On-going Investigations

12/21/11: Heart of America RCFL Supporting High-Profile Investigation Involving Priest Charged with Possessing Child Pornography — Former priest, Shawn Ratigan, 46, pleaded not guilty to multiple child pornography charges and awaits trial in Clay County, Missouri this summer. The Heart of America RCFL is providing investigators expert digital forensics expertise. In relation to the case, Bishop Robert W. Finn, head of the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City, faces a misdemeanor charge of failing to report child abuse suspicions about Ratigan to authorities. He pleaded not guilty and returns for a court hearing on January 12, 2012. Bishop Finn is the highest official in the Catholic church to face such charges — get the full story.

1/30/12: Two Teenagers Arrested for Allegedly Plotting to Bomb Utah High School — The Intermountain West RCFL is supplying digital forensics expertise to investigators looking into a detailed plan allegedly hatched by Dallin Morgan, 18 and Joshua Hoggan, 16, to detonate a bomb during an assembly at Roy High School in Utah — get the full story.

12/21/11: Intermountain West RCFL Aids Homicide Investigation of Four-Year Old Ethan Stacy — A five-day preliminary hearing was set for March 19-23, 2012 for Nathaniel Sloop, who is accused of murdering Ethan Stacy, 4. Ethan's mother, Stephanie Sloop's preliminary hearing was cancelled with no rescheduling date at this writing. The couple waived their rights to a speedy trial and are charged with capital murder, child abuse and obstructing justice. If convicted, they could receive the death penalty. The Intermountain West RCFL (IWRCFL) is providing digital forensics expertise to investigators. Read the whole story.

8/8/11: Former Health Care Executive Indicted — Kentucky RCFL Aids Investigators — A grand jury handed down a five-count indictment against the former vice president of a health care company based in Louisville — listing the misbranding of drugs among the charges. The Kentucky RCFL is providing digital forensics expertise to federal prosecutors — learn more.

6/30/11: State Grand Jury Indicts Three People for Crimes Against Children — Three South Jersey residents face multiple charges of sexual depravity and exploitation of children. The indictments were the result of an investigation conducted by the New Jersey State Police and the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice — both are participating agencies in the New Jersey RCFL who is providing digital forensics expertise to investigators — learn more.

12/6/11: Texas National Guardsman Arraigned on Federal Child Sexual Exploitation Charges — NMRCFL Supports Investigation — Click here to read the FBI's news release.

9/29/11: FBI Asks for Public's Help — Prosecutor's Death Remains a Mystery — The FBI, along with Attorney General Eric Holder, marked the 10-year anniversary of the passing of Thomas Crane Wales. Mr. Wales, an Assistant U.S. Attorney, was shot to death in his home — 10 years later, the motive for the killing remains unknown as does the assailant(s). The Northwest RCFL supported the investigation — click here to read the FBI's press release. Anyone with information about the Wales investigation is asked to contact the FBI on 800-CALL-FBI or send an email to walestips@ic.fbi.gov.

1/12/12: Saudi College Student's Trial Postponed — Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari, 23, the Saudi citizen who attended South Plains College near Lubbock, Texas, will go on trial for attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction on May 14, 2012. The North Texas RCFL (NTRCFL) is supporting the investigation — see the full story.

10/5/10: GRAND JURY CHARGES OFFICERS – NORTH TEXAS RCFL SUPPORTS INVESTIGATION INTO BRUTALITY CHARGES — A motorcycle chase, crash and beating were all caught on videotape recorded by dashboard cameras. Examiners with the North Texas RCFL analyzed the video and now a grand jury has brought felony charges against three Dallas Police Department officers – read the full story.

12/23/11: California Pharmacist Indicted for Providing Material Support to Terrorists — The Orange County RCFL is providing digital forensics expertise to investigators working on the case involving Oytun Ayse Mihalik, 39, of La Palma, California. A grand jury indicted Mihalik on federal charges of providing material support to terrorists for allegedly sending money to Pakistan to help fund attacks against American military personnel. A lawful permanent resident of the United States, Mihalik worked in Orange County as a pharmacist and was en route to her native Turkey when she was arrested at the airport. If convicted of all counts, Mihalik could face up to 53 years in prison — click here to read the FBI's Los Angeles Division's press release.

6/15/11: Authorities Seeking Public's Help with Crimes Against Children Investigation — Orange County RCFL Processing Digital Evidence Associated with Case — The Orange County District Attorney's Office, a participating agency in the Orange County RCFL, is seeking potential victims of Mandak Kahn Griffin of Cypress — read on.

6/13/11: College Student Faces Jail Time for Computer Crimes — Orange County RCFL Aiding Investigators — A 20-year old college student could spend the next six years in jail if found guilty of the 12 felony counts of computer access and fraud against him — learn more.

6/9/11: College Intern Accused of Videotaping Restroom Patrons — The Orange County RCFL (OCRCFL) is providing digital forensics expertise to the Santa Ana Police Department in an investigation involving the illegal videotaping of men using the restroom at City Hall — read the full story.

2/9/12: Woman Accused of Murdering Nursing Student Enters Not Guilty Plea — Giselle Esteban, 27, plead not guilty for the murder of Michelle Le, 26, a nursing student who went missing on May 27, 2011. Esteban returns to court on February 17, 2012 where a trial data may be announced. The Silicon Valley RCFL is providing digital forensics expertise to investigators — get the full story.

6/8/11: Substitute Teacher Charged with Possessing Child Pornography — The FBI's Buffalo Division announced the arrest of Timothy Bek, 25, a substitute teacher, and charged him with possessing child pornography. The Western New York RCFL is providing digital forensics expertise to investigators — learn more.

Click here to watch a news video about Bek's arrest.