Misuse of 911 Services

Many people are ignorant about the restriction on the use of the United States emergency number 911. In one of my older "burger king" post, I had talked about this issue. There is a recent case again where a man called 911 over a missing juice box that he had ordered in McDonald's drive through services. After reaching home, Raibin Osman found out that the orange juice he had ordered was missing. When he went back again to McDonald, the employee on the counter said "Oh, no, I can't do anything about it" and laughed at his brother-in-law’s broken English. This made the men furious and compelled them to call 911 as they didn't know how to contact the police to report about the matter. The employee on the counter felt threatened and to protect herself called 911 in return. Raibin Osman was arrested and appeared before the Washington County judge on a charge of misuse of emergency services.

Raibin Osman's father believes his son is innocent. He says "You need help from the police, you have to call the 911. I don't have any other number." It is very important for people to understand that 911 is not a number to call the police but is an emergency number. You can call a 911 when there is a

 Life threatening situation
 Medical emergency
 Fire breakout, or
 Accident and the victim is not feeling well

The people who are ignorant about the emergency services rules, end up paying fines or sometimes get arrested for misuse. Vehicle rollover attorney said "I would advice people to be aware of when to dial 911 and avoid unnecessary legal complications." NYC federal criminal lawyers said "I don't consider Raibin Osman's call to be an act of innocence as claimed by his father but a complete case of ignorance." Please do not call 911 to resolve petty disputes.

A Former Cop Charged with the Murder of his Third Wife and Disappearance of his Fourth Wife

An ex-police sergeant of Illinois, Drew Peterson, is alleged of murdering his third wife, Kathleen Savio and the disappearance of his fourth wife- 23 year old Stacy Peterson. In October 2007 Stacy went missing and her family and friends filed a search investigation case. But regrettably, Peterson didn’t take any interest in those investigations and instead said that Stacy’s ran off with another man. His recent behavior after Stacy’s disappearance made people suspicious and opened up Kathleen Savio’s case. Kathleen Savio’s family suspected Peterson to have murdered her and proved the crime as an accident. The 55 year-old Peterson is no longer a cop. This reduced his legal powers and the fear in the mind of the people. In the first autopsy, drowning in the bath tub was ruled as the cause of Savio’s death. She died in the year 2004. In the recent second autopsy, it was revealed that there was a gash on her head which was not consistent with the drowning. This leads to Peterson as being the prime suspect for the murder of his third wife. Her drowning seems to be intentional, especially where they were on the verge of a divorce. Savio had filed a divorce petition prior to her death.

A $20 million bond has been set for Peterson’s bail. His lawyer, Joel Brodsky said that $ 20 million bail amount is far too high and he will fight to bring that down to half a million or $ 1 million. In an interview, Attorney Brodsky defended Peterson by saying “It’s unconstitutional to charge his client for the murder of his third wife which was proved as an accident based on the autopsy and crime scene report. To allege Peterson of a murder based on autopsy done after years without any crime scene evidence are not enough to prove him guilty.”

It’s being suspected that Stacy was murdered by Peterson. Peterson’s stepbrother Thomas Morphey’s statements about helping his brother to move a large blue barrel from Peterson's home on the last day Stacy was seen alive indicates Stacy’s murder. But her body and blue barrel are not yet found.

Fort Lauderdale criminal lawyer said “Peterson’s lawyer Mr. Brodsky feels that one element that seems working against Peterson is his negative reputation. There are a lot of rumors about him.” Products liability lawyers said “It’s being said that the first autopsy report was manipulated as Peterson at that time was a part of the law enforcement system.” Lawrenceville criminal lawyer said “Peterson’s lawyer in an interview mentioned that he’s not in a rush to resolve the case but focusing on right execution of every step.” Atlantic City workers comp lawyers said “We were surprised to watch Peterson and her fiancée Christina Raines’ interview on MSNBC in February. The 24 year-old Christina wanted to marry Peterson despite knowing that he was charged with his third wife’s murder and fourth wife’s disappearance. She was not bothered about the accusations. She felt Peterson made him laugh and she was happy with him.”

