David E. Pouliot, deceased, of Springfield, Mass., has been linked to the crime scene

An unsolved 1993 homicide case involving a 10-year-old Grafton girl was the subject of a press conference last week hosted by Hampden County District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni. The conference was held to update the public on a case involving Holly Piirainen, who was abducted and murdered.

In the spring of 2011, Mastroianni informed State Police and other detective bureaus that evidence in unsolved homicide cases would be reviewed to see if a new forensic or scientific examination would be helpful. Holly Piirainen’s case was one of them. New testing revealed that an item found at the time when Holly’s remains were discovered bore an “indisputable identification” to a person who had a connection with the crime scene area.

According to Mastroianni, David E. Pouliot of Springfield, Mass., was linked to the item at the crime scene. Pouliot died on Aug. 16, 2003 and is not a suspect, officials said. While he’s not a suspect, police are still interested in hearing from the public in case anyone had interacted with Pouliot from 1993 to 2003. Photographs of Pouliot were released.

“Developing as much information as possible about David Pouliot, with the assistance of the public, is vital to fully follow up on this new lead,” said Mastroianni. “The nature and character of the item tested, as well as its condition and location upon discovery, suggests Pouliot and/or persons associated with him were in the immediate crime scene area at a time relevant to Holly’s disappearance and the location of her remains. All evidence and leads previously developed in this case are now being evaluated with consideration given to this new forensic development. Review of all items for further forensic analysis continues to be part of this ongoing investigation.”

The victim, 10-year-old Holly Piirainen

On Aug. 5, 1993, Holly’s father, Richard Piirainen, reported Holly missing around 12:50 p.m. The girl was on vacation with him and other family members in a Sturbridge cottage, and was last seen around 11:45 a.m. by her father. She was off to play with puppies at a home on South Shore Road. Richard Piirainen began searching for his daughter when she did not return, and he then discovered her left sneaker on South Shore Road. An extensive search by local and state police and sheriff’s departments, with help from Connecticut and Rhode Island units, did not bear results. On Oct. 23, hunters discovered Holly’s skeletal remains in a wooded area off Five Bridge Road in Brimfield. State Police photographed and investigated the scene. Any items found at and near the scene were confiscated by the State Police. Police have continued to investigate Holly’s death and disappearance, and to review evidence necessary for forensic analysis and testing.

State Sen. Stephen Brewer and State Rep. Todd Smola are offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case. Information can be called in to the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit at 413-505-5933, or people can text-a-tip to 274637, beginning with the word “Solve.”

A bullet hit a White House window early Tuesday morning, but was stopped by the building’s ballistic glass, according to the U.S. Secret Service.

The Secret Service said a second bullet was found on the White House grounds. No one was injured.

Authorities did not specify the type of bullet. The discovery came after reports by witnesses hearing gunfire near the White House on Friday.

President Barack Obama was not home at the time.

Investigators believe the bullets were not fired intentionally at the White House, but may have the been the byproduct of street crime in Washington.

A pediatrician from Southeastern Connecticut was arrested on Tuesday and charged with possession, receipt and distribution of child pornography.

Todd Parrilla, 47, of Stonington was caught by an undercover officer from Kansas City, Missouri allegedly downloading 104 images of child pornography from a public internet file-sharing program.

The suspect is currently a pediatrician in Pawcatuck, Connecticut.

The arrest was made after a search and seizure warrant was issued for Parrilla’s residence on Pellegrino Road.

Authorities seized computer parts including three detachable hard drives.  They also obtained a bag containing more than one hundred printed images of what is believed to be child pornography.

Parilla appeared in court on Tuesday in Hartford and was ordered detained until his detention hearing scheduled for Friday, August 26 at 10 a.m.

If convicted of all charges, Parrilla faces a minimum of five years in prison and a max of 20 years, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Nine New Bedford men were arrested today on federal and state gun and drug charges according to the United States District Attorney, Carmen M. Ortiz.

The arrests sprang from a joint federal and state investigation into gun and drug distribution in New Bedford, which began more than a year ago.

Four individuals were indicted on federal charges and five were charged by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

The harshest sentence may be life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

“Today’s arrests demonstrate our commitment to investigating and prosecuting those who terrorize our communities by illegally possessing and distributing guns and drugs,” said Ortiz. “We will not allow criminals to endanger the people of New Bedford or their neighborhoods without consequence.”

