Beware: scammers may take advantage of Boston Marathon Explosion with fake charity scams.
The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (USCERT), a division of Homeland Security, today (4/17/2013) released a warning to all Americans to beware of malicious actors, scammers, spammers, and other criminals attempting to solicit money in response to the bombing attach at the Boston marathon. Historically, these criminals have attempted to capitalize on major news events by registering fake domain names related to the events. Their goal is to trick you into sending money to them while you believe you are assisting the victims of this tragedy.
In addition to fake domains, malicious actors may also create fake social media accounts with similar criminal intent. For example, Twitter Account @_BostonMarathon was created within hours of the bombing place. The persons creating this account stated they would donate $1.00 to the victims for each retweet. The actual Boston Marathon Twitter Account is @BostonMarathon. The fake Twitter Account has since been suspended, but the possibility that similar social media accounts will surface remains high.
USCERT recommends that all persons looking to donate money in support of those affected by this event rely on official disaster relief and fundraising charities with which you are familiar. Any email you receive purporting to show photographs of the bombing or victims may be an attempt to introduce malware into your system. Never click on a link sent to you about a tragedy. If you wish too learn more it is safest to go to your regular trusted news sources rather than conduct general search engine inquiries.
If you have any questions regarding a charitable solicitation related to the Boston Marathon Bombing, please contact the Fraud Prevention Taskforce Hotline at 314-612-1412 before responding.
Woman Held Accountable for Puppy Dragged Behind Vehicle
On November 20, 2012 a puppy was tied to the trailer hitch of a truck. The dog had no access to food, water or shelter. Benetta Johnson, the dog’s owner, knew that he was tied to the truck but never told the owner of the vehicle. The owner of the vehicle unknowingly dragged the dog behind the truck as he drove down Highway 55.
The story generated massive local media attention and it seemed like everyone was interested in how something like that could happen. That publicity helped lead to information used by police to identify the perpetrator.
Thanks to good police work, the help of the Humane Society of Missouri and ACAs Kratky and Wayne, Benetta Johnson was arrested and charged with felony animal abuse. Johnson was found guilty and was sentenced to 2 years of probation, a $250 donation to the humane society, complete animal care classes, 150 hours of community service that does not involve animals and she is banned from owning an animal.
Thanks to the Humane Society, Trooper survived and received the care he needed. Trooper has made a full recovery and is awaiting adoption.
*Photo from the Missouri Humane Society's Facebook page
Man Sentenced to 120 Years for Assault 1st
On a January night in 2011, a man sat in his car waiting for it to warm up. He had just returned from a night out with friends when suddenly things turned dangerous. Convicted felon Belvin Williams tapped on the window. The man opened the door and Williams began to yell at him before shooting him in the legs.
Williams then made the man get out of his car and lie face down in the middle of the street. Williams shot the victim again and then took his wallet.
Williams, a chronic offender with a long criminal history, was charged with Assault 1st, Robbery 1st and two counts of Armed Criminal Action. Thanks to the hard work of ACA Coleman and team, Williams was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to a total of 120 years.
Dale Pikoraitis: The Man Behind the Video
If you’ve ever seen a news story about crime, you know how important video footage of a crime can be. Whether it’s from a surveillance camera or a citizen’s cell phone, video can often be a crucial piece of a criminal investigation. But how do you know if a video is able to be used in a criminal investigation.
That’s where Dale Pikoraitis came in. Until his retirement last month, Dale served as the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (OFFICIAL)'s Forensic Video Analyst. A 34-year veteran of the SLMPD, Dale has seen just about everything there is to see in the world of crime videos.
Dale was in charge of examining, comparing and evaluating video for use in legal matters. As a Certified Forensic Video Technician, Dale has about 500 hours of specialized training. Less than 500 people worldwide hold that certification. He used his expertise to analyze video and prepare it to be used as evidence by the Circuit Attorney’s Office. In many cases the video he analyzed would end up in front of a jury at trial.
“One of my favorite parts of the job was making sure that the right person was apprehended,” Dale said. Thanks to his work, suspects that otherwise may have gone free were caught. Having good video evidence cuts down on uncertainty and helps police and prosecutors ensure that the person responsible for the crime is held accountable.
