Pimp Who Claimed To Be Modeling Agent Sentenced to Prison

THELENIOUS REED, a/k/a "Anthony Thomas," 35, of Mansfield, Texas, was sentenced June 4 by United States District Court Judge Orinda D. Evans to serve 6 years in prison on charges of transporting a victim interstate to work as a prostitute, and persuading, inducing, enticing and coercing a victim to travel across state lines to work as a prostitute.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said, "The use of internet websites like 'Craigslist' to facilitate the sexual exploitation of vulnerable young women is a growing problem. Fortunately, the efforts of federal and local law enforcement agencies in this case have freed this victim, and another young woman, from the emotional, psychological and physical harm caused by sex trafficking."

FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Greg Jones said, "The many websites and 'peer to peer' internet sites that provide much utility and enjoyment for our youth can also be used by selfish criminals as a conduit to this unassuming, unaware youth. Today's sentencing serves as an example of not only the perils facing young women on the internet, but also of the ability and determination of law enforcement to step into the cyber-arena to combat such criminal activity."

REED was sentenced to 6 years in federal prison. There is no parole in federal system. He pleaded guilty to the charges on February 2, 2009.

According to United States Attorney Nahmias, and information presented in court: On July 2, 2008, FBI special agents conducted an undercover operation in College Park, Georgia, involving the pimping of underage girls. The investigation began with information one agent saw on an erotic services internet site on "Craigslist" in the Atlanta, Georgia, area, that contained an advertisement for a young woman later identified as the victim. A topless picture of the victim was posted that listed her age as 19 years. However, the agent believed the victim to be younger than age 19. The agent then arranged a date for commercial sex with the victim for July 2, 2008, at a hotel in College Park, Georgia.

When the victim arrived at the hotel for the date, she agreed to be interviewed by the agent, who learned that she was actually 18-years old; that she was transported by REED from her home in Pennsylvania, on June 26, 2008, in his truck; and that REED persuaded her to travel with him because REED told her he was a modeling agent. REED was arrested minutes later sitting inside his truck in the parking lot of the hotel.

The victim told the FBI that after REED picked her up and transported her from her home in Pennsylvania, REED told her that she would be required to engage in sex acts with men to pay for photo shoots and travel expenses. REED then photographed the victim topless in a hotel room, and subsequently placed those pictures on "Craigslist" and other websites advertising erotic services. REED then caused the victim to engage in commercial sex acts with men, for which she was paid $200 - $400. She gave all the money to REED.

The victim then had to travel with REED to Virginia, where REED picked up another young woman from a Greyhound Bus station. This young woman traveled with the victim, REED, and REED's girlfriend from Virginia to the Atlanta area. Upon their arrival in the Atlanta area on June 30, 2008, REED arranged for the victim to engage in more commercial sex acts. Following his arrest, the agents discovered that REED also posted images, in the erotic services section of the "Craigslist" website, of his girlfriend and the other young woman traveling with REED and the victim.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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Man Arrested in New Mexico for Sending Threatening White Powder-Laced Hoax Letters to Banks Across the U.S.

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At a press conference held today in Dallas, acting U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas, Robert E. Casey, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas FBI, and Randall C. Till, Postal Inspector in Charge of the Fort Worth Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, announced that special agents and postal inspectors arrested Richard Leon Goyette, a/k/a Michael Jurek, 47, yesterday at the airport in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on a charge in a federal complaint related to his mailing of 65 threatening letters to financial institutions in October 2008. Sixty-four of the 65 letters contained an unidentified white power, along with a threat that the person breathing the powder would die within 10 days. The powder tested negative for any hazardous materials. All 65 threat letters were mailed through the U.S. Postal Service and were postmarked from Amarillo, Texas, on October 18, 2008. Goyette is scheduled to make his initial appearance today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Albuquerque.

"Mr. Goyette's alleged criminal actions caused emergency responders and hazardous response teams immense unnecessary labor and expense, diverted personnel from actual emergencies, completely disrupted business at these financial institutions, and caused untold emotional distress to those who received the letters," said acting U.S. Attorney Jacks. "Those who send threatening letters, whether they contain white powder or not, even if their threat is a hoax, will be prosecuted with the full resources of this office," Jacks continued.

Robert E. Casey, Jr. stated, "I would like to thank the U.S. Postal Service, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and the FBI Agents from the Albuquerque and Dallas FBI Offices whose determination, methodical investigation, and expertise led to today's developments. Sending a hoax letter threatening imminent death and containing unknown substances is a serious crime that drains precious, limited, first responder resources. The mailings resulted in police, fire, and hazmat teams responding to emergency calls in numerous states, causing anxiety, disruption, and financial costs. As the arrest in Albuquerque reflects, these crimes will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted."

"Richard Goyette's arrest as the mailer of the 'Chase Bank letters' should serve as a warning to those who believe they can anonymously use the mail to terrorize the American public," said Inspector in Charge Till. "As Postal Inspectors, our mission is to ensure the safety of the Postal Service and we will spare no resource to uncover your identity and to bring you to justice. The American public should know this arrest is the result of exceptional interagency cooperation between U.S. Postal Inspectors, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Attorney's Offices in the Northern District of Texas and the District of New Mexico, as well as the numerous state and local agencies throughout the U.S. that responded to the more than 60 letters mailed by the suspect."

