No link seen to Boston bombings; suspect had history of arrests

 

By Miriam Raftery

April 17, 2013 (Washington D.C.)  Today at 5:15 p.m., FBI special agents arrested Paul Kevin Curtis, the suspect believed to be responsible for mailings of the three letters sent through the U.S. Postal Service to top officialswhich contained a granular substance that preliminarily tested positive for the toxin ricin., the FBI announced. The letters were addressed to President Barack Obama, U.S. Senator Wicker, and a Mississippi justice official.

November 3, 2012 (La Mesa)--The FBI and El Cajon Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the unknown male responsible for robbing the US Bank, 490 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon.  On Friday, October 26, 2012, at approximately 2:29 p.m., an unknown male using a demand note robbed the US Bank, located at 490 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon, California.  After receiving a sum of money from the victim teller, the robber exited the bank and was last seen leaving as a passenger in a silver or gray Cadillac.

September 15, 2012 --  (San Diego’s East County) – ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Obstacles may delay drones access to U.S. skies (UT San Diego)
• State court ruling deals blow to U.S. mortgage system (Reuters)
• FBI warns of U.S. violence over anti-Islamic movie (ABC)
• Republicans split on Mitt Romney remarks (Politico)
• Debunking Romney’s attack on Americans who don’t pay income taxes (L.A. Times) 
• New Romney ad rips Obama on coal energy (The Hill)

WORLD

• Libyans see Al Qaeda hand in U.S. embassy attack (Wall Street Journal)
• Anti-American fury sweeps Middle East over film (Reuters)
• Protests sweep Islamic world, fueled by domestic politics and anti-U.S. anger (CS Monitor)
• Prince Harry targeted in Taliban attack in Afghanistan (Telegraph)
• Police clash with Muslims at protest in East Jerusalem (Jerusalem Post)
• Peacekeepers attacked in Egypt’s Sinai Penninsula; foreigners injured (CS Monitor)
• Large anti-austerity protests in Spain, Portugal (UT San Diego)
• India opposition parties protest economic reforms (UT San Diego)
• Anti-Japan protests sweep China on anniversary of invasion (Reuters) 

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

September 17, 2012 (San Diego) – Daphne Hearn, Special Agent in Charge of the San Diego FBI Office, and Chris Maston, Director of Field Operations, Customs Border Protection (CBP) announced the arrest of CBP Officer Thomas Silva, age 33, a nine-year veteran with the CBP. Silva was arrested on Friday, September 7 2012, at approximately 8:30 a.m, at the San Ysidro Port of Entry by CBP and FBI Agents assigned to the FBI Border Corruption Task Force (BCTF) pursuant to a federal arrest warrant based on a complaint filed with the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, case number 12MJ3305. The complaint charges Silva with wire fraud and concealing a person from arrest.

August 17, 2012 (San Diego)--The San Diego FBI warns of a new Citadel malware platform used to deliver ransomware named Reveton. The ransomware lures the victim to a drive-by download website, at which time the ransomware is installed on the user’s computer. Once installed, the computer freezes and a screen is displayed warning the user they have violated United States federal law. The message further declares the user’s IP address has been identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as visiting websites that feature child pornography and other illegal content.

Seven pimps arrested and two juveniles recovered by San Diego Innocent Lost Task Force and assisting law enforcement agencies 

June 27, 2012 (San Diego) -- Pursuant to a federal arrest warrant issued out of the Southern District of New York, Mark Caparelli, aka, "Cubby" was arrested yesterday morning in San Diego by FBI Agents. The arrest was one of 24 arrests made in eight countries as part of a two-year international cyber crime takedown operation. Caparelli was booked into the Metropolitan Correctional Center. The undercover “carding” sting protected over 400,000 potential cyber-crime victims and prevented over $205 million in losses, according to a press release issued by the FBI. 

FBI warns public of falling victim to the bank examiner scam

March 30, 2012 (San Diego) --  Thursday, March 29, the FBI announced  the arrest of two San Diego men on charges of impersonating FBI Agents as part of a scheme to defraud a San Diego woman over over $200,000.  Nenad Videnovic 22, was arrested by FBI Agents on March 27  in Ocean Beach.  Brian John Murphy, 33 was arrested later that same day in the Mission Bay area. 

March 12, 2012 (San Diego) -- San Diego FBI Special Agent in Charge Keith Slotter announces the arrest of Steve Edward Ruby, age 52, of El Cajon, California, and Spiros Romensas, age 51, of La Mesa as a result of the investigation into the “Insistent Bandit” serial bank robbery investigation.

By Darrell Foxworth, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), San Diego

February 14, 2012 (San Diego)--Millions of Americans visit online dating websites every year, hoping to find a companion or even a soul mate. But today, on Valentine’s Day, we want to warn you that criminals use these sites, too, looking to turn the lonely and vulnerable into fast money through a variety of scams.

January 17, 2012 (Santee) -- The FBI and San Diego Sheriff’s Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify a man who robbed the Pacific West Bank, 9955 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, California, on Tuesday, January 17, 2012.

