'Balloon Boy' Parents Plead Guilty

A Colorado couple pleaded guilty Friday to charges related to a massive hoax that had authorities scrambling to find a boy believed to have been carried away in a helium balloon. Richard Heene pleaded guilty to a felony charge of attempting to influence a public servant, Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden. His wife, Mayumi Heene, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of filing a false report.

Last month, the couple called Federal Aviation Administration officials, a Fort Collins, Colo., television station, and law enforcement officers to report that their 6-year-old son was inside a helium balloon that had become untethered from the family's house and floated away.

Prosecutors want the Heenes to serve some time in jail, but the final decision will be made by Schapanski at a Dec. 23 sentencing hearing. Most of the country would support jail time and it would send the right message for this kind of crime. This cannot go unpunished in a very appropriate way.

Read more...

Targeting of aircraft with laser beams a growing problem

A pair of Canadian business jets were hit with high-powered green lasers as they approached Casper-Natrona County International Airport during separate events in August. According to the sources, green-colored lasers were shined into the cockpits of both Canadian planes around 10 p.m. on separate nights. Officials did not want to specify the exact dates at this time. Both pilots were directed to contact the FBI in Casper. At least one of the pilots was deeply shaken by the event and vowed to not fly back into Casper if his craft was lased again.

Federal authorities recognize lasing of aircraft is an increasingly serious problem. The focused beams of lasers remain powerful at long distances and can expose pilots to dangerous radiation. Lasers can bring down aircraft, according to warnings issued by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The reports point out that simple laser pointers available at office supply stores don’t have the power, nor can they be controlled well enough to target fast-moving business or commercial jetliners. The Federal Aviation Administration reported earlier this year that at least 148 laser attacks were carried out during a 2-month period against commercial craft landing at Seattle-Tacoma airport.

Studies show that military grade hardware is designed for the purpose of disrupting cockpit crews or damaging the eyesight of military forces on a battlefield. The military equipment is also used against troops wearing night vision equipment. The Chinese-made military laser, the ZM 87, has an effective range of 10 kilometers, or more than six miles.

Previously published official reports say that none of the military hardware is easily obtainable since it is protected by the owner governments; is very expensive; and is large enough to be used on tanks or aboard warships. The reports add, however, that for a few thousand dollars a terrorist could acquire lasers used in outdoor light shows.

This kind of attack on aircraft is becoming a worldwide phenomenon. Recently a 19 year old from England was sentenced to six months jail for shining a laser beam at police helicopter.

Read more...

Hardline Nigerian official pledges to arrest internet scammers

In a world-first move, a top Nigerian official has pledged to do more to jail the perpetrators of Nigerian internet scams that police say are costing Australians at least $40 million a year.

But Sunday Olu Agbi, the hardline Nigerian high commissioner who is based in Canberra, stands by his comments from last year that most victims of the scams are just as guilty as the fraudsters and should be jailed as well.

The Nigerian Government has teamed up with Queensland Police to create an "online reporting system" on the Queensland Police website where any Australians who believe they have been targeted by a scam can report it directly to Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Police say this will greatly speed up investigations and solve the problem of victims not reporting scams to police because they are embarrassed or feel foolish. Professor Olu Agbi said the portal would lead to the arrest and prosecution of Nigerian scammers.

Read more...