Internet Predator Kills a Woman Masseuse & Robs Two in Boston

Internet is helping to bring the world closer and is opening opportunities for employment in various fields. But at the same time, online predators are hunting for their prey using the Internet. In a recent incident, a woman masseuse was murdered. In another incident, two women masseuse were robbed. It is suspected that all three crimes in Boston are committed by the same man. This man is using Craigslist “erotic” services ads to find his victims.

26 year-old Julissa Brisman was shot by a man, who showed up in her room at the Copley Place Marriott on tuesday night. She was a model and had placed an ad as a massage therapist on Craigslist. This was the second crime of the man. The first crime was on 10th of April at the Copley Square Westin hotel in Bosto,n where a woman masseuse was robbed at gunpoint for $800. The third and so far the final crime was in Rhode Island on April 12th. This time it was an attempted robbery. Boston police said all the women were tied up with plastic zip-tie cuffs and threatened at gunpoint. It is suspected that this man is an escort service agent.

About 40 million users utilize Craigslist classifieds platform for advertising services. There has been a strong criticism of Craigslist classifieds for promoting prostitution. Young and teenage prostitutes are advertising their “sex exchange” services under the “erotic” services category. Recent banner ads of "Teens for Cash" and "Hot young girls needed for Naughty Nanny Service" are being considered very offensive, hampering the image of Craigslist. Sheriff Tom Dart of Cook County, Illinois last month demanded that Craigslist “stop being the largest source of prostitution in America”. Dart has filed a federal lawsuit against Craigslist with a hope of getting "erotic services" category eliminated from the site.

Products liability lawyers said “Just removing erotic services from Craigslist won’t prevent criminal activities planned through internet. Strict measures should be taken so that the Internet is used responsibly by users.” The author of “The World of Online Banking and Payments” said “The CEO of Craigslist Jim Buckmaster has assured that his team will help in all respect to evaluate these criminal incidents and do the best to protect their users.” Estate planning lawyers in NYC said “It is important for individuals to protect themselves, when providing any kinds of personal services. It’s advisable to avoid secluded areas or hotel rooms to meet the clients/customers for the first

Women Police Officers’ Plea for Justice - Kampala, East Africa

It was distressing to see women police officers bursting into tears at the Kibuli police training school playground in front of the Inspector General of Police, Maj Gen. Kale Kayihura. Mr. Kayihura is trying to bring positive changes in the law enforcement system of Kampala. I had read about the sexual molestations, rape and violence cases against local women and girls in Gulu, Amuru, Kitgum, Pader and Lira districts in Kampala but was unaware of women officers being victims of these criminal acts too.

The women police officers in Kampala were sexually abused by their male counterparts and superiors. After serving the law enforcement system for several years, the lady officers complained of not being promoted because they denied sexual advances. Mostly they sexually surrendered to their superintendents and senior male police officers to receive promotions and even to keep their jobs. These officers disclosed their miserable condition during a meeting with the hope of getting justice.

Male officers refused to deploy women officers in challenging projects, if they were involved in any disagreements with them. They were victimized for small mistakes. Male supervisors never tried to understand their limitations at the time of pregnancy. They are facing poor housing conditions, uniform shortage and sexual abuse.

Detective Nora Asiimwe said that many of her colleagues were sexually abused and contracted the HIV virus. She said "Due to sexual harassment, many of our colleagues get infected with HIV/Aids and can’t be admitted for refresher courses. They end up getting frustrated, which has discouraged many other young women from joining the force.”

To physically torture pregnant women, their supervisors assigned them to duties that only physically fit police personnel were capable of doing. Sergeant Shellie Namita Onega of the police band said that her bosses forced her to pay for a music instrument she accidentally broke while on duty and that since 2007, she has neither been deployed nor transferred.

Baker Isabirye, in charge of the family protection unit at Wandegeya said that she had been victimized for rightfully handling the case involving a former police officer who was alleged of defiling a house girl. She said “I discovered several blackmail letters in my file,”, adding that she had not been promoted for 15 years. She said many male Police officers above the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police commit serious offences but are not prosecuted."

Women police officers feel threatened from their supervisors and "God fathers" at the headquarters. They fear missing their salaries and STDs that they may get from the unethical officers.

