First arrest made in Katrina online fundraising fraud News
First arrest made in Katrina online fundraising fraud

[JURIST] The first federal fraud charges stemming from the online collection of Hurricane Katrina [JURIST news archive] donations have been filed against Gary S. Kraser, a federal prosecutor in Miami announced Monday. Kraser is accused of collecting nearly $40,000 in donations over the Internet by falsely claiming he was a pilot flying supplies to victims [Shreveport Times report] and needed donations to cover the cost of fuel. US Attorney R. Alexander Acosta said Kraser collected donations from 48 people around the world, but that most of the money had been returned. Authorities were tipped to the fraud based on a complaint about the website, and the FBI Internet Fraud Complaint Center [official website] conducted the investigation. Last month, US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales outlined priorities [JURIST report] for a new Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force [DOJ special report]. Federal authorities in California have charged two people with fraudulently soliciting donations [JURIST report] offline after the hurricane. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.