PI News Round-up - August 7, 2008

PInow.com Weekly News Round-up

August 7, 2008

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This week, these were the news stories that kept PInow.com staff talking:

PIs Help Set a Wrongfully Accused Man Free
NEW YORK, NY – In 1994, Kareem Bellamy was arrested because a cashier who had been present during a murder thought that she had identified him at the scene and led authorities to Bellamy. Bellamy was convicted on scant evidence and contacted attorney Thomas Hoffman for help. The law firm of Darin P. McAtee of Cravath, Swaine & Moore decided to take on the case pro bono. They hired private investigators to look into the Bellamy case. The PIs on the case were former homicide detective Edward Hensen and retired FBI agent Joseph O’Brien. While conducting the investigation, a man told the PIs that he had a friend, Leon Melvin, who had admitted to the murder that Bellamy was convicted for.
	Read full article and comment	Source: The New York Times, August 5, 2008

Book of the Week

Identity Theft Investigations

Investigating identity theft is becoming increasingly common as more and more people are exposed to this crime in their everyday lives. Identity Theft Investigations brings all the information on investigating identity theft into a single volume. Learn how to identify identity theft cases, investigate crimes of identity theft, assist the victims and prosecute the crime.

Learn More! | Buy Now!

Detectives Uncover Plot
BALTIMORE, MD - Walter Mitchell, accused of first- and second-degree sex offenses, assault and weapons violations attempted to hire a hit man before his trial in order to intimidate his victim and prevent her from taking the stand. A detective posed as a hit man and Mitchell now faces additional charges. PI Sharon Weidenfeld had been working on the case and found witnesses and the victim reluctant to speak out.
	Read full article and comment	Source: The Examiner, August 6, 2008

PIs Uncover Olympic Ticket Scammer
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - Sydney PI Ken Gamble has discovered that a British man, Terance Shepherd, may be behind the Olympic ticket scam. The scam involves a complicated web of fake websites, legitimate websites and oversold tickets. The result is simple: people who paid to attend Olympic events did not get valid tickets after paying. Money for the tickets was never refunded. Shepherd has been involved in Internet fraud and ticket scams before.
	Read full article and comment	Source: The Australian, August 6, 2008

CIA Operative, PI, and Howard Hughes Confidant Passes Away
LAS VEGAS, NV - Robert A. Maheu was a confidant of Howard Hughes and also worked as a CIA operative and a PI. He died of congestive heart failure in a Nevada hospital at age 90. In the early 1950s, Maheu worked for the FBI and later became a PI. His list of clients included the CIA. He was involved in a case that involved a plot to poison Fidel Castro.
	Read full article and comment	Source: USA Today, August 6, 2008

Government Contract/RFP of the Week

Raleign, NC - Background Investigations

The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) intends to contract with independent contractors who are trained and experienced in conducting national and international pre-employment, contractor and vendor background investigations. In addition, the contractors will be responsible for updating backgrounds periodically on personnel, contractors and vendors already employed or providing service to the NCEL.

To view more details click here. Please note: To view this you must be a member of the PInow.com Yahoo! Group - membership is FREE! State and government contracts can provide investigators with steady, recurring revenue. Many PInow.com advertisers have been awarded contracts such as these as a result of being listed with us.