The Chicago Syndicate
The Mission Impossible Backpack

Monday, September 08, 2014

The CIA tortured Al-Qaeda suspects "to the point of death"

The CIA tortured Al-Qaeda suspects "to the point of death" by drowning them in water-filled baths, Britain's Daily Telegraph reported on Monday, ahead of the publication of a US Senate report on interrogation techniques.

The paper quoted one security source as saying the torture of at least two suspects, including the alleged mastermind of the September 11 attacks Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, went far beyond the waterboarding admitted by the Central Intelligence Agency.

"They weren't just pouring water over their heads or over a cloth," the paper quoted the source as saying, adding: "They were holding them under water until the point of death, with a doctor present to make sure they did not go too far."

A second source cited by the paper also spoke of the treatment meted out to Mohammed, who is in US military custody in Guantanamo Bay, as well as alleged USS Cole bomber Abd al Rahim al-Nashiri, who is also being held at the detention camp on Cuba.

"They got medieval on his ass, and far more so than people realise," the source, said to be familiar with the still-classified accounts of the torture, was quoted as saying.

An upcoming report by the US Senate based on a review of classified CIA documents would "deeply shock" the public because of its graphic portrayal of the extreme interrogation techniques used by the CIA, a third source said.

Completion of Project Elevate Gives Hope to Uptown’s Disabled Community

Uptown Baptist Church (UBC) hosted the grand opening of a new elevator on Sunday, September 7, 2014, at 10 a.m. For the very first time in a 35-year history, the historic church building will become accessible for the more than 3500 people with physical disabilities who live within rolling distance to its front door.

“UBC is dedicated to provide programs and services that meet the special needs of Uptown residents, including persons with disabilities,” said Rev. Michael N. Allen, UBC’s senior pastor. The grand opening event for Project Elevate is an extension of UBC’s ongoing ministry to meet the many challenges in Uptown. For over 30 years UBC members have fed the hungry, provided shelter to homeless women, and provided various immigrant groups with space to worship in their own language.  More recently, the church has cooperated in “Gun Turn In” programs organized by the Mayor’s Office.

The unveiling of a new elevator at Uptown will highlight the church’s current initiative to more effectively serve those with physical disabilities. “Within walking distance of our church are over 3500 persons with disabilities, and they all have an individual story,” said Allen. “Just think about what an elevator could mean to seniors who are plagued by painful arthritis and others on the street who struggle to get up our stairs.”

On hand to help dedicate the new elevator will be David Ring, an internationally-known speaker born with cerebral palsy. After being orphaned at an early age, Ring was cast about from “pillar to post.” Life seemed worse than hopeless to Ring until his relationship began with Jesus Christ, who taught him self-respect and an acceptance of his physical challenges. Now Ring shares his story with over 100,000 people each year at churches, conventions, schools, and corporate events.

Sunday, September 07, 2014

DEA Museum, @DEAEdFoundation, Fall 2014 Lecture Series Commemorates 100 Years of Drug Law Enforcement

2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the Harrison Narcotics Act and the start of federal drug law enforcement in America! In honor of this important milestone, the DEA Museum will be hosting a series of public Museum Lectures this coming fall themed around the 100thanniversary. This series includes the DEA Museum’s first-ever off-site lecture program that will take place live at the AFFNA (Association of Former Federal Narcotics Agents) Conference in Naples, Florida on Friday, September 19th and be webcast live to the world via www.deamuseum.org

Mark your calendars for these three 100th Anniversary lectures that will help shed light on the important work of federal drug law enforcement agents in the days before DEA:

September 19, 2014, 11:00 AM Eastern – The Early Years: A Panel Discussion on the Era of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics

October 15, 2014, 2:00 PM Eastern – Standing in the Shadows: The Legacy of Harry J. Anslinger

November 6, 2014, 11:00 AM Eastern – Targeting the Mafia: FBN, Organized Crime, and Drugs


Thursday, September 04, 2014

Julio Estiven Gracia Ramirez Pleads Guilty to Kidnapping and Murder of DEA Agent Terry Watson

A Colombian man extradited to the Eastern District of Virginia pleaded guilty for his involvement in the kidnapping and murder of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent James Terry Watson in Bogotá, Colombia, on June 20, 2013.

 “Today’s guilty plea is an important step forward in holding those responsible for the murder of DEA Special Agent Terry Watson accountable for their heinous crime,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. “DEA will not rest until all of those responsible for this tragedy face justice. Our thoughts and prayers continue for the Watson family, and DEA remains grateful for the dedicated U.S. and Colombian team of investigators and prosecutors.”

“Special Agent Watson gave his life in the service of his country, and we will do everything in our power to honor his sacrifice,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “This conviction is a critical step forward.  But while this action represents the first measure of justice for his kidnapping and murder, it will not be the last.  The Department of Justice will not rest until all those involved in this senseless act of violence have been held to account for their crimes. Our nation will never yield in the protection and defense of its citizens.  And we will continue to demonstrate that anyone who seeks to harm an American will be found, will be prosecuted, and will be brought to justice.”

