Reporting: U.S. aims to track ‘untraceable’ prepaid cash cards
Update: The Network Branded Prepaid Card Association responds here.
Cross-posted from msnbc.com’s Open Channel blog, where it originally appeared. To read it in context, click here.
Right: Steve Streit, chief executive of prepaid access card firm Green Dot, told CNBC last year how the cards work.
By M. Alex Johnson
msnbc.com reporter
As the federal government tells it, the money men behind the Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers would never have been identified had they not been lousy bankers:
“The 9/11 hijackers opened U.S. bank accounts, had face-to-face dealings with bank employees, signed signature cards and received wire transfers, all of which left financial footprints. Law enforcement was able to follow the trail, identify the hijackers and trace them back to their terror cells and confederates abroad.”
That’s from a Treasury Department assessment of financial security threats in 2005. It went on to warn that the terrorists could have quietly moved large sums of money into or out of the U.S.:
“Had the 9/11 terrorists used prepaid … cards to cover their expenses, none of these financial footprints would have been available.”
Police Blotter of the Day: Carlisle man charged again for smuggling ribs in his pants
After going three months without getting in trouble, a Carlisle man was back in police custody Sunday afternoon after trying to steal a rack or ribs by sticking them in his pants.
Carlisle police said Donald Noone, 65, attempted to pull the same stunt on May 22 at the Giant on South Spring Garden Street.
Both times, Noone was found to be “highly intoxicated” when he tried to steal the meat, police said.
Full story (Carlisle, Pa., Sentinel)
Why I Love Local News: Bull semen forces closure of interstate ramp
Canisters of bull semen caused quite a scare on the on-ramp to Interstate 65 South Tuesday morning.
The canisters fell off a Greyhound bus just after 5 a.m. as the bus traveled around the curve of the ramp just south of downtown Nashville.
Fire and emergency crews were called to the scene amid reports of a foul odor. …
Officials traced the containers to Greyhound after finding bus tickets on the ground. The bus did not know it lost its load and had continued on. …
Greyhound said the sperm was stored in a separate compartment below the bus and not near the belongings of passengers.
Well, that’s a relief.
Full story (WKRN-TV of Nashville, Tenn.)
Police Blotter of the Day: 12-year-old cracks burglary case before cops
ATLANTA — A 12-year-old girl who attended a summer program at the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office that teaches youth how crime fighting works wasted no time putting the things she learned to good use.
Jessica Maple learned well enough to teach the pros.
Just as she attended a forensics class, someone burglarized the home of Jessica’s late, great-grandmother in Fitzgerald, Ga.
Jessica investigated, and found where the burglars broke in. The police had missed it. …
And then, believe it or not, she and her mom drove to the guy’s house and confronted him.
“And he said he did it,” said Jessica. …
At last check, police still haven’t made an arrest. …
“No, I don’t know what’s taking them so long,” said Jessica.
Full story (WSB-TV/Atlanta)
Police Blotter of the Day: A new meaning for ‘panty raid’
Detectives from the Dallas Police Departments Crimes Against Persons Unit are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying and locating an aggravated robbery suspect who robbed the Exxon Tigermart at 2503 Lemmon Ave. This offense took place on August 16, 2011 at 5:25 AM. The case was documented on report #216965-Y.
In the attached surveillance video, the suspect is seen entering the store wearing what appears to be a black and white flower dress with white boots. His face is also covered with what appears to be under garments. He demands money from the cashier and a patron while holding what could possibly be a gun under the dress. He then flees the store in an unknown direction. The suspect is described as a white male, 5’05” and weighing 145 lbs.
Anyone with information on this suspect or this offense suspect is asked to call the Dallas Police Robbery Unit at (214) 671-3464.
Full posting (Dallas Police Department via The Dallas Observer)
Police Blotter of the Day: You have the right to remain … zzzzz
While conducting the search officers heard a noise coming from on top of a large refrigeration unit. Officer located Israel Cortes age 35 of Ewing sleeping on top of the unit in the basement. Cortes had been hiding when he fell asleep. As he slept he began to snore which drew the officer’s attention.
Full police statement (South Brunswick Towbnship, N.J., Police Department)
Police Blotter of the Day: Deputies hook up naked angler
That’s not a lure, kids:
“Deputies arrested a 54-year-old Spokane Valley man Sunday after he was spotted fishing naked on the west bank of West Medical Lake.
“A father fishing with his two young sons complained to the resort manager after he spotted Dean H. Meginniss fishing completely naked about 2:15 p.m. He told deputies by phone that the suspect stood up in full view of the kids as their boat moved down the lake. …
“Resort staff reported that they had been receiving complaints off and all throughout this summer of a man fishing naked along the lakeshore.”
Full report (.pdf) (Spokane County, Wash., Sheriff’s Office)
Net benefit?
“The Web helped make activities fun.”
That’s the caption on a photo topping a New York Times essay, the thesis of which appears to be: Gosh! You can use the Web for more than work!
Here’s a screenshot in case the caption is edited later:
Barefoot Sean Penn looks like he’s having a ball, doesn’t he? Which, according to the Times, would have been impossible before the Web was invented 20 years ago, because activities weren’t fun until then.
Police Blotter of the Day: Man flees taxi without paying, leaves ID and bong
Pro tip: If you’re planning to rip off your cabbie, don’t do this:
“At 3:38 a.m. Aug. 4, in the 400 block of Poplar Drive, Porter opened the door and ran away, leaving his backpack, which the driver promptly turned over to Wilmette Police, according to the police report.
“It included:
“• A marijuana smoking device
“• A timecard with the man’s name on it
“• A t-shirt
“• A can of V8
“• A bottle of water
“• An opened tin of mint chewing tobacco
“• A blue lighter
“• Keys
“• 8 cents in change”
Full story (Chicago Tribune)
Police Blotter of the Day: Police urge holster use after man shoots his own penis
“In the wake the accident, police are warning armed residents to use holsters, not waistbands.
“The movies and TV shows, like Sons of Anarchy, that show tough guys with guns shoved into their jeans are not realistic, Chandler Police Detective Seth Tyler said Sunday.
“The cops and robbers of the silver screen most likely use rubber weapons, which weigh far less than the real things, Tyler said.”
Full story (Arizona Republic) | video (msnbc.com)
Alex Johnson - Journalist at Large 