Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and George Venizelos, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), today announced charges against 49 defendants for participating in a widespread fraud scheme from 2004 to August 2013 to illegally obtain nearly half-a-million dollars in Medicaid benefits. Each of the defendants charged in the complaint unsealed today is a current or former Russian diplomat or the spouse of a diplomat employed at either the Russian Mission to the United Nations (the Mission), the Russian Federation Consulate General in New York (the Consulate), or the Trade Representation of the Russian Federation in the USA, New York Office (the Trade Representatio”). The complaint alleges that each of the defendants and their unnamed co-conspirators participated in a widespread scheme to illegally obtain Medicaid benefits for prenatal care and related costs by, among other things, falsely underreporting their income or falsely claiming that their child was a citizen of the United States.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said, “Diplomacy should be about extending hands, not picking pockets in the host country. Here, as alleged, a multitude of Russian diplomats and their spouses ran a scam on a health care system designed to help Americans in need. As the complaint alleges, the scam exploited a weakness in the Medicaid system, and the charges expose shameful and systemic corruption among Russian diplomats in New York.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge George Venizelos said, “The United States government values its long-standing relationship with foreign diplomats and diplomatic establishments for cooperation on many issues. Unfortunately, as detailed in the complaint, some Russian officials in New York allowed these defendants to take advantage of that relationship.
"Motivated by greed and the purchase of high-end luxury items, these defendants allegedly perpetrated a fraud to illegally obtain Medicaid benefits to which they were not entitled. The unsealing of the complaint today highlights the criminal activities of these defendants and reminds the public that health care fraud remains an ongoing problem in our country. The FBI and our law enforcement partners, including the New York City Human Resources Administration and the New York State Department of Health, are committed to preventing and prosecuting health care fraud at all levels.”
According to the allegations in the complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:
Medicaid is a largely federally funded program in the United States designed to assist low-income families afford health care. In New York State, the Department of Health administers the Medicaid program, and the New York City Human Resources Administration oversees the program and processes applications in New York City. In New York State, pregnant women can receive immediate prenatal care following a preliminary assessment of the pregnant woman’s and, if applicable, her spouse’s, income. If the pregnant woman provides an income level that is higher than the Medicaid eligibility threshold, the provider will generally not process the Medicaid application. Proof of United States citizenship is not required for a pregnant woman to receive Medicaid benefits because the unborn child is presumed to acquire United States citizenship by virtue of being born in the United States. Once completed, the pregnant woman is entitled to Medicaid benefits pursuant to the original application until the 60th post-partum day, and the newborn child is entitled to benefits on the mother’s initial application until the child’s first birthday. Diplomats, their spouses, and their children are generally not entitled to Medicaid benefits except in cases of emergency.
While in the United States, the individuals employed by the Mission, Consulate, and Trade Representation are paid a salary by the Russian government, which is not subject to United States federal, state, or local taxes. Employees of the Mission and Consulate generally live in housing, the vast majority of which is paid for by the Russian government. The Mission and Consulate historically have also paid for the medical expenses of their employees, including hospital and doctor bills, as well as dental expenses. Each of the defendants named in the Complaint is a Russian diplomat who works or worked at the Mission, Consulate, or Trade Representation, or was married to such an individual. As a result of an international convention among multiple nations and a bilateral agreement between the United States and Russia, children born in the United States to Russian diplomats generally do not acquire United States citizenship.
The investigation revealed the widespread submission of falsified applications for Medicaid benefits associated with medical costs for prenatal care, birth, and young children by the defendants, which enabled the defendants to obtain Medicaid benefits that they were not otherwise entitled to receive. Approximately $1,500,000 in fraudulently received benefits were obtained by the defendants and dozens of other co-conspirators not named in the complaint. In general, the defendants underreported their income to an amount below or at the applicable Medicaid eligibility level in order to qualify for Medicaid benefits. In support of the underreported income, the defendants generally submitted letters signed by employees of the Mission, Consulate, or Trade Representation, purporting to corroborate that the falsely underreported income was the true income amount. The defendants’ true income was often hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars more per month than what was falsely reported to Medicaid. Moreover, before, during, and after the time that the defendants received Medicaid benefits, several of the defendants opened credit card accounts in which they reflected salaries thousands of dollars higher than they reported to Medicaid.
In addition, one set of defendants failed to disclose their marriage on their initial Medicaid application—falsely claiming that they were brother and sister instead of husband and wife. As a result, those defendants failed to disclose any income the husband earned from the Mission. Because of their lies, they received almost $21,000 in Medicaid income to which they were not entitled. Three other defendants falsely claimed that their children—Russian nationals residing in the United States pursuant to visas issued by the Department of State reflecting their Russian citizenship—were citizens of the United States in order to obtain Medicaid benefits for their children. To support these lies, a United States Social Security card was provided for one application, and both a United States Social Security Card and a birth certificate issued by the New York City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene was provided in support of another application.
Moreover, before, during, and after the time that the defendants applied for and received hundreds of thousands of dollars in Medicaid benefits, they spent tens of thousands of dollars on luxury items, including cruise vacations and purchases such as watches, shoes, and jewelry, at stores such as Tiffany & Co., Jimmy Choo, Prada, Bloomingdale’s, and Burberry.
For example, Timor Salomatin, a former diplomat at the Mission, and his wife, Nailya Babaeva, applied for Medicaid pregnancy benefits in November 2010 and represented Salomatin’s salary to be $3,000 a month and submitted a renewal application in June 2011 in which they claimed that Salomatin made $4,400 a month. In support of both applications, they submitted a letter signed by Mikhail Korneev, formerly a counselor at the Mission, in which Korneev falsely confirmed the underreported income amount. However, beginning in June 2011, Salomatin began to receive direct payroll deposits from the Russian government into his bank account. Between June 2011 and December 2011, Salomatin received an average of $5,160 a month—over $2,000 more than he reported to Medicaid on the initial application. In February 2011, shortly after Salomatin and Babeva applied for Medicaid benefits, and shortly before they applied for renewal benefits, Salomatin applied for a credit card and represented his salary to be $8,333 a month. In December 2011, while Babeva’s and Salomatin’s children continued to receive Medicaid benefits, Salomatin represented his salary to be $60,000 a year, or $5,000 a month. During the period between February 2012 and December 2012, while their children continued to receive Medicaid benefits, Salomatin and Babeva made and paid for over $50,000 in purchases, including over $8,400 from Apple and over $10,000 from retailers, including, among others, Prada and Bloomingdale’s. Babaeva and her children obtained almost $31,000 in Medicaid benefits to which they were not entitled.
Andrey Artasov and Nataliya Artasova falsely represented to Medicaid that Artasov made only $2,900 a month (or approximately $34,800 a year) in salary in November 2008. In March 2007—over a year-and-a-half prior to Artasova applying for Medicaid, Artasov reported to a credit card company that he made $60,000 a year in salary. In 2008, the year that Artasova received Medicaid benefits, Artasov and Artasova made and paid for over $48,000 in purchases on this credit card, spending thousands of dollars at Swarovski and Apple, among other things.
Each of the defendants was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to steal government funds and make false statements relating to health care matters, which carry maximum sentences of ten years and five years in prison, respectively.
Of the 49 defendants, 11 are currently in the United States. Five of those individuals are diplomats working at the Mission. Five of those individuals are the spouses of the diplomats. One is currently employed at the Russian Federation’s embassy in Washington, D.C., but at the time of the charged offenses was employed at the Consulate. The remaining 38 no longer reside in the United States.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Bharara praised the investigative work of the FBI and thanked the New York City Human Resources Administration and the New York State Department of Health for their assistance in this investigation.
The Office’s Public Corruption and Terrorism and International Narcotics Units are handling the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca Ricigliano, Shane Stansbury, and Ian McGinley are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the complaint are merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Thursday, December 05, 2013
Wednesday, December 04, 2013
Steven G. Zamiar, Ranking Midlothian Police Officer, Charged with #FederalCivilRightsViolations Involving Alleged Use of #ExcessiveForce
A south suburban Midlothian Police officer was indicted on federal civil rights charges alleging that he used excessive force against two different victims in separate beating incidents in 2010 and 2011. The defendant, Steven G. Zamiar, was indicted on two counts of violating the victims’ civil right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a law enforcement officer. The two-count indictment was returned by a federal grand jury yesterday and was announced today by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert J. Holley, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Zamiar, 46, of Midlothian, joined the Midlothian Police Department in 2000. He was a detective sergeant at the time of the alleged beating in 2010 and was deputy chief when the alleged beating occurred in 2011. He was later demoted to lieutenant and was placed on paid administrative leave this past September. He will be arraigned on a date yet to be scheduled in U.S. District Court.
