Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Michael Morehart, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement after the pleas were accepted by the court. Each of the men faces a maximum penalty of 20 years on the bank robbery conspiracy charge and up to life imprisonment on the firearm charge. Tompkins is scheduled to be sentenced on March 2, 2012; Lowery is scheduled to be sentenced on February 24, 2012; and Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on February 24, 2012, all by United States District Judge Henry E. Hudson.

In their statements of facts filed in support of their pleas, each of the men acknowledged involvement in a ring that committed numerous robberies from June 2004 through November 2010 that resulted in the theft of over $1,000,000. Tompkins and Lowery both admitted to participating in 19 of those robberies. Johnson admitted that he joined the conspiracy later and participated in three of the robberies. Earlier this year, Judge Hudson sentenced Mustafa Khalil Naeem, another member of this robbery ring, to 30 years in federal prison for Naeem’s role in this conspiracy.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, in conjunction with the local Police and Sheriff’s Departments for the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia; Fairfax County, Virginia; Charles County, Maryland; Montgomery County, Maryland; Anne Arundel County, Maryland; Howard County, Maryland; Arlington County, Virginia; the City of Alexandria, Virginia; the City of Fairfax, Virginia; the City of Raleigh, North Carolina; and the City of Florence, South Carolina. Assistant United States Attorney Olivia L. Norman is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Powhatan County Superintendent Margaret S. Meara, Powhatan High Principal Kris Gwaltney and local school board members and government representatives joined Wright and Fornash for the kickoff. Representing Texas Instruments at the event were Lisa Brady Gill, executive director, North America marketing; Patrick White, state policy director; and Ellen Hook, technology consultant.

Two classes of Algebra I students at Powhatan High will use Texas Instrument’s TI-Nspire CX full-color graphing calculators, software and TI-Navigator classroom network to explore functions and statistics as well as linear equations and inequalities.

“This is an opportunity for Virginia teachers and students to use some of the latest educational technology and for the department to study the impact of the devices on teaching and the development of higher-order mathematics skills,” Wright said. “At the end of the pilot, VDOE will share what is learned at Powhatan High with schools across the commonwealth.”

“Our students can collect real-world data with these devices by measuring motion, temperature, light, sound, force and much more,” Powhatan County Superintendent Margaret S. Meara said. “This pilot program is a perfect fit with Powhatan High’s focus on project-based learning.”

Texas Instruments is providing hardware, software and training for teachers valued at $35,000 at no charge to the commonwealth or Powhatan County.

Karl Anthony McClendon, 46, of the 1700 block of Jacquelin Street, a passenger in the sport utility vehicle, died at the scene. The driver of that vehicle and four other passengers, ranging in age from infant to adult, were taken to VCU Medical Center for medical evaluations. Any injuries they may have suffered were not believed to be serious.

The school bus was carrying six students from Albert Hill Middle School. Neither they nor the bus driver were injured.

The intersection was closed to through traffic for more than four hours so the Department’s Crash Team could map the scene. The team has determined that the driver of the school bus was attempting a left turn onto Belmont Road northbound from West Belmont Road when it collided with the sport utility vehicle, which was traveling southbound on Belmont Road.

No charges will be filed until the Crash Team has completed its investigation and presented its findings to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

Police have arrested 19-year-old Michael Andre Sims of the 11000 block of Wooferton Court, Midlothian. Sims has been charged with two counts of robbery, two counts of attempted robbery and three counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Sims is being held at the Chesterfield County Jail awaiting a Feb. 22 pretrial hearing.

Police said the crimes included a Dec. 23 robbery at the Walgreens in the 11100 block of Hull Street Road, a Dec. 31 robbery at the CVS in the 13800 block of Hull Street Road, a Dec. 22 attempted robbery of the Walgreens in the 100 block of Buford Road, and a Dec. 31 attempted robbery of the Walgreens in the 11100 block of Hull Street Road.

via Midlothian Va News

Daytron Lamarn Brown, 22, of the 4300 block of Chamberlayne Avenue is charged with murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

The investigation is ongoing as to the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of Kareem Browne of the 3800 block of Tighe Court in Henrico County. Browne was the driver of a vehicle traveling west on East Broad around 12:50 a.m. Feb. 12. A shot was fired inside the vehicle, which then crashed into two utility poles at the intersection of 17th and Broad streets. Browne was pronounced dead at the scene.

