A 26-year old Ashland man who planned to attack the Pentagon and Capitol building as part of a violent "jihad" against the United States was arrested today. Rezwan Ferdaus is an American citizen educated at Northeastern and he wanted to carry out an assault using a remote-controlled aircraft filled with C-4 plastic explosives. Ferdaus detailed his plan to a cooperating witness in a recorded conversation in January of 2010.
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A snake snuck into a Cambridge apartment to provide an unwelcome morning surprise. [MyFoxBoston]
The Boston Fire Department is getting 60 oxygen masks designed to save pets. [Boston Metro]
Three egg farms in Maine are being investigated for their connection to the producer of the recent salmonella recall. [Boston Globe]
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Results tagged “fbi”
Monday's armored car robbery in Methuen was carried out by three suspects who were all already arrested. The heist of the Garda truck was apparently an inside job as two suspects reportedly worked for the company. Police named the suspects as Justin Levesque, 43, of Cumberland, R.I., Eliezer Martinez, 26, of Lawrence, and Willie Salazar Vasquez, 22. Levesque and Martinez work for Garda. Police said the heist took place at a Big Lots store in Methuen as a cash delivery was made. One guard was disarmed and was forced into the back of the truck and then the suspect got into the front to force the driver to drive. The suspect left the truck at the intersection of Jackson and Prospect streets in Methuen. The FBI is part of the investigation. All charges alleged until proven under law. [Globe]
Keith Messina claims he, and not the infamous "woman from Iceland," deserves the $2 million reward for tipping off federal law enforcement to Whitey's presence in Santa Monica back in 2008. “I would have been happy with half. I did all the work and you give it to a person in Iceland? The FBI is hiding something,” he said.
The possibility of Catherine Greig, 60, of Quincy, cooperating with federal authorities appears non-existent after she pleaded not guilty this morning to harboring her long-time companion James “Whitey” Bulger, formerly America's most-wanted fugitive. She faces a maximum of five years in prison if convicted of charge of conspiracy to harbor and conceal a fugitive.
James “Whitey” Bulger reportedly told FBI agents he traveled to Boston during his time as a fugitive in order to "take care of some unfinished business" that he didn't elaborate on. Bulger said he was disguised and "armed to the teeth" during his visits.
James “Whitey’’ Bulger is talking to FBI agents in the wake of his capture last week. No, he's not confessing to killing any of the 19 people he allegedly murdered. He's detailing his life as a fugitive in Santa Monica.
Whitey Bulger and Catherine Greig lived for 15 years in the same rent-controlled apartment at which they was arrested in California yesterday. They lived under the names Charles and Carol Gasko in Unit 303 and paid their $1,145 rent, on time and in cash, each month. The FBI recovered some 20 guns and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash from his apartment.
Just days after the FBI launched its latest plan to capture James "Whitey" Bulger, the fugitive gangster was arrested without incident in Santa Monica, California. The arrest resulted from the FBI's TV ad campaign that started this week. His companion Catherine Greig, who figured prominently in the ads, was arrested with Bulger.
As the FBIs search for James "Whitey" Bulger drones on and on some 16 years after he left Boston and became a fugitive, the focus of the desperate search is still directed at his girlfriend Catherine Greig. The FBI has now made a commercial for television, and will utilize digital billboards in New York's Time Square and social networking sites like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
Two brothers, one a University of Massachusetts student, were injured on Friday night when a dispute over a parking spot escalated into an assault with a socket wrench in an Amherst parking lot. The 22-year old student suffered "spinal and head trauma and multiple fractures in his leg" after he was beaten with a 24-inch wrench. The suspect denied the chages of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery with serious bodily injury. A pre-trial hearing is set for on June 13. [MassLive.com]
We don't make a habit of reading Howie Carr's scribbles in the Herald. We checked out his current missive on the ongoing search for Whitey Bulger, now 81 years old. We're with him on thinking the entire Where's Whitey furor is a joke.