Estate planning lawyers in NYC said "These women police officers in Kampala have suffered a lot. They were not only denied of their legitimate rights but sexually abused to survive in the system." Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyers said "It is a big relief to the women officers that Major Gen. Kale Kayihura is listening to their complaints and promising to take actions." Product liability attorneys said "Mr. Kayihura's statement to dismiss male officers, who ask for sexual favors from their women counterparts, is a big step to prevent such events."

The American Civic Association Mass Shooting in Binghamton, NY

The American Civic Association Massacre in Binghamton is the fifth mass murder incident in the last month in the United States. 14 people were killed and 4 injured in the shooting. The mass murderer, Jiverly Voong killed himself after killing innocent people who were taking English classes and citizenship test in the American Civic Association. Jiverly Voong took English classes few weeks prior to the mass shooting and was aware of the association's building architecture and programs.

Investigators say that Jiverly Voong was suffering from depression. He wanted to kill others before killing himself. This is a psychotic behavior spreading pain and suffering.. Jiverly Voong was a 42 year-old man from Vietnam with a Chinese origin. Few psychological and social reasons have been identified for this deadly mass attack. The murderer had lost his job. The unemployment checks were insufficient, forcing him to lead a poor life. He could not speak English well and people used to tease and disrespect him for that.

On March 18th he posted a letter to News10Now that highlights few others aspects to the deadly rampage. The letter mentions the tortures he went through and his anger towards the California police officers. His letter clearly shows how offended he was with his poor English language skills. He wrote "I am sorry I know a little English." The letter begins with "I am Jiverly Voong Shooting the people." It included photos of Voong smiling with two guns, a gun permit and his driver's license. Quoted in the Los Angeles times, the letter ends with him saying he can't "accept my poor life," that he is taking on the job of a judge and will "cut my poor life." He further wrote "at least two people with me go to return to the dust of the earth."

It is being speculated that the police officer/officers mentioned in the letter who tortured him, harassed him from California to NY and touched him in his sleep was a delusion. The letter reads "Many time from 1990 to 1997 at the day time . . . cop exploit unknown English and went to my house knock the door for harass and domineer. Of course during that time cop coined something was not true about me and spread a rumor nasty like the California cop." Jiverly Voong faced drug abuse charges too.

The letter is being investigated to find out more evidence for the case. This deadly shoot out has left the families of the victims in a state of shock. Police said that four of the victims were from China, two were from the United State, two were from Vietnam, including the gunman. Two were from Haiti and the remaining four were from Pakistan, the Philippines, Iraq and Brazil.

NYC criminal defense lawyer said "The murderer was wearing a bullet proof vest making it evident that he expected firing from the cops. But he took his life before that." West Palm Beach personal injury lawyers said "Our deep condolence to the families and friends who lost their dear ones in this tragedy." NYC liquor license attorney said "The man was a coward who lived and died in disgrace. This tragedy is a story of a man who could not do anything meaningful in his life and wanted instant fame by killing innocent people." Product liability attorneys said "Jiverly Voong was a quiet man and didn't interact with many people. From the sources who knew him said that it was not surprising for them that he committed such a deadly crime."

A Door-to-Door Magazine Salesman Accused of Rape & Arson Charges

This post is a warning to all my readers to be very careful of the door-to-door sales people. Please do not let them inside your houses. In a recent case, a 23 year-old suspect Daniel Deshawn Neal of Chicago was arrested for raping and burning a 78 year-old woman. He was working as a door-to door salesman for a magazine.

This elderly woman lived in Grand Prairie, Texas. This woman (name undisclosed) was sexually assaulted by Daniel. He drenched the elderly woman with alcohol and set her body on fire. The woman was hospitalized after suffering serious burn injuries. Detective John Brimmer is investigating the case. Detective Brimmer did not give any information about the magazine that employed Daniel.

Fort Lauderdale criminal lawyer said "This is a case of first degree felony. If convicted of the crime, Daniel will face severe punishment." NYC criminal lawyers said "Setting a woman on fire is a serious crime. This could have resulted in the victim's death. It is an attempt to murder case." Charlotte bankruptcy lawyer said "It is important for companies to investigate the background of their employees. The criminal charges against the employees can severely damage the reputation of the companies." West Palm Beach personal injury lawyers said "Strong background check is important to ensure the credibility of the employees in a company. It is even more important for employees with client facing roles. It is the company's responsibility to safeguard the interest and respect its customers and the prospects."

