Steve Neavling

A former college professor who was working as an FBI informant investigating mortgage fraud was sentenced to four years and four months in prison Thursdsay for hatching his own mortgage fraud scheme, The Plain Dealer reports.

Paul Tomko asked for leniency but got none from U.S. District Judge Christopher Boyko.

Tomko pleaded guilty in March to five charges, including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

While Tomko pocketed about $100,000 by filing liens for work not performed, he also was working as an FBI agent from 2006-09, helping agents target fraudulent appraisers.

“How ironic,” the judge said. “While you’re helping the FBI you’re gutting the public.”

Valerie Parlave-FBI Arkansas

For anyone following the investigation into the Washington Navy Yard shooting, the face of Valerie Parlave may be familiar.

Parlave, assistant director in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, is responsible for informing the public about what happened when a gunman entered Navy Yard and opened fire, the Democrat and Chronicle reports.

Parlave announced the identity of the shooter, Aaron Alexis, and appealed to the public for more information about the shooting spree.

It was big news for residents of rural Ontario County in New York.

“Here’s a small-town gal from Naples, N.Y.,” Henry Savage, a family friend who keeps in touch with Parlave from time to time, told the Democrat and Chronicle. “Naples, N.Y., in the grand scheme of things is about as small as you can get. Just through good honest hard work and stick-to-it-iveness, she’s one of the top people in the FBI now. That’s exciting, and it’s exciting for her.”

Steve Neavling

Newly appointed chief of Boston’s FBI office, Vincent Lisi, said his office is nowhere close to being finished investigating the Boston marathon bombing shootings, The Boston Globe reports.

“We owe that to the victims of the bombing,” Vincent B. Lisi, special agent in charge of the Boston FBI, told the Globe. “Our focus, commitment, is that nobody in our office will rest until we’ve identified everyone that had anything to do with the bombing and make sure they face justice.”

The 49-year-old began his career in 1989. Since then, he’s investigated gangs and drug dealers. He also served as deputy assistant director of the Counterintelligence Division at FBI headquarters.

While head of the Boston office, Lisi said he wants to improve the relationship between the FBI and local law enforcement to better respond to emergencies such as terrorist attacks.

 Steve Neavling

A defense lawyer whose expertise is white-collar crime was nominated Tuesday to be assistant attorney general  for the Justice Department’s criminal division, the New York Times reports.

President Obama nominated Leslie R. Caldwell, a former federal prosecutor who worked in the Northern District of California and the Eastern District of New York.

Caldwell served as director of the DOJ’s task force that specialized in Enron’s 2001 collapse, the Times wrote.

She graduated from Penn State University and George Washington University law School.

Steve Neavling

A new report suggests reforms at Border Patrol are needed to prevent excessive use of force, NBC Latino reports.

Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General generated the report at the request of Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, and 15 members of Congress following media reports of an undocumented immigrant who died in CBP custody.

The report recommends that Border Patrol train agents to use less-lethal tactics for handling suspects. It also recommends working on some of the reforms with ICE.

Steve Neavling

U.S. Border Patrol agents who were trying to prevent a group of undocumented immigrants from entering the U.S. over the weekend came under attack, the El Paso Times reports.

The agents spotted eight people illegally crossing the border in El Paso on Sunday, sparking a rock attack.

Luckily none of the agents were injured.

It started at 8 p.m. when agents arrested five of the suspects, the El Paso Times reported. The remaining suspects ran to the Mexican side of the border and began chucking rocks at the agents.

OTHER STORIES OF INTEREST

• FBI Reveals Files on Late Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii 
• Ex-FBI Agent Wants to Remain in County Jail While Awaiting Jail
• FBI Takes Issue with Prediction on Location of Next Mass Shooting
• Flint, Detroit Remain Most Violent Cities in America, FBI Data
• Anchorage Drug Dealer Who Punched ATF Agent Sent to Prison for 12 Years

Steve Neavling

A practicing Buddhist known as a “peaceful soul” by friends was the gunman behind the Washington Navy Yard shooting rampage Monday that claimed a dozen lives, including his own, the Washington Times reports.

Now the FBI is trying to determine why Aaron Alexis would open fire at the historic Washington Navy Yard in Southeast D.C.

“He is a nice person,” said Naree Wilton, an employee at a Thai restaurant where Alexis had worked. “I never see him get mad at anybody.”

According to the Washington Times, Alexis told his coworkers that he was leaving the area about three months ago.

Whether he actually left is another question and part of the FBI investigation.

The Post-Journal

Colorado and Washington decriminalized marijuana last fall. Many states allow its use for medicinal purposes, but the two western states in essence allow anyone who wants to get high to buy the drug.

Proponents of legalizing marijuana for recreational use were delighted by Holder’s decision. “The message to the people of the other 48 states … is clear: Seize the day,” exulted Neill Franklin, of one pro-legalization group.

To read more click here.