In December the former investment manager and owner of Boston radio station WBIX, Bradford C Bleidt (UID 261824) was jailed for eleven years and three months. His jail term is to be followed by three years of supervised release, he was also ordered to pay US$31.7 million in restitution. World-Check had the former investment manager profiled in November 2004 , when the Securities and Exchange Commission obtained an asset freeze and temporary restraining order against him and his investment firm Allocation Plus Asset Management Co Inc. In June 2005 the United States Attorney's Office indicted him for swindling investors out of more than US$30 million. A month later he pleaded guilty to the 115 counts of mail fraud and a single count of money laundering. Did you know that World-Check monitors both the SEC and the USDOJ ensuring that our clients stay ahead of the game?

George Ryan ( UID 15056 ), the former Governor of Illinois was indicted in December 2003 , we however have had him on World-Check since February 2001 . Ryan, now 71 years old has been accused of racketeering, conspiracy, mail fraud and other crimes alleging public corruption, official misconduct and fraudulent conduct. It is alleged that his company Comguard as well as relatives benefited financially during his tenure as Governor. Ryan has denied all charges. His trial is now in progress in Chicago, follow events by using World-Check's Newscheck facility and watch for updates on his profile too.

In October 2005 the CEO of REFCO Inc., the largest commodities broker-dealer in the USA, Phillip Bennett (UID 364016) was charged with securities fraud. It is alleged that he acquired a debt of $430 million from Refco (UID 24256)when he was chief executive. Refco listed on the New York Stock Exchange earlier in 2005 but the debt was not disclosed. Bennett a British citizen, has reportedly repaid the loan, but the damage was done and Refco shares fell by 45% an estimated $1bn loss in market value in just two days when the news broke. Trading in its shares was then suspended and Bennett arrested. He is currently under house arrest having secured bail of US$50 million. World-Check profiled Refco in 2001 when it appeared on CONSOB, yet another regulatory body that World-Check monitors.

In September 2005, the US Treasury designated Banco Delta Asia Sarl, (UID 352064) as a primary money laundering concern under Section 311 of the US Patriot Act. The US called the bank a 'willing pawn' for the North Korean government and authorities also moved to stop US banks from doing business with Banco Delta Asia, which it is reported, maintains accounts not only in the USA but also in Europe, Asia, Australia and Canada. The bank's chairman Stanley Au (UID352064) is a legislator in Macau and an adviser to the Chinese Government. The bank and Au deny any involvement in money laundering activities. Reports also allege that Macau based business man and entrepreneur Stanley Ho , (UID 52636) who has been on World-Check since 2002 and his Seng Heng Bank, have also come under the spotlight of the USA investigators. Articles suggest that Seng Heng Bank is being scrutinised for any possible connections to North Korea's illicit fundraising network, which the US alleges finances Pyongyang's nuclear program.

Omar Bakri Mohammed first appeared on World- Check in September 2001. He reportedly obtained asylum in Britain in the 1980's having been expelled from Saudi Arabia as a religious extremist. He founded Al Muhajiroun (UID38696 ) which had affiliates or contacts in both Pakistan and the United States prior to the 9/11 attacks on the USA. He is reported to be an associate of Abu Hamza al-Masri , (UID 60004 -profiled by World-Check in September 2002) who is currently in Belmarsh high security jail awaiting trial on UK terrorism charges and is also facing a U.S. extradition request. Another associate is said to be Abdullah al-Faisal (UID 215053), a Jamaican-born London imam now imprisoned on terrorism-related charges, who in turn is reported to have been in contact with Richard Reid, the shoe-bomber and allegedly a number of the suicide bombers who attacked London on July 7, 2005. In August 2005, the British Home Secretary Charles Clarke, banned Omar Bakri from returning to the United Kingdom after he had left the country for a visit to Lebanon. It was felt that his presence in Britain was " not conducive to the public good " . The fanatical cleric was amongst a number of 'radicals' who the government decided were personas non-gratas after the terror attacks on the capital in July. Check out his profile on UID 38697. The boss of San Gennaro Camorra Mafia clan, Campania, Mario Fabbrocino has escaped the clutches of the law on more than one occasion, including fleeing Italy for Argentina only to be arrested in 1997 and returned to his homeland. Earlier this year he was sentenced to life, for the murder of a rival mob boss's son but, the 62-year-old Campania resident managed to escape and it was only four months later in August 2005 that he was re arrested, check out his profile UID 297167.