If you have any suspect acting as a door-to-door salesperson, report to the police immediately and take necessary precautions. My recommendation is not to open the door unless the salesman has a permit to enter.

Two YPD Women Police Officers Complete 30 Years of Service

It’s an honor to recognize 30 years of contribution of two women police officers in the Youngstown Police Department (YPD). Anita Davis and Delphine Baldwin-Casey completed 30 years in the law enforcement system recently.

It is interesting to know that neither of the two had any plan to join the law enforcement system when defining their career objectives. Anita Davis pursued Russian studies at Youngstown State University to become a translator. Delphine Baldwin-Casey aspired to become a nurse. Davis joined YPD when she was 25 and Baldwin-Casey was 27. They were the first two women in YPD who were given patrol duties. They said they had to face the common problems of a male predominated profession. They heard comments from their male co-workers like “I don’t want to work with a woman.”

When they had joined, the ladies restrooms were substandard. Davis said "The department turned a small storage closet into the ladies room. The bathroom was in the closet for 15 years." She laughs about it now.

Baldwin-Casey said “What it takes most officers to see in five years, I experienced in my first year.”

The cases involving criminals and putting them behind bars gave them a lot of satisfaction as they have seen the damage criminals can cause. They also found dealing with cases involving violence towards women and children gratifying.

Davis said “I can’t wait to see the day when we have a female police chief."

Workers compensation lawyers in Atlantic City said "It's a big achievement for the women police force of have officers like Anita Davis and Baldwin-Casey who have completed 30 years of service. Congratulations to them." Product liability lawyers said "Thank you to these strong police women for their dedicated service. They helped in achieving peace and order in Youngstown, Ohio." Illinois trucking accident lawyers said "Congratulations to the lady officers for the successful completion of 30 years of their services. It's a matter of pride for the Youngstown Police Department."

A Man Confesses to Extend His Shoe with a Digital Camera to Film Undressed Women

Three women complained about a man extending his shoe underneath the dressing rooms to film them undressing, when trying out bikinis. These incidents happened in Neptune Beach Florida’s Surf shop, Aqua East. The suspect’s name is Jeff Polizzi. He confessed his crime.

These three women said that they could see a shoe extending two inches in the fitting rooms and in the tongue of the shoe a camera lens was attached. They figured out that someone was trying to capture their nude images and images in bikini. Jeff Polizzi was caught in the parking lot of the complex. In a police investigation, he confessed that he took pictures of these women undressing.

Jeff Polizzi is charged with felony under a "Peeping Tom" statute. Product liability attorneys said “According to law, taking pictures of women in “private areas” are unlawful and suspects can be jailed and/or fined depending on the severity of crime.” Atlantic City workers compensation lawyers said “There have been several incidents of teenagers taking obscene photographs of the girls they were dating through their cell phones. Those videos were traded for fun and monetary reasons. These acts are considered as three counts of felonies.” Charlotte bankruptcy lawyers said "Jeff Polizzi will be punished for the felony he committed but it's good that he admitted it."

Two Manhattan Police Officers Charged with Rape – New York City Crime

Few police officers are misusing their powers and breaking the trust of common people. Police have filed a complaint that at least one of the two officers raped an intoxicated woman escorting her into her apartment in the East Village three months back.

The bar's video surveillance system near the woman’s apartment shows the two police officers helping the woman into her building on December 7, 2008. The camera has further captured the two NYC police officers returning back twice to the woman’s apartment. The owner of the bar, Heather Millstone, 34, said she gave the video evidence to the district attorney who is investigating the criminal act. Ms. Millstone said that she saw one officer arrive at 1:10 a.m. and open the front door of the building as a second officer helped the intoxicated woman inside. Ms. Millstone further said “The friends said the woman had been sick in a taxicab, and the cab driver had called 911. The officers can be seen leaving the building seven minutes after they entered, she said. They returned 39 minutes later, at 1:59 a.m., and followed a resident who used a key to enter the building. The officers can be seen leaving the second time after 17 minutes, seeming to move quickly out of the camera’s range.”

