By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com The headline on the website Gang Land News says it all: “Red Hot NY Lawyer Tacopina Gets Big Chill From Wiseguys.” The headline was in reference to hotshot lawyer Joseph Tacopina, who was once the go-to guy for a lot of mobsters. But no more — apparently not since he became a…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com A sheriff’s deputy assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service task force was shot and killed Thursday while trying to serve an arrest warrant in a murder in Kinston, N.C., station WRAL reported. The station reported that the deputy, Warren “Sneak” Lewis, was a nine-year veteran of the Nash County Sheriff’s Department….
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com Legislation that would enable FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III to extend his 10-year term by two years seems all but certain to pass. But it may not be with out a little resistance. Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee delayed a vote Thursday on the legislation. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Ia.)…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com A second Congressional House hearing on ATF’s controversial “Operation Fast and Furious” gun program — set for June 15 — will include a host of witnesses including Sen. Chuck Grassley and the mother and other relatives of slain Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. The hearing, conducted by the House Committee on…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com The drug cartels are using bullet-proof trucks known as “monsters”, according to CNN. CNN reports that the trucks are built on a three-axle truck bed and include such features as swiveling turrets to shoot in any direction,a reinforced steel battering ram in front to demolish vehicles and walls and a one-inch-thick…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com Surprise Surprise (not really). Federal prosecutor Carrie Hamilton delivered closing arguments on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in downtown Chicago, calling defendant Rod Blagojevich a liar and a swindler, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. And oh yes, she said his seven days of testimony was “absurd” and “ludicrous.” The closings marked…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com The DEA on Wednesday announced the break up of a large Mexican cartel organization operating out of Atlanta. Dubbed “Operation G-60″, authorities said a three- year investigation by the DEA and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force has resulted in the indictment of of 32 people operating outlets for Mexican…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com Somebody inside the Beltway apparently likes Beth Phillips. In 2009, President Obama appointed her as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri in Kansas City. Earlier this week, the White House nominated the U.S. Attorney for a federal judgeship in Missouri. Before becoming U.S. Attorney she was an Assistant U.S….
