Madoff says banks 'had to know' of fraud

From prison, Madoff says banks 'had to know' of fraud - CharlotteObserver.com: "Bernard Madoff said he never thought the collapse of his Ponzi scheme would cause the sort of destruction that has befallen his family.

In his first interview for publication since his arrest in December 2008, Madoff - looking noticeably thinner and rumpled in khaki prison garb - maintained that family members knew nothing about his crimes.

But during a private two-hour interview in a visitor room this week, and in earlier e-mails, he asserted that unidentified banks and hedge funds were somehow 'complicit' in his elaborate fraud, an about-face from earlier claims that he was the only person involved.

Madoff, who is serving a 150-year sentence, seemed frail and a bit agitated compared with the stoic calm he maintained before his incarceration in 2009."

Three arrested on bookies raid

Three arrested on bookies raid (From Oxford Mail): "Two men and a woman have been arrested following an armed robbery in Headington.

Two men in hooded tops robbed the Betfred betting shop in London Road at 8pm yesterday, at gunpoint.

A small amount of cash was taken and no one was injured.

Two 25-year-old men were later arrested on suspicion of armed robbery along with a 22-year-old woman. She was arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting an offence.

Police seized an imitation firearm and a knife during the arrests.

All three were last night still in custody. Police are appealing for witnesses."

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TSA hit by new theft allegations after two agents are arrested for stealing $40k from a passenger at JFK | Mail Online

TSA hit by new theft allegations after two agents are arrested for stealing $40k from a passenger at JFK | Mail Online: "Two TSA agents were arrested today after allegedly stealing almost $40,000 from a passenger's bag at JFK airport in New York.

It comes just days after two other TSA employees admitted stealing thousands of dollars from passengers at the city's Newark Liberty Airport.

Port Authority police say they recovered $39, 980 when they arrested Coumar Persad, 36, and Davon Webb, 30, after a two-week investigation. The pair have also confessed to other thefts totally $160,000, according to reports"

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Gangland killer has minimum jail term slashed in half after turning 'supergrass'

Gangland killer has minimum jail term slashed in half after turning 'supergrass' | Manchester Evening News - menmedia.co.uk: "A 'remorseful' hitman who shot dead an innocent shopworker had his minimum jail term slashed by 17 years - after he helped bring his gangland paymasters to justice.

Simeon Henderson, 28, was hired to carry out an attack on the Brookhouse Wines shop in Eccles as part of a long-running feud between two rival gangs in Bolton.

But in a bungled hit which was captured on CCTV video, Henderson struggled to control the 600-round-a-minute machine gun he was given to carry out the attack and sprayed the shop with bullets."

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Crime: Bank Robber Killed After Taking Hostages

Crime: Bank Robber Killed After Taking Hostages | CaryCitizen: "Yesterday afternoon, a bank robbery and hostage situation came to a tragic conclusion in Cary. Devon Mitchell, 19, of the 900 block of Pony Club Circle in Cary, was fatally shot after attempting to rob the Wachovia bank at 10050 Green Level Church Road and holding seven people hostage for several hours.
Of the seven citizens held captive, five were Wachovia Bank employees. Three citizens were released immediately, and 2 hours later, two more were released. Less than an hour later, Mitchell exited the bank, apparently holding a gun to the head of a hostage and using her as a human shield.
Officers fired at Mitchell, who died at the scene. No one else was injured."

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Police may soon seize domains without court order

Police may soon seize domains without court order | thinq_: "Police powers that could see the UK's Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) being able to suspend the domain names of websites without a court order are being considered by registrar Nominet.

Nominet, the body responsible for adminstering UK internet domain registrations, has issued a formal call for interested parties to join discussions on the proposal. If agreed, the organisation will change its terms and conditions to enable the requested powers.

Such a move would make it easier for police to take down domains such as Fitwatch.org.uk, the site set up to protest against alleged abuses of police surveillance powers.

Last November, the site's web hosting was pulled after a request from the Metropolitan Police. The move came after the outfit published advice to student tuition fee protestors on how to evade detection.

Crucially, though, police didn't have the power to seize its domain name - the recognisable web address used by most users - enabling the site to resurface days later, hosted by a 'safe' ISP based in the US - beyond the jurisdiction of UK law enforcement.

Under the proposed powers, police will be able to request that Nominet suspends domains believed to be used for criminal purposes."

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Four men have been arrested in Perth after police seized cannabis in an operation against an alleged serious organised crime gang. Cannabis seized from 'crime gang' in Perth

BBC News - Cannabis seized from 'crime gang' in Perth: "Four men have been arrested in Perth after police seized cannabis in an operation against an alleged serious organised crime gang.

Cannabis resin with an estimated street value of £25,000 was found when officers searched a BMW X5 in Scott Street at about 1900 GMT on Thursday.

Four men aged 22, 18, 50, and 38 were charged with being concerned in the supply of the Class B drug.

All four are expected to appear at Perth Sheriff Court on Monday."