Ex- NYC stock trader pleads guilty to stealing $16M from friends, clients for lavish lifestyle

September 30th, 2009 Former Danielle Steel aide pleads guilty to fraudSAN FRANCISCO — A former aide to Danielle Steel is facing time in federal prison after admitting she stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from the romance novelist. Federal prosecutors announced Monday that 47-year-old Kristy Watts, who also goes by the name Kristy Siegrist, pleaded guilty last week to one count of wire fraud and four counts of tax evasion.

September 30th, 2009 NY businessman pleads guilty to terror financingNEW YORK — A New York businessman accused of trying to funnel money to a terrorist training camp in Afghanistan pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of terrorism financing and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari entered his plea before a federal judge in Manhattan.

September 25th, 2009 UBS client from NJ pleads guilty to hiding assetsNEWARK, N.J. — A New Jersey client of the international banking giant UBS has pleaded guilty to concealing more than $6 million in assets in Swiss bank accounts.

September 22nd, 2009 Mass. postal worker admits to stealing 30,000 DVDsSPRINGFIELD, Mass. — A former postal service employee has pleaded guilty to stealing more than 30,000 DVDs that moved through a western Massachusetts post office.

September 22nd, 2009 Woman pleads guilty in San Diego court bombingSAN DIEGO — The last of three defendants charged with detonating a pipe bomb outside the federal courthouse in San Diego has pleaded guilty. Rachelle Carlock pleaded guilty Tuesday to possession and use of a destructive device to commit a crime of violence.

August 28th, 2009 Ex-CIA spy's son pleads guilty to conspiracyPORTLAND, Ore. — The son of an ex-CIA spy has pleaded guilty to conspiracy after admitting he met with his father's former Russian handlers and accepted money from them.

August 23rd, 2009 Conn. priest convicted of $1M theft dies in prisonBRIDGEPORT, Conn. — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport says a Connecticut priest who pleaded guilty to stealing more than $1 million from a Darien parish to support a lavish lifestyle has died.

August 13th, 2009 Former soldier pleads guilty to stealing $400,000HONOLULU — A former Army captain accused of stealing $400,000 in cash from the U.S. government while stationed at Kandahar Air Base in Afghanistan has pleaded guilty to theft and money laundering charges.

July 3rd, 2009 Pa. man pleads guilty to smuggling gun on to planePHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia man faces up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to boarding a US Airways flight while carrying a concealed weapon. Twenty-nine-year-old Damien Young pleaded guilty Thursday to sneaking a handgun into Philadelphia International Airport and onto a flight bound for Phoenix on June 4.

June 18th, 2009 Pellicano pleads not guilty to LA reporter threatsLOS ANGELES — Former Hollywood private eye Anthony Pellicano has pleaded not guilty to threatening a Los Angeles Times reporter who wrote about one of his high-powered clients. Pellicano and the man he allegedly hired to threaten journalist Anita Busch both pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Los Angeles to conspiracy and making criminal threats.

May 12th, 2009 Lawyer pleads guilty to huge fraudNEW YORK — A Prominent Manhattan lawyer has pleaded guilty to defrauding hedge funds of more than $400 million. Fifty-eight-year-old Marc Dreier on Monday pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud, securities fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.

May 12th, 2009 Businessman pleads guilty in NY pension probeNEW YORK — A California businessman has pleaded guilty to securities fraud in connection with an investigation of alleged corruption at New York's public pension fund. The attorney general's office said Tuesday Julio (HOO'-lee-oh) Ramirez entered into a corrupt agreement with a top political aide to former New York Comptroller Alan Hevesi (HE'-vuh-see) to ensure that his company's clients got a slice of pension fund investments.

May 5th, 2009 Woman pleads guilty to theft from nonprofitWASHINGTON — The former finance director of the nonprofit National Children's Alliance pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing from the organization that helps child abuse victims. Sharon Martin of Upper Marlboro, Md., admitted she stole eight payroll paychecks totaling more than $15,800.

April 30th, 2009 Tenn. financier pleads guilty in bank fraud caseNASHVILLE, Tenn. — Prosecutors say a Tennessee financial adviser has pleaded guilty to criminal charges in the first fraud case related to the federal bank bailout program.

April 24th, 2009 Williams pleads guilty to traffic violationsSAN DIEGO — Chargers defensive tackle Jamal Williams pleaded guilty to two traffic violations on Thursday as part of a plea deal stemming from his arrest Feb. 1. Williams had been arrested on suspicion of DUI, but the San Diego City Attorney's office decided to charge him with misdemeanor reckless driving after his blood-alcohol level showed 0.07 percent, under the state limit of 0.08.