According to the indictment, on September 6, 2010, when he was a detective sergeant, Zamiar used excessive force, resulting in bodily injury, against Victim A. On November 24, 2011, when he was deputy chief of the Midlothian Police Department, Zamiar allegedly used excessive force, resulting in bodily injury, against Victim B. During the November 2011 incident, Zamiar allegedly used, attempted to use, and threatened to use a dangerous weapon.
Each count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Otlewski.
An indictment contains merely 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.
Zamiar, 46, of Midlothian, joined the Midlothian Police Department in 2000. He was a detective sergeant at the time of the alleged beating in 2010 and was deputy chief when the alleged beating occurred in 2011. He was later demoted to lieutenant and was placed on paid administrative leave this past September. He will be arraigned on a date yet to be scheduled in U.S. District Court.
According to the indictment, on September 6, 2010, when he was a detective sergeant, Zamiar used excessive force, resulting in bodily injury, against Victim A. On November 24, 2011, when he was deputy chief of the Midlothian Police Department, Zamiar allegedly used excessive force, resulting in bodily injury, against Victim B. During the November 2011 incident, Zamiar allegedly used, attempted to use, and threatened to use a dangerous weapon.
Each count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Otlewski.
An indictment contains merely 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.
Celebrate "December to Remember" in the Las Vegas Cultural Corridor with Fun Affordable Family Friendly Holiday Events
Make it a “December to Remember” during the month-long celebration in the Cultural Corridor, Downtown Las Vegas. The museums and cultural organizations showcase holiday traditions from around the world with free or affordable family friendly events and performances. For more information, visit www.CulturalCorridorVegas.org or www.facebook.com/culturalcorridor.
Las Vegas Library
833 Las Vegas Blvd. North
Admission: Free
Holiday Blues Concert
Dec. 14, 2 – 4 p.m.
John Earl and the Boogieman Band rock those winter blues away.
Holiday Favorites Concert
Dec. 21, 1 - 3 p.m.
Celebrate the winter season with Duo Mystique flute and harp, presenting traditional holiday favorites, with a few classical pieces, Celtic tunes, and other musical fare.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
900 Las Vegas Blvd. North
Admission: Programs are free to Museum members and with General Admission: $10 adult, $8 seniors/military/students 12-17 years, $5 child 3-11 years.
Cultural Fashion Show
Dec. 7, 11 a.m.
Celebrate holiday wear across the globe.
Winter Solstice & the Wheel of the Year
Dec. 7, 1 p.m.
Celebrate this event with a Priestess from the Temple of Goddess Spirituality.
Polynesian Traditions
Dec. 8, 1 p.m.
Celebrate the diversity of the Polynesian culture
Scotland in a Suitcase
Dec. 14, 11 a.m.
Unpack the wonderful world of Scotland and its holiday traditions, presented by the St. Andrew’s Society.
Las Vegas Hula
Dec. 14, 1 p.m.
See Las Vegas Hula members perform traditional and modern Polynesian dance styles.
Scottish Traditions
Dec. 15, 1 p.m.
Experience the culture of Scotland.
Winter Solstice and Wheel of the Year
Dec. 21, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
The Winter Solstice is today! Celebrate this shortest day of the year, and learn about the Wheel of the Year.
The Art of Mummification
Dec. 22, 12 p.m.
Watch as an ancient Egyptian embalmer teaches his apprentice how to mummify a participant.
Kwanzaa
Dec. 22, 1 p.m.
Learn about Kwanzaa’s true meaning with special guest Ellis Rice.
Kwanzaa
Dec. 28, 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.
Dec. 29, 1 p.m.
Celebrate Kwanzaa and learn about its true meaning.
Winter Break Activities
Dec. 23 - 27, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.; and Dec. 30 – Jan. 3, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
School may be out, but the museum is open! Spend your winter break making a variety of cultural holiday crafts.
The Mob Museum
300 Stewart Avenue
Repeal Day Party
Dec. 5, 5:30 – 11 p.m.
Admission: $35; $65 for VIP party
Exclusively for ages 21 and over, this event marks the date of the repeal of Prohibition. Enjoy live music, vintage costumes, “Boss of the Bars” competition, prohibition-era cocktails and more; dress in Roaring ‘20s attire to enter the costume contest. Admission includes full access to the museum, commemorative photo, beverages, and more.
Author’s Talk with David Schwartz
Dec. 14, 1 p.m.
Admission: Free for members; for non-members, included in museum admission ($10 - $19.95)
Nationally renowned author David Schwartz talks about his newest book “Grandissimo: The First Emperor of Las Vegas,” a biography of Jay Sarno, who built Caesars Palace and helped inspire modern Las Vegas.
Neon Museum
770 Las Vegas Blvd. North
Holiday Ornament Making and Caroling
Dec. 14, 3 – 6 p.m.
Event admission: Free
Make holiday Ornaments (3 - 5 p.m.), then enjoy hot chocolate and caroling by Las Vegas Academy singers (5 - 6 p.m.) while you enjoy the dazzling lights of the seasonally illuminated Neon Boneyard.
Holiday Light Display
Now – Dec. 31
Admission: $25 for general admission; $22 for seniors, students, active military and veterans and Nevada residents (must show current ID upon arrival).
Light up your holidays with the museum’s first seasonal holiday-inspired palette of lights; book online for night tours at 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 7 p.m.
Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park
500 E. Washington Avenue
Admission: Free for children 12 and under; $1 for ages 13 and older.
Ornament and Gingerbread House Making
Dec. 7, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Design and make Christmas Ornaments and cards, and decorate a gingerbread house. Hot cocoa and cookies will be available.
Ornament and Card Making
Dec. 14 and 21, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Design and build Christmas Ornaments and make your own Christmas cards.
Hot cocoa and cookies will be available.
5:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.
The Mob Museum
Repeal Day Party
For ages 21 and over.
Dec. 7
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort
Ornament and Gingerbread House Making
11 a.m.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Cultural Fashion Show
1 p.m.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Winter Solstice & Wheel of the Year
Dec. 8
1 p.m.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Polynesian Traditions
Dec. 14
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort
Ornament and Card Making
11 a.m.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Scotland in a Suitcase
1 p.m.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Las Vegas Hula
1 p.m.
The Mob Museum
Author’s Talk with David Schwartz
2 – 4 p.m.
Las Vegas Library
Free admission
Holiday Blues Concert
3 – 6 p.m.
Neon Museum
Free admission
Holiday Ornament Making and Caroling
Dec. 15
1 p.m.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Scottish Traditions
Dec. 21
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort
Ornament and Card Making
11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Winter Solstice and Wheel of the Year
1 – 3 p.m.
Las Vegas Library
Holiday Favorites Concert
Dec. 22
12 p.m.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
The Art of Mummification
1 p.m.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Kwanzaa; with special guest Ellis Rice
Dec. 28
11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Kwanzaa
Dec. 29
1 p.m.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Kwanzaa
The Cultural Corridor in Downtown Las Vegas is on Las Vegas Boulevard between Bonanza Road and Washington Avenue. This nonprofit alliance features seven institutions, each offering unique historical or educational exhibits and programs: Cashman Center, Las Vegas Natural History Museum, Las Vegas Library, Las Vegas Shakespeare Company, The Mob Museum, Neon Museum and Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park. For more information, visit www.CulturalCorridorVegas.org.
EVENT SCHEDULE BY ORGANIZATION
Las Vegas Library
833 Las Vegas Blvd. North
Admission: Free
Holiday Blues Concert
Dec. 14, 2 – 4 p.m.
John Earl and the Boogieman Band rock those winter blues away.
Holiday Favorites Concert
Dec. 21, 1 - 3 p.m.
Celebrate the winter season with Duo Mystique flute and harp, presenting traditional holiday favorites, with a few classical pieces, Celtic tunes, and other musical fare.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
900 Las Vegas Blvd. North
Admission: Programs are free to Museum members and with General Admission: $10 adult, $8 seniors/military/students 12-17 years, $5 child 3-11 years.
