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Powell man arrested after SunTrust bank robbery, FBI says

Posted at 11:04 pm August 31, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

A Powell man was arrested after an armed bank robbery was reported at the SunTrust Bank at 6632 Clinton Highway in Knoxville on Monday afternoon, authorities said.

The robbery was reported at about 1:30 p.m. Monday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said.

Michael James Ward, 43, of Powell, was arrested in Knox County without incident through the joint efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, composed of the FBI, Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and the KPD Violent Crimes Unit.  KCSO patrol officers also assisted with the arrest, a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Knox County, Knoxville, Police and Fire, Top Stories, U.S. Tagged With: FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation, KCSO, Knox County, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Police Department, KPD Violent Crimes Unit, Michael James Ward, robbery, Safe Streets Task Force, SunTrust Bank

Roane Sheriff part of investigation that leads to long sentence for pill mill operator

Posted at 11:54 pm August 30, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

A Chattanooga pill mill operator was sentenced to 280 years in federal prison on Thursday, and the Roane County Sheriff’s Office was among the law enforcement agencies that participated in the investigation that led to her indictment and subsequent conviction, authorities said.

Barbara Lang, a.k.a. “Aunt Bea,” 61, of Rossville, Georgia, was sentenced by the Honorable Curtis L. Collier, U.S. District Judge, said United States Attorney William C. Killian of the Eastern District of Tennessee.

After a 25-day trial that spanned almost three months, Lang was convicted of two counts of conspiring to distribute and dispense Schedule II and IV controlled substances, outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose; five counts of maintaining a premises for the purpose of distributing controlled substances; and 14 counts of structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements, a press release said.

Lang was charged along with three other people. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Police and Fire, Roane County, Top Stories, U.S. Tagged With: Aunt Bea, Barbara Lang, Charles Larmore, Chattanooga Police Department, Curtis L. Collier, Daniel R. Salter, DEA, Drug Enforcement Administration, Eastern District of Tennessee, Elite Care, Faith Blake, Gregg L. Sullivan, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Internal Revenue Service, IRS, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Jerome Sherard, Michael D. Porter, opioid pain medication, pain clinic, pill mill, pill mill operator, prescription drugs, primary care, Roane County Sheriff's Department, Roane County Sheriff’s Office, Rockwood Police Department, Sherard Clinic, Superior One, Superior One Medical Clinic, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tracy Stone, U.S. District Court, U.S. District Judge, United States Attorney, William C. Killian

FBI: Even small tips could help catch extortion, kidnapping suspects

Posted at 12:16 pm August 27, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

FBI Press Conference Composite Sketches Extortion, Kidnapping

The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Knoxville on Wednesday released composite sketches of two subjects and one person of interest in alleged kidnappings and extortions involving Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge in April and SmartBank in Knoxville in July. Pictured above are FBI Knoxville Special Agent in Charge Edward Reinhold, center; Knox County Sheriff’s Office Major Michael MacLean, right; and Knoxville Police Department Deputy Chief Nate Allen. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

KNOXVILLE—Two men entered two different homes in kidnappings and extortions involving Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge in April and SmartBank in Knoxville in July, and a woman, possibly with an infant or a toddler, might have entered the first, officials said Wednesday.

A blue four-door car was spotted in the area of the second home about a week before the second incident, said Edward Reinhold, special agent in charge for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Knoxville.

It’s possible there could be a fourth person involved, and it’s not clear if the suspects are still in the area.

Reinhold said both men were wearing disguises. The woman was not, but she might have been wearing a wig and sunglasses. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Knox County, Knoxville, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories, U.S. Tagged With: Edward Reinhold, extortion, FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation, kidnapping, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Police Department, Michael MacLean, Nate Allen, Oak Ridge Police Department, person of interest, robbery, SmartBank, subject, Y-12 Federal Credit Union

U.S. attorneys, law enforcement target heroin, opioid trafficking, overdoses

Posted at 8:42 pm August 26, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Bill Killian

William C. “Bill” Killian

DETROIT—U.S. attorneys and leaders of federal law enforcement agencies from across six states met in Detroit on August 26, 2015, to share strategies to combat the heroin and prescription pill epidemic across the region.

U.S. Attorney William C. Killian of the Eastern District of Tennessee was among those who attended.

The summit was called in response to the national epidemic of heroin and prescription pill abuse that has hit Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, particularly hard. Heroin overdose deaths in the United States have tripled from 2010 to 2013. Nationally, the number of deaths from all drug overdoses exceeded 43,000 last year, more deaths than from traffic accidents. Heroin use in the United States has doubled from 2007 to 2012.