Daytron Brown and another passenger in the vehicle were not injured. A weapon was recovered.

Richmond Police is coordinating efforts in this investigation with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and the Medical Examiner’s Office. No further information will be released pending the outcome of the investigation

Read full story via  – Midlothian Va News for Chesterfield County.

UPDATE: The video of the assault in Shockoe Bottom has reappeared on line here:

Read full story via Midlothian Va News for Chesterfield County.

According to the indictment, Lewis, Ware and Fleming traveled to various Target stores throughout the Richmond and Tidewater, Virginia areas as part of a scheme to purchase merchandise, mostly electronics, using counterfeit money. Shortly after the initial purchase, the indictment alleges, the defendants would return the items to the same or a different Target location, and would receive genuine United States currency in exchange for the items.

Read full story via  Midlothian Va News for Chesterfield County.

Read full story via Midlothian Va News for Chesterfield County.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after the verdict was accepted by United States District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith. Wallace faces a maximum prison term of 10 years when he is sentenced on March 22, 2011.

Wallace was indicted on Oct. 13, 2010 on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court records and evidence at trial, on June 5, 2010, law enforcement officers responded to the parking lot of the Blurr Bistro and Lounge in Newport News, Va., after hearing gunfire. As they entered the parking lot, they saw Wallace holding a firearm. Wallace raised his weapon toward the officers, leading one officer to fire at him. Wallace immediately dropped to the ground and threw his weapon toward the curb, where it was later recovered. Subsequent forensic analysis determined that the firearm, a 9mm Glock 19 handgun, had fired the rounds for which nine shell casings were found in another section of the parking lot. Following his flight from law enforcement and resisting arrest, Wallace was taken into custody.

This case was investigated by the FBI, Newport News Police Department and the Safe Streets Task Force.  Assistant United States Attorney Howard J. Zlotnick, and Trial Attorney, Albert B. Stieglitz, Jr.of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

Police said that three county school buses from Elizabeth Davis Middle School were traveling west on Route 10 near Bermuda Triangle Rd. when the crash occurred. There were approximately 120 students on the three buses. Four students were transported to area hospitals where they were treated and released for non-life threatening injuries.

via County Bus Driver Charged in Accident – Midlothian Va News for Chesterfield County.

“Russell Mackert today admitted he helped perpetuate a massive fraud estimated at over $100 million against innocent investors – including a number of elderly retirees – throughout the country,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “Mr. Mackert abused his position as an attorney to mislead investors, and now he is being held responsible for his financial crimes.  I want to commend the outstanding work of the Virginia Financial and Securities Fraud Task Force for its outstanding work in uncovering this massive fraud.”

“Investment fraud schemes like the one perpetrated by Mr. Mackert and his co-conspirators can lead to devastating losses for individual victims,” said Assistant Attorney General Breuer.  “We will continue to be aggressive in prosecuting individuals who attempt to profit by such criminal schemes, including the lawyers and accountants who facilitate them.”

Mackert pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis W. Dohnal in the Eastern District of Virginia to a two-count criminal information alleging conspiracy to commit mail fraud and bulk cash smuggling involving losses to investors of more than $19 million.  At sentencing, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy to commit mail fraud charge and five years in prison on the bulk cash smuggling charge, as well as a $250,000 fine on each count.

According to court documents, Mackert admitted to making material misrepresentations and omissions to investors about A&O.  Specifically, he admitted making false statements and omissions about A&O’s safekeeping and use of investor funds and about the risks of A&O’s investment offerings.  Mackert also admitted that he and his co-conspirators failed to inform A&O investors that the vast majority of investor money was used for purposes wholly unrelated to purchasing and maintaining portfolios of life settlements.  Mackert also admitted that he facilitated the sham sales transaction of A&O to Blue Dymond and created a fictional person named “RJ Stephenson” to serve as Blue Dymond’s purported representative.  Mackert also admitted to taking undeclared cashiers’ checks totaling $10 million out of the United States as part of an effort to open offshore bank accounts in which to hide his co-conspirators’ gains from the conspiracy.

