ENI Curbs Activities in Nigeria Due to Oil Theft

ROME - Italian energy company ENI SpA said on Saturday it has suspended its activities in Bayelsa state in southern Nigeria due to frequent thefts from pipelines.

"The decision was taken due to an intensification of bunkering activities, or sabotage of the pipelines," the company said in a statement.

ENI said it completely suspended all onshore activity at the Swamp Area site in Bayelsa during the night between Thursday and Friday.

The company said the theft of oil from the pipelines "had reached levels that were no longer sustainable recently both from the point of view of safety for people and for the damage caused to the environment by these activities."

The Italian oil major was producing between 35,000 and 40,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day at the site and the theft and losses due to sabotage had reached up to 60% of production.

Nigeria is Africa's biggest crude oil producer and most of the government's revenue is based on the sector. The populations of the Niger Delta, however, live mostly in poverty and the area is very polluted.

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Centennial man convicted of theft in steel building sales

Font ResizeLocal NewsThe Denver Postdenverpost.comPosted: 12/21/2012 05:08:34 PM MSTDecember 22, 2012 12:23 AM GMTUpdated: 12/21/2012 05:23:37 PM MST

A man who took money for steel buildings and kits he never built, and then took the money to the casinos was convicted of three counts of theft Friday.

Brent Evan Widdifield, 42, of Centennial, would advertise the sale of the steel buildings from "Action Steel Buildings" in local newspapers and across the internet.

He collected more than $300,000 from 42 people across 14 states. Thirty-two of them testified at the Jefferson County trial.

After posting bond for the original theft counts earlier this year, Widdifield went on to solicit and accept money from more victims, leading to third theft charge, and a charge for a violation of bail bond conditions.

The jury also found Widdifield guilty of that bond violation.

District Attorney Scott Storey thanked the Lakewood Police Department and his economic crime unit for investigating the case.

"These crimes impacted victims throughout the country," Storey said in a released statement. "I am pleased that justice was achieved in this trial."

Widdifield is scheduled for sentencing at 1:15 p.m. on Jan. 28.

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Former Democrat of the Year in Jefferson County receives probation in theft case

Font ResizePoliticsBy Lynn Bartels
The Denver Postdenverpost.comPosted: 12/14/2012 11:48:06 AM MSTDecember 14, 2012 6:49 PM GMTUpdated: 12/14/2012 11:49:08 AM MST

Jefferson County's former Democrat of the Year, convicted of theft from an at-risk person, was sentenced Friday morning to 18 months probation.

A District Court judge also ordered Estelle Carson to pay $855 restitution to the 71-year-old victim, and perform 60 hours of community service.

Carson wrote three checks from the woman's account, including one to pay for Carson's cable, Internet and phone when they were about to be canceled, according to the Jefferson County district attorney's office.

The victim, known publicly only as Louise, is legally blind and has cerebral palsy. The incident has made her less trusting, said a friend, Lisa Kaiser, who was at the sentencing.

"A person with disablities depends on being able to trust people," Kaiser said.

But Kaiser said Louise was grateful that authorities took the complaint seriously, and that the conviction will be on Carson's record.

Carson, 67, could not be reached for comment. A Jefferson County jury in October found her guilty of two felony counts, identity theft and theft from an at-risk person.

Carson, of Wheat Ridge, in January was as named Democrat of the Year by the Jefferson County Democratic Party. The party revoked her honor after she was convicted, party chairman Chris Kennedy said.

Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327, lbartels

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