WASHINGTON - Jesse D. Lane, Jr., a Department of Defense (DOD) civilian employee, was arrested in Seattle, Wash., after being indicted by a grand jury in the Central District of California on one count of conspiracy, nine counts of honest services wire fraud, and one count obstruction of justice, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today. According to court filings, Lane and his co-conspirators were members of the 223rd Finance ... [full story]

WASHINGTON - GOP lawmakers phoned them at home about corruption cases, asked inappropriate questions about sealed court documents and pressed them about investigating Democrats who won elections, according to testimony Tuesday from six former U.S. attorneys, including San Diego's Carol Lam, on their abrupt dismissals by the Bush administration. Former New Mexico U.S. Attorney David Iglesias, said he felt "leaned on" and "sick" after Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M, called him at home in late October, ... [full story]

LOS ANGELES - An Iraqi immigrant who was reportedly found with a suspicious device, which he called "therapeutic," in a body cavity was detained at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday and a flight to Philadelphia was diverted to Las Vegas because his luggage was onboard. An FBI official said an initial examination of items found in the body of Fadhel Al-Maliki, 35, of Atlantic City, determined there was no threat but the investigation is ... [full story]

Security Training and Whistleblower Protections Will Aid Workers WASHINGTON - A Teamsters Rail Conference official testified before the House Homeland Security Committee today in support of the Rail and Transit Security Act of 2007, H.R. 1269. Edward Rodzwicz, President of the Teamsters Rail Conference, said the act's provisions are of particular importance to union members, including training and whistleblower protections. "Rail labor has taken every opportunity since 9/11 to advocate for strong security legislation for ... [full story]

WASHINGTON - Kenneth N. Harvey, 51, and Michael G. Kronstein, 45, were sentenced today in Charlottesville, Va., for their involvement in a bribery and honest services wire fraud scheme, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today. U.S. District Judge Norman K. Moon for the Western District of Virginia sentenced Kronstein and Harvey to 70 months and 72 months in prison, respectively. Both defendants have also been sentenced to three years ... [full story]

Indictment Charges Defendant Traveled from New York to Nebraska to Engage in Sexual Activity with a Minor CENTRAL ISLIP, NY - Suffolk County resident John Monetti, 38, a former Long Island school teacher and elementary school principal, was arrested this morning on federal charges relating to child exploitation, announced U.S. Attorney Roslynn R. Mauskopf for the Eastern District of New York and U.S. Attorney Joe W. Stecher for the District of Nebraska. The complaint filed ... [full story]

BOSTON - The owner and three managers of Michael Bianco, Inc. (MBI) were arrested by federal authorities this morning in connection with alleged hiring of illegal aliens. Another individual was arrested on charges that he provided fraudulent identification documents to workers at the factory, U.S. Attorney Michael J. Sullivan of the District of Massachusetts and Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) Julie L. Myers announced today. Following the arrests, criminal ... [full story]

Widespread "voter fraud" is a myth promulgated to suppress voter participation, according to a new Project Vote report released today. "The Politics of Voter Fraud" finds that fraudulent voting, or the intentional corruption of the voting process by voters, is extremely rare. Yet, false or exaggerated claims of fraudulent voting are commonly made in close electoral contests, and later cited by proponents of laws that restrict voting. The report is authored by Lorraine Minnite, Ph.D., ... [full story]

Stronger Controls Are Put in Place Following Internal Investigation BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Mart announced today that it has terminated a Wal-Mart systems technician for intercepting text messages and recording telephone conversations without authorization. The disciplinary action is the result of an internal investigation that began on January 11, 2007 when an individual used the Wal-Mart open door policy to express concerns about the recordings. The audit committee of the company's Board of Directors was notified ... [full story]

ST. LOUIS - Former United States Senator Thomas F. Eagleton died this morning at St. Mary's hospital in Richmond Heights, Missouri. He was 77 years old. Senator Eagleton had been in declining health for several years. The cause of death was a combination of heart, respiratory and other problems that overwhelmed his weakened system.   Former US Senator Thomas F. Eagleton died today at the age of 77. Thomas F. Eagleton was born in St. Louis on ... [full story]

WASHINGTON - The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) -- the nation's largest union of federal workers, including TSA employees -- says that bargaining rights and whistleblower protections for Transportation Security Officers (TSO) will actually help to improve homeland security. The union today urged members of the Senate to support an amendment offered by Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) that provides basic worker rights and protections to the nearly 45,000 TSOs who help protect our airports ... [full story]

WASHINGTON - A former Department of Defense (DOD) official pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of theft and embezzlement of public money, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher for the Criminal Division announced today. John Taylor was a civilian DOD employee who worked as an intelligence contingency funds officer and admitted today that he stole over $100,000 in intelligence contingency funds from DOD. He was assigned to the 500th Military Intelligence Brigade ... [full story]

SAN DIEGO - Police have found the head, the hand and a suspect. Now they're looking for a motive. Acting on a tip, investigators arrested a 61-year-old former porn shop worker yesterday in the shooting death of a homeless man whose head and hand were later dismembered. Gerald Michael Nash was taken into custody about 5:20 a.m. at his home behind an adult bookstore that once employed him, San Diego police Lt. Jeff Sferra said. ... [full story]