Cultural Fashion Show
Dec. 7, 11 a.m.
Celebrate holiday wear across the globe.
Winter Solstice & the Wheel of the Year
Dec. 7, 1 p.m.
Celebrate this event with a Priestess from the Temple of Goddess Spirituality.
Polynesian Traditions
Dec. 8, 1 p.m.
Celebrate the diversity of the Polynesian culture
Scotland in a Suitcase
Dec. 14, 11 a.m.
Unpack the wonderful world of Scotland and its holiday traditions, presented by the St. Andrew’s Society.
Las Vegas Hula
Dec. 14, 1 p.m.
See Las Vegas Hula members perform traditional and modern Polynesian dance styles.
Scottish Traditions
Dec. 15, 1 p.m.
Experience the culture of Scotland.
Winter Solstice and Wheel of the Year
Dec. 21, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
The Winter Solstice is today! Celebrate this shortest day of the year, and learn about the Wheel of the Year.
The Art of Mummification
Dec. 22, 12 p.m.
Watch as an ancient Egyptian embalmer teaches his apprentice how to mummify a participant.
Kwanzaa
Dec. 22, 1 p.m.
Learn about Kwanzaa’s true meaning with special guest Ellis Rice.
Kwanzaa
Dec. 28, 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.
Dec. 29, 1 p.m.
Celebrate Kwanzaa and learn about its true meaning.
Winter Break Activities
Dec. 23 - 27, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.; and Dec. 30 – Jan. 3, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
School may be out, but the museum is open! Spend your winter break making a variety of cultural holiday crafts.
The Mob Museum
300 Stewart Avenue
Repeal Day Party
Dec. 5, 5:30 – 11 p.m.
Admission: $35; $65 for VIP party
Exclusively for ages 21 and over, this event marks the date of the repeal of Prohibition. Enjoy live music, vintage costumes, “Boss of the Bars” competition, prohibition-era cocktails and more; dress in Roaring ‘20s attire to enter the costume contest. Admission includes full access to the museum, commemorative photo, beverages, and more.
Author’s Talk with David Schwartz
Dec. 14, 1 p.m.
Admission: Free for members; for non-members, included in museum admission ($10 - $19.95)
Nationally renowned author David Schwartz talks about his newest book “Grandissimo: The First Emperor of Las Vegas,” a biography of Jay Sarno, who built Caesars Palace and helped inspire modern Las Vegas.
Neon Museum
770 Las Vegas Blvd. North
Holiday Ornament Making and Caroling
Dec. 14, 3 – 6 p.m.
Event admission: Free
Make holiday Ornaments (3 - 5 p.m.), then enjoy hot chocolate and caroling by Las Vegas Academy singers (5 - 6 p.m.) while you enjoy the dazzling lights of the seasonally illuminated Neon Boneyard.
Holiday Light Display
Now – Dec. 31
Admission: $25 for general admission; $22 for seniors, students, active military and veterans and Nevada residents (must show current ID upon arrival).
Light up your holidays with the museum’s first seasonal holiday-inspired palette of lights; book online for night tours at 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 7 p.m.
Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park
500 E. Washington Avenue
Admission: Free for children 12 and under; $1 for ages 13 and older.
Ornament and Gingerbread House Making
Dec. 7, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Design and make Christmas Ornaments and cards, and decorate a gingerbread house. Hot cocoa and cookies will be available.
Ornament and Card Making
Dec. 14 and 21, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Design and build Christmas Ornaments and make your own Christmas cards.
Hot cocoa and cookies will be available.
EVENT SCHEDULE BY DATE
Dec. 55:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.
The Mob Museum
Repeal Day Party
For ages 21 and over.
Dec. 7
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort
Ornament and Gingerbread House Making
11 a.m.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Cultural Fashion Show
1 p.m.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Winter Solstice & Wheel of the Year
Dec. 8
1 p.m.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Polynesian Traditions
Dec. 14
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort
Ornament and Card Making
11 a.m.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Scotland in a Suitcase
1 p.m.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Las Vegas Hula
1 p.m.
The Mob Museum
Author’s Talk with David Schwartz
2 – 4 p.m.
Las Vegas Library
Free admission
Holiday Blues Concert
3 – 6 p.m.
Neon Museum
Free admission
Holiday Ornament Making and Caroling
Dec. 15
1 p.m.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Scottish Traditions
Dec. 21
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort
Ornament and Card Making
11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Winter Solstice and Wheel of the Year
1 – 3 p.m.
Las Vegas Library
Holiday Favorites Concert
Dec. 22
12 p.m.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
The Art of Mummification
1 p.m.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Kwanzaa; with special guest Ellis Rice
Dec. 28
11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Kwanzaa
Dec. 29
1 p.m.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Kwanzaa
The Cultural Corridor in Downtown Las Vegas is on Las Vegas Boulevard between Bonanza Road and Washington Avenue. This nonprofit alliance features seven institutions, each offering unique historical or educational exhibits and programs: Cashman Center, Las Vegas Natural History Museum, Las Vegas Library, Las Vegas Shakespeare Company, The Mob Museum, Neon Museum and Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park. For more information, visit www.CulturalCorridorVegas.org.
Tuesday, December 03, 2013
New York City Police Officer, Besnik Llakatura, and Criminal Associates Charged with Extorting Restauranteur
A three-count indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, charging Redinel Dervishaj, Besnik Llakatura, and Denis Nikolla with Hobbs Act extortion conspiracy, attempted Hobbs Act extortion, and brandishing a firearm in relation to the extortion. The charges arose from the defendants’ extortion of money from a Queens County restaurant owner. Llakatura was at the time of the alleged offenses a police officer with the New York City Police Department (NYPD), assigned to the 120th Precinct in Staten Island, New York. He was suspended without pay upon his arrest. The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York before United States Magistrate Judge Joan Azrack.
The charges were 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, New York Field Office (FBI); and Raymond W. Kelly, Commissioner, NYPD.
“The defendants told their victims they offered 'protection,' but in reality, they peddled fear and intimidation through the Albanian community—their community—of Queens,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. “When one victim turned to law enforcement for help, he was betrayed again by a corrupt officer on the take, who turned his back on his badge, his oath, and his friend in exchange for extortion money in his pocket.” Ms. Lynch expressed her thanks to members of the Joint Organized Crime Task Force, which includes agents of the FBI and detectives of the NYPD, which led the investigation, as well as the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Division for its cooperation and assistance in the investigation.
“By creating a climate of fear, the defendants allegedly coerced an innocent restaurant owner into paying for so-called protective services. The victim was further betrayed when seeking the assistance of Besnik Llakatura, an NYPD officer whose sinister intentions were shrouded by his badge of honor. But Llakatura didn’t serve his community with honor; he, instead, abused his powers to the detriment of the public trust. He remains an exception to those law enforcement officers who work selflessly to weed out crime and corruption in their communities,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Venizelos.
“Llakatura is alleged to have exploited his friendship and shared heritage in order to help the defendants extort a restaurateur. Once it was reported, the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau and the Department’s Organized Crime Investigations Division thoroughly responded, resulting in the charges being announced today,” Commissioner Kelly said.
According to the indictment and court filings, Dervishaj, Llakatura, and Nikolla demanded monthly payments from a Queens restaurant owner in exchange for “protection,” repeatedly using threats and intimidation to ensure his compliance. The scheme began shortly after the victim opened a restaurant in Astoria when he was visited by Dervishaj and told that he had opened a business in “our neighborhood” and, as a result, “you have to pay us.” The restaurant owner, who understood that he was targeted because he, like the defendants, is of Albanian descent, sought help from his friend Llakatura. Unbeknownst to him, Llakatura, an NYPD officer on Staten Island since 2006, was conspiring with Dervishaj in the extortion. Llakatura discouraged the restaurant owner from going to the police and sought to leverage his position to persuade the victim that he had no choice but to make the demanded payments. When the victim resisted, he was threatened with physical violence and chased at gunpoint down the street in Queens by Nikolla.
Court-authorized wiretaps of the defendants’ telephones uncovered detailed evidence of their efforts to maintain control over businesses in the neighborhood through fear, intimidation, and violence. In one intercepted call, Llakatura joked about how he “taxes” local businesses. In another, Nikolla described to Dervishaj how he had grabbed another victim “by the neck” because he had told Nikolla that he only had $2,000 and could not pay more. (The referenced language from the intercepted calls is based on draft translations from Albanian.)
