Reward Offered for Capture of Convicted Murderer Steven L. Robbins

Cory B. Nelson, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Darrel K. McPherson, U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois, have announced a reward offer in connection with the search for Steven L. Robbins, the individual serving time in Indiana for murder who was mistakenly released from custody earlier this week. The FBI and Marshals Service are offering a combined reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to the apprehension of Robbins.

The FBI and the Marshals Service have joined the Chicago Police Department and the Cook County Sheriff’s Police in the ongoing manhunt for Robbins, who disappeared January 30 following a court appearance in Chicago on charges unrelated to those that resulted in his Indiana conviction.

The public is cautioned that Robbins should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call Cook County’s tip line at 847-635-1188 or local law enforcement.

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Seth Ferrant's New Book "Gorilla Convict" Gives the Scoop on Prison Life and the Urban Gangster

Gorilla Convict: The Prison Writings of Seth Ferrantiis a selected compilation of Seth's work that has appeared on his long running blog at gorillaconvict.com. Online since 2005, the blog gives the scoop on street legends, the mafia, prison gangs, hip-hop and hustling and life in the belly of the beast.

What makes this collection so unique is that Seth writes his blog and stories from his cell block in the Federal Bureau of Prisons where he has spent nearly two decades in prison. He founded the Gorilla Convict web site from prison, and his intriguing and amazing stories have created a large and dedicated audience from prison.

From stories on Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff to Freeway Ricky Ross to 50 Cent to Miami rapper Rick Ross and everything in between, Seth has become one of the most prolific and influential prison writers of the last decade. He has written feature articles for street magazine like Don Diva and F.E.D.S., among others. Seth Ferranti is the voice of the convict, and the most potent voice for life on the streets.

Gorilla Convict gives the reader real, raw and in your face stories that have not been written from the mainstream news media point of view. They are written by a man who understands the criminal and convict codes and who lives and resides with the men he writes about in the belly of the beast. This collection of crime, prison and street lore is as inside as you can get. The men Seth writes about don't grant interviews, but they did with him because he has shared prison time with them and he has their trust.

Seth has also documented his prison journey in several other books that bring real life gangster tales to life. They include Street Legends Vol. 1 and 2 and The Supreme Team: The Birth of Crack and Hip-Hop, Prince's Reign of Terror, and the Supreme/50 Cent Beef Exposed.

Seth Ferranti is not an historian or a member of law enforcement or a reporter for a daily newspaper. He is a storyteller with access to the men who have inspired Hollywood, hip-hop and popular culture. And he weaves their stories honestly and dramatically.

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Dixie Mafia to Air on Saturday, February 2nd

DIXIE MAFIA, airing Saturday, February 2 at 10PM ET/PT, is a one-hour special that tells the true story of Mississippi's battles with organized crime. Responsible for dozens of murders and countless other crimes, the Dixie Mafia rose to power in Biloxi during the 1960’s, and their reign of terror lasted decades. Now their torch has been taken up by a new gang, equally corrupt and equally dangerous. DIXIE MAFIA shows the rise and fall of real American gangsters, taking viewers into the lives of the crime bosses, organization members and law enforcement officers that still battle in America's deep south.

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Warren Ballentine, Host of National Talk Radio Show, Indicted in $9.7 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme

A suburban Chicago lawyer who hosts a national radio talk show was indicted on federal charges for allegedly engaging in two mortgage fraud schemes that defrauded lenders of a total of approximately $9.7 million. The defendant, Warren Ballentine, allegedly schemed with others to obtain more than two dozen fraudulent mortgage loans and represented buyers at multiple closings, knowing that they were fraudulently qualified for loans to purchase homes in Chicago and various southern suburbs.

Ballentine, 41, of Durham, North Carolina, and formerly of Country Club Hills, owns the Law Office of Warren Ballentine LLC in Country Club Hills. He was charged with two counts of bank fraud, two counts of making false statements to lenders, and one count each of mail fraud and wire fraud in a six-count indictment returned last Thursday by a federal grand jury. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of approximately $9,775,000 in alleged fraud proceeds.

Ballentine is scheduled to be arraigned at 9:30 a.m. on February 5 before U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly in Federal Court in Chicago.

The indictment was announced today by Gary S. Shapiro, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Cory B. Nelson, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Thomas P. Brady, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Chicago.

According to the indictment, between December 2004 and February 2005, Ballentine schemed with others to fraudulently cause various lenders to make at least eight loans totaling approximately $3.6 million by making false statements in loan documents, including applications, HUD-1 settlement statements, and occupancy statements concerning the buyers’ intention to occupy the homes they purchased as a primary residence. Ballentine then represented buyers recruited by others at real estate closings, knowing that they had signed and submitted false documents and had been fraudulently qualified to purchase the properties in Chicago, Monee, Woodridge, and Mokena.

Between February 2005 and May 2006, Ballentine allegedly engaged in a similar, separate scheme with others to fraudulently cause various lenders to make at least 20 loans totaling approximately $6.1 million by making false statements in mortgage documents, including the buyers’ intention to occupy the homes as a primary residence. Ballentine also represented these buyers at closings, knowing that they had been fraudulently qualified for the loans based on false documents, including some that Ballentine advised them to sign at closings. These homes were scattered throughout Chicago and other suburbs, including Country Club Hills, Richton Park, and Markham.

Each count of the indictment carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine or, as an alternative, the court may impose a fine of twice the gross gain or twice the loss, whichever is greater, and restitution is mandatory. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.

The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Yonan.

The Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch and, with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes. For more information on the task force, visit www.stopfraud.gov.

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Former Chicago Police Officer, Ali Haleem, Charged with Attempted Extortion of Tow Truck Driver and Selling Guns to Felon

A former Chicago Police officer was charged today with attempting to extort a cash bribe to steer business to a tow truck owner and also with selling three firearms to the same towing operator, who is also a convicted felon. The defendant, Ali Haleem, was charged as part of Operation Tow Scam, a federal investigation of past bribery and extortion involving police officers and towing operators in several Chicago Police districts.

Haleem is the 11th Chicago Police officer to be charged in the corruption probe since 2008. So far, seven officers and three civilians, including two tow truck drivers, have been convicted. Charges are pending against three other officers who were charged last fall.

Haleem, 45, of Chicago, a police officer from 1994 to 2012, was assigned to the 8th District, also known as Chicago Lawn. He was assigned to desk duty after being confronted by law enforcement authorities in 2008 until he resigned last September. He was charged with one count of attempted extortion and two counts of selling firearms to a convicted felon in a criminal information that was filed today. No date has been set yet for his arraignment in U.S. District Court.

The charges were announced by Gary S. Shapiro, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Cory B. Nelson, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Garry McCarthy, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.

According to the charges, between March 13 and 20, 2008, Haleem attempted to extort Individual A, who owned a towing business, and who unbeknownst to Haleem was cooperating with law enforcement at the time.

On December 11, 2007, Haleem allegedly sold a .32 caliber semi-automatic pistol and a .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol to Individual A, knowing that Individual A was a convicted felon. On March 13, 2008, Haleem allegedly sold a 9mm semi-automatic pistol to Individual A, knowing that Individual A was a convicted felon. The indictment seeks forfeiture of the three firearms.

The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Donovan.

Attempted extortion carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, while each count of delivering a firearm to a convicted felon carries a maximum of 10 years in prison, and all three counts carry a $250,000 maximum fine. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.

The public is reminded that the charges are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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