The London-based office of convicted con artist Bernie Madoff will not be charged in the criminal investigation into a large investment scam resulting in billions of lost investments around the world.

The United Kingdom Serious Fraud Office said their investigators have not produced enough evidence against the London branch of Madoff’s operation to “provide a realistic prospect of conviction,” . But the SFO also pointed out they will continue to investigate a handful of funds with outposts in Europe that invested with Madoff in the search of “wider aspects of the fraud.”

In March 2009, the Manhattan-based investor pleaded guilty to one of the largest recorded Ponzi schemes in history. Madoff had used funds from new investors to pay off older investments in a vast pyramid-style scam that has resulted in $13 billion of lost investments, according to U.S. prosecutors.

The conviction has sparked numerous lawsuits in Europe and the U.S. as beguiled investors untangle a complicated system carried out by Madoff. The scheme involved selling investments with no real value, on the promise of a high return that would come through in a short period of time.

Madoff Securities International was mostly owned by Madoff himself and functioned as the main office for trading, according to Bloomberg. The office staff was comprised of about 25 people, including traders, support staff and office managers.

Defense attorney Nicola Finnerty, who is representing former Madoff Securities International CEO Stephen Raven, told Bloomberg that Raven is satisfied with the decision made by the SFO, and that “he and his directors have been fully exonerated.”

One of the main facets of Madoff’s Ponzi scheme was sending sums of money back and forth between his New York and London offices. U.S. prosecutors have found about $250 million was sent back and forth between the two offices, “to give the appearance that he was conducting securities transactions on behalf of the investors, when, in fact, he was not,” according to the indictment.

Madoff, now 71, is serving 150 years in federal prison in North Carolina as the main sentencing for the criminal charges filed against him in relation to the massive fraud.

While investors who gave money to Madoff and his offices are not being investigated, several of his former staff members have come under investigators’ scrutiny.

Stanley Chais, Madoff’s former money manager, is under a criminal investigation in the U.S. for channeling money to Madoff’s “business” through other accounts, Bloomberg reported.

Madoff’s chief aide Frank DiPascali, accountant David Friehling and computer programmers Jerome O’Hara and George Perez have also been charged in connection to the widespread scam.

Instead of “Hope,” Shepard Fairey might consider the word “Truth” as inspiration.

The Los Angeles-based street artist, who rose to fame during President Obama’s campaign when he designed the iconic “Hope” image, will face criminal charges as part of an ongoing legal dispute between him and the Associated Press.

According to theLos Angeles Times, a federal judge based in New York City announced during a hearing with both Fairey’s and the AP’s lawyers present that the artist would face a criminal investigation after his admitted misconduct in the case between him and AP.

In February 2009, AP filed a suit against Fairey claiming that he violated copyright laws by using one of their photographs as the basis for the “Hope” image. In response, Fairey fired back with a suit of his own, alleging that he was protected to use the image under fair use laws.

Last October, Fairey released a statement that he submitted false images and deleted others files of images during the course of legal proceedings, according to the LA Times. He tried to conceal the fact that the AP had correctly identified the photo he used as a base for his “Hope” poster while President Barack Obama was then campaigning for the position.

The image catapulted Fairey into fame as an artist. Fairey had cultivated a reputation as a guerilla artist after he put up a series of images around Los Angeles with the words “Obey Giant” listed near a scowling face (of late wrestler/actor Andre the Giant), designed to be similar to images described in George Orwell’s bleak government oppressed future in the novel “1984.”

Fairey has come under fire before for allegedly plagiarizing images in his own art work.

Throughout the case, there has been a question as to which Mannie Garcia photo I used as a reference to design the HOPE image, Fairey said in a statement last October. The AP claimed it was one photo, and I claimed it was another. While I initially believed that the photo I referenced was a different one, I discovered early on in the case that I was wrong. In an attempt to conceal my mistake I submitted false images and deleted other images.

An AP spokesperson told the LA Times that the news association has been subpoenaed to in connection to Fairey’s accused misconduct during legal actions.

Fairey’s defense attorneys declined to comment to the LA Times.

The doctor serving as Michael Jackson’s personal physician when he died recently hired a criminal defense attorney, according to ABC News.

Dr. Conrad Murray has not officially been charged in Jackson’s death from an overdose, but a legal team has been assembled for Dr. Murray, who could face a possible involuntary manslaughter charge in connection to Jackson’s death on June 25, 2009.

