Clare Thomas Anderson Pleads Guilty to $1 Million International Fraud Scheme

A Cary, Illinois business owner pleaded guilty to wire fraud yesterday in federal court before U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Kapala. Clare Thomas Anderson, 44, who owned and operated multiple businesses in Cary, Illinois, and Florida, admitted that between April 2009 and January 2013, he schemed to defraud more than $1 million from more than 10 victims that did business with the companies he operated.

According to the written plea agreement, the businesses Anderson owned and operated were Certifibre LLC; Anderson International Global LLC, which had an assumed name of Worldwide Paper Company Inc.; Anlerican Smplus Supply; Southernmost Exports LLC; Southernmost Holdings LTD; and Sea Consulting LLC. Through these businesses, Anderson contracted to sell wood pulp and other raw materials to manufacturers  brokers, and suppliers, which were usually located in foreign countries.

Anderson obtained payments from his customers before the shipments arrived at their destinations. Often, the customers obtained Letters of Credit from their banks in order to pay for the shipments in advance. Anderson admitted that he caused payments to be disbursed under these Letters of Credit to bank accounts he controlled by creating and presenting fraudulent Bills of Lading, Certificates of Origin, and packing lists. These documents falsely represented that the agreed upon quantity and quality of materials had been shipped.

Anderson admitted that instead of shipping the wood pulp or other raw materials he had agreed to sell, on various occasions he shipped worthless scrap materials to his foreign customers. When the customers called him to complain about the worthless scrap materials they had received, Anderson falsely told them that the scrap materials were intended for another customer in a different country.

Anderson further admitted that on some occasions, instead of shipping the agreed upon weights and volume of wood pulp or other raw materials, he instead shipped substantially smaller amounts of wood pulp or other raw materials. When the customers called and complained about the short shipments, Anderson falsely told them that short shipments were caused by clerical errors.

Anderson acknowledged that, in order to maximize the profits from his scheme to defraud, he often failed to pay for the materials he obtained and for the freight shipping charges. Anderson also admitted that he spent the funds that his customers sent to him on his own personal expenses.

As he acknowledged in the plea agreement, on a few occasions, Anderson refunded some money to his victims in order to avoid detection of his scheme. Anderson paid these refunds only after the victims contacted, or threatened to contact, federal law enforcement officials. Anderson admitted that he obtained the funds used to pay these refunds by defrauding additional customers.

Anderson is scheduled to be sentenced on August 22, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. Wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a term of up to three years of supervised release following imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and mandatory restitution. The court may also impose a fine totaling twice the loss to any victim or twice the gain to the defendant, whichever is greater. The actual sentence will be determined by the United States District Court, guided by the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.

The guilty plea was announced by Gary S. Shapiro, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Cory B. Nelson, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott A. Verseman.

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Chicago Police Officer, Deavalin Page, Convicted of Attempted Extortion

A Chicago Police officer was convicted today of obtaining two extortion payments totaling $3,200 from a cooperating tow truck driver in exchange for steering vehicle tows from accident scenes during an undercover investigation. The defendant, Deavalin Page, who was assigned to the South Chicago District at the time, was relieved of his police powers and assigned to desk duty following the payments that occurred in late 2007 and early 2008. Page was convicted on two counts of attempted extortion by a federal jury that deliberated a little more than two hours this morning after being presented with video recordings and other evidence of the payments during a trial that began Monday in U.S. District Court.

Page, 46, of Chicago, an officer since 1995, faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count of attempted extortion. He remains free on bond pending sentencing, which U.S. District Judge John Darrah scheduled for 1 p.m. on October 23.

Page was indicted last October as part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Operation Tow Scam, a corruption probe of police officers who steered vehicle tows at accident scenes to favored tow drivers in exchange for extortion payments. Page is the eighth police officer to be convicted, along with four civilians—three of them tow truck drivers—and charges are pending against two additional police officers.

Evidence at the trial showed that Page obtained two payments from a cooperating tow truck driver, Brian Chandler, in exchange for steering him various tows. Chandler has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and bank larceny and is awaiting sentencing. The first payment, on November 28, 2007, was $2,000 in the bathroom of a coffee shop at 79th Street and Stoney Island. The second payment, on January 28, 2008, was $1,200 in the parking lot of a bank while Page was in his private vehicle. The latter payment, in part, was in exchange for towing three cars, at least one of which did not require towing, from an accident scene at 86th and Burnham involving a teenager who was driving her parents’ insured car.

The guilty verdict was announced today by Gary S. Shapiro, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Cory B. Nelson, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Garry F. McCarthy, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.

The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Donovan and Steven Grimes.

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Lorne Campbell, Satan's Choice and #HellsAngels to be Discussed on Crime Beat Radio

On May 16th, Lorne Campbell and Pete Edwards discuss their book, Unrepentant: The Strange and (Sometimes) Terrible Life of Lorne Campbell, Satan's Choice and Hells Angels Biker 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.

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"Being Oscar" Bash at the Mob Museum #OscarsMemories

From Thursday, May 23 through Saturday, May 25,The Mob Museum will celebrate Oscar Goodman’s newly released autobiography Being Oscar: From Mob Lawyer to Mayor of Las Vegas.