In the Midwest, opioid deaths have increased 62 percent. The summit seeks to target this national and regional problem by dismantling drug trafficking organizations that distribute heroin and prescription pills and by increasing prevention and educational efforts. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, Police and Fire, U.S. Tagged With: ATF, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Daniel Salter, DEA, Drug Enforcement Administration, drug overdoses, Eastern District of Tennessee, FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation, heroin, heroin overdose, Heroin Task Force, HIDTA, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, Homeland Security Investigations, HSI, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, IRS-CI, Kentucky, law enforcement, Michigan, OCDETF, Ohio, opioid deaths, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, Pennsylvania, prescription pill, prescription pill epidemic, Tennessee, U.S. attorneys, U.S. Attorneys Offices, West Virginia, William C. Killian

FBI releases composite sketches in kidnappings, extortions at Y-12 FCU, SmartBank

Posted at 12:35 pm August 26, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

FBI Press Conference Composite Sketches Extortion, Kidnapping

The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Knoxville on Wednesday released composite sketches of two subjects and one person of interest in alleged kidnappings and extortions involving Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge in April and SmartBank in Knoxville in July. Pictured above are FBI Knoxville Special Agent in Charge Edward Reinhold, center; Knox County Sheriff’s Office Major Michael MacLean, right; and Knoxville Police Department Deputy Chief Nate Allen. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2 p.m.

KNOXVILLE—The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday released composite sketches on two subjects and one person of interest in alleged kidnappings and extortions involving Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge in April and SmartBank in Knoxville in July.

See descriptions of the three below.

Here is the FBI press release:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Knox County, Knoxville, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Slider, U.S. Tagged With: composite sketches, extortion, FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation, kidnapping, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Police Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, reward, SmartBank, Y-12 Federal Credit Union

FBI asks for public’s help catching suspects in kidnappings, extortions at two banks

Posted at 4:14 pm August 20, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Ed Reinhold

Edward Reinhold, special agent in charge for FBI Knoxville, asks for the public’s help catching two suspects involved in two alleged kidnapping and extortion plots at banks in Oak Ridge and Knoxville. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

KNOXVILLE—The Federal Bureau of Investigation is asking for the public’s help in catching the suspects involved in the kidnappings and extortions involving Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge and SmartBank in Knoxville. The FBI is also working with bank employees to ensure they know what to do in the future and to be aware of their surroundings.

On Wednesday, the FBI announced a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to the identification and arrests of the suspects. They’ve released descriptions of two white male suspects.

“The only way we can prevent this from happening is to catch these guys,” said Edward Reinhold, special agent in charge at the FBI Knoxville. The FBI had a Thursday afternoon press conference at its Knoxville office on Dowell Springs Road.

Agents are asking members of the public who might know anything to step forward. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Knox County, Knoxville, Knoxville, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Police, Police and Fire, Slider, Top Stories, U.S. Tagged With: Edward Reinhold, extortion, FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation, kidnapping, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Police Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, reward, SmartBank, Y-12 Federal Credit Union

FBI offers reward up to $20,000 for info on kidnapping, extortion at Y-12 FCU, SmartBank

Posted at 12:02 am August 20, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Police Department at Y-12 Federal Credit Union

Oak Ridge Police Department officers were at the Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge on Tuesday morning (April 28, 2015). The branch will remain closed Wednesday, although the credit union’s headquarters will be open. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 12:10 a.m.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to the identification and arrests of the suspects in the kidnappings and extortions involving Y-12 Federal Credit Union and SmartBank.

The FBI, Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and Oak Ridge Police Department are asking the public to help identify and locate the people responsible for the kidnappings and extortions.

The FBI said that on April 28, at approximately 8:15 a.m., a Y-12 Federal Credit Union employee and his family were kidnapped from their residence and held hostage at gunpoint.

While the family was held hostage, the employee was coerced to attempt to remove money from the Y-12 Federal Credit Union at 501 Lafayette Drive in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Federal, Front Page News, Government, Knox County, Knoxville, Knoxville, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Police, Police and Fire, Slider, Top Stories, U.S. Tagged With: extortion, FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation, kidnapping, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Police Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, SmartBank, suspects, Y-12 Federal Credit Union

Attorney: Police chief did not violate federal law by carrying firearm

Posted at 3:48 pm June 30, 2015
By John Huotari 20 Comments

James T. Akagi

James T. Akagi

Note: This story was last updated at 10:05 p.m.

Answer pending on question of state law; POST has no current investigation

Federal officials have concluded that Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi did not violate federal law while carrying a firearm during divorce proceedings several years ago, the chief’s attorney said in a letter received by state officials this month.

In April, the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, or POST, asked state and federal authorities to investigate whether Akagi violated state and federal laws by possessing a firearm after being issued an ex parte order of protection during divorce proceedings in Blount County three years ago.

Tasha C. Blakney, Akagi’s attorney, summarized a conversation with Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Cook about the inquiry in a June 12 letter that was copied to Ray Farris, assistant director of POST. On Monday, Oak Ridge Today requested an update from POST, which certifies law enforcement officers in Tennessee, and received a copy of the letter.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Tennessee, Top Stories, U.S. Tagged With: divorce proceedings, ex parte order of protection, James T. Akagi, Jim Akagi, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge police chief, order of protection, Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, POST, Ray Farris, Steven H. Cook

Investigation continues, suspect info released in Y-12 FCU kidnapping, extortion

Posted at 5:03 pm May 6, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Police Department at Y-12 Federal Credit Union

Oak Ridge Police Department officers and detectives responded to the Y-12 Federal Credit Union on Tuesday morning, April 28, for what was later reported to be a kidnapping and extortion plot involving a credit union employee’s family and the Oak Ridge branch of the credit union.