Glendale, California-based criminal defense attorney Michael Flanagan is the new addition to Murray’s legal team, the doctor’s lead attorney Ed Chernoff told the LA Times recently.

An autopsy performed on Jackson revealed the powerful sedative propofol in his system, which contributed to his death from a heart attack, Houston-based broadcast network KIAH reported.

Since Jackson’s death, Murray has admitted to prescribing the drug – which is also described as an anesthetic. Potential charges could also include gross negligence against the doctor.

Citing an unnamed source, the Associated Press reported that the Los Angeles Police Department’s investigation unit wrapped up their efforts into the cause of Jackson’s death. The LAPD will be presenting its case to the area district attorney’s office so a formal indictment can follow, according to AP.

“We have refused to comment on stories involving unnamed sources,” Chernoff said in a statement, in response to the possibility of charges against Murray.

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office said no decision has been made in Dr. Murray’s case.

Flanagan described the possibility of an involuntary manslaughter charge as “not surprising.”

This is not the first time Dr. Murray has been connected to legal consequences for prescribed use of propofol. One of his nurses was charged with involuntary manslaughter after propofol was used on a patient who died. But the nurse was acquitted of the charge, according to the LA Times.

In November, Dr. Murray returned to medical practice at his Houston, Texas based clinic.

Dr. Murray, who specializes in cardiology said publically at a church shortly after he reopened his Houston practice that he “was at the wrong place and at the wrong time.”

“I know what trouble is,” Dr. Murray said. “I, with my compassion, was only trying to help my fellow man.”

About six weeks after he reopened the Houston clinic, Dr. Murray was in court on a different matter. The doctor struck what the New York Daily News described as an “11th hour deal” to avoid jail time on charges of failure to pay child support.

Dr. Murray was reportedly $13,000 in debt from missed payments when he made the deal to pay just over $1,000 a month to his son’s mother Nenita Malibiran, and continue the payments.

Dr. Murray has reportedly fathered seven children by six different women, according to the Daily News.

Utah State Senator Sheldon Killpack recently resigned from the state legislature after he was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence, according to the Washington Post.

Although this was his first time accused, it was not his first experience with drunken driving. Killpack’s father was killed by a drunken driver when he was a teenager. Since then he became a strong advocate against driving under the influence.

The Washington Post reported that Killpack, the former Republican Utah state Senate majority leader, devoted his six years in office to efforts against drunken driving. He hoped to stop intoxicated drivers from cruising on the roads.

As a member of the Mormon Church, Killpack was encouraged to abstain from alcohol. Under the circumstance, Killpack thought it would be best to resign.

He made the decision to resign saying, I have a tremendous amount of respect for the legislative process. In light of that, I have decided to tender my resignation as majority leader and as a Utah state senator, effective immediately.

Senate President Michael Waddups said he did not advise Killpack to resign. He said that is was a personal matter in which he would need to figure out for himself.

Waddups also added that it might be difficult for Killpack to face his conservative constituents in light of the situation.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the evening Killpack was pulled over, he attended a boxing fundraiser for Representative Greg Hughes. No alcohol was served at the event.

The Utah Highway Patrol spotted Killpack’s vehicle driving erratically on the road several hours later.

The state trooper said he smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from the senator. He then ordered Killpack to take field tests. Killpack obliged, but refused to give a breathalyzer test.

Killpack was arrested and taken to the Salt Lake County jail at around 2:45 a.m. and was released two hours later.

The UHP was able to get a warrant for a blood test to determine the senators blood alcohol content. It could take up to two weeks to a month before the test results are in and criminal charges are issued. No court date has been set at this time.

A two-year criminal investigation into rape charges against famed illusionist David Copperfield were dropped Tuesday without formal charges ever being filed, about a month after local police reported that his accuser made a separate false charge of sexual assault against a different man.

No official reason was given for closing the criminal investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s office in Seattle, the branch in charge of looking into allegations against Copperfield. An assistant U.S. attorney made a motion Tuesday afternoon, effectively closing the case, according to the Associated Press.

The U.S. Attorney’s office released a statement saying that any investigation can be shut down without charges filed if no federal laws were broken, no federal jurisdiction entitles the office to look into a matter further or if the allegations couldn’t be proven beyond any reasonable doubt.

The statement also said Neither the investigation, nor its termination should be perceived as a comment on guilt or innocence, the AP reported.

She is disappointed, but it wasn’t completely unexpected given the jurisdictional issue of prosecuting him here for something that happened on his private island, said attorney Rebecca Roe, who represented the woman.