SPRINGFIELD — Mayoral Candidate Antonette Pepe promised today to take immediate action against crime if elected after she learned that Springfield is the 12th most dangerous city in America, according to recent FBI statistics.

The city rose in every category except for larceny from 2009, and has surpassed the crime rates of much larger cities, including Boston, Miami and New York.

“We must look at new ways to stop crime in our city,” Pepe said in a statement. “This is not acceptable.”

Pepe proposed to have police substations and community policing to reduce crime rates. This plan would not raise taxes, according to Pepe’s press release. She also feels that if the community interacts with police officers positively, it will gain trust with both parties, and result in more cooperation from Springfield residents.

Current Mayor Domenic J. Sarno has gun shot warning devices and cameras in place to help combat violent crime.

The candidate denounced Sarno’s crime prevention systems, reasoning that they only help after crime has occurred, rather than being proactive.

“We need a mayor that is a leader that is not going to settle for excuses, and this is inexcusable,” Pepe said.

A Sears surveillance video image of the woman who allegedly met the victims at the Plaza

The Braintree Police Department is investigating a report from two Rhode Island residents who claim that they were scammed out of $3,600 outside of the Sears at the South Shore Plaza on Monday.

One of the men claimed that he was approached by a male customer on Monday morning at his place of business, a coffee shop, who said that he “knew a guy” who could sell him TVs for a good price. The customer gave the man a phone number, and when he called, he spoke to an unidentified individual who offered to sell him two 55-inch Samsung TVs, two 46-inch Samsung TVs, and four Samsung Blu-Ray 3d Kits for $3,600.

When the two men arrived at the Sears to pick up the merchandise, they were greeted by a woman wearing a Sears name tag. The woman gave the men an authentic-looking Sears receipt for the electronics, took the $3,600, and put the men on the phone with the unidentified individual who had been contacted earlier. The woman then told the men to wait while she had the merchandise brought out to them.

The men then waited an hour for the woman to return with the electronics before realizing that they had been scammed. Sears loss prevention has confirmed that the authentic-looking Sears receipt the woman had provided was a fake. Sears loss prevention was also able to pull up an image of the woman from their surveillance video.

Media credit/Danny Hammontree via Flickr

Along this particular stretch of road, it’s possible to see not only houses with unapologetic displays of wealth — huge mansions with enormous boats docked behind them — but also grim realities: clusters of colorful tents located only feet away from the rugged waters break. The contrast in the living situation of those two groups could not be clearer.

At first glance, these tents appear to be a campground for families: a campground, it is, but for families, it’s definitely not. The inhabitants of these tents are sex offenders, forced to live under the bridge ever since 2006. When a law was passed by the City of Miami, forbidding any sex offender and predators who has served time to live anywhere within a 2,500 foot radius of any establishment that children congregate, i.e. schools and parks.

In a crowded, cramped area such as Miami Beach, places which satisfy those requirements are few and far between, resulting in ‘Tent City,’ as the area has come to be called — the only solution as to where these unwanted individuals can legally live.

In the four years since the law was approved, the number of sex offenders facing the problem of where to live legally has only increased. This small community of tents that has sprung up under the shadow of the Julia Tuttle Causeway has multiplied to the point that the area resembles a small town with faulty generators, rudimentary plumbing, and dogs and cats kept as pets by the residents. Everyone seems to have an opinion as to this sad and tragic situation, but no one seems to have a permanent and acceptable solution.

Clearly, the nature of the convicts’ crimes makes the issue a sensitive one. Some Miamians are of the opinion that this is what the sex offenders deserve (they have to live miserable lives to pay for their crimes) while others have a different view, that putting them there is inhumane, they have been punished enough and it is time that they be integrated back into society. The criminals may not be sympathetic figures, but casting them to the side of the road, living in tents under a bridge, is also not a solution. It’s only a matter of time before this band-aid fix leads to an infection. The authorities are fully aware what is going on in ‘Tent City’ but, as there is no other option, they tolerate it.