Dale not only spent his time ensuring that St. Louis had high quality video, but he spent time teaching others about the importance of good video evidence. “I’ve been able to train recruits, in service officers, detectives and Assistant Circuit Attorneys,” he explained. “Bad guys are not bound by jurisdictions, so all law enforcement agencies need to work together.”
Dale will be greatly missed. His hard work and technical expertise helped take countless criminals off the streets of St. Louis. We wish Dale the best and thank him for his years of service!
The CAO Goes Casual for a Good Cause
If you visited the Carnahan Courthouse this week, you may have encountered an unusual sight— prosecutors in jeans! That’s because it was a term week when there are no jury trials. During term weeks, we take the opportunity to wear jeans and raise money for a good cause. This week we raised money for the National MS Society.
Anyone who lives with multiple sclerosis will tell you that it’s an unpredictable disease. One day you may feel great and the next you could experience numbness. There has been incredible progress in treatment and promising new therapies, but there is still much to be done to help those who are affected by MS.
Several CAO members have been raising money for the MS Society for the past several months. They are participating in the MS Muck Fest to raise even more money and awareness for MS! We couldn’t be more proud of their dedication to making a difference, both in the office and out.
This week, thanks to the generosity of CAO staff, we raised an additional $685 for the National MS Society. The money we raised this week will go directly to the National MS Society to help them provide programs and services to help people living with MS and to fund cutting-edge research. To learn more about the MS Society and ways you can help, visit http://www.nationalmssociety.org/index.aspx
The Missouri Criminal Code Gets a Makeover
Things change a lot in 30 years. That’s why for the first time since 1979, the Missouri Criminal Code may see some much needed updates. Thanks to more than four years of hard work by the Missouri Bar Criminal Code Subcommittee, some important issues are now being addressed in the Missouri legislature.
The Subcommittee was comprised of prosecutors, judges and defense attorneys who worked together for four years to design the recommendations. The Missouri Bar then sent their recommendations to the Missouri legislature.
Rachel Smith, CAO Assistant Circuit Attorney and Chief of the Community Affairs Bureau is a member of the Missouri Bar Subcommittee that crafted the changes. “An updated criminal code will allow prosecutors to better address issues such as offenders with drug addictions and crimes like identity theft that are not adequately covered in the current code,” Smith explains. “The changes are also designed to make the 5,000 pages of the current criminal statutes less confusing for citizens.”
The proposed changes to the code include the addition of a fifth felony class allowing punishment better suited to particular offenses. It would also increase the fine amounts for the first time since the code was enacted in 1979. Updates to the criminal code would help ensure that new crimes are defined and covered by the law and that punishments are consistent and correspond with increasing levels of security.
Passage of these suggested revisions will be up to the Missouri legislature.
To learn more about the proposed changes and for a link to the summary of the bills, visit http://www.mobar.org/legislative-proposals.aspx
A Redistribution of Happiness
We recently received a letter that made our day, and we wanted to honor its intent by sharing it with you. The letter was from a man named Lowell in Arizona stating “I sure hope this letter brightens your day.” Included in the letter was a postcard of the old downtown courthouse.
“It’s an old time classic, for sure. I thought to myself ‘By golly, I’ll send it home where it can be appreciated.’ Our heritage is valuable to all of us. Lots of changes too, over the years, I’m sure,” the letter read.
Lowell, 83 years old, likes to search for historical artifacts and send them back to their point of origin across the country. If he hears back from the people he contacts, he says he takes his wife to lunch.
Lowell calls it his “redistribution of happiness project.” We hope Lowell’s random act of kindness brightens your day like it did ours!
How Does a Cash Only Bond Work Anyway?
After a crime is committed, and a suspect is caught, based upon evidence, he/she is charged with a crime. What happens next? Early on in the process, the defendant has a hearing in front of a judge to determine his/her bond. The concept of “bond” dates all the way back to Missouri’s first constitution in 1820.