Copperfield’s defense attorneys Patty Eakes and Angelo Calfo said the illusionist denied all aspects of the charges and described the action as extortion for money, according to AP.

In a civil suit related to the case, the woman said Copperfield brought her up on stage during a 2007 show in Kennewick, WA. The suit continues to allege that Copperfield later invited the woman to his private island in the Bahamas, where he attacked her sexually after she arrived, according to AP.

The woman, described by the AP as a 23-year-old fashion model, waitress and former Miss Washington, has potential charges pending against her by Bellevue, WA, police of making a false or misleading statement to a public servant and prostitution.

On Dec. 2, the woman who accused Copperfield met with a man and another woman for drinks, according to AP. The other woman reportedly told police that she left the two because they were being very affectionate with each other, to the point where she didn’t feel comfortable around them.
The 23-year-old woman then went with the man to rent a hotel room. Surveillance cameras caught the two kissing and holding each other in the hotel lobby. Images from the cameras were included in the police file, AP reported.

The woman then told hotel staff the man tried to assault her, according to the police documents. But the man had also contacted police officers and said she left the room after he refused to pay $2,000 for sex, according to the report.

Attorney Roe described the police report as overblown.

A young Nigerian man was taken into custody for an alleged attempt to blow up an airplane on Christmas Day.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab boarded a plane flying into Detroit, Mich. carrying an explosive device.

According to a CNN article, he was arrested and now faces criminal charges of attempting to destroy the plane and placing a destructive device on the aircraft.

Abdulmutallab had a multi-entry visa into the United States. But the 23-year-old was added to a watch list of 550,000 potential terrorists.

Abdulmutallab’s father - Umar Abdulmutallab – stated he contacted the National Counter-Terrorism Center providing information about his son and shared his concerns of what his son was capable of.

Abdulmatallum’s family further stated that he was studying abroad in London when he disappeared and no longer communicated with them.

His father claimed Abdulmutallab’s new attitude was something the family had never seen before. He further claimed that Farouk was becoming “radicalized” and he felt that his son was planning something.

He also contacted the U.S Embassy in Nigeria to alert them of his son.

A U.S. official stated that the embassy flagged his visa so when he tried to renew it in six months they could investigate his visa renewal.

But he was never stopped or questioned before he boarded the plane.

When Abdulmatallum boarded the flight leaving Nigeria; he went through “regular screening.” He walked through a metal detector and his bag went through an x-ray machine.

He flew into Amsterdam and went through a second screening.

Next Abdulmatallum boarded Northwest Airlines Flight 253 to Detroit. There were 290 passengers on board. He injected chemicals into the explosive device that authorities say he had hidden in his underwear.

The bomb device contained an explosive chemical called pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN). He had enough of the explosive to blow a huge hole in the side of the plane.

According to a CNN article - passengers heard a popping noise on the plane and then saw his seat go up in flames.
The passengers were able to put out the fire and tackle him before any further issues could arise.

Abdulmutallab was taken to a nearby hospital to treat his injury burns and was released into the custody of a U.S. Marshall - as of now he has been taken to an undisclosed location.

The bomb is said to be from Yemen and according an LA Times article, the Yemen sector of Al Qaeda has claimed to be behind the bomb attempt.

In Covington, La., a dad gagged and tied up his daughter in the passenger seat of his pickup truck and drove down the highway.

Obviously he got caught - which is apparently what the pair was going for, alleging that the whole thing was a stunt - merely a practical joke, according to an Associated Press report.

Tim Williams, 45, bound and gagged his 12-year-old daughter with duct tape and drove down a Louisiana interstate, where other drivers were stunned by the sight and surrounded Williams’ car until a state trooper arrived.

Both Williams and his daughter were arrested, Williams on charges of criminal mischief and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and his daughter was cited for criminal delinquency.

The girl was later released to her uncle, and Williams was released on bond.

The sheriff’s department reportedly did not know whether Williams has a defense lawyer to help with his case.

Anthony Marshall, son of well known New York philanthropist Brooke Astor, was sentenced to one to three years in prison for allegedly taking money from his mother’s estate.

Astor passed away in 2007.

According to a New York Times article, the prosecution claimed that Marshall took millions from his elderly mother. He allegedly gave himself a $1 million raise for handling his mother’s affairs.

The six month trial ended, and Marshall faces criminal charges of 13 felonies and one misdemeanor. The charges include first degree grand larceny and scheming to defraud his late mother.