It was Florida’s correctional authorities that put the offenders there in the first place. After it was discovered that there was no other option for registered sex offenders who claim Miami Dade County as their home to live legally, given the 2,500-foot radius clause,  officials began assigning released inmates to the base of the bridge.

Housing criminals guilty of similar crimes amongst each other in a kind of ‘leper colony,’ some say, will only create a hostile and dangerous environment, one that will make crime amongst themselves and towards visitors more likely. The law is one that forces individuals with mental illnesses to live together, unsupervised, in the most unsanitary and precarious condition. There must be a better way of reintegrating sex offenders back into society other then having them live in an environment that surely will hasten the deterioration of their mental health.

Not only are registered sex offenders and predators living amongst themselves, but now homeless drug addicts have allegedly sought refuge in this legal campground.

Now, a new bill is about to be presented to Florida Governor Charlie Crist that would make life for sex offenders and predators more difficult. The bill, intended to create a ‘circle of safety’ for children, would forbid those kinds of individuals from loitering within 300 feet of places where children naturally congregate: parks, schools and playgrounds, etc. The bill states that any convicted sex offender who is caught breaking that law would be charged with a first degree misdemeanor, in addition to spending up to a year in jail. A separate part of the bill would forbid sex offenders and predators from wearing costumes to attract children, such as dressing like Santa Claus.

Back to Tent City:

Tent cities are temporary housing facilities, often set up by homeless people or protestors informally, or officially by state governments or military organizations to house refugees, evacuees or soldiers. An example of this would be the tent cities that formed after natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina or the earthquake in Haiti. But even Wikipedia states that ‘for sanitary reasons, military tent cities place toilet, shower and laundry facilities at least 50 feet from living quarters.’

Miami’s tent city lacks all of the above. Perhaps that is the case because placing facilities 50 feet away from the tents would violate the terms of their probation. Miami’s ‘Tent City’ also violates numerous fire codes. Under normal conditions, tents are set up in groups of 1o or so, as a precaution to prevent the rapid spread of fire.

The constant noise of traffic flying by; unpredictable, sudden and harsh afternoon showers; extreme heat; intolerable humidity; and unsanitary conditions, all those make Tent City a difficult, if not impossible, environment in which to live. This presumably would make released inmates more prone to breaking the conditions of their probation since it would throw them back into prison — a place that looks like the Four Seasons Hotel compared to Tent City. In prison, housing is guaranteed, along with electricity, beds and meals.

There has been ample media coverage of Tent City, and rightly so, since the day it was founded. Countless images of spray painted signs of ‘We R not monsters,’ among other statements, have become a blemish on the Julia Tuttle Causeway’s otherwise picture perfect, camera ready face. The inhabitants, according to media reports, range from teens who recently turned 18 who had consensual relations with younger teens all the way up to the extreme violent predators, rapist, and child molesters. But everyone there bears the scarlet letter of sex offender.

At any given time, Tent City houses between 60 and 70 sex offenders and predators, but it’s not uncommon for the number to peak to almost 200. Some fear ‘Tent City’ will, in time, become a breeding ground for its inhabitants, a volatile situation that will eventually cause turmoil amongst their own community. The individuals there are competing for scarce resources, including food, water and space. Other concerns are that the living conditions there are completely unsanitary, with trash thrown aside and left to decay (not unlike the inhabitants themselves). Or worse, that these sex offenders will eventually leave city officials no other choice but to force them back into the general population.

Amazingly enough, no one from the City of Miami seems in any hurry to do much about this controversial situation, since some of the sex offenders have the address of ‘Under Julia Tuttle Causeway’ as their permanent residence on their government issued drivers’ licenses. Mail is delivered to them there, at their ‘home.’

A significant impediment for politicians concerning the situation of Tent City is the fear and apprehension of tackling such a sensitive and overwhelmingly controversial topic. Whatever a politician may decide as to the solution to ‘Tent City’, well, passions regarding it are such that it has the potential to sway voters at election time.

Recently, officials have made feeble attempts to try and shut down Tent City. These attempts generally came after news of the locale being plagued by a series of predicable health and sanitation problems. But, as with a majority of laws that have been passed, those usually are implemented at a painfully slow place.