Over the course of five months, each of the three defendants took turns collecting monthly payments from the Astoria restaurant owner, ultimately collecting $24,000 in so-called protection money.
The charges announced today are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nadia Shihata and M. Kristin Mace.
The charges were 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, New York Field Office (FBI); and Raymond W. Kelly, Commissioner, NYPD.
“The defendants told their victims they offered 'protection,' but in reality, they peddled fear and intimidation through the Albanian community—their community—of Queens,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. “When one victim turned to law enforcement for help, he was betrayed again by a corrupt officer on the take, who turned his back on his badge, his oath, and his friend in exchange for extortion money in his pocket.” Ms. Lynch expressed her thanks to members of the Joint Organized Crime Task Force, which includes agents of the FBI and detectives of the NYPD, which led the investigation, as well as the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Division for its cooperation and assistance in the investigation.
“By creating a climate of fear, the defendants allegedly coerced an innocent restaurant owner into paying for so-called protective services. The victim was further betrayed when seeking the assistance of Besnik Llakatura, an NYPD officer whose sinister intentions were shrouded by his badge of honor. But Llakatura didn’t serve his community with honor; he, instead, abused his powers to the detriment of the public trust. He remains an exception to those law enforcement officers who work selflessly to weed out crime and corruption in their communities,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Venizelos.
“Llakatura is alleged to have exploited his friendship and shared heritage in order to help the defendants extort a restaurateur. Once it was reported, the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau and the Department’s Organized Crime Investigations Division thoroughly responded, resulting in the charges being announced today,” Commissioner Kelly said.
According to the indictment and court filings, Dervishaj, Llakatura, and Nikolla demanded monthly payments from a Queens restaurant owner in exchange for “protection,” repeatedly using threats and intimidation to ensure his compliance. The scheme began shortly after the victim opened a restaurant in Astoria when he was visited by Dervishaj and told that he had opened a business in “our neighborhood” and, as a result, “you have to pay us.” The restaurant owner, who understood that he was targeted because he, like the defendants, is of Albanian descent, sought help from his friend Llakatura. Unbeknownst to him, Llakatura, an NYPD officer on Staten Island since 2006, was conspiring with Dervishaj in the extortion. Llakatura discouraged the restaurant owner from going to the police and sought to leverage his position to persuade the victim that he had no choice but to make the demanded payments. When the victim resisted, he was threatened with physical violence and chased at gunpoint down the street in Queens by Nikolla.
Court-authorized wiretaps of the defendants’ telephones uncovered detailed evidence of their efforts to maintain control over businesses in the neighborhood through fear, intimidation, and violence. In one intercepted call, Llakatura joked about how he “taxes” local businesses. In another, Nikolla described to Dervishaj how he had grabbed another victim “by the neck” because he had told Nikolla that he only had $2,000 and could not pay more. (The referenced language from the intercepted calls is based on draft translations from Albanian.)
Over the course of five months, each of the three defendants took turns collecting monthly payments from the Astoria restaurant owner, ultimately collecting $24,000 in so-called protection money.
The charges announced today are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nadia Shihata and M. Kristin Mace.
Sonia Sotomayor's "My Beloved World"
The first Hispanic and third woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor has become an instant American icon. Now, with a candor and intimacy never undertaken by a sitting Justice, she recounts her life from a Bronx housing project to the federal bench, a journey that offers an inspiring testament to her own extraordinary determination and the power of believing in oneself.
Here is the story of a precarious childhood, with an alcoholic father (who would die when she was nine) and a devoted but overburdened mother, and of the refuge a little girl took from the turmoil at home with her passionately spirited paternal grandmother. But it was when she was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes that the precocious Sonia recognized she must ultimately depend on herself. She would learn to give herself the insulin shots she needed to survive and soon imagined a path to a different life. With only television characters for her professional role models, and little understanding of what was involved, she determined to become a lawyer, a dream that would sustain her on an unlikely course, from valedictorian of her high school class to the highest honors at Princeton, Yale Law School, the New York County District Attorney’s office, private practice, and appointment to the Federal District Court before the age of forty. Along the way we see how she was shaped by her invaluable mentors, a failed marriage, and the modern version of extended family she has created from cherished friends and their children. Through her still-astonished eyes, America’s infinite possibilities are envisioned anew in this warm and honest book, destined to become a classic of self-invention and self-discovery.
Here is the story of a precarious childhood, with an alcoholic father (who would die when she was nine) and a devoted but overburdened mother, and of the refuge a little girl took from the turmoil at home with her passionately spirited paternal grandmother. But it was when she was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes that the precocious Sonia recognized she must ultimately depend on herself. She would learn to give herself the insulin shots she needed to survive and soon imagined a path to a different life. With only television characters for her professional role models, and little understanding of what was involved, she determined to become a lawyer, a dream that would sustain her on an unlikely course, from valedictorian of her high school class to the highest honors at Princeton, Yale Law School, the New York County District Attorney’s office, private practice, and appointment to the Federal District Court before the age of forty. Along the way we see how she was shaped by her invaluable mentors, a failed marriage, and the modern version of extended family she has created from cherished friends and their children. Through her still-astonished eyes, America’s infinite possibilities are envisioned anew in this warm and honest book, destined to become a classic of self-invention and self-discovery.
Monday, December 02, 2013
Founder & Leader of #LatinKings Sentenced to Life + 85 Years in Prison for #Murder #Racketeering #DrugDistribution + Other Crimes
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that WILSON PAGAN, 27, the founder and top leader of the Latin Kings gang in Newburgh, New York (the Newburgh Latin Kings), was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel in White Plains federal court to life plus 85 years in prison. PAGAN was convicted of murder; racketeering; conspiracy to distribute crack, cocaine, and heroin; assault; and using and carrying firearms in connection with violent crimes. PAGAN is one of 35 members and associates of the gang who were charged in the case, all of whom have been convicted, 28 of whom have thus far been sentenced.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated: “Mr. Pagan was a gang leader, and what he led his followers to was a gang member’s life filled with death, blood, guns, drugs, and jail—and for him the gangster life in the street has become the inmate’s life in prison, forever. Gang leaders, members, associates, and wannabes in Newburgh and throughout the Hudson Valley need to understand—we will not tolerate gang violence. You will go to prison for it, potentially for the rest of your life.”
According to the indictment and evidence presented at trial:
PAGAN founded the Newburgh Latin Kings, and grew the gang from roughly a dozen members in 2008 to more than 50 members and associates by early 2010. On May 6, 2008, PAGAN ordered aspiring gang members to go on a so-called mission, during which they committed a drive-by shooting and killed, mistakenly, Jeffrey Zachary, a 15-year old boy who was an innocent bystander. PAGAN sold crack and heroin and helped other members and associates of his gang sell drugs, including at spots the Latin Kings controlled, such as the corner of Benkard Avenue and William Street in Newburgh. PAGAN also assaulted rivals of his gang and carried guns and instructed others to carry guns to protect PAGAN and the Newburgh Latin Kings’ drug turf. In leading the gang, PAGAN recruited and inducted new members, instructed the members how to behave in order to protect and conceal the gang’s criminal activities, and issued orders to gang members to shoot and assault others. PAGAN organized and led gang meetings for this purpose. During one such meeting, according to papers filed with the court, PAGAN told more than 20 assembled gang members: “[W]e don’t even live by rules of society... .”
Mr. Bharara thanked the Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force for their work on the Latin Kings investigation. The Task Force is led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and combines the resources of dozens of law enforcement officers from federal, state, and local agencies and departments, including agents and officers of the FBI; the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the City of Newburgh Police Department; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; the Middletown Police Department; the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and the New York State Police.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Allee, Abigail Kurland, and Nicholas McQuaid are in charge of the prosecution.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated: “Mr. Pagan was a gang leader, and what he led his followers to was a gang member’s life filled with death, blood, guns, drugs, and jail—and for him the gangster life in the street has become the inmate’s life in prison, forever. Gang leaders, members, associates, and wannabes in Newburgh and throughout the Hudson Valley need to understand—we will not tolerate gang violence. You will go to prison for it, potentially for the rest of your life.”
