James Woosley/gov photo

A former high ranking official with Immigration and Customs Enforcement pleaded guilty Tuesday in D.C. to defrauding the government out of more than $180,000 in a scheme that involved other employees and fraudulent travel vouchers, time and attendance slips and kickbacks.

James Woosley, the former Acting Director of Intelligence for ICE,  pleaded guilty and admitted being part of the scheme that included him getting kickbacks, authorities said. Four others have pleaded guilty to being part of the scheme. In all, the losses totaled about $600,000 to the government, authorities said.

“Today James Woosley became the fifth – and highest-ranking – individual to plead guilty as part of a series of fraud schemes among rogue employees and contractors at ICE,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen in a statement. “He abused his sensitive position of trust to fleece the government by submitting phony paperwork for and taking kickbacks from subordinates who were also on the take. This ongoing investigation demonstrates our dedication to protecting the taxpayer from corrupt government employees and contractors.”

The FBI has busted five men — three of whom are self-described anarchists — on suspicion of conspiring to blow up a bridge near Cleveland, the Justice Department announced Tuesday morning.

The men plotted to blow up a Route 82 bridge at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, authorities said in a news release.

“The public was never in danger from the explosive devices, which were controlled by an undercover FBI employee,” the press release said.” The defendants were closely monitored by law enforcement. The explosives that the defendants allegedly purchased and attempted to use were inoperable and posed no threat to the public.

To read press release click “Read More” below.

Shoshanna Utchenik

Accusations are flying in Atlanta that airport concession contracts have been rigged to favor the Mayor’s campaign contributors, reports WSBTV.

The FBI has apparently contacted several of the losing bidders to interview them about the bidding process. One bidder told WSBTV, “I answered their questions that I had a feeling things went on, but I couldn’t provide hard evidence”.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed held a fundraiser just four days before the airport bidding started. $3 Billion in contracts would be awarded, some of them to the Mayor’s key contributors. Mack Wilbourn, a prominent businessman who hosted a fundraiser for Mayor Reed, had also recently hosted President Obama. Wilbourn won upward of $350M in airport contracts.

Atlanta spokeswoman Sonji Jacobs said the city has not been contacted by the FBI, and insists “The procurement process has been fair and transparent and not a single shred of evidence has been produced to substantiate any of the losing bidders’ claims.”

… So far.

To read more click here.

Shoshanna Utcheniik

A 24 year old University of California San Diego student was one of nine people brought in by the DEA for questioning on April 21 after a drug raid. What happened next is anyone’s guess.

It seems he was forgotten in a cell for five days.

DEA spokeswoman Amy Roderick told the Union Tribune San Diego, “Each suspect was interviewed in separate interview rooms, and frequently moved around between rooms and cells.” She said seven suspects were brought to the county jail, one was released “and the individual in question was accidentally left in one of the cells.”

When agents discovered the blunder, they rushed the man to the hospital in non-life-threatening condition. There he tested positive for methamphetamines which he allegedly found in the cell during his accidental detention.

You have to wonder if University professors will excuse the week-long absence with a note from the DEA.

To read more click here.