Crime Time

'Most Wanted' Fort Worth sex offender captured

An anonymous tip led police to a Fort Worth man who was listed as one of the state's Top 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced Thursday morning. Derrick Dion Christopher, 38, is now in custody. He was wanted for failure to register as a sex offender and for a parole violation. Christopher criminal history includes a 2007 conviction for indecency with a child involving a Tarrant County 11-year-old. The tipster will receive a $3,000 cash reward. - Lois Norder

McKinney used car dealer draws 15-year federal prison sentence

Richard Alan Arledge of McKinney has been sentenced to 188 months in prison for his role in helping drug dealers launder money. Arledge operated a car dealership that catered to criminal customers, according to the U.S. Justice Department. He would sell criminals Bentleys, Aston Martins and other luxury vehicles, accepting cash in pillowcases, shrink-wrapped plastic, even fast-food paper bags. He then promised the buyers not to report the transactions. The 55-year-old owner of Richard Arledge Suzuki is the latest to be sentenced for the money laundering scheme. Fourteen others have been convicted or pleaded guilty. 

Crime is (almost) all in the family in oil & gas scheme

A fraudulent investment scheme allowed a 69-year-old Plano ex-con and his two sons to live the good life. They had luxury vehicles, owned a Picasso, expensive jewelry and wine, boats, jade and antiques. They won't be enjoying them much from their new location, in federal prison. U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks announced Thursday that father William Anthony Rand, was sentenced to five and one-half years in prison, and sons Gregory Keith Rand, 46, and William Nicholas Rand, 41, both of Dallas, had been sentenced to 18 years and 14 years, respectively. They also ordered to pay $99.7 million in restitution and to forfeit other ill-gotten property. Another son, Mark Albert Rand, 45, of Plano is awaiting sentencing, as is another man, Joel William Petersen, 44, of Frisco. Operating Aspen Exploration, the managing partner of oil and gas well programs, among other things the men forgot to tell investors some pertinent details, such as the elder Rand's Arkansas convictions for bank fraud and money laundering and his previous time in federal prison.  

Former Saginaw man prison-bound on child pornography charges

Saginaw police investigating a possible sexual assault of a child last year obtained a search warrant for the computer of a 34-year-old man and found numerous images of child pornography and two videos. The man, Matthew Merideth, told the Justice Department he was attempting to hunt down people preying on children. Monday, Merideth was sentenced to the maximum of 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to a two-count indictment, an Amarillo station reported. 

Loan officers facing prison in local mortgage scheme

No one seems to have a corner on dishonesty. Real estate agents, mortgage brokers, property appraisers, title company attorneys, property flippers and escrow officers were among 40 people who conspired to get loans on properties with inflated values, prosecutors say. The scheme worked for a while. They got homes in Arlington, Fort Worth, Keller, Roanoke, Southlake and other cities, according to an indictment. So far, 37 people have pleaded guilty. Last week, a jury convicted two other North Texas women  - loan officers who falsified loan applications. Each faces up to 20 years in federal prison. The final defendant goes to trial this fall.

Ex-NYC police commissioner pleads guilty to 8 felonies

Following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik was called a hero.

Today, he's an admitted felon after pleading guilty Thursday in federal court to eight felonies, including lying to the White House, on tax returns and a loan application. Kerik had been the first nominee of former President George W. Bush to be the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Under his plea agreement, the main corruption charges against Kerik were dropped.

-- Lance Murray