In mid-January, Miami Dade County Commission passed a new law stating that sex offenders find residency other than in Tent City. The Code Enforcement Department — the same department that fines residents of Miami Beach for noise infractions, parking violations, illegal construction and the like — recently put up warning signs at the makeshift camp, threatening evacuation if tenants fail to clean up their trash, and tear down illegally built ‘homes’. But as of March, the tents still remained.

A lawsuit filed by the City of Miami and American Civil Liberties Union concerning Tent City could eventually determine its fate. The case could either lead the camp to being either 100 percent legal, or close it for good. As of April 2010, Tent City was declared to be illegal. A new law states that “sex offenders are still prohibited from to live at least 2,500 feet away from schools and parks, but now they are eligible to find residency at least 1,000 feet from other places kids are at: such as day care centers.” Naturally, this ruling was met with mixed reactions. Jose Smith, Miami Beach’s City Attorney, expressed his disappointment with the passing of this law and stated that this only ‘watered down’ the strict rules that were once enforced.

Recently, officials from the City of Miami Dade County’s Homeless Trust placed all homeless sex offenders in more permanent housing. They decided to close down Tent City and move the residents to a motel, courtesy of taxpayers, along with footing the bill for signing leases up to six months. But that idea didn’t work out. Other guests of that establishment complained at having such unsavory people staying nearby. The manager evicted them, with the result that, within days, some sex offenders now roam the streets freely. Any attempt to go back to their former living quarters would result in immediate arrested on the grounds of ‘trespassing.’

As of late April, all signs of Tent City had vanished — that is, with the exception of its inhabitants, who are now scattered around Miami.

According to a report in Deadline, NBC will cancel the long-running crime drama “Law & Order.”

The drama, which was trying to become the longest running drama on television (Gunsmoke) apparently will end after its 20th season.

NBC will, however, renew “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” and is expected to pick up a new spinoff called “Law & Order: Los Angeles.”

“Law & Order” was a groundbreaking cop drama which paved the way for shows like “CSI” and “NCIS.”

In what Chelsea police called “a scene out of a horror movie,” an illegal dental operation was shut down yesterday.

City inspectors and fire investigators, acting on a tip, had police raid a building on Essex Street, where they found the illegal operation being run out of a dirty basement.

Police found dental instruments, blood from a recent procedure, and other equipment described as “rudimentary” and “unsanitary” in a small partitioned area of the basement.

Police don’t, however, know who was running the illegal dentist’s office.

Police are asking residents to call anonymously to 24 hr Crime Stoppers TIP line at 617-466-4880 or texting the word Chelsea and then their message to tip411 (847411) from their cell phone. Anonymous web tips can also be submitted right from the Police Departments website at www.chelseapolice.com.

An alleged burglar from St. Louis, who was wanted in Virgina, was arrested in Braintree on Sunday, police said.

Kelvin K. Hall 43, was arrested as a fugitive from justice after officers responded to a domestic disturbance call on Granite Street — the home of one of Hall’s family members.

When police checked Hall for warrants, they found he was wanted by police in Virginia Beach, Va. on burglary charges. Hall was being held at the Norfolk County House of Correction pending rendition to Virginia.

Hall had been in Braintree for a family birthday party.

Holy crap!!! Did that just happen??? Did your stuff really just get stolen?! Um yeah, it did. Join the club.

Recently, I was the victim of a home robbery. Not going to lie, the whole situation just straight up sucked. I was pissed. There was anger and swearing and strange guttural noises for days. But my head has now cleared a little bit and I know that I’ve learned some valuable lessons as a result of the less-than-ideal ordeal. I hope no one else has to go through this, but for whatever it’s worth I’d like to offer some advice on what to do if you find yourself the victim of a crime. You’re still probably going to be a mess, but the extent of the shit-show may be reduced if you follow some basic procedures.

First step: yell. Doesn’t matter if the person has just mugged you on the street and there is a chance of someone stopping him or if you are walking into your sickeningly bare apartment. Yell with everything you’ve got. And none of that crappy, "Oh my gosh, Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush are back together" kind of squeal." I mean a full out, from the gut, let them hear it in from the top of the Prudential building kind of scream. Because even if the person is long gone, the screaming will help with the frustration. And there will be plenty of frustration to deal with ("Yeah, I just spoke with a guy who said my insurance covers the stuff that was just stolen from me so I want to submit a claim. What do you mean he was wrong?? No, I won’t hold. Gahhhh have a great *$&*!#$ day too!").