The rape victim was hospitalized where she told her friends that she was raped by two police officers escorting her back home. Soon after the accusation of rape, in a search warrant, police found heroin in one of the officer’s drawer. This officer is also facing a drug possession charge. Stephen C. Worth is the lawyer for one of the officers and denied the charges. Attorney Worth did not make any comments.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said “It is a very serious charge, obviously, and I don’t want to prejudice anything, but you can be rest assured that the Internal Affairs Bureau is working very hard on the investigation.”

Fort Lauderdale criminal lawyer said “This is a serious case. One of the cops is facing double criminal offense charges.” Product liability lawyers said “Rape comes under felony charges and if proved the offender can get severe punishment.”

The Unique Problems Women Police Officers Face - Retired Captain Marian Bass

Today a candid article, published in Opinion news journal, on the stressful lives of women police officers caught my eye . Captain Maria Bass' opinion on women police and the law enforcement system revealed the real problems of women police and why it is difficult for women cops to deal with strenuous situations. Captain Marian Bass is a retired Captain of the Buffalo Police Department and was Buffalo's first permanent, minority woman officer. She was the first woman Lieutenant and Captain of Police in Buffalo. She is the only woman in Western New York who is certified as a candidate for Inspector of Police. Inspector of Police is the highest civil service rank in the law enforcement system. She is the only woman in Western New York to have commanded a police division.

One common problem she addressed was women officers being unable to balance their personal and professional lives. The job of police officers is filled with risks and physical dangers. Dealing with irate people and criminals everyday do affect the quality of life. Facing anger from those arrested, their family members and supervisors become an undeniable part of their life. On-the-spot decision-making is an important part of their duty which can have both positive and negative impact after the execution. Managing workplace relationship, especially a department that is male dominated is not an easy task.

At home a woman officer is expected to be a good wife and mother. This expectation adds to their stress. The work place pressures are unique. Marian Bass said “Some women officers did not favor a female commander, some felt guilty about their absence from home and several complained of physical ailments. In some cases, domestic difficulties, partner conflicts and street dynamics caused anger and depression.” She further said “If a supervisor has poor leadership skills and creates an environment that is intimidating or discriminatory, that may well generate unsatisfactory workplace relationships, low morale and less productive man hours.”

These tensions and struggles impact their domestic lives leading to family disputes and divorce issues. Most women officers, unlike the television serials are not given very challenging tasks. Marian Bass said “I cannot imagine any woman officer being given an assignment to track international jewel thieves or continent- hopping drug dealers. What is real is providing support services to a savagely beaten rape victim, reporting a traumatic case of child abuse, trying to convince a runaway teen of her limited options or bridging cultural barriers to provide critical services to citizens who desperately need help, but feel threatened by police.”

Product liability attorneys said “With changing times we can see many employee assistance programs that include treating depressions and other psychological problems. Women police are taking advantage of these programs.” Atlantic City workers compensation lawyers said “I think it is an over expectation from a women officer to be at her best at home and at workplace all the time.”

Police Cannot Make Burger King Provide Food Faster

From a Burger King Drive Through on New Congress Avenue, Boynton Beach Blvd., Florida, a 66 year-old man called 911, when he found out that he was not being served lemonade with a burger. Jean Fortune got wild when the dispatcher told him that he will have to wait for 15 minutes for lemonade to get ready. According to Mr. Fortune, the dispatcher at the counter misbehaved and talked very rudely with him. He refused to give him food, until the lemonade was ready. When Mr. Fortune threatened the dispatcher that he will call 911, he said, “go ahead and do that”. In a state of anger Mr. Fortune called 911 for filing a customer service complaint. Mr. Fortune was charged with misusing 911 for this complaint and will have to appear in court.

According to defective products attorney "It is unlawful to call 911 for customer service complaints. People should realize that 911 is an emergency service number." Fleet phospho soda lawyers said "911 should be called only in life threatening conditions."