Dianne Wilkerson reported to federal prison in Danbury, Conn. on Friday to fulfill her 3.5-year sentence from a bribery conviction. But, she didn't go quietly. Last week, Wilkerson told the Herald she was "set up" by the government. She also used "The Attack on Black Leadership" forum last week to accuse Rev. Ray Hammond of Bethel AME Church and Bishop Gideon Thompson of Jubilee Christian Church of collaborating with the FBI against her. She also alleged Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts president Darnell Williams advised people to avoid Wilkerson due to the investigation on her.
North Andover High School wrestling coach David T. Castricone, 60, pleaded not guilty this morning to possession of child pornography and was released on $1,500 bail. Castricone allegedly had 77 pages of "personal photos of females" at his home and at least eight child pornography pictures. He allegedly was in the North Andover High girls' locker room at least nine times in the past month. [Globe]
The lawyer for John Connolly, the former FBI agent convicted of second-degree murder in connection withe the 1982 killing of John Callahan in South Florida, wants his conviction thrown out. Connolly will be released on June 28 from a North Carolina federal prison for a corruption conviction and will immediately begin a 40-year sentence for the Florida murder. Attorney Manuel Alvarez said a second-degree murder conviction for Connolly require that he had "physical possession of the firearm during commission of the felony," which, according to Alvarez, he didn't. Prosecutors claim that Connolly didn't need to possess the murder weapon, but any gun, even his FBI service weapon, when he told James “Whitey’’ Bulger and Stephen “The Rifleman’’ Flemmi that John Callahan could become an FBI informant in order to qualify for second-degree murder. Connolly's tip, prosecutors believe, set the stage for Callahan's death. [Globe]
Luigi "Louie" Manocchio, 83, and Thomas Iafrate of the New England Mafia were arrested along with around 100 alleged mobsters from seven organized crime families in the Northeast for various crime-related activities. Manocchio was arrested Wednesday in Florida on extortion and extortion conspiracy charges. Iafrate collected protection payments for Manocchio from adult entertainment businesses like the Satin Doll, and Cadillac Lounge. Manocchio and Iafrate face arraignments today in Ft. Lauderdale and Providence, respectively. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. [Globe]
A 37-year old Norwell woman faces her third drunk driving offense after being arrested on Saturday. Police stopped her and reported she smelled of alcohol, wasn't wearing pants and had her four-month-old baby in the car. Police recovered multiple containers of alcohol from the car. The child is in custody of the Department of Children and Families. [WCVB]
A passenger on American Airlines Flight 2585 that left Boston's Logan Airrport around 8:30 a.m. was arrested at Miami International Airport at about 11:30 a.m. and charged with carrying explosive materials after his luggage exploded on the tarmac. The FBI took the unnamed 37-year-old man into custody and said the luggage "contained primer material used in making ammunition." This is not considered an act of terrorism. Noone was injured. The suspect was headed to Jamaica. [WCVB]
A jury convicted Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner today of attempted extortion and three counts of making false statements after a 13-day trial. Turner faces a maximum of 35 years in prison. After the verdict, Turner maintained his innocence, saying "I'm not the first person who's innocent who's gonna be sent to jail." A sentencing hearing is set for January 25.
We love Shaquille O'Neal. Bostonist wants to be called Shaqnist. The Big Entertainer never fails to please.