According to the indictment and evidence presented at trial:
PAGAN founded the Newburgh Latin Kings, and grew the gang from roughly a dozen members in 2008 to more than 50 members and associates by early 2010. On May 6, 2008, PAGAN ordered aspiring gang members to go on a so-called mission, during which they committed a drive-by shooting and killed, mistakenly, Jeffrey Zachary, a 15-year old boy who was an innocent bystander. PAGAN sold crack and heroin and helped other members and associates of his gang sell drugs, including at spots the Latin Kings controlled, such as the corner of Benkard Avenue and William Street in Newburgh. PAGAN also assaulted rivals of his gang and carried guns and instructed others to carry guns to protect PAGAN and the Newburgh Latin Kings’ drug turf. In leading the gang, PAGAN recruited and inducted new members, instructed the members how to behave in order to protect and conceal the gang’s criminal activities, and issued orders to gang members to shoot and assault others. PAGAN organized and led gang meetings for this purpose. During one such meeting, according to papers filed with the court, PAGAN told more than 20 assembled gang members: “[W]e don’t even live by rules of society... .”
Mr. Bharara thanked the Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force for their work on the Latin Kings investigation. The Task Force is led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and combines the resources of dozens of law enforcement officers from federal, state, and local agencies and departments, including agents and officers of the FBI; the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the City of Newburgh Police Department; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; the Middletown Police Department; the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and the New York State Police.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Allee, Abigail Kurland, and Nicholas McQuaid are in charge of the prosecution.
Civilian Warriors - The Inside Story of Blackwater and the Unsung Heroes of the War on Terror
Forget everything you think you know about Blackwater. And get ready for a thrilling, true story that will make you rethink who the good guys and bad guys have been since 9/11.
No company in our time has been as mysterious or as controversial as Blackwater. Founded by former Navy SEAL Erik Prince in 1997, it recruited special forces veterans and others with the skills and courage to take on the riskiest security jobs in the world. As its reputation grew, government demand for its services escalated, and Blackwater’s men eventually completed nearly one hundred thousand missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Both the Bush and Obama administrations found the company indispensible.
It sounds like a classic startup success story, except for one problem: Blackwater has been demonized around the world. From uninformed news coverage to grossly distorted fictional portrayals, Blackwater employees have been smeared as mercenaries, profiteers, jackbooted thugs, and worse.
Because of the secrecy requirements of Blackwater’s contracts with the Pentagon, the State Department, and the CIA, Prince was unable to speak out when his company’s opponents spread false information. But now he’s able to tell the full and often shocking story of Blackwater’s rise and fall.
In Civilian Warriors, Prince pulls no punches and spares no details. He explains his original goal of building an elite center for military and law enforcement training. He recounts how the company shifted gears after 9/11. He honors our troops while challenging the Pentagon’s top leadership. And he reveals why highly efficient private military contractors have been essential to running our armed forces, since long before Blackwater came along.
Above all, Prince debunks myths about Blackwater that spread while he was forced to remain silent—myths that tarnished the memory of men who gave their lives for their country but never got the recognition they deserved. He reveals new information about some of the biggest controversies of the War on Terror, including:
Prince doesn’t pretend to be perfect, and he doesn’t hide the sometimes painful details of his private life. But he has done a great public service by setting the record straight. His book reads like a thriller but is too improbable to be fiction.
No company in our time has been as mysterious or as controversial as Blackwater. Founded by former Navy SEAL Erik Prince in 1997, it recruited special forces veterans and others with the skills and courage to take on the riskiest security jobs in the world. As its reputation grew, government demand for its services escalated, and Blackwater’s men eventually completed nearly one hundred thousand missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Both the Bush and Obama administrations found the company indispensible.
It sounds like a classic startup success story, except for one problem: Blackwater has been demonized around the world. From uninformed news coverage to grossly distorted fictional portrayals, Blackwater employees have been smeared as mercenaries, profiteers, jackbooted thugs, and worse.
Because of the secrecy requirements of Blackwater’s contracts with the Pentagon, the State Department, and the CIA, Prince was unable to speak out when his company’s opponents spread false information. But now he’s able to tell the full and often shocking story of Blackwater’s rise and fall.
In Civilian Warriors, Prince pulls no punches and spares no details. He explains his original goal of building an elite center for military and law enforcement training. He recounts how the company shifted gears after 9/11. He honors our troops while challenging the Pentagon’s top leadership. And he reveals why highly efficient private military contractors have been essential to running our armed forces, since long before Blackwater came along.
Above all, Prince debunks myths about Blackwater that spread while he was forced to remain silent—myths that tarnished the memory of men who gave their lives for their country but never got the recognition they deserved. He reveals new information about some of the biggest controversies of the War on Terror, including:
• The true story of the Nisour Square massacre in Baghdad.
• The actual details of Blackwater’s so-called impunity in Iraq.
• The events leading up to the televised deaths of Blackwater contractors in Fallujah.
Prince doesn’t pretend to be perfect, and he doesn’t hide the sometimes painful details of his private life. But he has done a great public service by setting the record straight. His book reads like a thriller but is too improbable to be fiction.
Sunday, December 01, 2013
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
MS-13 Gang Leader, Carlos "Silencio" Ortega Sentenced to Life in Prison
Carlos Ortega, also known as “Silencio,” a former leader of the Sitios Locos Salvatruchas clique of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the MS-13 street gang, was sentenced to life in prison at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, New York. Ortega was convicted, on March 21, 2013, following a six-week trial on all counts of the trial indictment, including racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, murder, assault with dangerous weapons, and related firearms and conspiracy offenses.
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, New York Field Office; and Thomas V. Dale, Commissioner of the Nassau County Police Department.
“Ortega’s journey to federal prison began in El Salvador when he joined MS-13 and continued when he illegally entered the U.S. and chose to maintain his allegiance to the gang. Ortega committed heinous acts of violence in the name of MS-13, cutting a swath of murder from Brentwood to Far Rockaway, all within the span of a few weeks,” stated U.S. Attorney Lynch. “From a suspected rival gang member, to an MS-13 gang member who was not violent enough, there was no room for mercy in the gang’s code of enforcing respect through murder. Today’s life sentence is a fitting end to Ortega’s reign of terror. He will now have the rest of his life to contemplate the just results of his allegiance to the killing machine known as MS-13.” Ms. Lynch extended her grateful appreciation to each of the law enforcement agencies for their assistance in this case.
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Venizelos stated, “The victims were robbed of their futures by the defendant’s senseless killing spree. His cowardly acts have earned him a life sentence. The defendant’s imprisonment should be a reminder to all those who participate in gang activity that violence and victimization of the public will not be tolerated and will be met with the full force of the FBI. The FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force is committed to ridding the streets of these violent criminals. Our resolve is strong, and we will not stop until every last gang member is brought to justice.”
At trial, the government proved that Ortega, along with his fellow MS-13 gang members, committed two murders and one attempted murder in February and March 2010. First, Ortega was convicted in connection with the murder of 21-year-old David Sandler and the attempted murder of 20-year-old Aaron Galan in Brentwood, New York, on February 17, 2010. Ortega and his fellow MS-13 gang members lured Sandler, whom the MS-13 believed was a member of the rival Latin Kings street gang, to Timberline Drive in Brentwood under the pretext of buying marijuana from him. Once Sandler arrived, Ortega shot him in the face at close range, killing him. Ortega also shot Sandler’s close friend, Galan, who was with Sandler at the time, in the face. Miraculously, Galan survived.
At trial, Ortega was also convicted of the March 17, 2010 murder of Mario Alberto Canton Quijada in Far Rockaway, New York. Quijada, who was a fellow member of the MS-13, was killed because of his reluctance to “put in work,” or attack rival gang members on behalf of the MS-13. On March 17, 2010, Quijada was lured to the beach in Far Rockaway under the guise of attacking rival gang members. Once alone on the beach, the MS-13 gang members tried to shoot Quijada in the head with a semi-automatic handgun, which had been used in several other murders committed by the MS-13, including the murders of a young woman and her 2-year-old son. However, the gun jammed. Undeterred, Ortega and the other MS-13 members set upon Quijada with knifes and machetes and hacked him to death.
