Not only did this guy get a gun for a reputed gang member, but the gun was loaded with hollow-point bullets. Not a smart move. He was convicted Tuesday.

By James Queally
Newark Star-Ledger
TRENTON – A Deputy United States Marshal was convicted in federal court today of illegally obtaining a handgun for a 33-year-old ex-felon and reputed gang member whose prior convictions included aggravated assault and robbery, authorities and court papers said today.

Antoine Dobson, 29 of Irvington, used his position as a Marshal to purchase a semi-automatic handgun last year for Larry Langforddavis, a close personal friend from Hillside, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Ralph J. Marra.

Dobson obtained the weapon, which was loaded with hollow-point bullets, by certifying on a U.S. Marshals’ service letterhead that the gun was for “official use” only, according to Marra.

For Full Story

By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com

Fighting an uphill battle, and acknowledging the daunting task before him,   Atty. Gen. Eric Holder Jr. announced on Wednesday in Los Angeles a $8.7 million grant to help local law enforcement in California  fight the deadly drug war along the U.S.-Mexico border.

“We are intensifying our efforts to investigate, extradite, prosecute and punish the cartel leaders and their henchman,” Holder said at a press conference after holding a round table discussion with officials from the DEA, FBI, ATF, ICE and U.S. Marshals.

Holder said in coming days the Justice Dept. will announce nearly $30 million more grants to support local law enforcement agencies in California and four other states.

He said the funding would “help to ensure that our fight against the cartels is tough and smart.”

“The Mexican cartels are sophisticated criminal enterprises with billion dollar budgets,” Holder said. “But today’s round table discussion confirms my confidence  that we have the tools and capacity to defeat them.”

To Read the Full Text of His Speech click HERE

Sam Riddle/wdiv

The political corruption probe continues to unravel in Detroit. The latest charges involve a free-talking political consultant Sam Riddle and  ex-Detroit City council member Monica Conyers, wife of Congressman John Conyers.  Riddle once worked as Monica Conyer’s chief of staff. By the way, this isn’t the end of the corruption charges in Detroit.

BY JOE SWICKARD, BEN SCHMITT, DAVID ASHENFELTER AND GINA DAMRON
Detroit FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS
DETROIT — Detroit political consultant Sam Riddle was indicted today on a host of federal charges ranging from bribery to extortion, mail fraud and making false statements and court documents contend that former City Councilwoman Monica Conyers participated at every turn of the conspiracy.

Also charged was former state legislator Mary Waters, who lives with Riddle. The pair were charged with conspiracy to bribe and two counts of bribery stemming from their alleged roles in helping a Southfield pawnshop relocate and expand in that city.

Riddle alone was charged with multiple offenses in connection with the tainted 2007 Synagro sludge-treatment contract. He was charged with extortion, making false statements, mail fraud and bribery relating to Synagro.

For Full Story

Read Indictment

Read More Charges

Read Press Release

Just in case you were wondering whether our favorite Ponzi scammer was fearful of prison.

Bernie Madoff

By The Associated Press
NEW YORK — A prison coach who helped Bernard Madoff get ready for his 150-year sentence says the disgraced financier was not afraid before starting his term at a federal penitentiary in North Carolina.

Herb Hoelter (HOHL’-ter) told the CBS “Early Show” that Madoff was remorseful but composed when Hoelter met him four days before sentencing.

Hoelter said Madoff would not be in danger at the Butner prison, where he was transferred this week from a federal jail in New York.

For Full Story

It’s been the subject of jokes and fear. And frankly, no one will miss or feel less secure it if it’s gone.

It’s not likely the review will plunge an alert system into the dark altogether but, short of that, everything is on the table for consideration, according to one official familiar with the plans.

The alert system assigns five different colors to terror risk levels. Green at the bottom signals a low danger of attack and red at the top warns of a severe threat. It was put in place after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and was designed to help emergency responders get prepared.

For Full Story

Get Chris Battle’s Read on the Color Code Theme ( Security DeBrief)

Pittsburgh U.S. Atty. Mary Beth Buchanan wants badly to stay on as U.S. Attorney. Not only is that NOT likely to happen, but she could make a less than graceful exit with this latest development.

Bush Holdover- Pittsburgh U.S. Atty. Mary Beth Buchanan

RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI
The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH – The Department of Justice has launched an inquiry into comments made by Pittsburgh’s U.S. attorney when she announced she was dropping charges against a renowned pathologist, ending a contentious years-long legal battle.

Mary Beth Buchanan said at the time that she still believed pathologist Cyril Wecht had committed a crime. He had been accused of using his public office , Allegheny County medical examiner , to benefit his multimillion dollar private practice.

Dick Thornburgh , a former U.S. attorney general who was part of the pathologist’s defense team , lodged a complaint with the department after the June 2 news conference, saying U.S. attorney Mary Beth Buchanan’s comments were “completely improper, violate all notions of prosecutorial ethics and decency, and warrant remedial action by the Department of Justice.”

In a letter dated July 8, the department informed Thornburgh it had “initiated an inquiry into your allegations.” The department said it would inform him of the outcome of the inquiry.

For Full Story

OTHER STORIES OF INTEREST

• Robert Di Niro Victim of Art Scam (Reuters)
• Ohio Executes Trucker Who Went on Killing Spree (AP)
• Mass Explosives Found in Texas Where Deputy Was Shot and Killed (AP)
• Feds Say N.Y. Woman Misused UN Funds for Iraq (AP)
• Ex-State Sen. Fumo Gets 55 Months (Philadelphia Daily News)