This incident does not speak well about Burger King Staff. When facing a reckless customer, a staff should behave responsibly and not incite a customer to dial the emergency number. The real test of behavior is at the time of crisis. Burger King needs to be careful about their customer service image and train their staffs better to be polite and courteous with a customer.

Cosmetic Surgeon Charged with Sexually Abusing 8 Patients

Dr. Peter Chi, a Tracy, California based cosmetic surgeon is accused of sexual battery.. According to Tracy police authorities, Dr. Chi sexually abused 8 patients who were sedated for liposuction and other cosmetic surgeries. It has been reported that 16 more women have come forward with their complaints. Dr. Chi has posted a $100,000 bail and surrendered his passport.

It is hard to believe that people in such responsible and noble professions misuse their positions. It is shocking to hear such cases against doctors, who are supposed to give second lives to their patients. Tracy police said "It's devastating to think that a member of the community, especially a doctor, would do something like that.” Detective Nate Cogburn said “It's difficult to comprehend, especially for a patient, especially for a community. People don't want to believe that a doctor would sexually abuse them or commit a crime against them.” Extensive investigations are being carried out to unmask this case.

Defective products attorneys have shown their concern about this issue and said that police are still looking for more victims. Illinois truck accident lawyers have said that if there are more victims they should come forward and file complaints against him. Victims will get justice, if their accusations are proved.

Did Casey Anthony Murder Her 2 Year-Old Daughter Caylee Marie Anthony?

August 9, 2009 would have been Caylee Anthony's third birthday, if she was alive. On July 15, 2008 Caylee Anthony's Grandmother Cindy Anthony called 9-1-1 and reported her daughter Casey Anthony for car theft and stealing money. At the same time, she said that her granddaughter Caylee has been missing for a month.

This was very surprising for police that a mother didn't report her missing daughter for a month. Even more strange was when Casey in the police interrogation kept telling lies about when she last saw her daughter, that Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez was her nanny and few other lies. Police found out that Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez was not her daughter’s nanny and Casey simply used her name to rescue herself from the situation. Ms.Zenaida has filed a defamation lawsuit against Casey Anthony.

On December 19th, 2008 Orange County sheriffs found Caylee's dead body in a wooded area less than a half-mile from the house she lived in with her grandparents and mother. Her mouth was duct taped. Investigations and medical examinations show that it a case of homicide. Orange County medical examiner Dr. Jan Garavaglia said in a press conference "My examination of the body and the evidence is complete barring no further bones being found and the anthropologic exam will be finished up shortly. There was no visible soft tissue present and no ante-mortem trauma evident, meaning there was no trauma to the bones prior to death. Toxicology testing is still to be completed on the bone and hair. While this analysis may prove to be informative, it will be difficult to interpret levels from these specimens and thus will not be definitive in helping to determine the cause of death. "

What caused her death is undetermined, although it is evident that it's a case of homicide. This murder is being referred as a "homicide by undetermined means".

It is not clear who is the father of Caylee and on being asked from Cindy Anthony she said "He died in a car accident". Police suspect that even Casey Anthony is not aware of who Caylee's father is. There are many mysteries in this case. But it's still a question that without any substantial evidence, can Casey Anthony the suspect of her daughter’s murder, be deemed as a criminal? According to her friends Casey is a habitual liar and has a habit of taking money from friends. She has been convicted for petty crimes in the past.

It is easy to speculate that Casey is the murderer. There can be a possibility that Caylee death was not intentional but an accident. There were no inflicted wounds’ traces or bone damages found in her body. New York City Criminal defense attorney said "Because this is hot news for a long period of time doesn't prove Casey guilty. More evidences other than being a habitual liar and petty thefts are required". According to Fort Lauderdale criminal lawyer "Neglecting daughter, telling lies and not reporting missing child complaint make Casey a bad mother but not necessarily her murderer."

Investment Frauds: Victims in a State of Shock

Bernard Madoff's investment fraud has unfolded many similar fraud schemes going on in the securities industry. Investors are afraid they may be a victim of a similar fraud at some other investment firm. Bernard Madoff, a 70-year-old Wall Street trader was arrested by the F.B.I. and charged with securities fraud. He is charged with conducting Ponzi scheme involving $50 billion in fraud, which is the largest in the history of financial scams. In a Ponzi scheme, new investments are used to payoff the old investments. The rate of interest for these investments is very high. This scheme fails when new investors stop investing and there is no money left for rotation. Few other big names associated with fund frauds are New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon and GMAC Chairman J. Ezra Merkin.