Julio Estiven Gracia Ramirez, 31, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Gerald Bruce Lee of the Eastern District of Virginia to aiding and abetting the murder of an internationally protected person and conspiracy to kidnap an internationally protected person. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 5, 2014.

In a statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Gracia Ramirez admitted that he and his conspirators agreed to conduct a “paseo milionario” or “millionaire’s ride” in which victims who were perceived as wealthy were lured into taxi cabs, kidnapped and then robbed. Gracia Ramirez admitted that he targeted Special Agent Watson and picked him up outside a Bogotá restaurant in his taxi. Soon after, two conspirators entered Gracia Ramirez’s taxi, and one used a stun gun to shock Special Agent Watson and the other stabbed him. Special Agent Watson was able to escape from the taxi, but he later collapsed and died from his injuries.

Authors of "Blood Sport: Alex Rodriguez, Biogenesis, and the Quest to End Baseball's Steroid Era" Appear on Crime Beat Radio Tonight

Tim Elfrink and Gus Garcia Robert, authors of "Blood Sport: Alex Rodriguez, Biogenesis, and the Quest to End Baseball's Steroid Era" appear tonight on Crime Beat Radio.

Crime Beat is a weekly hour-long radio program that airs every Thursday at 8 p.m. EST. Crime Beat presents fascinating topics that bring listeners closer to the dynamic underbelly of the world of crime. Guests have included ex-mobsters, undercover law enforcement agents, sports officials, informants, prisoners, drug dealers and investigative journalists, who have provided insights and fresh information about the world’s most fascinating subject: crime.

Antonio Accurso admits to inquiry that Rizzuto crime family were ‘minor’ contacts

Antonio Accurso, the construction magnate at the centre of corruption and collusion allegations in Quebec, acknowledged Wednesday two members of the Rizzuto crime family were among the contacts he amassed over his decades in business.

Questioned at the Charbonneau commission into corruption in Quebec’s construction industry, Mr. Accurso identified Mafia boss Vito Rizzuto and his son Nick Rizzuto Jr. as having been “minor contacts” in his vast network. “A minor contact is someone I can run into from time to time, someone I know his name,” he said.

Commission lawyer Sonia LeBel did not explore Mr. Accurso’s relationship with the Rizzutos, but previous witnesses have said Mr. Accurso did more than simply bump into Vito Rizzuto.

Investigator Eric Vecchio testified in March Mr. Accurso had a breakfast meeting with Mr. Rizzuto in 2003 to discuss the possible involvement of one of Mr. Accurso’s firms in a Montreal real-estate project.

Rival businessman Lino Zambito testified in 2012 he was surprised to find Mr. Rizzuto waiting after he had been convened to a meeting with Mr. Accurso to discuss a construction contract the two were interested in landing.

Mr. Zambito said Mr. Rizzuto acted as a mediator, advising Mr. Zambito the project might be too ambitious for his young company. He said Mr. Rizzuto told him, “Try to find a solution with [Mr. Accurso], so that this time it’s him and the next time it will be you.”

Vito Rizzuto died last December of cancer after serving a U.S. prison term for his involvement in three 1981 murders, while Nick Jr. was shot dead in Montreal in 2009.

Mr. Accurso, who is facing criminal charges, including fraud, breach of trust and corruption, has always strenuously denied any association with the Rizzuto family. In 2010, he accused Radio-Canada of falsely reporting he had attended the visitation for the younger Rizzuto.

“Falsely linking Mr. Accurso to the family thought to control the Mafia in Montreal and affirming that he wanted to pay final respects to one of this family’s members cases serious damage to Mr. Accurso’s reputation,” his lawyer said in a statement at the time.

Wednesday, Ms. LeBel was more interested in establishing Mr. Accurso’s close ties to leaders of the Quebec Federation of Labour.

He described former QFL president Louis Laberge as “a spiritual father” and former head of the QFL construction branch Jean Lavallée as the brother he never had. Two other former QFL presidents were friends, he added. But Mr. Accurso insisted he never got any favours from the union because of his personal ties to the leadership and he never meddled in internal union politics.

Commissioner Renaud Lachance challenged his claim his businesses never benefited from the connections he cultivated with union leaders. In 2010, when banks were refusing to lend Mr. Accurso money because his name had become linked to collusion schemes in Montreal, an electricians’ union headed by Mr. Lavallée agreed to lend one of Mr. Accurso’s firms $5-million.

“You don’t think that your excellent relationship with Mr Lavallée might explain why a union local loans money to a businessman who is in trouble?” Mr. Lachance asked. “Do you know a lot of union locals that lend money to businessmen?”

After a long pause, Mr. Accurso acknowledged he did not.