Profiled in World-Check since 2002 , British national , Haroon Rashid Aswat the alleged mastermind behind the 7/7 bombings in London was reportedly arrested in Livingstone, Zambia two weeks after the suicide bomb attacks on London. Prior to this it is reported he was living and had been under surveillance in South Africa. Reported that US authorities had wanted to seize Aswat several weeks prior to the 7/7 attacks for his alleged role in an attempt to set up terror training camps in Oregon in 1999. Aswat, wanted by British authorities for questioning regarding the 7/7 attacks, reportedly received or made calls on his mobile phone to the bombers. Aswat's estranged family are reported to live in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. He is alleged to have left the UK two weeks prior to the attacks. Aswat is reported to be a committed follower of London based Islamic cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri. Check out his profile (UID 80488) to find out about his associates, any of them within your client-base? The head of WorldCom Inc, Bernard Ebbers was profiled on World-Check in July 2002. Three years later, the 63 year old was sentenced to 25 years behind bars for his part in the collapse of the telecoms giant. The company executives were found to be responsible for a securities fraud amounting to billions of US dollars. To see the fate of the others involved, Troy Normand, Betty Vinson, David Myers, Scott Sullivan and Buford Yates Jr, go to WorldCom's profile on UID70537.

Kim Woo-Choong, the former chief executive, of South Korea's Daewoo Group, wanted by authorities in Seoul, South Korea since 1999. He was accused of allegedly embezzling millions of dollars and organizing one of the world's largest corporate accounting frauds. Other top executives from Daewoo had been found guilty and jailed in 2001. Kim, allegedly received French citizenship for himself and his family and reports mention that he had been working for a company in Europe. In June 2005 he finally returned to his homeland to face the music. World-Check profiled him in 2001. To find out more and who else was involved, check out his profile UID 14220.

Abu Faraj Al-Libbi also known as Dr Taureeq. Wanted by Pakistan authorities for alleged involvement in the two attempts to assassinate the president of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf. Reportedly third in command of Al-Qaida since the arrest of his alleged mentor Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Al-Libbi is also suspected of being in charge of 'sleeper cells' in the United Kingdom and the USA. Earlier in May he was arrested in Pakistan. To check on his connections and find out more about this Al-Qaida operative view his profile UID249015.

T rinidad and Tobago's former Minister of Finance and Tourism Brian Kuei Tung surrendered to authorities in March 2002 regarding irregularities in the awarding of contracts in the Piarco International Airport. He and a number of associates - all on World Check - have been investigated and charged with corruption since that time and in Dec 2004 some 60 new charges were brought against the accused. World-Check profiled him in Nov 2000 because he is a PEP - so users would have been warned he was a high risk individual. Check out his profile UID 6312 to see his associates and the companies involved in this multi million dollar corruption case.

This Russian, former Soviet air force officer and KGB agent, Victor Bout has fraternized with a number of African and Middle Eastern leaders and is a known associate of arms dealer Sanjivan Ruprah. He has been accused by the UN of violating arms embargoes in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Angola and has even been associated with shipping arms to the Taliban in Afghanistan. He has been investigated for illicit diamond smuggling and money laundering. In 2002 he was sentenced in absentia to two years in jail. He denies it all. World-Check profiled this man of many parts, in September 2002 which is 22 months before he appeared on the OFAC list . Check out his profile UID 9398 to see his associates and his companies