Victims have not only been hit financially but have lost all trust in the financial industry and the government. They are in a state of shock as their future seems very uncertain. Few of the alleged victims are in their 90s and cannot overcome the fact that they have no financial security left. They had invested their entire life's savings in these funds and are totally wiped out.

One of the measures taken by the government to pay off the lenders is liquidating all the assets of the fund. The government can reimburse $ 500,000 for securities and $ 100,000 for cash accounts by liquidation.

In an interview with Daily Mail, UK writer Muhammad Rafeeq said "I have acted as a professional consultant to major EC and US financial institutions on corporate and institutional credit risk and the idea that anyone in HSBC or Santander could authorize large investment without the internal checks and controls being employed are almost impossible. To try and believe that every institution that invested in Madoff circumvented their internal control procedures is impossible." This indicates that the fraud is the result of the financial system being corrupt and greedy. There may be a possibility that at the end the innocent tax payers have no choice than to bail out the victims.

Westchester securities fraud lawyer said "Investors can protect themselves by looking for signs of investment fraud. If someone tells you that your profit is guaranteed or that he can get you an unusually high rate of return, you should recognize that this is a fraudulent sales pitch. If a broker you do not know well advises you to invest with him, ask him to send information to support his statements and recommendations. Make sure you understand the costs and liquidity before investing. Never invest in a product that you do not understand. Keep notes of conversations with brokers. If you suspect that the broker is mishandling your money, immediately contact the branch manager or the firm’s law or compliance department. If you are not able to resolve the problem that way, find and hire an experienced securities arbitration lawyer." Charlotte bankruptcy attorney said "There are some fund fraud victims who have substantial net worth left but few have lost everything in these investment frauds".

Teacher Charged with Raping a 13 Year-old Boy

There have been various incidents of teachers sexually abusing teenagers and kids. This is yet another incident. Yesterday in Boston, 29 year-old Christine A. McCallum has been alleged for raping a 13 year old boy. The victim is said to be an elder brother of Christine’s fifth grade student. They met in a public library where she was teaching the victim’s younger brother. The victim and his brother were raised by a single dad.

The suspect has been married for 5 years and has been giving the teenage boy alcohol, jello shots, vodka and rum before sexually abusing him. Their illegitimate relationship started 18 months ago and various romantic letters were exchanged in this period. In one letter Christine says “There’s no question I will choose you over this job.”

Christine A. McCallum is charged with 7 counts of statutory rape. She had sex with the teenager more than 300 times in the 18 months relationship.

The criminal defense lawyer of the woman denied all the accusations on her. He said she was trying to be a “surrogate mother” for the teenager and her letters can easily be interpreted that way. The boy was motherless and was receiving motherly affection from Christine A. McCallum. New York City criminal defense attorney said “It is too early for Christine A. McCallum to be declared as an offender, until proved in the court.”

In a cnn.com interview with psychologist Robi Ludwig, few reasons were given by her on why teachers in late twenties or older end up sleeping with the teenagers. Men or women teachers constantly interacting with teenagers are influenced by their energy, flying hormones and may seem very attractive to them. They get swayed by their instincts and go in a state of denial, when the thought of being caught come to their mind. They feel the relationship will bloom forever and few incidents of running away with teenagers have also been reported. It is easier to seduce teenagers as they are in a vulnerable age. Oakland birth injury attorney said “Some women experience psychotic depression and satisfy their unfulfilled desire to be loved by finding love in the teenagers. They perceive themselves as teenagers.” West Palm Beach personal injury lawyer said “The boy has confessed that he used to have sex with his teacher, when her husband was sleeping upstairs in her house.”

In another sexual abuse case of a disabled teenager by a teacher that was reported on June 25, 2008, the 27-year-old abuser had sex many a times with a 15 year-old boy. A Dutchess County teacher in Queens, Mandi Weeks was charged with two counts of third-degree rape, three counts of third-degree criminal sexual act, endangering the welfare of a child, and two counts of third-degree sexual abuse. Similar incidents of abuse by teachers have happened in the past.