The purpose of bond is to secure the defendant’s appearance during the criminal justice process or to protect the safety of the victim or community. Bond is not intended to be used as a means of punishment. The judge is in charge of setting the bond and must consider, among other things, the defendant’s financial resources in his decision. In early days, bond was paid by family members or friends; today, there are countless bail bond companies who will post bond for a defendant after a non-refundable deposit.
But what happens when a defendant posts bond and then disappears? To avoid such situations, judges are given discretion in what type of bond they are able to set. In some cases where the judge believes the defendant may be a flight risk, the judge may set a higher cash-only bond. This means the entire bond must be paid in cash. Defense attorneys have challenged judge’s ability to set cash-only bonds, but the Missouri Supreme Court recently declared that this was a lawful practice.
Cash only bonds can range from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Although defense attorneys tried to get cash-only bonds prohibited, the Missouri Supreme Court ultimately found that cash-only bonds are indeed within the law. In their decision, the court cited Article I, Section 32 of Missouri’s Constitution which reads, “Courts can deny bail or impose special conditions on bail if necessary to protect the victim or the community.”
We support the judges’ ability to set cash-only bonds. To hold a defendant accountable for his or her crimes, he must be present throughout specific portions of the criminal justice process. Cash-only bonds are an important tool to help keep the community safe and ensure that the defendant shows up to be held accountable.
Salman Khan
Meet Sarah Gorenstein, Our March MVP
Investigator Sarah Gorenstein has only been at the CAO for about 10 months but she’s already earned herself a spot as our March MVP. Sarah is no stranger to the criminal justice system. She has a Masters in criminology and worked as a probation officer before joining the CAO. She’s currently an investigator for the Violent Crimes Unit, handling cases that involve some of the City’s most dangerous criminals.
Sarah has always known her passion was best fulfilled in the criminal justice field and her dedication to her job is evident to everyone around her. “I work with a lot of investigators,” one Assistant Circuit Attorney explained. “Sarah is one of the best.”
Although her job isn’t always easy, she loves knowing that she goes home every day with the knowledge that she’s doing the right thing. “One of the most important parts of the job is building a cooperative relationship with victims and witnesses,” Sarah says. “Without victims and witnesses, we can’t build our cases. Too often, people don’t realize how crucial they are to the system, and I try to help them understand.”
Sarah’s colleagues tout her reliability and commitment to getting the job done. Her willingness to always give it 110% and her knack for handling difficult situations with respect and empathy makes Sarah an invaluable member of the CAO. Congratulations Sarah!
It's tax season! Did you know that some scammers use this as an opportunity to file fraudulent tax returns under other people's names? Check out our latest article to learn more.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/128441092/Income-Tax-Fraud
Welcome, New US Citizens!
Name one of the writers of the Federalist Papers. Name one Indian tribe in the United States. Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. In what war?
Did any of the answers have you stumped? Just imagine if you were in an interview where you had to be prepared to answer 10 of 100 possible questions about US history. If you want to become a US citizen, that’s exactly what you have to do.
Last week I was honored to be the guest speaker at a naturalization ceremony. There were 48 new citizens representing 25 different countries, from Iran to Mozambique. Each one successfully met all the standards of citizenship including living in the US for 5 years as a legal permanent resident.
From doctors to truck drivers to homemakers, there was one thing each of these new citizens had in common: a tremendous desire to become an US citizen. It was humbling for me to participate in such an important day, and I am proud so many others want to experience the freedoms we enjoy.
I would like to congratulate each new citizen and wish them the best of luck as they start their own chapter in our great nation.
DNA Technology Leads to Conviction in 1996 Case
In August of 1996, two girls met a man in Tower Grove Park. The girls were 15 and 17, and he was 25 years old. Their first the meeting was casual and friendly, but it soon turned sinister. The man became aggressive and violent. He climbed on top of the 15-year old and raped her as she screamed at him to stop. The 17-year old was terrified, but refused to leave her friend. She held her hand during the attack.
After the man had raped the younger girl, he turned his attention to her friend. As he raped the 17-year old, the 15-year searched in vain for something to strike him with. The two traumatized girls reported the rapes to the police department. Rape kits were collected but there were no suspects to compare with the evidence. The case eventually went cold.