But Marshall was not the only one convicted in the trial. His former attorney - Francis Morrissey - was also convicted for four felonies and a misdemeanor including forgery and scheming to defraud Astor.

Morrissey allegedly had Ms. Astor change her will to benefit Marshall. He received the same sentence of one to three years in prison.

According to the court ruling, the men must surrender on January 19, 2010 and their prison sentence will begin.

In addition to prison time, the prosecution also requested that Marshall pay $12.3 million in restitution.

With Astor and Marshall’s social status in New York, the trial created media frenzy. Celebs wrote to the court to plead with the judge not to sentence Marshall to any jail time.

CNN reported that celebs including Whoopi Goldberg and Al Roker wrote the judge stating Marshall was already a broken man. They claim he was depicted in a negative light throughout the whole trial.
Roker, who met Marshall 10 years ago at a church meeting, stated he had suffered enough and has already received a far greater punishment than any judge could sentence him.

Roker was referencing Marshall’s son who testified against him in the court hearings.

Marshall’s attorneys are going to file an appeal. They do not feel as though he can handle jail time. During the trial they stated Marshall’s health could not withstand prison.

The defense team raised concerns about Marshall’s physical health, as he is 85 years old.

Mr. Marshall has a long record of health issues. Last year he had quadruple bypass surgery, and his lawyers presented statements from his doctors claiming his health was weakening throughout the trial.

Marshall is a free man until January 19th and in the meantime his attorneys are working on the appeal.

According to a CNN article, Tony Alamo - found and leader of Tony Alamo Christian Ministries - was recently sentenced to 175 years in prison.

The 75-year-old minister was accused of allegedly sexually abusing underage girls and bringing them over state lines to engage in sexual activity. He violated the Mann Act, which prohibits transporting young children across state lines for illegal purposes such as sexual activity.

Alamo was arrested in Flagstaff, Ariz. in Sept. 2008. Police intercepted the minister with his wife at the Little American Hotel. During his arrest, over 100 federal and state agents searched his compound in Texarkana, Ark.

During the search, Arkansas police found six young girls in the compound and removed them from the premises. All the girls alleged that Alamo had sexually abused them.

Alamo claimed the accusations were a hoax. He claimed the young girls who made the accusations were “just trying to make {the] church look evil by saying I’m a pornographer. Saying that [he] rape[d] little children.”

Alamo was convicted on 10 federal counts for crimes dating back to 1994. He was charged for offenses that spanned over an 11 year time frame.

In addition to prison time, Alamo was fined $250,000 for all his criminal charges.

The U.S. attorney for Western District of Arkansas stated, “Given the number of victims and the difficult type of testimony they had to provide in order to get to trial, it’s gratifying for them to see him get this sentence.”

Alamo’s defense lawyer has filed an appeal.

Alamo awaits a second court hearing in January, when Judge Harry F. Barnes will make the decision if the victims will receive restitution. He will remain in Texarkana until the court date and then he will be transported to federal prison.

According to a New York Times article, Judge Barnes stated, “Alamo abused his powers as a fatherly figure.”

Alamo first started preaching in California where he started a commune. Once he established ministries in Arkansas, he became a controversial preacher.

Alamo’s ministry was described as a cult by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups. They claimed Alamo preached that females were fit for marriage when they became sexually mature.

This is not the first time Alamo has been charged with a federal crime. He was also convicted on charges of tax evasion back in 1994. The IRS claimed he owed $7.9 million, and he spent four years in prison.

According to the Akron Beacon Journal, an Ohio man arrested for allegedly robbing a bank actually consumed the evidence while officers were cuffing him.

A “DashCam” video shows the man munching on a piece of paper while the officers are searching his pockets and handcuffing him on the hood of their police cruiser.

John H. Ford, 35, allegedly handed a note to a bank teller in Streetsboro, Ohio that demanded she hand over some cash.

Ford was pulled over and arrested in Twinsburg, Ohio, where officers searched his pockets and threw their findings on the hood of the car. Later, the note was nowhere to be found, and officers reviewed the footage from the “DashCam.”

In the video, officers said they saw Ford lean over to eat something off the hood of the police car. “He grabbed it in his mouth, just like Pacman,” said Twinsburg patrolman Daniel Biada.

Authorities said a .38-caliber pistol was found in Ford’s vehicle. Ford is also a suspect for bank robberies that took place in Stow and Akron, Ohio.