Call the cops. This may seem obvious, but when you’re pissed as shit, you’re not thinking straight. Your first instinct may be to call a friend or parent ("OMG you are NEVER going to believe what JUST happened!!!") so you can tell someone the news. Hold off on that for a moment and call the guys with the badges. The quicker you call, the better your chances are of anything good happening for you.

Once the guys in blue have made their way to wherever you are and done their thing, call everyone you know to tell them. It’s therapeutic to talk about it. It also just makes a damn good story. "You chased the guy up the street??!!" "Yeah, I was screaming the whole time, it was crazy." Who doesn’t want to hear that story? No one. So feel free to share.

Find out if you have renter’s insurance. If you’re a stupid grad student (like the writer), you don’t. Have insurance on your cell phone? If you’re a stupid grad student (like the writer), you don’t. Same thing for the brand new beautiful MacBook computer. Yeah, that one still hurts.

Oh and those phone calls you have to make to friends and family? Well, your phone was stolen too so you’re quickly going to have to get over the guilt of borrowing someone’s phone. Hey, you’re shit just got stolen — they’ll be okay with you using 20 minutes of their airtime.

Throughout all this, make sure to breathe. Do this repeatedly.

Once all the paperwork is taken care of, the next step is a little simpler: get drunk. On multiple nights, in multiple establishments, with multiple types of alcohol if need be. Just get drunk. If you have stellar friends (as the writer does), they will buy your beverages of choice for you. Other perks include lots of hugs and expressions of love and perhaps a new nickname if your situation calls for it (I now answer to Sparkplug).

I’m not going to beat around the bush with this next part. It honestly pains me to say this, but if your shit gets stolen, you’re going to have to go out and replace all of your stuff. That means spending a lot of money. On the bright side, you have been saving money on groceries and holiday shopping. So you should have a little bit of money for your purchases. It sucks, but it’s necessary. Just take a deep breath and swipe your card through.

You’re going to want to keep busy. I mean, you’re going to be busy rewriting all those assignments you never emailed to yourself or backed up on a flash drive (stupid, STUPID grad student). Yeah it sucks, but it’s also kind of a good thing. You want to stay busy so you won’t be thinking about what you just went through. Because it’s pretty damn scary to think about. Also, stay busy working on your assignments so you don’t give in to the urge to repeatedly bang your head against the wall. Yeah, my Advil bottle took a big hit that week…

Buy more pepper spray. And a whistle. And actually start carrying them in your hand when you’re walking, instead of just telling your parents that you are doing this. Doesn’t matter if you were a victim of a home robbery or a street mugging. If you take precautions to be safer, you will feel, and be, safer.

So yeah, being the victim of a break-in definitely sucks, not going to lie. But chin up, it’s just stuff. Papers can be rewritten, computers and cell phones can be bought again. But get your locks changed, will ya? Peace of mind and all.

An East Boston teen was charged with armed carjacking after allegedly robbing a Revere pizza delivery man of cash and his car Friday, County District Attorney Daniel Conley said today.

Toby Ryan, 17, was arraigned today in a Chelsea court and also charged with armed robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm and assault and battery. He was also charged, in an East Boston court, with receving a stolen motor vehicle. Bail was set at $1,500 and $5,000 respectively.

A 14-year-old boy who is believed to be the second perpetrator was taken into custody today but was not arraigned. He is expected to be arraigned tomorrow in a juvenile court.

Officers spoke with the Dominos Pizza delivery man shortly after receiving a report regarding the armed robbery. The man said he was robbed by two teenaged gunmen, named “Toby” and “Macho”, both of  whom he proceeded to describe. He said the teens demanded his car keys and cash at gunpoint.

Revere Police contacted Boston Police, who were familiar with the names and descriptions given by the victim. One hour after receiving the report, Boston Police located the stolen Toyota Corolla near Vallar Road. An attempt to stop it failed, as the driver and passengers sped away and then fled the vehicle.

Local officers then paid a visit to the 14-year-old’s home. The boy was not present but his mother told police he was with ‘Toby”.