By 2008, DNA technology had drastically improved. St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (OFFICIAL) was able to use new technology to test evidence from the unsolved case. Meanwhile, Horace Carter was in prison in Wisconsin on burglary charges. CODIS, a national DNA database, identified his DNA as the DNA from the 1996 rapes.
Two counts of forcible rape were filed against Horace Carter in 2008. However, Carter was still in jail in Wisconsin and he fought extradition for the next four years. Finally in the fall of 2012, Wisconsin courts ruled that Horace Carter was to be extradited to St. Louis to face the charges against him.
Horace Carter was a criminal before the attack in Tower Grove Park and he continued committing crimes for years after the attacks. A prior and persistent offender, Carter had been convicted of crimes ranging from burglary to another rape case involving a child. The jury found Horace Carter guilty of two counts of Forcible Rape. After 16 years, the brave victims finally received justice. He will be sentenced on April 25th. We’re asking for 30 years.
Salman Khan
Are you creative? We need your help! We're now accepting submissions for our magnet design competition. The winning design will be turned into the CAO magnet and distributed across the city.
For more information on how to enter, click here: http://circuitattorney.org/CAOMagnetDesignChallenge.aspx
Happy Birthday George Washington!
Salman Khan
The CAO Partners With Police to Address Mental Illness
Imagine if you were called to the scene of an incident to assist. You don’t have any details, but one of the people involved is acting erratically and things are beginning to escalate. Sound stressful? It’s a situation that police officers walk into on a daily basis. When responding to a call, police officers often arrive to find individuals who have mental health issues, which require officers to make decisions about what’s best for the individual and the safety of the public.
Since 2010, the Circuit Attorney's Office has worked with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to help train officers on how to best handle situations in which a person is exhibiting behaviors that may be related to mental health issues. During the CIT (Crisis Intervention Training) course, an Assistant Circuit Attorney walks officers through the legal process for someone with a mental illness.
“This training program is incredibly important,” said ACA Jason Steinmeyer, head of the White Collar Division. “It allows officers to utilize all the tools, resources and options that are available when assisting citizens with mental health concerns.”
The CAO’s top priority is to ensure that both the rights of the individual and the safety of the public are maintained. Many times the situation requires involving different agencies. The Circuit Attorney’s Office and the Department of Mental Health work with the hospital and medical professionals to provide care and treatment. The CAO also works to ensure that the individual is afforded their rights, including the right to be represented by a court-appointed private attorney and to be present at all hearings.
For someone with a mental health issue, jail is not always the best long-term solution. We work with the police, Missouri Department of Mental Health, and courts to develop a course of action that addresses underlying problems. By doing this, we aim to assist individuals in getting the help they need to lead productive lives rather than face only the consequences of the criminal justice system.
For anyone with a sweet tooth, yesterday’s bake sale at the CAO was the place to be! Several CAO team members organized a multi-floor bake sale to raise money for the National MS Society during lunch.
Thanks to their hard work and everyone’s generosity, the bake sale was a success! They raised over $275 to be donated to the National MS Society on behalf of the Circuit Attorney’s Office.
Woman Sentenced for Bribing Corrections Officer, Smuggling Cell Phone Into Jail
While Ladon Grissom was incarcerated for murder charges, his wife Candice Grissom would visit him in jail. However, things took an illegal turn and now Candice Grissom has a criminal record of her own.
On March 25th, Candice Grissom bribed Corrections Officer Stephanie Rodgers. Grissom knew that it was illegal for inmates to possess a cell phone. For $300, Candice arranged for CO Rodgers to smuggle a cell phone and charger into the Justice Center. CO Rodgers delivered the phone to Ladon Grissom.
This morning Candice Grissom pled guilty to Bribery of a Public Servant (a Class D Felony) and Delivering or Concealing Prohibited Articles on Premises (a Class A Misdemeanor). She was sentenced to 2 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. The Judge suspended the execution of the sentence and gave her 3 years of supervised probation.
Her husband, Ladon Grissom was sentenced to three consecutive life terms for two counts of Murder 2nd, Assault 1st, and three counts of Armed Criminal Action.
