p2pnet - rss feed: PI arrested at hack conference
p2pnet.net News:- Private investigator Steven Rombom, aka Steven Rambam, was arrested by the FBI agents just before he was scheduled to open a panel discussion on information gathering at the New York Hackers on Planet Earth 2006
“Rombom, senior director of investigation firm Pallorium, is charged with a single count of influencing a law enforcement officer or member of jury, according to the probable-cause complaint,” says Security Focus, going on:
“The charge stems from an incident where Rombom allegedly impersonated a law enforcement officer to question the family of a confidential informant who had aided police in a money laundering case that will be tried in August, the complaint said.”
Rombom visited the in-laws and wife of a confidential informant involved in an open money laundering case against former Brooklyn prosecutor Albert Santoro, says InformationWeek, quoting the complaint.
"Federal prosecutors have charged Santoro with participating in a money-laundering scheme in which participants invested money from large financial institutions in losing stocks to benefit their co-conspirators," it says. "The investigation resulted in the arrest of 47 people. Santoro has maintained his innocence and his lawyer has claimed that the confidential informant entrapped him.
"Santoro’s trial is pending, and the last activity in that case was April 2006, when Rombom allegedly impersonated a federal officer."
When Rombom was arrested, he was handcuffed him and led away, "in front of a stunned audience," says the Associated Press.
Some in attendance thought it was part of a publicity stunt by the private eye, who is known as the inspiration for the detective Rambam in Friedman’s novels, said a spokeswoman for the author, who also is a musician and an independent Texas gubernatorial candidate.
Rombom, a private detective for 25 years, also is known as a Nazi hunter for uncovering more than 100 Nazi war criminals in the 1980s. He is due back in court Aug. 7.
Also See:
Security Focus - Private investigator arrested at hacking con, July 24, 2006
InformationWeek - Online Investigator Nabbed By Feds At Hackers Convention , July 24, 2006
Associated Press - Brooklyn private investigator accused of impersonating FBI agent, July 24, 2006
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July 26th, 2006 at 5:44 pm
Sounds like he should have been charged with impersonating an officer rather than influencing one. Laws against influencing an officer or jury are unconstitutional unless bribery or extortion is involved. Influencing an officer or jury is free speech which is protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I do it all the time when I encourage people to visit http://www.fija.org . Of course judges ignore the Constitution on a regular basis, so do not take this as legal advice.