The officers then went to Ryan’s home, where he was present. Ryan, who was allegedly sweating heavily, denied ever having left his home. He was taken into custody.

Officers later found “Macho” in  the lobby of a Waldemar Road building just a street over from Ryan. He was taken into custody as well.

Ryan’s trial will resume on Dec. 15.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, last April, when tornadoes were threatening Jackson, Mississippi, many residents were not alerted to the severe weather because five tornado warning sirens didn’t work. The reason: the sirens’ copper wiring had been stolen.

A month before that, 4,000 Polk County, Fla. residents were powerless when thieves ripped copper wire right off an electrical transformer, costing $500,000 to replace.

These cases and others, according to authorities, combine to form a very real threat to national security and American infrastructure.

“More and more since 9/11, we’re using intelligence to get our arms around emerging threats at the national level-not just when it comes to terrorism, but also in the criminal arena,” the FBI said in a statement recently. A recent FBI criminal intelligence report outlines the situation. It concluded that:

• “The demand for copper from developing nations such as China and India is creating a robust international copper trade,” and as the global supply of copper continues to tighten, “the market for illicit copper will likely increase.” From 2001 until 2008, the price of the metal has increased by more than 500 percent.
• The thieves-many of whom are drug addicts or gang members-may act individually or as part of organized groups and are interested in the quick cash they get from selling copper to scrap metal dealers.
• Their targets include electrical substations, railroads, security and emergency services, and other sensitive sites. Already, copper thefts have been responsible for shutting down railway systems and even 9-1-1 emergency systems.

“On the surface, it could be a relatively small theft,” said one FBI agent who specializes in major theft crimes and who commissioned the report after getting wind of the problem, “but the public safety impact could be significant.”

While the thieves may just be looking for a quick score and not mean to compromise national infrastructure, that’s just what’s happening, and the Feds are looking to find them and wrap thee thieves up heavy federal charges that include jail time.

The government has set up task forces between local, state an federal law enforcement agencies to combat the copper problem, which is particularly heavy in Nevada, where one thief now faces 20 years in prison.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Samuel Hicks, assigned to the Pittsburgh FBI Office, was shot and killed Wednesday while serving a federal search warrant on a suspected drug distribution ring.

One suspect is in custody, the FBI said in a statement.

Hicks, 33, joined the FBI in March 2007. The University of Pittsburgh graduate formally served as a Baltimore police officer. He leaves wife and three-year-old son.

“This is a real tragedy with the loss of such a talented agent who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country when putting on a badge and accepting the responsibility for protecting our nation,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael A. Rodriguez. “The FBI family mourns alongside Agent Hicks’ family. We ask that the media and the public respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”

FBI Director Robert S. Mueller echoed.

“The loss of Sam Hicks is a tragedy,” said Mueller. “Our hearts and prayers go out to Sam’s family and the members of the Pittsburgh Field Office.”

PITTSBURGH — The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration and local police were executing a federal search warrant this morning when an FBI agent was shot at the scene.

“We are in the process of notifying the agent’s family and will provide more details later today,” the FBI said in a statement.

The FBI specifically points out that early media reports that this incident was associated with a home invasion are actually false.

The U.S. Department of Justice released the following:

Three leading electronics manufacturers “" LG Display Co. Ltd., Sharp Corp. and Chunghwa Picture Tubes Ltd. “"have agreed to plead guilty and pay a total of $585 million in criminal fines for their roles in conspiracies to fix prices in the sale of liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, the Department of Justice announced. Of the $585 million in fines, LG will pay $400 million, the second highest criminal fine ever imposed by the Department’s Antitrust Division.

Today’s charges were filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco. The companies have agreed to cooperate with the Department’s ongoing antitrust investigation.

Thin-Film Transistor-Liquid Crystal Display (TFT-LCD) panels are used in computer monitors and notebooks, televisions, mobile phones, and other electronic devices. In 2006, the worldwide market for TFT-LCD panels was approximately $70 billion. Companies directly affected by the LCD price-fixing conspiracies are some of the largest computer, television and cellular telephone manufacturers in the world, including Apple, Dell and Motorola.

“Today’s charges and criminal fines emphasize the commitment of the Department of Justice to crack down on international cartels,” said Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey.

