smith was subsequently acquitted," "Mr. Smith entered a guilty plea," or "All charges against Mr. Smith were subsequently dropped." We will do so upon receiving and verifying proof of such disposition.

Persons wishing to leave anonymous information on any criminal matters including narcotics or gang activity are encouraged to call 708-748-1309 and leave a message on Detective Beilke's voice mail.

A juvenile was arrested on January 13 and processed on a charge of criminal trespass to residence when police were dispatched to the 400 block of Lakewood Boulevard on January 13 in reference to a premise exam.

Police were dispatched to the Park Forest Police Department on January 13 to investigate a fraud complaint. The complainant told police that she contacted Nicor Gas to get service established at her residence in Country Club Hills. She was advised that she had an outstanding balance in excess of $3500 and learned that the bill was for service provided in her name and the name of her ex-husband at a residence in the 400 block of Neosha Street in Park Forest. The complainant told police that she had never lived at that address and that her ex-husband lives there with his girlfriend, according to police.

The rear door of a residence in the 100 block of Westwood Drive was reported kicked in on January 14. Entry was not gained to the residence, according to police.

An officer was dispatched to the Park Forest Police Department on January 14 to investigate a harassing telephone complaint. Police have suspect information and continue to investigate.

Lucy M. Lopez, 50, 255 Dogwood Court, Park Forest, was arrested on January 14 and charged with unlawful visitation interference when an officer was summoned to the Park Forest Police Department to investigate a report of a visitation interference complaint.

Natasha S. Judkins, 35, 2701 Gideon St., Zion, IL, was arrested on January 15 and charged with obstructing when an officer patrolling near the Marathon Gas Station in the 300 block of Sauk Trail observed the vehicle Judkins was driving travel in reverse in the parking lot at the gas station, almost striking a person standing directly behind the vehicle, according to police.

A 2011 Kia Sorento, Illinois license plate 593858, was reported stolen from the 400 block of Wildwood Drive on January 15. The vehicle had been started and left to warm up with the keys in the ignition.

Victor L. Cain, 42, 42 Woodland Glen, Park Forest, was arrested on January 15 and charged with criminal trespass to a residence when police were dispatched to the first block of Woodland Glen to investigate a report of an unwanted subject, according to police.

Two juveniles were arrested on January 15 and processed on charges of burglary and residential burglary when police were dispatched to the 200 block of Arrowhead Street to investigate a report of a residential burglary in progress.

An officer was dispatched to the Park Forest Police Department on January 16 to investigate a report of fraud. A resident told police that a debit card had been activated on her bank account by a member of her family without her permission.

A gray Mongoose bicycle with red pegs, valued at $100, was reported stolen from the 400 block of Sauk Trail on January 17.

Police were dispatched to the first block of Fir Street to investigate a report of child abuse on January 17. A resident told police that she had left her three-year-old son with the child's father on January 15. When she picked the child up, she noticed sores on the child's behind, red in color and swollen. She told police that the child's father told her that he hit his son because the child was three years old and was still urinating on himself. Police have suspect information and continue to investigate. DCFS was also contacted in reference to this incident.

Mark A. Andrews, 22, 321 Springfield St., Park Forest, was arrested on January 17 and charged with violation of an order of protection and criminal trespass to land when police were dispatched to the 200 block of Berry Street to investigate a report of an unwanted person, according to police.

A 2003 Buick Park Avenue, Illinois license plate G855418, was reported stolen on January 19. The vehicle had been left outside to warm up with keys in the ignition, according to police.

A juvenile told police that she was robbed of her iPod at gunpoint in the 400 block of Wilshire Street on January 19.

An officer was dispatched to the Park Forest Police Department on January 19 to investigate a report of fraud. A resident told police that he lost his wallet sometime between January 17 and January 19. In addition to other items, the wallet contained his debit card and a piece of paper containing his PIN number. He contacted police after he noticed fraudulent activity on his bank account.