Ortega’s conviction is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York targeting members of the MS-13, a violent international street gang composed primarily of immigrants from El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. With numerous branches, or “cliques,” the MS-13 is the largest street gang on Long Island. Since 2002, more than 200 MS-13 members, including more than two dozen clique leaders, have been convicted on federal felony charges in the Eastern District of New York. More than 100 of those MS-13 members have been convicted on federal racketeering charges. Since 2010 alone, this office has convicted more than 30 members of the MS-13 on charges relating to their participation in one or more murders. These prosecutions are the product of investigations led by the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force, composed of agents and officers of the FBI, Nassau County Police Department, Nassau County Sheriff’s Department, Suffolk County Probation, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, Rockville Centre Police Department, and Suffolk County Police Department.
The life sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Joseph F. Bianco.
The government’s case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John J. Durham, Raymond A. Tierney, and Carrie N. Capwell.
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, New York Field Office; and Thomas V. Dale, Commissioner of the Nassau County Police Department.
“Ortega’s journey to federal prison began in El Salvador when he joined MS-13 and continued when he illegally entered the U.S. and chose to maintain his allegiance to the gang. Ortega committed heinous acts of violence in the name of MS-13, cutting a swath of murder from Brentwood to Far Rockaway, all within the span of a few weeks,” stated U.S. Attorney Lynch. “From a suspected rival gang member, to an MS-13 gang member who was not violent enough, there was no room for mercy in the gang’s code of enforcing respect through murder. Today’s life sentence is a fitting end to Ortega’s reign of terror. He will now have the rest of his life to contemplate the just results of his allegiance to the killing machine known as MS-13.” Ms. Lynch extended her grateful appreciation to each of the law enforcement agencies for their assistance in this case.
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Venizelos stated, “The victims were robbed of their futures by the defendant’s senseless killing spree. His cowardly acts have earned him a life sentence. The defendant’s imprisonment should be a reminder to all those who participate in gang activity that violence and victimization of the public will not be tolerated and will be met with the full force of the FBI. The FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force is committed to ridding the streets of these violent criminals. Our resolve is strong, and we will not stop until every last gang member is brought to justice.”
At trial, the government proved that Ortega, along with his fellow MS-13 gang members, committed two murders and one attempted murder in February and March 2010. First, Ortega was convicted in connection with the murder of 21-year-old David Sandler and the attempted murder of 20-year-old Aaron Galan in Brentwood, New York, on February 17, 2010. Ortega and his fellow MS-13 gang members lured Sandler, whom the MS-13 believed was a member of the rival Latin Kings street gang, to Timberline Drive in Brentwood under the pretext of buying marijuana from him. Once Sandler arrived, Ortega shot him in the face at close range, killing him. Ortega also shot Sandler’s close friend, Galan, who was with Sandler at the time, in the face. Miraculously, Galan survived.
At trial, Ortega was also convicted of the March 17, 2010 murder of Mario Alberto Canton Quijada in Far Rockaway, New York. Quijada, who was a fellow member of the MS-13, was killed because of his reluctance to “put in work,” or attack rival gang members on behalf of the MS-13. On March 17, 2010, Quijada was lured to the beach in Far Rockaway under the guise of attacking rival gang members. Once alone on the beach, the MS-13 gang members tried to shoot Quijada in the head with a semi-automatic handgun, which had been used in several other murders committed by the MS-13, including the murders of a young woman and her 2-year-old son. However, the gun jammed. Undeterred, Ortega and the other MS-13 members set upon Quijada with knifes and machetes and hacked him to death.
Ortega’s conviction is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York targeting members of the MS-13, a violent international street gang composed primarily of immigrants from El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. With numerous branches, or “cliques,” the MS-13 is the largest street gang on Long Island. Since 2002, more than 200 MS-13 members, including more than two dozen clique leaders, have been convicted on federal felony charges in the Eastern District of New York. More than 100 of those MS-13 members have been convicted on federal racketeering charges. Since 2010 alone, this office has convicted more than 30 members of the MS-13 on charges relating to their participation in one or more murders. These prosecutions are the product of investigations led by the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force, composed of agents and officers of the FBI, Nassau County Police Department, Nassau County Sheriff’s Department, Suffolk County Probation, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, Rockville Centre Police Department, and Suffolk County Police Department.
The life sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Joseph F. Bianco.
The government’s case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John J. Durham, Raymond A. Tierney, and Carrie N. Capwell.
Monday, November 25, 2013
2012 #HateCrime Statistics Released
The FBI has just released its hate crime statistics report for 2012, and the numbers show that we as a nation still have a way to go toward alleviating these crimes that have such a devastating impact on communities.
For the 2012 time frame, law enforcement agencies reported 5,796 hate crime incidents involving 6,718 offenses, down from 2011 figures of 6,222 incidents involving 7,254 offenses. Also during 2012, there were 7,164 hate crime victims reported (which include individuals, businesses, institutions, and society as a whole), down from 7,713 in 2011.
The data contained in Hate Crime Statistics, 2012 is a subset of the information that law enforcement submits to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. The full hate crime report can be viewed on the FBI's website, but here are a few highlights:
For the 2012 time frame, law enforcement agencies reported 5,796 hate crime incidents involving 6,718 offenses, down from 2011 figures of 6,222 incidents involving 7,254 offenses. Also during 2012, there were 7,164 hate crime victims reported (which include individuals, businesses, institutions, and society as a whole), down from 7,713 in 2011.
The data contained in Hate Crime Statistics, 2012 is a subset of the information that law enforcement submits to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. The full hate crime report can be viewed on the FBI's website, but here are a few highlights:
- 48.3 percent of the 5,790 single-bias incidents were racially motivated, while 19.6 percent resulted from sexual orientation bias and 19 percent from religious bias.
- Of the 7,164 hate crime victims, 55.4 percent were victims of crimes against persons and 41.8 percent were victims of crimes against property. The remaining 2.8 percent were victims of crimes against society (like drug offenses, gambling, and prostitution).
- 39.6 percent of the victims of crimes against persons suffered simple assaults, while 37.5 percent were intimidated and 21.5 percent were victims of aggravated assault. (Law enforcement also reported 10 murders and 15 rapes as hate crimes.)
- An overwhelming majority—75.6 percent—of the victims of crimes against property were victimized by acts of destruction, damage, and/or vandalism.
- Of the 5,331 known offenders, 54.6 percent were white and 23.3 percent were black.
FBI Whistleblower and Author of "To Kill a President", M. Wesley Swearingen, Skewers Former Warren Commission Member on #JFK Assassination
FBI Whistleblower and Author of TO KILL A PRESIDENT, M. Wesley Swearingen, finds considerable fault with the Warren Commission's investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Richard M. Mosk, a former member of the staff of the Warren Commission, is now a justice on the California Court of Appeal. Chief Justice Earl Warren hired Richard Mosk, the son of the late Stanley Mosk, who was then Attorney General of California, to work for the commission when Richard was about 25 years of age.
In a Los Angeles Times article dated October 27, 2013, entitled "NOV. 22, 1963: 50 years later, and still no conspiracy," Richard Mosk writes that, "with a top-secret clearance I had full access to the work of the staff, and I never saw anything untoward." Richard writes of the Warren Commission investigation, "it may still stand as the most extensive and thorough criminal investigation in history."
It is retired FBI agent Swearingen's opinion that the only thing thorough about the Warren Commission investigation was the cover-up. Swearingen, well trained in firearms and at the top of his New Agent's Training Class with the Springfield rifle, claims the single-bullet theory is preposterous.
Swearingen has personal knowledge of Kennedy's assassination that no other insider had during his years in Chicago when he was in charge of Cuban Counterintelligence during Fidel Castro's overthrow of Cuba in 1959.
One of Swearingen's Cuban sources, whom he cannot identify by law, told him in 1962 that the CIA was plotting to kill President Kennedy with the assistance of certain Chicago Mob figures and that an unidentified patsy would be blamed for killing Kennedy.
When President Kennedy was killed, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover prohibited any agent from speaking out about a conspiracy. Assistant Director In Charge (ADIC) of the Training and Inspection Division W. Mark Felt, aka "Deep Throat," personally told Swearingen, the day Kennedy was killed, not to mention a CIA conspiracy. Swearingen was in Washington, D.C. at the time JFK was murdered and had volunteered to go to Dallas, but Felt instructed Swearingen to return to his office of assignment.