 
January 15, 2012 (Scripps Ranch) -- The FBI and San Diego Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the man who committed a takeover robbery of the California Coast Credit Union, 9835 Mira Mesa Boulevard, in Scripps Ranch this morning at 10:30 a.m. 

November 18, 2011 (El Cajon) -- The FBI and El Cajon Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the unknown male responsible for robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, located at 1235 Avocado Avenue, El Cajon, California, on Thursday, November 17, 2011.

Online vehicle shoppers are being victimized by fraudulent vehicle sales and false claims of vehicle protection (VPP) programs

 
 
August 24, 2011 (San Diego) – The  San Diego FBI warns of a new scam in which criminals fraudulently attempt to sell vehicles that they do not own, duping online buyers.  “Criminals create an attractive deal by advertising vehicles for sale at prices below book value,” a press release issued by the FBI today cautions. “Often the sellers purport they need to sell the vehicle because they are being moved for work or deployed for the military. Because of the alleged pending move, criminals refuse to meet in person or allow inspection of the vehicle, and they often attempt to rush the sale.” 
 
To make the deal appear legitimate, the criminal instructs the victim to send full or partial payment to a third-party agent via a wire transfer payment service and to fax their payment receipt to the seller as proof of payment. The criminal pockets the payment but does not deliver the vehicle. 
 

August 3, 2011 (El Cajon)--San Diego FBI Special Agent in Charge Keith Slotter announces the arrest of Cathy Rae Salmond, 30, as a result of the investigation into the robbery of the Bank of the West in El Cajon on Friday, July 22.

June 16, 2011 (La Mesa) – Kimberly Dawn Roehr of La Mesa has been arrested on four counts of burglary and one count of receiving stolen property, thanks to a tip from a local citizen who recognized her from the “San Diego’s Most Wanted-The FBI Files” television program.

The suspect had been recorded on video stealing hundreds of dollars of electronic merchandise at the Target store in Grossmont Center in January and February, according to the FBI.

May 4, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – E-mails that claim to show photos or videos of the killing of Osama bin Laden may contain a virus that will damage your computer and steal your identity, the Federal Bureau of Investigation warns.

February 19, 2011 (La Mesa)--San Diego FBI Special Agent eith Slotter, announces the arrest of Cesar Daniel Flores, age 20, of Imperial Beach. He is charged with robbing Bank of the West in La Mesa on February 4th.

Cross-dressing suspect accused of robbing banks in El Cajon and San Diego

February 4, 2011 (San Diego) -- San Diego Police Department Robbery Unit detectives, in cooperation with investigators from the El Cajon Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigations, have arrested Robert Dion Tyndall II for a series of bank robberies that began last summer in El Cajon.

January 11, 2011 (San Diego) – U.S. Border Patrol Agent Marcos Gerardo Manzano Jr., 26 has been arrested yesterday on a federal warrant and charged with harboring illegal aliens and making a false statement, San Diego FBI Special Agent Keith Slotter announced today. Also arrested was Jose Alfredo Garrido-Morena, 26, who is charged with being a deported alien with no legal right to enter or be present in the U.S.

The arrests are the result of an investigation by the Border Corruption Task Force.  Authorities are also seeking Manzano's father, Marcos Gerardo Manzano Sr., who is a fugitive.

January 1, 2010 (El Cajon)--The FBI and local law enforcement are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the man responsible for robbing the Wells Fargo Bank, 2366 Jamacha Road, El Cajon, on Monday, December 20th. The suspect entered the bank at around 3:05 p.m. carrying a black umbrella in his right hand to conceal the right side of his face. Once at the teller counter, the robber pulled out a demand note using his left hand.

December 16, 2010 (San Diego) --The FBI and several local banks are offering a combined reward of $20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the “Geezer Bandit.” 

The “Geezer Bandit” is believed to be responsible for robbing 12 banks since August 2009 throughout San Diego County, including East County, and most recently, in Bakersfield.

December 1, 2010 (San Diego)--As the holidays approach, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reminds the public to use caution when making online purchases. Cyber criminals continue to create ways to steal your money and personal information. If a deal looks too good to be true, it likely is.

Special Agent Darrell Foxworth with the San Diego FBI offers these tips to protect yourself from scamsters online:

November 11, 2010 (San Diego’s East County)--FBI and the East County Regional Gang Task Force are seeking the public’s assistance to find and arrest Manuel Vera, age 37, of Chula Vista, California. Vera is wanted on federal drug charges related to a methamphetamine distribution ring in East County.

 November 8, 2010 (San Diego) -- The FBI and San Diego Police Department seekthe public’s assistance to identify a man responsible for robbing the Chase Bank at 6116 Mission Gorge Road, San Diego, on Saturday, November 6th at 3 p.m. The robber made a verbal demand for money in a soft but intense tone of voice, according to FBI special agent Darrell Foxworth. At one point during he stated “don’t mess with me.” The teller provided the robber a sum of money and he left on foot.

November 6, 2010 (Spring Valley)--FBI and San Diego Sheriff’s Department announce the arrest of Christoff Arthur Michael Lerczak, 36. Charges were filed with the U.S. District Court yesterday against Lerczak, who is accused of robbing Bank of the West at 9832 Campo Road, Spring Valley on November 4.