The Chicago Syndicate
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Sunday, June 16, 2013

@TheMobMuseum Wins Project of the Year Award from American Public Works Association

The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, has been named a 2013 Public Works Project of the Year by the American Public Works Association (APWA). The project’s managing agency, the City of Las Vegas Public Works Department, as well as primary contractor APCO Construction and primary consultant Westlake Reed Keskosky, will be recognized at the awards ceremony scheduled to take place in Chicago this August.

The Mob Museum received the national Project of the Year Award in the Historic Restoration/Preservation category for projects costing $25 million - $75 million. Building renovations in preparation for the Museum’s opening comprised $42 million and encompassed 17,000 square feet of exhibition space spanning three floors.

Open as The Mob Museum in February 2012, the venue’s building was originally constructed in 1933 as a U.S. Federal courthouse and post office. Listed on both the Nevada and National Registers of Historic Places, the building is significant for its Depression-era neoclassical architecture.

“We’re proud of the recognition that the City of Las Vegas’ public works department has received,” said Jonathan Ullman, executive director and CEO, The Mob Museum. “Thanks to the City’s efforts to preserve our historic building, the public has an extraordinary place for learning about organized crime and law enforcement.”

The building itself played a prominent role in the history of organized crime and law enforcement. On Nov. 15, 1950, its courtroom was the site of a hearing by the U.S. Senate Special Committee to Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce—known widely as the Kefauver Committee hearings—which proved pivotal to the nation’s fight against organized crime and Las Vegas’ development as a gaming capital.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Pedro Espada, Jr., Former State Senate Majority Leader, Sentenced to Five Years’ Imprisonment for Theft of Federal Funds

Earlier today, Pedro Espada, Jr. was sentenced before Judge Frederic Block in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, New York, to five years’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for theft of federal funds from Bronx-based non-profit health care clinics and lying on his 2005 personal tax return. As part of that sentence, Judge Block ordered Espada to serve 100 hours of community service, restitution to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $118,531, restitution to the victims of his thefts in an amount to be determined, and forfeiture of $368,088. The court remanded Espada to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons. Espada is a former New York state senator for the 33rd Senate District in the Bronx who served as the New York State senate majority leader from 2009 to 2010.

The sentence was announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; George Venizelos, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), New York Field Office; and Toni Weirauch, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation, New York.

“The people of the Bronx trusted Pedro Espada, Jr. to have their best interests at heart. Instead, he abused that trust to the tune of more than half-a-million dollars. Under obligation to use the funds he received for the benefit of people sorely in need of quality health care, he chose instead to benefit himself and his family at their expense. Espada embezzled funds to finance his personal lifestyle and lavish gifts on friends and family members at the expense of taxpayers and underprivileged members of the Bronx community who were deprived of needed health services and medical equipment. He continued his campaign of lying and fraud on his tax returns,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. “Espada has finally been held to account for his crimes.” Ms. Lynch expressed her grateful appreciation to the FBI and IRS, the agencies responsible for leading the government’s investigation, and thanked the Office of New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman for its assistance.

On May 14, 2012, a federal jury in Brooklyn returned a guilty verdict against Espada on four counts of stealing from non-profit medical clinics in the Bronx that received federal funding. On October 12, 2012, Espada pled guilty to making false statements on his 2005 personal tax return and agreed not to appeal or otherwise challenge the jury’s verdict. That same day, Espada’s son and co-defendant, Pedro Gautier Espada, pled guilty to guilty to one count of stealing federal funding from non-profit medical clinics and one count of failing to file a tax return in 2009, and his sentencing has been scheduled for June 18, 2013, also before Judge Block.

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Venizelos stated, “Over 30 years ago, Pedro Espada, Jr. helped establish the Soundview Health Center, but his own greed and self-dealing undermined that good work. Espada’s embezzlement of federal funds diverted money meant to serve the health needs of the people of the South Bronx. In lining his own pockets, he betrayed those people and stole from U.S. taxpayers in the process. There is a price to pay for these betrayals.”