Darryl Staples, 44, 207 Gold St., Park Forest, was arrested on January 20 and charged with domestic battery when police were dispatched to the 200 block of Gold Street to investigate a domestic battery complaint.

A juvenile was arrested on January 22 and charged with retail theft when police were dispatched to the first block of South Orchard Drive to investigate a report of retail theft.

A storm door of a residence in the 200 block of Allegheny Street was reported vandalized on January 21.

Two pair of gym shoes valued at $240, a necklace and earrings valued at $400, a sapphire and gold ring valued at $350, a white gold and diamond ring valued at $2000, a watch valued at $500, and a 32-inch flat-screen television valued at $250 were reported stolen from a residence in the first block of Wilson Court on January 23.

An officer was dispatched to the Park Forest Police Department on January 23 to investigate a report of criminal sexual assault. A juvenile told police that she had been pushed to the ground and assaulted in court J-3 in the 200 block of Forest Boulevard. Police have suspect information and detectives are investigating.

Johnny L. Carter, 30, 1151 Williamsburg Rd., Country Club Hills, was arrested on January 23 and charged with driving while license was suspended and obstructing identification when police observed the vehicle Carter was driving disobeyed a stop sign on Blackhawk Drive and Shabbona Drive, according to police. Carter was also issued a traffic citation charging disobeying a stop sign and processed on three active arrest warrants on a charge of driving while license was suspended. A passenger in the vehicle, Richard R. Williams, 1151 Williamsburg Rd., Country Club Hills, was arrested and charged with possession of cannabis and obstructing identification. Williams was further processed on three active arrest warrants on a charge of possession of a controlled substance out of Cook County.

A 20-inch Dynex flat-screen television valued at $200 was reported stolen from a residence in the 300 block of Niagara Street on January 24.

Lyeshia N. Crowder, 23, 2 Ash St., Park Forest, was arrested on January 25 and charged with domestic battery after an officer was dispatched to Algonquin School, 170 Algonquin Street, to investigate a claim of domestic battery.

Alleged Fraudulent Affiliate Marketers will Surrender Assets under Settlements

Washington, DC--(ENEWSPF)--January 25, 2012. Six online marketers agreed to settlements with the Federal Trade Commission that will permanently halt their allegedly deceptive practice of using fake news websites to market acai berry supplements and other weight-loss products.

As part of its ongoing crackdown on bogus health claims, the proposed settlements will require that the six operations make clear when their commercial messages are advertisements rather than objective journalism, and will bar the defendants from further deceptive claims about health-related products such as the acai berry weight-loss supplements and colon cleansers that they marketed.

The defendants also are required to disclose any material connections they have with merchants, and will be barred from making deceptive claims about other products, such as the work-at-home schemes or penny auctions that most of them promoted.  The settlements also require that these defendants collectively pay roughly $500,000 to the Commission because their advertisements violated federal law.  This money amounts to most of their assets.

At the request of the FTC, federal courts temporarily halted these operations and four others.  In its sweep last year against marketers who allegedly used fake news sites to promote   weight-loss products, the FTC alleged that their websites were designed to falsely appear as if they were part of legitimate news organizations, but were actually nothing more than advertisements deceptively enticing consumers to buy the featured acai berry weight-loss products from online merchants.  With titles such as “News 6 News Alerts,” “Health News Health Alerts,” or “Health 5 Beat Health News,” the sites often falsely represented that the reports they carried had been seen on major media outlets such as ABC, Fox News, CBS, CNN, USA Today, and Consumer Reports.  Investigative-sounding headlines presented stories that purported to document a reporter’s first-hand experience with acai berry supplements – typically claiming to have lost 25 pounds in four weeks, according to the FTC complaints.

The proposed settlements impose monetary judgments in the full amount of the commissions the defendants received for deceptive marketing through their fake news sites.  Due to the defendants’ financial condition, the judgments will be suspended when the FTC receives the following assets from them.  In all cases, if it is later determined that the financial information the defendants provided the FTC was false, the full amount of their judgments would become due:

Ricardo Jose Labra Labra’s $2.5 million judgment will be suspended when he pays $280,000 and records a $39,500 lien on his home.