LG Display Co. Ltd, a South Korean corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, LG Display America Inc., a California company (LG), agreed to plead guilty to participating in a conspiracy from September 2001 to June 2006 to fix the price of TFT-LCD panels sold worldwide. During the conspiracy, LG Display Co. Ltd. was known as LG.Philips LCD Co. Ltd. (a joint venture between LG Electronics and Philips Electronics) and LG Display America Inc. was known as LG.Philips LCD America Inc.

Sharp Corp., a Japanese consumer electronics manufacturer, has agreed to pay a $120 million fine for its participation in separate conspiracies to fix the price of TFT-LCD panels sold to Dell Inc. from April 2001 to December 2006 for use in computer monitors and laptops; to Motorola Inc. from fall 2005 to the middle of 2006 for use in Razr mobile phones; and to Apple Computer Inc. from September 2005 to December 2006 for use in iPod portable music players.

Chunghwa, a Taiwanese TFT-LCD panel manufacturer, has agreed to pay a $65 million fine for its participation with LG and other unnamed co-conspirators in a conspiracy from September 2001 to December 2006 to fix the price of TFT-LCD panels sold worldwide.

“These price-fixing conspiracies affected millions of American consumers who use computers, cell phones and numerous other household electronics every day,” said Thomas O. Barnett, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department’s Antitrust Division. “These convictions, and the significant fines they carry, should send a clear message that the Antitrust Division will vigorously investigate and prosecute illegal cartels, regardless of where they are located.”

LG, Sharp and Chunghwa are each charged with price fixing in violation of the Sherman Act. Each violation carries a maximum fine of $100 million for corporations. The maximum fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine.

LG Display Co. Ltd., based in Seoul, South Korea, reported $15.3 billion in revenue for 2007.

Sharp, based in Osaka, Japan, reported $34.2 billion in revenues for its fiscal year ending March 31, 2008, including $6.8 billion in revenue from LCD sales.

Chunghwa, based in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China, reported $4.8 billion in revenue for 2007.

These pleas are the result of a joint investigation by the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Field Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in San Francisco. The plea agreements are subject to court approval.

Anyone with information concerning illegal conduct in the TFT-LCD industry is urged to call the San Francisco Field Office of the Antitrust Division at 415-436-6660.

Retired FBI agent John J. Connolly Jr. was convicted Thursday of second-degree murder for leaking information to informants that caused them to kill a potential witness more than two decades ago.

The jury ruled that Connolly leaked information to James “Whitey” Bulger and Stephen “The Rifleman” Flemmi, which led to the murder of John B. Callahan, who was killed in Florida 26 years ago, at the age of 45.

Connolly, 68, faces the possibility of serving the rest of his life in prison. The verdict followed seven weeks of testimony in a South Florida Courtroom. Flemmi, 74, who is currently in prison for several murders, was a key witness for the prosecution, according to reports.

Fred Wyshak, a federal prosecutor from Boston who was involved in the prosecution, told The Boston Globe that, barring an arrest of long-time fugitive Whitey Bulger, “this ends what is really a sad chapter in the history of law enforcement in Boston.”

A Bolivar, Tenn., police officer faces federal charges after he was allegedly caught selling pain killers to young girls at a local Sonic Drive-In.

WIlliam Patrick Jordan, 37, faces five years in prison and a $250,000 fine after an investigation revealed he was allegedly selling 50 to 70 hydrocodone pills twice a week for over a year at the restaurant, according to a statement from the Drug Enforcement Administration.

According to the charge, a confidential, undercover federal informant sold Jordan 40 hydrocodone tablets for $120, purportedly for resale. DEA agents swooped in and arrested Jordan, who was released on bond pending a hearing October 29. He faces charges of knowingly, unlawfully, and intentionally possessing hydrocodone with the intent to distribute.

A particularly gripping murder trial is getting underway in Boston, where a teenage son stands accused of beating his mother with a claw hammer, wrapping her in a sleeping bag, and leaving her to die in a closet two years ago.

Norton Cartright, then 19, now 21, faces a first-degree murder charge.

A Suffolk County homicide prosecutor walked a jury through how the Chelsea man allegedly murdered his mother in 2006.

“You’re going to hear some gruesome details, ladies and gentlemen,” Assistant District Attorney David Fredette said his opening remarks Monday.

