Amir George Discusses His Book "Liberating Iraq: The Untold Story of the Assyrian Christians" on #CrimeBeatRadio

On August 15th, Amir George, author of Liberating Iraq: The Untold Story of the Assyrian Christians appears 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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Two Men Indicted on Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice Charges in #BostonMarathonBombing Investigation

A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against two men previously charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice in the Boston Marathon bombing investigation.

Dias Kadyrbayev, 19, and Azamat Tazhayakov, 19, nationals of Kazakhstan who were residing in New Bedford on student visas, were charged today with conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstructing justice with the intent to impede the Boston Marathon bombing investigation. Kadyrbayev and Tazhayakov were originally charged on May 1, 2013 via criminal complaint.

Today’s indictment alleges that on the evening of April 18, 2013, after the FBI posted photographs of the two men suspected of carrying out the Marathon bombings (who were later identified as Tamerlan Tsarnaev and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev), Kadyrbayev received a text message from Dzhokhar Tsarnaev suggesting that he go to Tsarnaev’s “room and take what’s there.” Kadyrbayev, Tazhayakov, and another conspirator, according to the indictment, then went to Tsarnaev’s dormitory room and removed several items, including Tsarnaev’s laptop computer and a backpack containing fireworks, and brought them to Kadyrbayev and Tazhayakov’s apartment in New Bedford. Later that night, Kadyrbayev, with Tazhayakov’s knowledge and agreement, placed Tsarnaev’s backpack, which contained several items, including fireworks, in a garbage bag and put it in a trash dumpster outside their New Bedford apartment.

If convicted, Kadyrbayev and Tazhayakov face up to 20 years in prison on the obstruction of justice count and up to five years in prison on the conspiracy count, each to be followed by up to three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Both face the possibility of being deported.

U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Vincent B. Lisi, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Boston Division, the Massachusetts State Police, and member agencies of the Boston Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), which is composed of more than 30 federal, state, and local enforcement agencies. The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Department of Public Safety, the City of New Bedford, New Bedford Police Department, Dartmouth Police Department, U.S. Department of Transportation-Office of Inspector General, U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), Essex County Sheriff’s Office, and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations provided assistance in this investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys B. Stephanie Siegmann and John A. Capin of Ortiz’s Anti-Terrorism and National Security Unit with the assistance of the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Alan Beiler of the #AmishMafia Receives Prison Sentence

A Pennsylvania man who stars in the Discovery Channel show "Amish Mafia" has been sentenced to three to 23 months in prison for leading police on a chase that injured a state trooper last summer.

Thirty-five-year-old Alan Beiler received the sentence Thursday in Perry County Court.

Police say the Lancaster County resident led them on a chase after they tried to stop him for an expired car registration. They say he drove against traffic and caused a pursuing state trooper to crash and suffer a concussion.

Beiler pleaded guilty in May to charges of attempting to elude police, drug possession and driving with a suspended license.

Defense attorney Mark Forrest Walmer says his client has turned around his life and has been drug-free for a year.

The show provides a look at the men who protect an Amish community.

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#LiberatingIraq Chronicles The Untold Story of the Assyrian Christians

Liberating Iraq is the story of the Iraqi war written by one of the only people in Iraq without a `minder`. The book provides the unique Assyrian Christian perspective on the Iraq war. Liberating Iraq also reveals what happened to the weapons of mass destruction, and it tells of the horrors experienced by those who worked for the Iraqi government and what life was like under Saddam. The book describes the days leading up to the war, the first relief convoy to cross the border into Iraq following the war, and the tremendous success of the nearly 400,000 Americans who fanned out across Iraq to love and save the nation only to now be on the verge of seeing that success lost.

Liberating Iraq is based on the author’s own personal insights as an Assyrian Christian over a period of several years, which were drawn from meetings with the Iraqi Prime Minister, President, Foreign Minister, top US and international officials, and the Iraqi people themselves. The readers who will be interested in Liberating Iraq include those who served in Iraq and who want the story they experienced told, family members of those who served who want to know the truth, and the general public who want to know what really happened.

"Liberating Iraq tells the story of the many Iraqis who truly did `dance in the streets` at the fall of Saddam's repressive regime and of the Americans, nearly a half million of whom helped liberate and rebuild Iraq. But it also underscores a difficult current  reality; namely, the plight of the Assyrian Christians who still struggle and suffer in today's Iraq. The world must turn its eyes to and raise its voice for the protection and sustainment of this the oldest continuing Christian community in the world!" Stuart Bowen, Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction

"Liberating Iraq tells the “other side” of the story of how the nearly 500,000 Americans who served in Iraq touched a country and changed it for good. In addition, it tells the story of the Assyrian Christians who are in peril as the “victory” in Iraq has been squandered. What has particularly touched me is finally being able to say “thank you” to the families of the nearly 4,500 who gave their lives so that Iraq could be free. The Arab Spring has turned into the Islamic Winter and the Christians of the Middle East have suffered the most." Pat Boone, American Singer, Actor, and Writer.

"Amir George is an Assyrian Christian whose family is from the original Assyrian Homeland in North Iraq. This afforded him a unique vantage from which to view the American war and occupation. No other account of the war and its aftermath offers similar insights. In addition, George brings us more vividly than anyone else the story of the Assyrian Christian community whose decimation is arguably the greatest tragedy of the Iraq war and a terrible omen for the future of the Middle East." Joshua Muravchik, Fellow, the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies

Amir George is an Assyrian Christian whose family is from the Northern Iraqi town of Mahoudi.

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Police Raids Target #MexicanMafia Prison Gang and #LaFamilia Drug Cartel

Raids were carried out in Montebello Tuesday as part of two investigations targeting the Mexican Mafia prison gang.

Authorities say a drug cartel based in Mexico, a South Central Los Angeles street gang and the Mexican Mafia worked together for millions of dollars in drug sales.

The investigations began more than three years ago and involved a number of agencies at the federal, state and local levels. The investigations culminated with the arrests in Montebello.

Authorities busted up what they described as a business merger between La Familia drug cartel, based in Michoacan, Mexico, a South Central Los Angeles street gang and the Mexican Mafia prison gang.

Investigators say apparently, the drug cartel would supply methamphetamine and marijuana, and the street gang would protect the shipments and money. The Mexican Mafia prison gang handled the distribution and proceeds for a fee.

Law enforcement agencies say in the past three years since the investigations began, more than 600 pounds of methamphetamine have been confiscated or seized, with a total street value of just over $19 million.

More than a dozen arrests including members of the South Central street gang and La Familia associates in Southern California have been made from San Diego to Visalia.

A number of alleged gang members were arrested Tuesday and were processed at the Montebello Police Department.

Thanks to Sid Garcia.

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