The successful outcome of the collaborative effort in this investigation demonstrates the government’s resolve in investigating and prosecuting public corruption. Today’s sentences mark the end of a long period of criminal activity that harmed the patients of the not-for-profit clinics, who depended on the services the clinics provided and law abiding American taxpayers, who have to pick up the slack whenever others deliberately do not pay their fair share. IRS Criminal Investigation is proud of its partnership with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” stated IRS Special Agent in Charge Weirauch.

The government’s case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Todd Kaminsky, Carolyn Pokorny, and Claire Kedeshian.

Defendants
Pedro Espada, Jr.
Age: 58
Mamaroneck, New York

Pedro Gautier Espada
Age: 39
Fairfield, Connecticut

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Thursday, June 13, 2013

Antonio Rivera Sentenced to 60 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking, Forced Labor, and Immigration Crimes on Long Island

Yesterday, Antonio Rivera, the former owner of the bars Sonidos de la Frontera in Lake Ronkonkoma and La Hija del Mariachi in Farmingville, New York, was sentenced to 60 years’ imprisonment for his role in a sex trafficking and forced labor ring. Rivera’s co-defendants, John Whaley and Jason Villaman, were sentenced to 25 and 30 years, respectively. The sentences were imposed by United States District Judge Sandra J. Feuerstein at the United States Courthouse in Central Islip, New York. The three defendants were convicted after a four-week trial of multiple offenses, including conspiracy, sex trafficking, forced labor, alien harboring, and alien transportation.

The sentences were announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Roy L. Austin, Jr., Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division; James T. Hayes, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New York; Edward Webber, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department; George Venizelos, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office; and Toni Weirauch, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, New York.

The government’s evidence at trial established that the defendants and others recruited, hired, and harbored in the United States scores of undocumented Latin American immigrants to work as waitresses in Rivera’s bars. The women had come to the United States from Honduras, Guatelmala, Mexico, and El Salvador. Rivera placed ads and flyers seeking waitresses in Spanish language newspapers and at local businesses frequented by Spanish-speaking immigrants. After the women agreed to work as waitresses, Rivera directed them to solicit patrons to buy them alcoholic beverages, which the women were required to consume, and eventually forced them to engage in sexual acts with the patrons in exchange for money, which Rivera kept. Several witnesses testified that Rivera and others used violence, including rapes and beatings, as well as fraud and threats of deportation to compel the victims to continue to work for him and to prevent them from reporting the illegal activity to police.

One victim testified that she was raped by a bar patron inside Sonidos during business hours in full view of patrons and employees. Another victim testified that on one occasion, she was transported by Villaman to a local hotel, where she was raped while unconscious by a bar patron and awoke to find Villaman watching the assault. A third victim testified that Rivera raped her on multiple occasions and subsequently ordered a security guard to brutally beat her. According to the victim, the security guard drove her to a deserted parking lot after work and, once there, viciously beat her. According to other testimony, Whaley, who assisted Rivera in hiring waitresses, maintaining the bars, and transporting the waitresses to and from the two bars, sexually assaulted one of the victims whom he was supposed to drive home. Testimony also revealed that Villaman acted as a security guard at Sonidos de la Frontera and assisted Rivera in illegal acts against victims, including dumping an unconscious victim on the lawn outside her home after the he and Rivera had assaulted her. Several victims testified that their wages were often taken from them under the guise of being placed into a short-term group savings scheme called the “Society” but were not returned to them as promised, which forced the victims to remain in Rivera’s employ in hopes of recouping their money.

“The defendants lured vulnerable young women to the United States with the promise of a better life and the ability to earn a living to support their families. Once here, the defendants then turned their American dream into a nightmare, subjecting them to unspeakable physical violence and emotional abuse, as well as threats of deportation, in order to line their own pockets. The lengthy sentences imposed today are fair and just punishment for the intolerable crimes that these defendants committed,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. “We will continue our efforts to ensure that the full protection of the law is provided to all our residents.” Ms. Lynch expressed her grateful appreciation to HSI, Suffolk County Police Department, FBI, and the IRS for their assistance in this case.

“These defendants preyed on some of the most vulnerable members of our society—young, undocumented women and girls seeking a better life—and brutally exploited them in a scheme driven by cruelty and greed,” stated Deputy Assistant Attorney General Austin. “Human trafficking is an affront to freedom and individual rights. The sentences handed down today affirm our commitment as a nation to bringing human traffickers to justice and restoring the rights and dignity of human trafficking victims.”