Zachary S. Graham, Ambervine Marketing, LLC and Encastle, Inc. Graham’s $953,000 judgment will be suspended when he pays $110,000 plus most of the proceeds from the sale of a truck.

Tanner Garrett Vaughn Vaughn’s $203,000 judgment will be suspended when he pays close to $80,000 over a three-year period.

Thou Lee Lee’s $204,000 judgment will be suspended when he pays $13,000 plus the proceeds from the sale of a BMW.

Charles Dunlevy Dunlevy’s $143,000 judgment will be suspended when he pays an estimated $2,000 from frozen assets and the sale of a boat.

DLXM, LLC and Michael Volozin The $594,000 judgment will be suspended because of the defendants’ inability to pay.

According to the FTC complaints, in pitching the acai weight-loss products, the defendants posted attention-grabbing ads on search engines and high volume websites, such as “Acai Berry EXPOSED – Health Reporter Discovers the Shocking Truth,” driving traffic to the fake news sites and ultimately to the sites where merchants sell the products.  The FTC received numerous complaints from consumers who paid between $70 and $100 for weight-loss products after having been deceived by fake news sites.

Derived from acai palm trees that are native to Central and South America, acai berry supplements often are marketed to consumers who hope to lose weight.  In another recent settlement with online acai berry marketers, defendants in the Central Coast Nutraceuticals case were required to pay $1.5 million.  In 2011, the Commission brought suit against two other online acai berry marketers:  LeanSpa, LLC, which the Commission sued in conjunction with the State of Connecticut, and Jesse Willms.  In both cases, the FTC obtained preliminary injunctions barring the defendants from engaging in the charged deceptive practices.

The FTC helps consumers recognize and avoid deceptive claims made by fake news sites that market acai berries for weight loss.  To learn more, see the consumer alert THIS JUST IN:  Fake News Sites Promote Bogus Weight Loss Benefits of Acai Berry Supplements, and the video Free Trial Offers, which explains how free trials are often used to market acai berry supplements and other products.

The Commission votes authorizing the staff to file the proposed settlement orders against Ricardo Labra and Tanner Vaughn were 4-0.  The votes authorizing the staff to file the proposed settlement orders against Zachary Graham, Ambervine Marketing, LLC and Encastle, Inc.; Thou Lee, DLXM, LLC and Michael Volozin; and Charles Dunlevy were 3-1, with Commissioner J. Thomas Rosch voting no.  The following courts have approved the settlement orders:

• the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, on January 11 and 12, 2012.  (Zachary S. Graham, Ambervine Marketing LLC, and Encastle, Inc.; Ricardo Jose Labra; and Thou Lee, also doing business as TL Advertising.) 
• the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on January 12, 2012.  (Charles Dunlevy.) 
• the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington on January 12, 2012.  (Tanner Garrett Vaughn, also doing business as Lead Expose, Inc., and Uptown Media, Inc.)  And,
• the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on January 19, 2012.  (DLXM, LLC, also doing business as DLX Marketing, and Michael Volozin, also known as Mikhail Volozin.) 

NOTE:  A settlement order is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by the defendant that the law has been violated.  Settlement orders have the force of law when approved and signed by the District Court judge.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them.  To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).  The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.  The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.  Like the FTC on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.  

Source: ftc.gov

CHICAGO, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Naperville resident Brent King has been selected as the 2011 Chicago-area recipient of the Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA), announced Robert D. Grant, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The DCLA is presented annually by FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III to a recipient in each of the FBI’s 56 domestic field offices. Established in 1990, the DCLA is designed to publicly recognize an individual or organization that has helped with crime prevention and educational programs within their community and which have furthered the efforts of law enforcement. In selecting Brent King as the 2011 recipient of this prestigious award, Director Mueller noted the hard work and dedication exhibited by Mr. King. Said Director Mueller, “Brent King has taken a tragic and life-altering event and used it as a vehicle for change. His tireless efforts to help enact legislation and develop programs designed to protect children, following the loss of his own daughter, make him a deserving recipient of our Community Leadership Award.”