These incidents are disgrace on the noble profession of teachers. Institutions should pay a lot more attention on training the teachers self resistance and controlling their sexual instincts when in contact with the teenagers.

Anti-Kidnapping American Consultant Kidnapped in Mexico

Lourdes Batista, wife of kidnapped American security expert Felix Batista broke her month long silence yesterday by pleading with the Mexican abductors in a press conference to release her husband. 55 year-old Felix Batista was visiting Mexico to participate in a seminar on Kidnappings. In this seminar, he talked about how to avoid kidnapping situations and the intentions behind the kidnappings. It was ironical that he became a victim of the abductors on December 10th. While he was having lunch with his friends in a restaurant in Mexico, he received a call and took excuse from his friends. Images taken by the security camera shows that he voluntarily sat in a car but was not seen after that.

There has been no news about Mr. Batista for about a month, which is very concerning to his family and FBI. Kidnapping patterns reveal that in Mexico, if anyone is kidnapped, the kidnappers contact the families immediately for a ransom amount. In this case the family has not received any such call. Kidnapped anti-kidnapping American expert's family is requesting the abductors for setting him free, as he has never harmed any one.

New York City criminal defense attorney said “Sometimes the abductors don’t call the families soon after the kidnappings. They want to create stress for the families but eventually come up with their demands.” West Palm Beach personal injury lawyer said “In Mexico crime rates have doubled from 2007 to 2008. This is very alarming.”

Increase in the Number of Women Police Officers Deaths in 2008

As compared to 2007, the number of police officers who died in the line of duty in 2008 was less but there was an increase in the number of women cops who died while performing their duties.

Statistics show that the total number of police officers who died in the line of duty was 140, compared to 181 in 2007. Gunfire deaths were 68 in 2007 but in 2008 it dropped to 35. Traffic related deaths also declined. 71 officers were killed in 2008 year compared to 81 in 2007. 61 percent of the traffic deaths took place due to accidents and 39 percent resulted from criminal encounters.

However, 2008 was not good for women cops as 15 women police officers died compared to 6 in 2007. The reason behind the increase is women police officers taking up more dangerous tasks, like their male counterparts.

The chairman of Memorial Fund, Craig Floyd said in an interview that the police department is getting better equipped and are being well trained to fight back in life threatening situations.

More than 70 percent of policemen use bullet proof vests. The states with the most deaths are Texas where 14 police officers died, followed by California with 12 deaths.

Safety measures are getting implemented to further train and equip the police force for their self protection. Special trainings are being given for high speed and defensive driving techniques to avoid accidents.

Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney said "My deep condolence to the friends and families of the police officers who died in the line of duty. Their deaths have given lives to so many people in the United States." West Palm Beach personal injury lawyer said "The women cops’ deaths have increased this year. Special attention needs to be given to train them well before giving them dangerous tasks."

88 Year-Old Woman Fights Back a Nude Intruder

Despite making our houses well equipped with safety devices and security alarm systems, there is always a possibility of someone breaking in. In Portland, Oregon, an 88 year-old-woman, Jennifer, fought back a nude intruder at her place.

Jennifer had opened the back door of her house and was collecting wood blocks for her fire place. In the meantime she saw a nude intruder following her. She entered in the house and he was at her back brushing his body against her. She said "Holy God" and the man stopped for a while. She recalled what she had heard in the news, in which a woman escaped from the similar situation by grabbing the man's testicles. She retaliated and squeezed the man's crotch and he ran out of her house.

Police consider Michael Dick to be the suspect as his appearance matches with the description given by the 88 year-old woman. West Palm Beach personal injury lawyer said "This woman showed her strength by not losing her calm in the stressful situation. The nude intruder could have had any criminal intentions." Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney said "This crime can fall under a felony case as the situation could have resulted in a sexual assault, if the woman had not fought back."

Jennifer is an example of someone who fought back because of her mental strength and escaped a dangerous incident. It's advisable not to take things for granted and always take extra precautions - this was the first such incident Jennifer experienced in the 33 years of her stay.