Former mayor and current spokesperson for the host committee of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Authority, Oscar returns to the historic courtroom where he tried his first case. The Museum will be his debut appearance in Las Vegas and the premiere opportunity for locals to engage with Oscar while enjoying a variety of Oscar-inspired activities.

The Museum has planned an unparalleled three-day extravaganza to commemorate Oscar, his book launch, and our great city which is the backdrop for his story and acclaim.

Thursday, May 23

The Mob Museum’s lineup of “Being Oscar” events begins with a party on Thursday, May 23, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at The Mob Museum. Admission is $10 for the general public; Museum members are free. Each attendee will receive a complimentary cocktail, and a signature “Being Oscar” face fan, live entertainment, and a free photo opportunity. Goodman will address guests in the Museum’s courtroom at 7:30 p.m. and will be available to sign copies of his book for attendees afterward. Books will be available for purchase at the Museum and food and drink will be available for purchase.

For tickets for the book launch party on 5/23, click here

Friday, May 24

The Mob Museum will host the first official Las Vegas book signing with Goodman. Special programming throughout the day will include three 30-minute presentations by Goodman in the courtroom followed by book signings. These events will take place at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. “Being Oscar” face fans and photo opportunities will be available to all Museum guests that day.

Click here for your ticket which includes a copy of the book Being Oscar and free museum admission. click here.

For ticket which includes a copy of the book Being Oscar, free museum admission, and your choice of one 30 minute presentation featuring Oscar Goodman, click here.

Saturday, May 25

At 10:30 a.m., Goodman will make a grand entrance at The Mob Museum, where he will gather with members of the public—all holding “Being Oscar” face fans—for a photograph on the Museum’s front steps. All guests on this day will receive FREE admission to the Museum with the purchase of a book from our retail store and will have the chance to compete in a “Being Oscar” look-a-like contest to be judged by Goodman himself, as well as a trivia contest; raffle prizes will be given out all day. Goodman will sign copies of his book for Museum attendees from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For free admission with the purchase of a book for May 25, click here.

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The American Kidney Fund (AKF) will host Kidney Action Day at Millennium Park

The American Kidney Fund (AKF) will host Kidney Action Day at Millennium Park in Chicago on Saturday, May 11, 2013, from 10 a.m.– 2 p.m.  The event is free and open to the public and will include free kidney health screenings (including blood pressure and glucose screenings), interactive fitness demos, local entertainment, children's activities and healthy food samples.

“Kidney disease is a serious health concern in the Chicago area, where many neighborhoods have prevalent rates of kidney failure well above the national average,” said LaVarne A. Burton, president and chief executive officer of the American Kidney Fund. “Kidney Action Day provides an opportunity for local residents to learn about this disease, get tested, and help spread the word to others who may be at risk. We are so pleased to have the Chicago Department of Public Health and its Healthy Chicago initiative as a strategic partner. Working together, we can empower local residents to take action for their health and prevent future cases of this chronic condition.”

“The Chicago Department of Public Health is proud to join the American Kidney Fund in bringing Kidney Action Day to Chicago,” said Dr. Bechara Choucair, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health. “Kidney Action Day is a great way for residents to take part in helping Chicago become the healthiest city in the nation. I encourage all residents to join us on May 11 for Kidney Action Day, get screened and take preventative steps to protect their health.”

Kidney Action Day will bring together hundreds of local health advocates, patients and members of the greater Chicago community to raise awareness for those at risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD). The free health screenings will check for indicators of kidney and heart health, diabetes, and other important health measures. There is no pre-registration required for those interested in participating in the screening, which is open to everyone 18 and older. Participants are encouraged to bring the whole family out to enjoy an educational and entertaining event.

It is estimated that as many as 31 million people in the United States are living with CKD, the nation’s ninth-leading cause of death. CKD is known as a silent killer because it usually presents no symptoms in the early stages, making screening essential for those who are at risk—particularly those who have the key risk factors of diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of CKD. Other common risks for kidney disease include having heart disease, being over age 60, or being African American, Asian American, Native American, or of Hispanic ethnicity.

CKD is an often-preventable health condition. If an individual has developed early CKD, detection through testing is a key factor in slowing or stopping the progression of the disease. Left undiagnosed and untreated, CKD can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and death. In many neighborhoods in Chicago, kidney failure rates are nearly double the U.S. average.

Because prevention and early detection are vital to keeping at-risk individuals in good health, AKF’s national campaign, Pair Up: Join the Fight to Prevent Kidney Disease, urges the public to learn if they’re at risk for kidney disease and to spread the word to friends or loved ones who also may be at risk. As part of Pair Up, AKF educates the public about risk factors and offers Kidney Action Days and other free kidney health screenings in cities nationwide.

The American Kidney Fund is dedicated to fighting kidney disease through direct financial support to patients in need, education and prevention efforts. In 2012, AKF provided almost $190 million in treatment-related assistance to dialysis patients across the country and more than $7.9 million to patients in Illinois.
Kidney Action Day is made possible through the generous support of National Sponsor American Renal Associates, Lead Regional Sponsor U.S. Renal Care, Inc., Strategic Partner Chicago Department of Public Health and other friends in the communities AKF serves. For more information on Chicago Kidney Action Day, visit http://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-action-day/locations/chicago.html.

For more information on the American Kidney Fund, visit www.kidneyfund.org.

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