-- The FBI, Weymouth police, and a state police SWAT team arrested two Bay State men who were allegedly preparing to rob an East Weymouth bank. Police got a tip about the planned heist and set up surveillance around 7 a.m. Police observed the suspects watching the bank, and watched them go to a nearby store to buy disguises. The suspects were arrested without incident. Police found a sledgehammer and crowbars in the car. Both men were charged with attempting to commit armed robbery while masked, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, conspiracy to commit a crime and possession of burglarious tools. They are being held at Weymouth Police headquarters on $100,000 bail until a Tuesday arraignment in Quincy District Court. [patriotledger]
-- MBTA Transit Police have arrested the suspect in Tuesday's stabbing on a bus on Ruggles Street headed toward Tremont Street. [Universal Hub]
-- Police seized almost a half-ton of marijuana worth over $1 million in Abington. Police said the shipment came from southern California and the marijuana may have come from Mexico. Police dogs were used in the bust as the marijuana was wrapped in shrink wrap, newspapers soaked in fabric softener and other layers. A Brockton man was arrested at the scene of the bust, a shipping terminal on Route 18. [Brockton Enterprise, WBZ]
The FBI arrested 10 people, including two Boston residents, who allegedly worked as spies for the Russian government in the United States. Donald Howard Heathfield and Tracey Lee Ann Foley of Boston were arrested on Sunday at their home and appeared in federal court in Boston on Monday. Each defendant was charged with conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government, a charge that carries a maximum five-year sentence. Nine were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum 20-year sentence. (Money laundering is punished more than spying?) All charges alleged until proven under law. [Herald]
- While federal agents involved in Thursday's Boston-area raids followed the money trail left by New York Times Square bomb suspect Faisal Shahzad, local cops secured the Boston Garden as the Green brought the Cavs to justice. [WCVB]
- Residents of Watertown and Brookline were stunned by Thursday's raids. [Boston Globe]
The FBI is still searching for James "Whitey" Bulger, 80, some 15 years after he became a fugitive to avoid a federal racketeering indictment in 1995. The bureau is getting desperate creative as the search drags on and on and on continues. The latest: Allure reported that the FBI bought a full-page ad in the current edition of Plastic Surgery News designed to track down Bulger by exploiting companion Catherine Greig's affinity for plastic surgery. The ad features photos of Greig, 59, and asks "Have you treated this woman?" The FBI said Greig has had breast implants, a face lift, a nose job, liposuction, and eyelid surgery before she fled with Bulger. The Globe quoted an apparently straight-faced Mike Stokes, the managing editor of Plastic Surgery News, as saying "We're always happy to help." As Bostonist said, the FBI is getting creative. We suggest trying the National Funeral Directors Association newsletter, too. Tips on Bulger or Greig can be directed to findwhitey@ic.fbi gov or 617-742-5533. [Globe]
Despite being the subject of a high-profile corruption probe, City Councilor Chuck Turner easily won Tuesday's preliminary election with 52% in a four-candidate race. Turner reportedly told the Herald "This is a mandate for me to fight back. They’re saying, ‘Keep on fighting.’" Turner was at federal court before Judge Timothy Hillman for a hearing regarding his access to the government documents the indictment is based on. Turner can gain access to the documents if he agrees not to leak them. Turner won't agree to the gag order, saying “They would have to put me in jail." Last week, Turner criticized the FBI for their handling, or not handling, the ongoing City Hall “e-mail-gate” scandal.
The First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a $102 million ruling against the government on Thursday. The money was awarded to Joseph Salvati, Peter Limone and the families of Henry Tameleo and Louis Greco after the District Court ruled in 2007 that the FBI withheld evidence that proved Salvati, Limone, Tameleo and Greco weren't involved in the 1965 killing of Edward "Teddy" Deegan. The four men spent decades in prison, and Tameleo and Greco died behind bars. two who died there -- for a murder they didn't commit. Juliane Balliro, who represented the families of Limone and Tameleo, said the men were considered "collateral damage" as they pursued cases against the Mafia in the 1960s. Limone was awarded $26 million and Salvati got $29 million, while the estates of Greco and Tameleo received $28 million and $13 million, respectively.
Today may be the hottest day of the summer. How are Bay Staters reacting to it? Well, earlier today, Bostonist happily wrote about city pools staying open so we can beat the heat. Mayor Thomas Menino knows how to keep voters residents happy duuring a heat emergency. Everyone is not as lucky. After Cambridge struggled to keep Veterans Memorial Pool at Magazine Beach open longer, the pool was closed today after a chlorine spill. Across the state, 21 of 27 pools run by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation are closed for the summer due a lifeguard shortage.