'Massive' $200M Credit Card Fraud

Eighteen people have been charged in what federal prosecutors in New Jersey called one of the largest credit card fraud schemes ever uncovered by the U.S. Department of Justice, spanning 28 states and eight countries. "The defendants are part of a massive international fraud enterprise involving thousands of false identities, fraudulent identification documents, doctored credit reports and more than $200 million in confirmed losses," FBI Special Agent James Simpson said in court records. According to court records, the scheme involved three basic steps: The defendants allegedly created thousands of fake identities, pumped up the credit histories of those fictitious people and then racked up charges on fraudulently obtained credit cards. "Due to the massive scope of the fraud, which involved over 25,000 fraudulent credit cards, loss calculations are ongoing and final confirmed losses may grow substantially," Simpson said. The proceeds, authorities said, were used for luxury automobiles, electronics, spa treatments, high-end clothing and millions of dollars in gold. Authorities said the fraudsters also stockpiled large sums of case and approximately $70,000 in cash was found in one defendant's oven. Though the scheme targeted credit card companies, Paul Fishman, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, said customers everywhere could feel the impact.

Probe of 'American Sniper' shooting death continues

Texas authorities probing the weekend shooting deaths of former Navy SEAL and American Sniper author Chris Kyle and another man at a Texas gun range are looking into whether the suspect, a former Marine and Iraq War veteran, might have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. Police in Erath County, Texas, have not given a motive for the fatal shootings Saturday of Kyle, 38, and Chad Littlefield, 35, at the Rough Creek Lodge west of Glen Rose. Capt. Jason Upshaw of the Erath County sheriff's office said Sunday that the suspect, Eddie Ray Routh, 25, had made no statements to indicate a motive for the shootings.

Muhammad Ali enjoying his Superbowl

A family friend has released a photograph of Ali with his dukes up and rooting for the Super Bowl Champions, the Ravens. He's sitting up, all purple everything, enjoying the game on television.

Man with $70M check: Customs nabs former bank chief

A man with a $70M check was caught by customs. The man is said to be Iran's former central bank chief and according to FOX News, he was trying to enter Germany when the check was found in his carry-on luggage. The man now faces a $1.4M fine because he failed to declare the money upon speaking with customs. "German customs had issued a statement Friday saying a check for 300 million Venezuelan Bolivars issued by the Bank of Venezuela was found on an unnamed 59-year-old man," FOX News reported. That man was later identified as Tahmasb Mazaheri. The man with the $70M check is currently being investigated and the check (and its origin) are also being looking in to. Authorities believe that he may have been laundering money, which is a crime. It is unclear whether or not he is in police custody at this time, but it is believed that he is being held pending an investigation. The check was impounded by customs at the time it was found. It seems like Mazaheri was trying to hide something, given the fact that he didn't declare the money. It is possible that he stole the money and was trying to escape Iran. His flight in to Germany arrived from Turkey, which could be another piece to this puzzle. The man with the $70M check could wind up in jail depending on what officials uncover. © Effie Orfanides 2013

Mexico vigilantes bring 'charges' against 53

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Vigilantes who have taken up arms against drug cartel violence and common crime in southern Mexico announced Thursday they will bring charges ranging from organized crime to kidnapping and extortion against 50 men and three women who they have been holding prisoner at improvised jails. Villagers armed with hunting rifles, old pistols and small-bore shotguns set up armed patrols and roadblocks in the township of Ayutla almost one month ago to defend their communities against crime, saying authorities have failed to bring peace and safety to the Pacific coast state of Guerrero. So far, the state government has tolerated but not formally recognized the self-defense squads. The growing movement toward self-policing, which has since spread to other towns in Guerrero, has sparked concern among human rights officials who say residents shouldn't be allowed to take the law into their own hands.

Report: Missing NYC woman found dead in Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A New York City woman who went missing while vacationing alone in Istanbul was found dead on Saturday, and police were questioning 11 people in connection with the case, Turkey's state-run news agency said. Sarai Sierra, a 33-year-old mother of two, was last heard from on Jan. 21, the day she was to fly home. Her disappearance attracted a lot of interest in Turkey, where the disappearance of tourists is rare, and Istanbul police had set up a special unit to find her. The state-run Anadolu Agency said the body of a woman was discovered Saturday evening near the remnants of ancient city walls and that police later identified it as Sierra's. The agency said she was found with a head wound and a blanket near her body. She was wearing jeans, a jumper and a jacket, and still had her earrings and a bracelet. Police reached by The Associated Press refused to comment on the case.

Boxer Omar Henry dies at 25

Boxer Omar Henry craved the spotlight and hoped one day to become the undisputed super welterweight champion. Sadly, though, Henry only became a star in death, when he died at 25 Friday in a Chicago hospital following a short fight with gall bladder cancer. Henry, who was 12-0-1, was supposed to fight on Showtime on Nov. 16. But he didn't feel well a few days before the fight, went to see his doctor and was diagnosed with Stage 4 gall bladder cancer. He posted a series of heart-wrenching messages on his Facebook fan page in which he pleaded for prayers and support. Perhaps the most tragic was his Jan. 9 post, when he said he hoped to live to celebrate his 26th birthday on Feb. 8.