“The men sentenced today lured innocent women with dreams of good paying jobs that turned into a nightmare of forced prostitution backed by threats and violence. The victims of these heinous crimes have now begun the healing process they so justly deserve,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Hayes. “HSI agents will continue to work with the Human Trafficking Task Force and other law enforcement agencies to identify victims and to pursue the criminals who prey on them.”

“These victims and other immigrants have the rightful expectation to be protected against those that may take advantage of their vulnerability. These three predators deserve the lengthy sentences they have received for the unforgivable acts they perpetrated against their victims,” said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Webber. “The Suffolk County Police Department will continue to work jointly with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to curb forced labor, violence, and sex-trafficking within the county.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Venizelos stated, “The defendants have received sentences that reflect the gravity and depravity of the crimes they committed. No human being, regardless of immigration status, can be tormented the way the victims of these defendants were without the strongest possible response from our justice system. The horrific physical violence, sexual predation, and emotional torment suffered by the victims cannot be undone, but long prison terms for the defendants mean they will not be in any position to inflict such torment again.”

IRS Special Agent in Charge Weirauch stated, “IRS-Criminal Investigation is grateful that we were able to support our law enforcement partners in this important investigation and prosecution. The victims in this case endured incredible physical, emotional, and financial hardships. We sincerely hope they will be able to heal and move forward.”

The government’s case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Demetri M. Jones and Licha Nyiendo and Senior Litigation Counsel John Cotton Richmond of the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.

Defendants:

Antonio Rivera
Age: 38
Residence: Patchogue, New York

John Whaley
Age: 33
Residence: Bellport, New York

Jason Villaman

Age: 34
Residence: Brentwood, New York

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Former Country Club Hills Police Chief, Regina Evans, Charged with Hiding Business Income and $500,000 from State Grant in False Tax Returns

Regina Evans and her husband, Ronald Evans, the former police chief and the former inspector general, respectively, of suburban Country Club Hills, were each charged today with three counts of filing false federal income tax returns for allegedly failing to report all of their income during calendar years 2007-09. They were charged in a felony information filed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

Regina Evans’ attorney has authorized the government to disclose that she will be pleading guilty to the tax charges after the government files a request to transfer the case against her to the Central District of Illinois in Springfield for disposition. Regina Evans, 50, who was Country Club Hills police chief from 2009 to 2011, and Ronald Evans, 46, are scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Springfield on June 18.

The defendants were charged with failing to report all of their income in 2009, when they allegedly converted to personal income more than $500,000 of a $1.25 million state grant. They also allegedly failed to report all of their income in 2007, 2008, and 2009 from Prime Time Limousine, a Chicago transportation and security services company that they jointly owned and operated.

According to the charging document, Regina Evans founded and ran an organization called We Are Our Brother’s Keeper that, in 2009, received a $1.25 million employment opportunities grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to provide pre-apprenticeship educational and vocational training for people employed in building trades, such as bricklayers and electricians. The couple allegedly used more than $500,000 for non-grant-related personal purposes, making that money personal income.

On their federal income tax return for 2009, the couple stated that Prime Time’s gross receipts were approximately $150,000, knowing that its gross receipts totaled more than $201,297. They also allegedly stated that they did not have any other income, knowing that they had converted at least $500,000 in grant money.

In 2007, the defendants allegedly filed a false tax return by reporting Prime Time’s gross receipts were approximately $205,290, when the business actually had gross receipts totaling more than $360,649, and they allegedly filed a false 2008 tax return stating Prime Time’s gross receipts were approximately $150,630, when it actually had gross receipts of more than $291,414.

The charges were announced today by Gary S. Shapiro, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and James C. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago. The Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation participated in the investigation.

Filing a false federal income tax return carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. In addition, a defendant convicted of tax offenses faces mandatory costs of prosecution and remains civilly liable to the government for any and all back taxes, as well as a potential civil fraud penalty of up to 75 percent of the underpayment plus interest. If convicted, the court must determine a reasonable sentence to be imposed under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.

The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Hammerman.

The public is reminded that an information contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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