This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service and FBI, with significant assistance from the Texas State Securities Board.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael S. Dry and Jessica Aber Brumberg from the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Albert B. Stieglitz Jr., of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.

The investigation has been coordinated by the Virginia Financial and Securities Fraud Task Force, an unprecedented partnership between criminal investigators and civil regulators to investigate and prosecute complex financial fraud cases in the nation and in Virginia. The task force is an investigative arm of the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force.

President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.

Consequently, starting Nov. 25 through Jan. 2, the Chesterfield County Police Department will be conducting a series of DUI patrols, checkpoints and red-light-enforcement operations throughout the county this holiday season in an effort to keep everyone safe.

The Chesterfield County Police Department reminds everyone intending to consume alcohol to plan ahead and find a safe ride home. Additionally, drivers are encouraged to drive defensively, to be alert, keep a safe following distance, avoid distractions and to always buckle up.

via Chesterfield Police to Conduct Series of Holiday DUI Checkpoints – Midlothian Va News for Chesterfield County.

The Chesterfield County Fire Marshal’s Office has determined the fire was accidental. The fire was caused by cigarette butts being discarded into a mulch bed located at the front of the apartment. There were no injuries, and the residents of the apartment complex were not displaced.

Chesterfield County Fire and EMS urges everyone to ensure that all smoking materials are disposed of properly in an approved cigarette waste receptacle.

via Fire on Jean Machenberg Drive  – Midlothian Va News for Chesterfield County.

Cyril L. Mongra, of the 7100-block of Carriage Pine Drive, was charged with possession of a firearm while on school property and buying or receiving a firearm knowing it to have been stolen. Mongra was placed in jail pending his posting of a $3000.00 bond. His pre-trial hearing will be November 18, 2010 at 2:00 pm if he is unable to post his bond. If bond is posted, then the pre-trial will be November 22, 2010 at 11:30 am.

Students and staff were safe during this incident and police have determined there were no threats made to students or school staff.

via James River High School Student Arrested for Possession of a Weapon – Midlothian Va News for Chesterfield County.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge James R. Spencer.

Jones pled guilty on June 1, 2010, to Conspiracy, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371; Filing of False Tax Returns, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1); and Assisting in the Filing of False Tax Returns, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(2).

In support of her guilty plea, Jones admitted working wither daughter at Your Personal Paralegal (YPP), a tax preparation business. She further admitted that YPP would file tax returns for customers and would knowingly falsify income and deduction information. From 2003 until 2006, YPP filed over 1066 income tax returns for their customers. The IRS investigation of approximately 56 of YPP clients revealed more than $157,000 in illegal tax refunds were paid to the YPP customers. The customers were unaware of the fraud committed by Jones and YPP. Each customer was charged a $250 to $500 fee for YPP services.

This case was investigated by agents of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorney N. George Metcalf prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

via Midlothian Va News for Chesterfield County.

Levern Johnson Jr., 31, of the 700 block of Northside Avenue, was charged with murder and use of a firearm during the commission of a felony for the Sept. 18 shooting death of William Howell.

Officers found Howell, 68, of 1732 Clarkson Road, suffering from a gunshot wound at the scene. He was taken to VCU Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

This investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected. This arrest is possible thanks to the tireless efforts by investigators, especially lead Detective Rick Edwards, and the support from Henrico Police and the Southwood community.

via Midlothian Va News for Chesterfield County.

via Victim of Shooting on Mosby Court Identified – Midlothian Va News for Chesterfield County.

Waller teaches sixth-grade and eighth-grade science and serves as chair of Brown Middle’s science department. She coaches the school’s “Mind Games” team and sponsors science, engineering and forensics clubs for students. In 2009, Waller received an R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence. The award included a $10,000 grant for Waller to travel to Hawaii and Iceland to observe landforms and geological phenomena.

“Latonya Waller instills in her students a love of learning and a commitment to community service,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright. “She is a mentor to her colleagues and epitomizes excellence in science instruction.”

Waller is a product of Richmond Public Schools and a graduate of Richmond Community High School. She began her teaching career in 2001 at Broad Rock Elementary and moved to Brown Middle five years ago. Waller holds a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree and a post-master’s certificate in education leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Read full story via Midlothian Va News for Chesterfield County.

via  Midlothian Va News for Chesterfield County