Chicago
Chicago Feds Deny DEA Granted Immunity to Major Mexican Cartel Member
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com Fed prosecutors in Chicago are denying claims that a major Mexican cartel member had struck a deal with the DEA granting him immunity and others prosecution from immunity in exchange for information, Reuters news service reported. Jesus Vicente Zambada-Niebla, the son of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the right-hand man of Sinaloa…
Attorneys for Accused Mexican Drug Lord Says Justice Department Protected Him
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com Mexico may not be thrilled about the latest allegations coming out of the U.S. The news service All Headline News (AHN) reports that court filings in an upcoming Chicago case against accused Mexican drug lord Jesus Vicente Zambada Niebla claim the Justice Department agreed to protect Niebla from prosecution in exchange…
FBI Assigns New SACs for Utah and Portland
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com The FBI has named two new special agents in charge: David J. Johnson for Utah and Gregory A. Fowler for Portland, Ore. Since 2009, Johnson, who has a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh, has been the chief of the Violent Crimes Section in the Criminal Investigative Division at headquarters….
Blago Sentencing Set for Oct. 6
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com Oct. 6 won’t be a pretty day. That’s the day U.S. District Judge James Zagel of Chicago has set for sentencing for the ever-chatty ex-Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich, according to court records. In his retrial, Blago was convicted of 17 or 20 counts. He alos faces sentencing for the one count…
Airport Screening Machines to Get Less Personal
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com Good news for those who think the Transportation Security Administration has gone too far in its efforts to screen airline passengers. The Associated Press reports that TSA is installing news technology at some airports that will show a generic outline of s peson’s body instead of showing an image of the…
Column: Traver Likely to Become Acting Chief of ATF; Not Likely to Get Confirmed
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com Andrew Traver, the man the White House nominated last November to head up ATF, is in Washington Tuesday to speak to Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. His arrival comes in the midst of a major controversy — or screw up as some might say — involving ATF’s “Operation Fast and Furious”,…
White House Likely to Replace Head of ATF
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com The Obama White House had no intention of keeping Ken Melson, acting head of ATF. In fact, last November it nominated Andrew Traver, head of the Chicago ATF office, to become the permanent head of the agency. But the confirmation process seemed to hit a big bump as the pro-gun lobbying…