Swearingen also disagrees with Bill O'Reilly's version in O'Reilly's book Killing Kennedy as stated on his website at www.fbisecrets.com. Bill O'Reilly claims "the spin stops here," but in Swearingen's opinion O'Reilly has done nothing but shift the spin into high gear when he tells the world in a book and in a movie that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone assassin killing Kennedy with a single bullet as proclaimed by the Warren Commission.
Kirkus Reviews writes of Swearingen's first book that, "All in all, he turns in a ringing and entirely convincing indictment," against FBI wrongdoing.
Kirkus Reviews writes of Swearingen's second book TO KILL A PRESIDENT, "The author unleashes his experience-fueled intuition to detail the motive of other players in the conspiracy, including the Chicago Mob.
Names are named, associations are made, reasonable conjectures are served and Swearingen comes across as the real deal."
Following publication of Swearingen's book on JFK, another FBI agent, who worked in Dallas, has come forward claiming Oswald did not kill JFK. See website www.oswalddidnotkilljfk.com.
Richard M. Mosk, a former member of the staff of the Warren Commission, is now a justice on the California Court of Appeal. Chief Justice Earl Warren hired Richard Mosk, the son of the late Stanley Mosk, who was then Attorney General of California, to work for the commission when Richard was about 25 years of age.
In a Los Angeles Times article dated October 27, 2013, entitled "NOV. 22, 1963: 50 years later, and still no conspiracy," Richard Mosk writes that, "with a top-secret clearance I had full access to the work of the staff, and I never saw anything untoward." Richard writes of the Warren Commission investigation, "it may still stand as the most extensive and thorough criminal investigation in history."
It is retired FBI agent Swearingen's opinion that the only thing thorough about the Warren Commission investigation was the cover-up. Swearingen, well trained in firearms and at the top of his New Agent's Training Class with the Springfield rifle, claims the single-bullet theory is preposterous.
Swearingen has personal knowledge of Kennedy's assassination that no other insider had during his years in Chicago when he was in charge of Cuban Counterintelligence during Fidel Castro's overthrow of Cuba in 1959.
One of Swearingen's Cuban sources, whom he cannot identify by law, told him in 1962 that the CIA was plotting to kill President Kennedy with the assistance of certain Chicago Mob figures and that an unidentified patsy would be blamed for killing Kennedy.
When President Kennedy was killed, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover prohibited any agent from speaking out about a conspiracy. Assistant Director In Charge (ADIC) of the Training and Inspection Division W. Mark Felt, aka "Deep Throat," personally told Swearingen, the day Kennedy was killed, not to mention a CIA conspiracy. Swearingen was in Washington, D.C. at the time JFK was murdered and had volunteered to go to Dallas, but Felt instructed Swearingen to return to his office of assignment.
Swearingen also disagrees with Bill O'Reilly's version in O'Reilly's book Killing Kennedy as stated on his website at www.fbisecrets.com. Bill O'Reilly claims "the spin stops here," but in Swearingen's opinion O'Reilly has done nothing but shift the spin into high gear when he tells the world in a book and in a movie that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone assassin killing Kennedy with a single bullet as proclaimed by the Warren Commission.
Kirkus Reviews writes of Swearingen's first book that, "All in all, he turns in a ringing and entirely convincing indictment," against FBI wrongdoing.
Kirkus Reviews writes of Swearingen's second book TO KILL A PRESIDENT, "The author unleashes his experience-fueled intuition to detail the motive of other players in the conspiracy, including the Chicago Mob.
Names are named, associations are made, reasonable conjectures are served and Swearingen comes across as the real deal."
Following publication of Swearingen's book on JFK, another FBI agent, who worked in Dallas, has come forward claiming Oswald did not kill JFK. See website www.oswalddidnotkilljfk.com.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Not in Your Lifetime: The Defining Book on the #JFK Assassination
Updated with the latest evidence, the essential, acclaimed account of President Kennedy’s assassination by Pulitzer Prize finalist Anthony Summers.
Fifty years on, most Americans still feel they have not been told the truth about President Kennedy’s death. Chief Justice Warren, who chaired the first inquiry, said “some things” that “involve security” might not be released in our lifetime. Millions of pages of assassination records were finally made public in the late 1990s. Yet the CIA is withholding more than a thousand documents under “national security”—until 2017.
Why? Why hold these records back if—as we were told half a century ago—Lee Harvey Oswald was a lone assassin? Anthony Summers set out to write a reliable account of the murder mystery that haunts America. Not in Your Lifetime, in this fresh edition, is one of the finest books written on the assassination.
“He was holding out his hand . . . He looked puzzled . . . Then he slumped in my lap . . . I kept bending over him saying, ‘Jack, Jack, can you hear me? I love you, Jack . . .’ The seat was full of blood and red roses . . . .” —Jacqueline Kennedy, recalling the fatal moment in Dallas.
Fifty years on, most Americans still feel they have not been told the truth about President Kennedy’s death. Chief Justice Warren, who chaired the first inquiry, said “some things” that “involve security” might not be released in our lifetime. Millions of pages of assassination records were finally made public in the late 1990s. Yet the CIA is withholding more than a thousand documents under “national security”—until 2017.
Why? Why hold these records back if—as we were told half a century ago—Lee Harvey Oswald was a lone assassin? Anthony Summers set out to write a reliable account of the murder mystery that haunts America. Not in Your Lifetime, in this fresh edition, is one of the finest books written on the assassination.
U.S. Marshals Task Force Arrests Suspect in Connection with a Bomb Threat
U.S. Marshal Robert Mathieson announced the capture of William Wyatt Raum. Raum was wanted by the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) in connection with a bomb threat communicated earlier this month.
On Oct. 29, the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center received a bomb threat from an unknown suspect. On Nov. 4, the FCSO requested their deputy sheriff assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service’s fugitive task force to investigate the threat. The investigation determined Raum as the alleged offender.
The case was adopted by the U.S. Marshals task force located within the federal Eastern District of Virginia. At approximately 6:00 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 18, task force officers and Deputy U.S. Marshals located and apprehended Raum in an apartment complex located on Marlboro Pike in Capitol Heights, MD. Raum was transported to the Prince George’s County Police Department and is awaiting extradition to Fairfax County.
On Oct. 29, the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center received a bomb threat from an unknown suspect. On Nov. 4, the FCSO requested their deputy sheriff assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service’s fugitive task force to investigate the threat. The investigation determined Raum as the alleged offender.
The case was adopted by the U.S. Marshals task force located within the federal Eastern District of Virginia. At approximately 6:00 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 18, task force officers and Deputy U.S. Marshals located and apprehended Raum in an apartment complex located on Marlboro Pike in Capitol Heights, MD. Raum was transported to the Prince George’s County Police Department and is awaiting extradition to Fairfax County.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
The United States and Morocco Sign Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Rand Beers joined Moroccan Minister of Economy and Finance Mohamed Boussaid to sign a bilateral Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement (CMAA) that will provide a partnership and legal framework for information sharing and cooperation between Customs administrations of the United States and the Kingdom of Morocco.
“Today’s agreement provides a framework for information sharing and cooperation between our customs administrations as they combat transnational crime and endeavor to protect our respective national frontiers,” said Acting Secretary Beers. “We look forward to implementing this Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement, and growing our cooperative relationship with the Kingdom of Morocco.”
The signing of the CMAA between the Government of the United States of America and the Kingdom of Morocco will permit the United States and the Kingdom of Morocco to exchange information and engage in a range of other forms of mutual assistance to collect revenue and protect our respective countries from threats, including our shared priority of combating terrorism.
“The agreement we have signed today will certainly facilitate the bilateral cooperation between the two Customs administrations and help both sides achieve a common goal to fight fraud and to cope with the challenges facing customs and trade,” said Minister Boussaid.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the U.S. Customs Service before them, have used bilateral Customs Mutual Assistance Agreements as a valuable part of its law enforcement efforts for many years. Today’s agreement marks the 68th country or territory with which the United States has Customs Mutual Assistance Agreements.
Via these law enforcement tools, both Customs administrations will better able to detect, investigate, and prosecute Customs violations and crimes that touch the movement of goods over international borders, including trafficking, money laundering, and terrorism-related activities.
“Today’s agreement provides a framework for information sharing and cooperation between our customs administrations as they combat transnational crime and endeavor to protect our respective national frontiers,” said Acting Secretary Beers. “We look forward to implementing this Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement, and growing our cooperative relationship with the Kingdom of Morocco.”
