Basic Definition of Money Laundering

"Money laundering, at its simplest, is the act of making money that comes from Source A look like it comes from Source B. In practice, criminals are trying to disguise the origins of money obtained through illegal activities so it looks like it was obtained from legal sources. Otherwise, they can't use the money because it would connect them to the criminal activity, and law-enforcement officials would seize it.

The most common types of criminals who need to launder money are drug traffickers, embezzlers, corrupt politicians and public officials, mobsters, terrorists and con artists. Drug traffickers are in serious need of good laundering systems because they deal almost exclusively in cash, which causes all sorts of logistics problems. Not only does cash draw the attention of law-enforcement officials, but it's also really heavy. Cocaine that's worth $1 million on the street weighs about 44 pounds (20 kg), while a stash of U.S. dollars worth $1 million weighs about 256 pounds (116 kg)."

*Note: Sometimes money launderers are able to cut deals in order to reduce their sentence. Other times they are able to have the charges dropped all together if they are able to provide information, about someone else, in their illegal activities. A money launderer can be the businessman next door.

Homeowner Holds Burglary Suspect At Gunpoint

"For David Holbrook of Mandeville, arming himself and capturing a thief who recently attempted to burglarize his house not only protected his family and their belongings, but may have finally put away a teenager who has stockpiled criminal charges over the past two years.

The drama began to unfold Aug. 26 at about 5:15 a.m., when Alana Holbrook awoke to find a man outside the doorway of the master bedroom at their home on the 100 block of Cindy Lou Place in the Old Golden Shores neighborhood. After seeing her wake up, the man fled downstairs as she woke her husband, David Holbrook.

As his wife called the police, Holbrook armed himself with a loaded .45-caliber Ruger pistol and began searching for the intruder, later identified by police as Matthew Weaver, 19, who lives just three blocks away at 212 Fountain St.

Holbrook didn't find the suspect inside or outside the house, but discovered the burglar had stolen a laptop computer, a computer game system and money from the purses of his wife and two daughters, ages 12 and 16.

Returning outside, Holbrook spotted the suspect coming from the side yard, heading across the street.

Holbrook ran toward Weaver, gun aimed, and ordered him to the ground. Weaver complied, and Holbrook held him there for several minutes until police arrived.

After arresting him, officers recovered the stolen goods, which had been stashed in the bushes across the street. The suspect also had money stolen from other locations, according to the Mandeville Police Department.

Weaver was taken to the parish jail in Covington and booked with burglary of an inhabited dwelling.

From October 2005 to August 2007, Weaver accumulated 31 criminal charges involving nine separate incidents, court records show. The charges are mostly burglaries and theft, but also include a misdemeanor drug charge and a second-degree battery charge from January 2007.

Weaver is set to go to court Monday for the battery case, and the recent burglary arrest will not affect those proceedings, said Lt. Tommy Breazeale, spokesman for the Mandeville Police Department."


*Note: Arming yourself is another solution to trying to prevent home burglaries. It may also be necessary in order to save your life.

Three Booked In Burglaries On The West Bank

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office has arrested three men in connection with a string of apparently random aggravated burglaries and shootings on the West Bank overnight.

Austin Lowery, 18, of 247 Marmandie St. in River Ridge, Kevin Mayon, 20, of 713 Avenue F in Westwego and Sylvester Parra, 18, of 164 Columbus St. in New Orleans were booked with two counts of aggravated burglary, three counts of attempted murder, two counts of attempted aggravated burglary and one count of aggravated battery in connection with the shooting of three men, the pistol-whipping of another and the burglary or attempted burglary of four residences. All three men are being held in the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center without bond.

*Note: Random burglaries are hard to predict. The best solution would be to establish a neighborhood watch program.

New Orleans Police Are Searching For Teenage Suspect

"New Orleans Police are searching for a teenager accused of robbing an Algiers apartment in July.

An arrest warrant for aggravated burglary has been issued for Robert Hawkins, 19, of New Orleans, who is accused of kicking his way into an apartment in the 3200 block of Memorial Park Drive and shooting and unidentified victim in the stomach before fleeing. The NOPD did not release any information on what was stolen in the burglary, and said Hawkins was developed as a suspect through an investigation."

*Note: It is hard to try to protect yourself from a criminal who kicks your door down. Your best defense is try to exit as quickly as possible.

Sumner, Washington's Property & Burglary Statistics from 2001-2005

Sumner, WA, population 9,298, is located in Washington's Pierce county, about 10.2 miles from Tacoma and 28.2 miles from Seattle.

Through the 90's Sumner's population has grown by about 35%. It is estimated that in the first 5 years of this decade the population of Sumner has grown by about 9%.

Sumner's property crime levels tend to be about the same as Washington's average level. The same data shows violent crime levels in Sumner tend to be about the same as Washington's average level

Property Crimes

Rate Per 100K People
2001 4,653
2002 5,151
2003 4,959
2004 6,329
2005 6,848

Offense 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Burglary 73 83 97 146 145

*NOTE: Sumner, Washington residents will soon be able to breathe a sigh of relief once a Hurricane Evacuee, from New Orleans, is brought to justice for some of his crimes.