The criminal complaint charges that on October 18, 2008, Goyette knowingly and intentionally conveyed false and misleading information when he sent letters to Chase Bank, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) that contained an unknown white powder and the threat that the person breathing the powder would die within 10 days, in violation of 18 USC § 1038. Each offense carries a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

On September 25, 2008, the OTS seized Washington Mutual Bank from its holding company, Washington Mutual, Inc., and placed it into receivership. The FDIC was named receiver and as a result, the value of the stock in the holding company, Washington Mutual, Inc., fell to less than one dollar per share. The following day, the FDIC sold the bank's deposits, branches, and loan portfolio to JP Morgan Chase & Co.

On September 26, 2008, and September 29, 2008, a person using "richgoyet@yahoo.com" sent two emails to OTS, both critical of the handling of the Washington Mutual Bank closure and subsequent sale of assets to JP Morgan Chase & Co. In the September 26, 2008 email, he said he lost $63,525 on his stock in Washington Mutual, Inc. He also accused OTS and FDIC of being corrupt and accused JP Morgan Chase of "shaft[ing] a second set of shareholders." He sent a nearly identical email to the FDIC that same day.

In the September 29, 2008, email from "richgoyet@yahoo.com" to OTS, the writer provided his name and address as Richard Goyette, PO Box 2322, Tijeras, N.M. He stated in part:

"I told myself I was not going to accept anymore losses due to the reasons I mentioned. I have pursued a path of doing things right, but unfortunately I've paid a terrible price for those who will do whatever it takes to defraud, steal, manipulate, and screw over average stockholders. This seizure was the final straw and I will now pursue any path to get the return of my investment. Since legal means are apparently useless, I will have to consider any viable method applicable to rightfully reclaim my stolen funds."

Goyette sent a nearly identical email to the FDIC that same day, Sept. 29, 2008. On Oct. 7, 2008, he sent an email to an attorney who had been retained to handle investor inquires for Washington Mutual, and in that email stated "[I will] most likely have to employ the same type of tactics used to cheat WaMu shareholders to recover stolen assets if all meaningful efforts to rectify this situation don't come to fruition."

On Oct. 20, 2008, anonymous threat letters began arriving at Chase Bank, OTS, and FDIC offices nationwide. Over the next several days, a total of 65 threat letters were received in 11 different states and the District of Columbia. Also included in the letters was the sentence fragment "Steal tens of thousands of people's money and not expect repercussions (sic)."

The 65th letter to JP Morgan Chase & Co. did not contain white powder but included a threat of the "McVeighing of your corporate headquarters within six months." This letter also threatened to "utilize any strategy and tactic to inflict financial damage to your company."

The investigation revealed that a computer in a library on the University of New Mexico's Albuquerque campus was used in early October to access Chase's web site and search for addresses for nearly all of the Chase Bank locations that later received white powder threat letters. The same computer was used the same day to access OTS's website and search for all the OTS office locations that later received white powder threat letters. It was also used the same day to access the FDIC's website. Richard Goyette listed his address in the emails as Tijeras, N.M., which is a small community located on the outskirts of Albuquerque.

In addition, a computer at Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque was used to conduct branch locator searches on Chase's website on Sept. 30, 2008 -- six days prior to the computer searches at the University of New Mexico. Records obtained from Yahoo! show that Goyette's angry emails to FDIC and OTS in late September were also sent from a computer at Central New Mexico Community College.

According to records obtained from Citibank, Jurek used a credit card to rent a car in Albuquerque on Oct. 17, 2008, the day before the threat letters were postmarked. Goyette, using his New Mexico driver's license under the Jurek name, rented the car at 11:51 a.m. at Enterprise Rent-a-Car in Albuquerque and obtained permission to drive the car into Texas. He returned the car approximately 24 hours later on Oct. 18, 2008, at 11:48 a.m., putting 630 miles on the car. It is approximately 284 miles from Albuquerque to Amarillo.

A federal complaint is a written statement of the essential facts of the offenses charged, and must be made under oath before a magistrate judge. A defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

Acting U.S. Attorney Jacks praised the excellent, cooperative investigative efforts of the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Drake of the Amarillo, Texas, U.S. Attorney's Office is prosecuting.
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Suspicious White Powder Letters Received Around the United States

Robert E. Casey Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Dallas FBI, announces during the last 24 hours, at least seven letters containing a suspicious white powder have been received by the offices of governors around the country.

The white powder substance has been field screened and the tests have met with negative results. The white powder substance has been forwarded to local laboratories for further testing.

To date, all letters have been postmarked from Dallas, Texas and were received by governors’ offices in Rhode Island, Michigan, Mississippi, Alabama, Minnesota, Montana, and Missouri.
Anyone with information concerning these letters should contact their local FBI office, or call the Dallas FBI at 972-559-5000.

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FBI Seeking Information about Threatening Hoax Letters

Georgia is among the 11 states to which letters were sent from Texas.

Today the FBI issued photographs of a threatening hoax letter and its envelope, one of more than 50 such letters received this week by financial institutions in at least 11 states. Many of the letters have contained an unknown powder substance. The letters have all been postmarked from Amarillo, Texas.

The FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and state and local authorities are investigating each of the incidents. Field tests conducted thus far on the powder have been negative. Additional testing is being conducted at regional laboratories. The FBI and our law enforcement partners are following up on numerous leads.

“Sending a hoax letter is a serious crime, and a drain on law enforcement resources,” said Section Chief Doug Perdue, Investigative and Operations Section, FBI Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate. “We will continue to work diligently to identify and arrest those responsible.”

Anyone with information about these letters should contact the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, or their local authorities. You can also submit a tip online at www.fbi.gov. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible.

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