 

Authorities continue to investigate a kidnapping and extortion plot involving the Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge last week, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation has released some information describing the three suspects.

The alleged kidnapping and extortion started at about 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, April 28, when a credit union employee’s family was kidnapped from the Whittington Creek neighborhood in west Knox County in an effort to extort money from the credit union, the FBI said in a press release on Wednesday.

“The employee’s family was held at gunpoint for a period of time before being released in the Gettysvue Country Club parking lot in Knoxville, around 9:25 a.m.,” the release said. “Upon being released, the victims were able to seek help from a nearby residence. During the law enforcement response, the suspects fled and remain at large. No injuries were reported, and no money was taken from the credit union.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Knox County, Knoxville, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Police, Police and Fire, Slider, Top Stories, U.S. Tagged With: extortion, FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation, kidnapping, Knox County, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Police Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, Whittington Creek, Y-12 FCU, Y-12 Federal Credit Union

FBI, ORPD, Knox respond to bank robbery, kidnapping report at Y-12 FCU

Posted at 5:05 pm April 28, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Police Department at Y-12 Federal Credit Union

Oak Ridge Police Department officers were at the Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge on Tuesday morning. The branch will remain closed Wednesday, although the credit union’s headquarters will be open.

 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oak Ridge Police Department responded to the Y-12 Federal Credit Union at 501 Lafayette Drive on Tuesday on a report of a bank robbery, kidnapping, and extortion.

Preliminary reports indicate that at about 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, an employee of the credit union and the employee’s family were threatened in an attempt to obtain money from the credit union, an FBI press release said. The employee’s family was held for a period of time before being released in the Gettysvue Country Club parking lot in Knoxville at around 9:25 a.m. During the law enforcement response, the suspects fled, and no injuries have been reported, and no money was taken from the credit union. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Knox County, Oak Ridge, Police, Police and Fire, Slider, U.S. Tagged With: 2013 Oak Ridge Women’s Workshop, bank robbery, extortion, FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation, kidnapping, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Northshore Drive, robbery, Whittington Creek, Whittington Creek Boulevard, Y-12 Federal Credit Union

Police respond to Y-12 Credit Union, which closes, but not clear why

Posted at 1:18 pm April 28, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Police Department at Y-12 Federal Credit Union

Oak Ridge Police Department officers were at the Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge on Tuesday morning. The credit union was cordoned off and then closed, but it’s not clear why.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1:42 p.m.

The Oak Ridge Police Department responded to the Y-12 Federal Credit Union on Tuesday morning, and the bank was cordoned off and then closed but it’s not clear why.

The ORPD has referred questions to the FBI office in Knoxville and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.

The call to the ORPD came in at about 9:15 a.m. Tuesday. Officers blocked the entrance to the credit union, and at one point, they visually checked cars in a parking lot across Midland Road from the bank.

ORPD detectives were at the scene and remained there for at least a few hours afterward. The Credit Union is near the intersection of Lafayette Drive and South Illinois Avenue. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Knox County, Oak Ridge, Police, Police and Fire, Slider, Top Stories, U.S. Tagged With: FBI, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Lafayette Drive, Midland Road, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Police Department, ORPD, South Illinois Avenue, Y-12 Federal Credit Union

Roane sheriff plays role in indictment, conviction of Chattanooga pain clinic owner

Posted at 10:15 pm January 28, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

Jack Stockton

Jack Stockton

The Roane County Sheriff’s Department was one of several law enforcement agencies that took part in an investigation that led to the indictment and conviction of the owner of two pain clinics, or “pill mills,” in Chattanooga, authorities said.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation were also involved in the investigation that led to the convictions of four people, including Barbara Lang, a.k.a. “Aunt Bea,” 60, of Rossville, Georgia, who owned and operated Superior One Pain Clinic and Primary Care Pain Clinic in Chattanooga, federal officials said.

Lang was convicted of drug trafficking and financial crimes. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Police and Fire, Roane County, Top Stories, U.S. Tagged With: Aunt Bea, Barbara Lang, Charles Larmore, Chattanooga Police Department, drug conspiracy, Drug Enforcement Administration, drug trafficking, Elite Care, Faith Blake, financial crimes, Gregg L. Sullivan, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Internal Revenue Service, IRS, Jack Stockton, Jerome Sherard, medication, Michael D. Porter, narcotics, opioids, oxycodone, pain clinic, pill mill, pills, Primary Care Pain Clinic, Roane County Sheriff's Department, Rockwood Police Department, Sherard Clinic, Superior One Pain Clinic, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tracy Stone, U.S. Attorneys' Office, U.S. District Court, Xanax

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