Justice is Served for Multi-Count Bank Robber
On TV, bank heists sometimes end up with the crook jetting off to a tropical country or a new penthouse. For Odell McKinnis, his bank robbery spree got him a ticket to somewhere a bit different- jail.
On February 8, 2012 Odell McKinnis handed a bank teller a note demanding money. The teller was confused because the note was written on another banks deposit slip. McKinnis got impatient, grabbed the note bank from the teller, and fled. Undeterred by his last attempt, McKinnis showed up at another bank an hour later. He handed this teller a note and after she emptied her cash drawer for him, he left.
On March 13, 2012 McKinnis showed up at yet another bank. This time he handed the teller a note that said “give me all the $100s, I know where you live.” She handed over the money and he left. Less than 50 minutes later, McKinnis robbed a fourth bank. He handed the teller a note that threatened to “blow her away” and made off with the cash.
Each of the tellers was able to identify McKinnis in a lineup. Odell McKinnis, a convicted felon, plead guilty to Robbery 1st, three counts of Robbery 2nd, and Attempted Robbery 2nd. Thanks to the vigilant victims and witnesses and ACA O’Hagan and team, McKinnis was sentenced to 12 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.
Man Pleads Guilty in Attack on Young Girl
For most kids, walking to the bus stop is just another part of their morning ritual. For one 15-year old girl, the morning of February 6th was just an average day until the unthinkable happened. As she walked to her bus stop, a man grabbed her from behind and forced her into his car with a box cutter. After driving her a short distance away, he demanded money. Then things turned more sinister.
The man climbed into the backseat and began to remove the young girl’s clothes. Fearing what might happen next, the young victim started to fight back and was eventually able to escape. Half-clothed, she ran from the car and flagged down a passing motorist. Thankfully, this young victim was able to get away, but her cell got left in would-be-rapist’s vehicle. Good for her – bad for him.
Police tracked the cell phone to the Patch neighborhood. When they arrived, the evidence was overwhelming. The car at the location matched the description the victim had given. Surveillance footage caught the offender dumping her clothing and backpack into a dumpster and the items were retrieved. Police found the box cutters inside the vehicle. The victim’s DNA was found on the man’s hands.
Charles Smith was identified as the offender and was charged with Attempted Forcible Rape, Robbery 1st, Kidnapping and three counts of Armed Criminal Action. Smith pled guilty to all charges. He will be sentenced on April 25th. We’re recommending a sentence of life plus 10 years. A special thanks to St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (OFFICIAL)'s Det. Nijkamp, Det. Cornell, Det. Sapienza and Sgt. Owens for the outstanding work they did on this case.
MVP Sean O’Hagan, the Ultimate Team Player
If you’re in the middle of a trial and something urgent comes up in another case, who can you call for help? Here at the CAO, the answer is ACA Sean O’Hagan. As our December MVP, Sean’s willingness to go above and beyond was praised by his colleagues. ACA Tyson, head of the Career Criminal Unit, said, “I got a call asking for someone who could handle a homicide warrant application. I sent out an email and before anyone else could respond, Sean was already on his way out of the unit with his suit jacket on.”
If a request for assistance is sent out within the office, you can bet that Sean O’Hagan will be one of the first to respond. His dedication to our work shows both in his own cases and in his perpetual willingness to support his team members. Sean is constantly working to ensure that the Circuit Attorney’s Office runs as smoothly as possible.
Sean’s been a prosecutor for 22 years, the last six of which he’s spent here at the Circuit Attorney’s Office. Why has he spent so much of his career pursuing justice? For Sean, the answer is simple- his family. As a six year veteran of the Career Criminal Unit, Sean prosecutes some of the most violent crimes our office has. From bank robberies to homicides, Sean has seen it all.
“There is no formula for trying a case successfully,” he explained. “There are a lot of variables in play and you have to work each case on an individual basis.” Sean’s persistence and dedication helps him successfully navigate a case from start to finish, from police reports to working with witnesses.
When he’s not in the courtroom, you can find Sean spending time with his family or cruising around on his motorcycle. We’re thankful for Sean’s commitment to the CAO team and the work he does on a daily basis to keep criminals off the streets. Congratulations to Sean O’Hagan, our December MVP!