Fredette said the defendant admitted to police that he did indeed strike 46-year-old Yolande Danestoir in the head with a hammer on Aug. 26, 2006, after a heated argument. Danestoir, the prosecutor said, had banned Cartright from her Reynolds Street home in the course of what he called a “volatile” relationship, then found him inside when she returned home from work that morning.

“On August 25 two years ago, Yolande Danestoir went to work from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Youville Hospital,” Fredette said. “The next time Yolande Danestoir was seen was 10 days later when her body was pulled from that closet, wrapped in a bed sheet and stuffed in a sleeping bag.”

Cartright has since told authorities that he tried to reach his mother by phone after her murder, but prosecutors say they have evidence that Cartright actually used his mother’s cell phone after they say he killed her — to call his girlfriend, they say.

Days later, Chelsea police were investigating after Danestoir hadn’t been seen at work. They smelled something coming from the bedroom closet.

“What they smelled smelled to them like rotting flesh,” Fredette said. When they opened it, however, there was nothing inside. Investigators believe that Cartright had placed the body in that closet first, and then moved it to another closet off the apartment’s kitchen.

They went to that kitchen closet, in which furniture and other items were stacked almost to the ceiling, prosectors said.

“As the detectives took item after item from that closet, the smell got stronger and stronger,” Fredette told the jury. “They pulled out a sleeping bag and found [Danestoir's] decomposing body.”

Cartright was taken to Chelsea police headquarters and questioned about his mother’s murder. That’s when they say he confessed on tape. That tape will be played at trial.

“What you’re going to hear, ladies and gentlemen, is going to be chilling,” the prosecutor said. “The defendant says she threw something at him. He says he threw something at her. He described the head of a hammer. He threw the hammer again …. Then wrapped her up and put her in the closet. Later he heard some noises coming from the closet, so he throws some chairs on top of her to keep her from moving around.”

Fredette said a claw hammer stained with Danestoir’s blood and DNA was recovered from the rafters of her basement.

“All of the evidence is going to point to one person, ladies and gentlemen,” he told the jury. “The defendant – Norton Cartright.”

Cartright was indicted for first-degree murder on December 14, 2006.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., /USNewswire/ — Attorney General Mike Cox and Kent County Sheriff Larry Stelma Monday announced the arrest of 21 individuals who allegedly attempted to engage in sexual activity with children they met on the Internet.

The arrests resulted from a Internet Child Predator Sting conducted in Kent County from October 17 to 19. The suspects were arrested by attorney general agents and Kent County Sheriff deputies at or near a decoy home in Grand Rapids after engaging in explicit Internet chats with undercover agents posing as children.

Virtually all defendants face at least two 20-year felonies: one for Child Sexually Abusive Activity and another for using a computer to engage in that crime.‚  Defendants who sent sexually explicit material online face additional counts.‚  The attorney general’s office, which will handle the prosecutions, has requested a minimum $50,000 cash bond for each defendant.

An additional round of arrests will follow for individuals who transmitted sexually explicit material, but did not travel to the decoy location.

The defendants from this operation all are men, ranging in age from 20 to 65.‚  A majority of the defendants are from West Michigan, some residing only several miles from the decoy house, while others drove hundreds of miles, the attorney general’s office said. Seventeen of the defendants arrested were from Michigan, three were from Indiana, and one from Illinois.

Many defendants carried condoms and some had prior criminal convictions, including domestic violence and home invasion.‚  One reported being an employee for a toy store, while another admitted to kissing his wife goodbye as his two young children were asleep, authorities say.

Michigan has dealt with an upswing in this kind of behavior. Prior to this operation, Cox’s office had already arrested more than 200 Internet predators.

“Internet predators are a dangerous everyday threat to Michigan’s children,” Cox said. “This is a reminder that the Internet allows predators into our homes without even opening a door.”

Sheriff Stelma reminded parents to keep a close watch on their children’s Internet usage.

“This is a great example of law enforcement officials working together to make our community safe,”‚  Stelma said.‚  “It’s important for adults to monitor our children’s Internet activities by providing instruction and establishing rules, such as what kind of sites they can visit, when they can go on line, and how long they can stay there.”

Edited only for length and style