Thanks to Graeme Hamilton.

Tuesday, September 02, 2014

Anshoo Sethi Allegedly Exploited U.S. Visa Program to Defraud Chinese Investors of $160 Million in Purported O’Hare Complex

A Chicago man who purported to be building a $912 million hotel and convention center complex near O’Hare International Airport was indicted on federal charges for allegedly exploiting a U.S. visa program to fraudulently raise approximately $160 million from some 290 Chinese nationals who invested in the project while seeking U.S. residency.

The defendant, ANSHOO SETHI, 30, of Chicago, was charged with eight counts of wire fraud and two counts of making false statements in a 10-count indictment returned today by a federal grand jury. He was the founder and a managing member of A Chicago Convention Center, LLC, which purported to be building the hotel and convention center on nearly three acres of land located at 8201 West Higgins Rd., east of the airport. Sethi, who was also the managing member of the Intercontinental Regional Center Trust of Chicago, LLC, will be arraigned on a date yet to be determined in U.S. District Court.

The indictment seeks forfeiture of at least $11 million in administrative fees that Sethi allegedly collected from Chinese investors and expended as part of the fraud scheme. Sethi misappropriated at least $320,000 of the fees to purchase luxury goods for himself, his family, and friends, and for an unrelated civil lawsuit settlement, to fund a cosmetic surgery business, and for other personal expenses, the indictment alleges.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sued Sethi over the purported project in early 2013 and the case was settled earlier this year. Approximately $147 million, which had been escrowed by Sethi and frozen by the SEC, was returned to Chinese investors.

The indictment alleges that between January 2011 and February 2013, Sethi defrauded investors and deceived the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in its review of visa applications through false statements and representations about the participation of established hotel brands in the project; the appraised value of the project site; government financing; the City of Chicago’s provision of Tax Increment Financing; the development of the project; and the use of the investors’ administrative fee.

According to the indictment, foreign nationals may obtain an EB-5 visa, qualifying them for U.S. residency, if they invested $1 million, or if they invested at least $500,000 in a domestic project in a high unemployment or rural area and their investment would create or preserve at least 10 jobs for U.S. workers. In addition, EB-5 visas were set aside to be granted to foreign investors in Regional Centers that promoted economic development, such as Sethi’s Intercontinental Regional Center Trust of Chicago. The USCIS granted Sethi’s application for Regional Center status in June 2011.

Sethi solicited Chinese nationals who were interested in obtaining EB-5 visas to invest $500,000 each plus a $41,500 administrative fee in A Chicago Convention Center and the Intercontinental Regional Center, representing that the $500,000 would be used for construction of the complex and the $41,500 would be used for administrative and marketing expenses, the indictment alleges. Each Chinese national who invested $541,500 in the project also applied for an EB-5 visa with USCIS, but no EB-5 visas were actually granted to investors through the convention center project.

A Private Offering Memorandum stated that each investment interest constituted approximately 0.025 percent ownership of the project, and it projected raising $249 million through investor contributions. Additional funding for the project would be obtained through a contribution of the three-acre site on Higgins Road, which Sethi allegedly represented had a greatly inflated appraised value of $177 million, approximately $339 million in government bond financing, and various government tax credits and grants, the memorandum stated.

To raise investment funds, Sethi used employees and foreign sales agents and provided them with numerous documents and marketing materials to distribute to investors in China. Sethi also made presentations regarding the project directly to investors in China, according to the indictment.

A Private Offering Memorandum stated that each investment interest constituted approximately 0.025 percent ownership of the project, and it projected raising $249 million through investor contributions. Additional funding for the project would be obtained through a contribution of the three-acre site on Higgins Road, which Sethi allegedly represented had a greatly inflated appraised value of $177 million, approximately $339 million in government bond financing, and various government tax credits and grants, the memorandum stated.

To raise investment funds, Sethi used employees and foreign sales agents and provided them with numerous documents and marketing materials to distribute to investors in China. Sethi also made presentations regarding the project directly to investors in China, according to the indictment.

The indictment further alleges that Sethi falsely represented that the project had executed franchise agreements with established hotel brands, namely Hyatt, Starwood, and Intercontinental Hotel Group, to operate at least three separate hotels at the complex, knowing at the time that no such agreements existed.

Sethi also allegedly falsely represented that that the State of Illinois and the federal government were investing funds and providing tax credits for the project, including circulating a forged letter stating that the project qualified for financing through the Illinois Finance Authority. He also falsely represented that the City of Chicago had agreed to provide approximately $97 million through Tax Increment Financing, and he distributed a fake agreement and a fake city ordinance as evidence that the project had been approved for TIF financing, the indictment alleges.

Sethi further falsely represented that the $41,500 administrative fee was fully refundable if the investors’ EB-5 visas were not approved, even though he knew that he had spent nearly all of the administrative fees collected and did not have the resources to repay the investors.

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