Brent and his wife Kelly are the parents of Chelsea King, a 17-year-old high school student who was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered by a convicted sex offender while she was jogging in a San Diego County park in February of 2010. Mr. King worked closely with local law enforcement and the San Diego FBI to help find his daughter and identify the individual responsible for this heinous crime.

Following the conviction of Chelsea’s killer, Mr. King and his family returned to the Chicago area, where they now reside in suburban Naperville. They formed and volunteer for the Chelsea’s Light Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering kids and engaging communities to create positive change.

Mr. King and the foundation were instrumental in drafting and helping the California legislature pass Chelsea’s Law, which requires a life sentence without parole for violent sexual predators who target minors. The narrowly defined law passed with bipartisan support and focuses on preventing sexual predators from harming other innocent victims. Mr. King and the foundation are working to enact similar legislation in other states, all designed to help protect children.

The foundation has also created a scholarship program for high school students, which in its first year, awarded $65,000 to college bound seniors; established a peer-counseling program; and developed an outreach and support initiative for the victims of sexual assault.

In announcing this award, Mr. Grant noted the important role that the public plays in assisting law enforcement. Said Mr. Grant, “Although he might not be widely known by the public, Brent King is making a difference in our community. His work is not only keeping the spirit and memory of his daughter alive, but is also helping to protect you and your children from violent sexual predators.”

Mr. King follows award winning Chicago radio and television personality Roe Conn, who was the 2010 Chicago DCLA recipient.

An awards luncheon honoring Mr. King is scheduled for noon on Friday, January 27, at the University Club of Chicago, 76 East Monroe Street. Mr. King will also be invited to attend an awards ceremony to be held in Washington, D.C. in March, at which time DCLA recipients from across the nation will be personally honored by Director Mueller.

EVANSVILLE, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Joseph H. Hogsett, United States Attorney, announced that Raymond Pearson, 44, of Boonville, was sentenced to 63 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young following his guilty plea to bank robbery. This case follows a cooperative investigation by the Indiana State Police, Warrick County Sheriff’s Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Southwest Indiana Violent Crime Task Force.

“This sentence is another success resulting from collaboration between federal and local law enforcement,” Hogsett said. “This kind of cooperation is helping take dangerous criminals like Mr. Pearson off Southern Indiana streets, guaranteeing that he won’t trouble Hoosier neighborhoods anytime soon.”

At the time of his change of plea hearing on October 24, 2011, Pearson admitted that he entered the Elberfeld State Bank in Elberfeld on April 9, 2011, wearing a camouflage jacket, a beige baseball hat, and rubber gloves. Pearson admitted that he was carrying a starter pistol that appeared to be a handgun. Pearson ordered the teller to fill a shopping bag with money and left the bank with $2,159.

An off-duty police officer was outside the bank as the robbery was occurring and saw a suspicious person leaving the bank driving a silver Saturn. Pearson became aware that he was being followed and proceeded to flee reaching speeds of 100 mph. The off duty officer abandoned the chase but did record the Saturn’s Indiana license plate number. The Saturn was registered to Pearson at his Boonville home address.

Pearson admitted that after the robbery he drove home, shaved his beard off, and hid the pistol and jacket he used in the robbery in his basement. Pearson then drove to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to make a false report that his license plate had been stolen.

Pearson was observed leaving the BMV without a plate by two police officers. The officers ordered Pearson out of his car, patted him down and found that one of his pockets was bulging. The pocket was emptied and found to contain $2,159 in United States currency.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd S. Shellenbarger, who prosecuted the case for the government, Judge Young also imposed two years’ supervised release following Pierson’s release from prison.