Protect Your Home From Burglars By Eliminating Hiding Places

You can eliminate hiding places by:

1. Installing motion detector lights around your home.

2. Making sure that the motion detector lights light all windows and doors.

3. Having good lighting around your garage or driveway.

4. Removing shrubs and bushes from under the windows and next to the doors.

5. Installing an alarm system. Make sure you place decals in the windows.

Although we cannot totally prevent home burglaries, try to make it harder for burglars to devastate your life.

New Orleans' First Inspector General Begins Job With No Office, Staff Or Car

"As inspector general, Cerasoli is charged with investigating waste, fraud and corruption in city government and among those receiving money from the city. He is also expected to propose ways to make local government more efficient and to teach city officials about their ethical responsibilities.

When he was hired, he said he was "very encouraged" by the terms of the ordinance creating the New Orleans inspector general's office.

The ordinance says the inspector general's office will be "operationally independent" of the council, the Ethics Review Board and the mayor's office, meaning none of them can prevent the office from "initiating, carrying out or completing any audit, investigation or review."

The office is promised "access to all records, information, data, reports, plans, projections, matters, contracts, memoranda, correspondence and any other materials" of all city departments, including the council and the mayor's office. It is authorized to subpoena witnesses and records and to require sworn testimony."



We all hope that Mr. Cerasoli can help put an end to political corruption in New Orleans. New Orleans, however, is off to a great start with Stan "Pampy" Barre going to prison soon.

Reducing Your Chances of Being A Victim of a Home Burglary

When a burglar breaks into your home, condominium, or apartment, your feeling of security is permanently shattered. If you are away from home, for more than one day:

1. Tell a friend or a trusted neighbor that you will be away from home for a few days.

2. Have a friend or neighbor put your garbage can out on garbage pick up day.

3. Have your grass cut as usual.

4. Have a neighbor or friend pick up your mail.

5. If your telephone number is listed, have your calls forwarded.

Although there are no guarantees that your home won't be burglarized, understanding how burglars choose their targets can reduce your chances of being their victims.

Try To Protect Yourself from Home Burglaries

In order to protect yourself, from home burglaries, make the burglar believe that you are home all of the time by:

1. Not leaving your newspaper outdoors for an extended period of time.

2. Parking your vehicle, in the garage, and keeping the garage door shut.

3. Using automatic timers on lights, televisions, and radios.

4. Lowering the ringer on your telephone and answering machine.

If You Are In An Abusive Relationship, Get Help

"The National Domestic Violence Hotline answers more than 16,000 calls per month from victims, survivors, friends and family members, law enforcement personnel, domestic violence advocates and the general public. Hotline advocates provide support and assistance to anyone involved in a domestic violence situation, including those in same-sex relationships, male survivors, those with disabilities and immigrant victims of domestic violence. All calls to the National Domestic Violence Hotline are confidential."

Understanding Drug Abuse & Addiction

"Many people view drug abuse and addiction as strictly a social problem. Parents, teens, older adults, and other members of the community tend to characterize people who take drugs as morally weak or as having criminal tendencies. They believe that drug abusers and addicts should be able to stop taking drugs if they are willing to change their behavior.

These myths have not only stereotyped those with drug-related problems, but also their families, their communities, and the health care professionals who work with them. Drug abuse and addiction comprise a public health problem that affects many people and has wide-ranging social consequences. It is NIDA's goal to help the public replace its myths and long-held mistaken beliefs about drug abuse and addiction with scientific evidence that addiction is a chronic, relapsing, and treatable disease.

Addiction does begin with drug abuse when an individual makes a conscious choice to use drugs, but addiction is not just "a lot of drug use." Recent scientific research provides overwhelming evidence that not only do drugs interfere with normal brain functioning creating powerful feelings of pleasure, but they also have long-term effects on brain metabolism and activity. At some point, changes occur in the brain that can turn drug abuse into addiction, a chronic, relapsing illness. Those addicted to drugs suffer from a compulsive drug craving and usage and cannot quit by themselves. Treatment is necessary to end this compulsive behavior."

Recognizing The Signs of Domestic Abuse

"It may not be easy to identify abuse, especially at first. While some relationships are clearly abusive from the outset, abuse often starts subtly and gets worse over time. For example, abuse may begin with occasional hurtful comments, jealousy or controlling behavior. As it gets worse, the abuse may become more frequent, severe or violent. As the cycle of abuse worsens, your safety or the safety of your children may be in danger.

You may be a victim of abuse if you're in a relationship with someone who:

* Controls finances, so you have to ask for money
* Looks at you or acts in ways that scare you
* Acts jealous or possessive, or accuses you of being unfaithful
* Tries to control how you spend your time, who you see or talk to, where you go or what you wear
* Wants you to get permission to make everyday decisions
* Gets angry when drinking alcohol or using drugs
* Scares you by driving recklessly
* Threatens to kill him or herself

You are very likely in an abusive relationship if you have a relationship with someone who does even one of the following:

* Hits, kicks, shoves, slaps, or chokes you or threatens you with violence or a weapon
* Forces you to have sexual intercourse or engage in sexual acts against your will
* Calls you names, insults you or puts you down
* Prevents you from going to work or school
* Stops you from seeing family members and friends
* Hurts, or threatens to hurt you, your children or pets
* Destroys your property
* Controls your access to medicines
* Blames you for his or her violent behavior or tells you that you deserve it
* Says that his or her abusive behavior is no big deal or even denies doing it
* Tries to force you to drop charges
* Tries to prevent you from calling the police or seeking medical care"

If you find yourself in an abusive relationship, seek help.