The signing of the CMAA between the Government of the United States of America and the Kingdom of Morocco will permit the United States and the Kingdom of Morocco to exchange information and engage in a range of other forms of mutual assistance to collect revenue and protect our respective countries from threats, including our shared priority of combating terrorism.
“The agreement we have signed today will certainly facilitate the bilateral cooperation between the two Customs administrations and help both sides achieve a common goal to fight fraud and to cope with the challenges facing customs and trade,” said Minister Boussaid.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the U.S. Customs Service before them, have used bilateral Customs Mutual Assistance Agreements as a valuable part of its law enforcement efforts for many years. Today’s agreement marks the 68th country or territory with which the United States has Customs Mutual Assistance Agreements.
Via these law enforcement tools, both Customs administrations will better able to detect, investigate, and prosecute Customs violations and crimes that touch the movement of goods over international borders, including trafficking, money laundering, and terrorism-related activities.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Dallas 1963 - Climate of Hatred Leading to Assassination of #JFK
In the months and weeks before the fateful November 22nd, 1963, Dallas was brewing with political passions, a city crammed with larger-than-life characters dead-set against the Kennedy presidency. These included rabid warriors like defrocked military general Edwin A. Walker; the world's richest oil baron, H. L. Hunt; the leader of the largest Baptist congregation in the world, W.A. Criswell; and the media mogul Ted Dealey, who raucously confronted JFK and whose family name adorns the plaza where the president was murdered. On the same stage was a compelling cast of marauding gangsters, swashbuckling politicos, unsung civil rights heroes, and a stylish millionaire anxious to save his doomed city.
Bill Minutaglio and Steven L. Davis ingeniously explore the swirling forces that led many people to warn President Kennedy to avoid Dallas on his fateful trip to Texas. Breathtakingly paced, DALLAS 1963 presents a clear, cinematic, and revelatory look at the shocking tragedy that transformed America. Countless authors have attempted to explain the assassination, but no one has ever bothered to explain Dallas-until now.
With spellbinding storytelling, Minutaglio and Davis lead us through intimate glimpses of the Kennedy family and the machinations of the Kennedy White House, to the obsessed men in Dallas who concocted the climate of hatred that led many to blame the city for the president's death. Here at long last is an accurate understanding of what happened in the weeks and months leading to John F. Kennedy's assassination. DALLAS 1963 is not only a fresh look at a momentous national tragedy but a sobering reminder of how radical, polarizing ideologies can poison a city-and a nation.
Bill Minutaglio and Steven L. Davis ingeniously explore the swirling forces that led many people to warn President Kennedy to avoid Dallas on his fateful trip to Texas. Breathtakingly paced, DALLAS 1963 presents a clear, cinematic, and revelatory look at the shocking tragedy that transformed America. Countless authors have attempted to explain the assassination, but no one has ever bothered to explain Dallas-until now.
With spellbinding storytelling, Minutaglio and Davis lead us through intimate glimpses of the Kennedy family and the machinations of the Kennedy White House, to the obsessed men in Dallas who concocted the climate of hatred that led many to blame the city for the president's death. Here at long last is an accurate understanding of what happened in the weeks and months leading to John F. Kennedy's assassination. DALLAS 1963 is not only a fresh look at a momentous national tragedy but a sobering reminder of how radical, polarizing ideologies can poison a city-and a nation.
The Chicago Public Library @chipublib Observed the 50th Anniversary of Kennedy's Assassination Today
Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined Chicago Public Library Commissioner Brian Bannon, schoolchildren, and special guests today at the Harold Washington Library Center to observe the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The event celebrated the life and legacy of President Kennedy, as well as his and the Kennedy family’s long standing connection to Chicago.
“President Kennedy challenged all Americans to answer the call of public service, inspiring generations of Americans to serve others and work for the greater good of their fellow humans," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "Today, as we observe the fiftieth anniversary of his tragic death, we remember his life and legacy and the profound impact he had on our nation and our city."
As part of the program, author Ilene Cooper spoke about the Kennedys’ decades-long ties to Chicago, beginning in 1945 when the Kennedy patriarch and President’s father Joseph Sr. purchased the Merchandise Mart, which soon became a trade show mecca known across the country. From that time on, the Kennedy family has played a prominent role in Chicago. Several Kennedy family members have made the Chicago area their home and still play a major role in the operation of the Merchandise Mart.
Jazz musician Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band paid homage to President Kennedy’s love for cultural arts and jazz music. In 1962, the President and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy hosted the first White House jazz concert, starting a tradition that still exists today. The concert featured music selected from that first jazz concert in 1962, along with selections from subsequent White House concerts.
The Chicago Public Library encourages lifelong learning by welcoming all people and offering equal access to information, entertainment and knowledge through materials, programs and cutting-edge technology. Through its 80 locations, the Library provides free access to a rich collection of materials, both physical and digital, and presents the highest quality author discussions, exhibits and programs for children, teens and adults. For more information, visit chicagopubliclibrary.org or call the Chicago Public Library at (312) 747-4050.
“President Kennedy challenged all Americans to answer the call of public service, inspiring generations of Americans to serve others and work for the greater good of their fellow humans," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "Today, as we observe the fiftieth anniversary of his tragic death, we remember his life and legacy and the profound impact he had on our nation and our city."
As part of the program, author Ilene Cooper spoke about the Kennedys’ decades-long ties to Chicago, beginning in 1945 when the Kennedy patriarch and President’s father Joseph Sr. purchased the Merchandise Mart, which soon became a trade show mecca known across the country. From that time on, the Kennedy family has played a prominent role in Chicago. Several Kennedy family members have made the Chicago area their home and still play a major role in the operation of the Merchandise Mart.
Jazz musician Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band paid homage to President Kennedy’s love for cultural arts and jazz music. In 1962, the President and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy hosted the first White House jazz concert, starting a tradition that still exists today. The concert featured music selected from that first jazz concert in 1962, along with selections from subsequent White House concerts.
The Chicago Public Library encourages lifelong learning by welcoming all people and offering equal access to information, entertainment and knowledge through materials, programs and cutting-edge technology. Through its 80 locations, the Library provides free access to a rich collection of materials, both physical and digital, and presents the highest quality author discussions, exhibits and programs for children, teens and adults. For more information, visit chicagopubliclibrary.org or call the Chicago Public Library at (312) 747-4050.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Official Sneak Preview of #MobCity on TNT
The epic battle between a determined police chief and a dangerous mobster inflames 1940s Los Angeles in TNT's eagerly anticipated television event Mob City (formerly known as Lost Angels). This powerful drama comes to TNT from Frank Darabont (The Walking Dead), who wrote and directed the pilot and serves as executive producer on the series.
Based on the critically acclaimed book L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America's Most Seductive City, by John Buntin, Mob City opens in post-war Los Angeles, home to glamorous movie stars, powerful studio heads and returning war heroes. But it's also a city caught between a powerful and corrupt police force and an even more dangerous criminal network determined to make L.A. its West Coast base.
Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker (Neal McDonough -- Captain America, Desperate Housewives)) has made it his mission to free the city of criminals like Ben "Bugsy" Siegel (Ed Burns -- Entourage) and Mickey Cohen (Jeremy Luke -- Don Jon), the ruthless king of the Los Angeles underworld. Parker also won't hesitate to go after anyone from his own police force who sells out honor and duty for the sake of a big payout. To carry out his sweep of organized crime, Parker sets up a new mob task force within the LAPD. Headed by Det. Hal Morrison (Jeffrey DeMunn -- The Walking Dead, The Shawshank Redemption), the task force includes Det. Joe Teague (Jon Bernthal -- The Walking Dead), an ex-Marine who holds his cards close to his chest.
Mob City's exceptional ensemble cast also includes Gregory Itzin (24), Robert Knepper (Prison Break), Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes) and Alexa Davalos (Clash of the Titans, The Mist).
Mob City is produced by TNT Originals, with Darabont, Michael De Luca (The Social Network) and Elliot Webb (Alpha House) serving as executive producers.
Premieres Wednesday, December 4 at 10/9c on TNT.
14 Charged with Kilogram-Quantity #HeroinTrafficking #Conspiracy
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; George Venizelos, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Ramon Bethencourt, Jr., the Chief of the City of Middletown Police Department; and Joseph A. D’Amico, the Superintendent of the New York State Police, announced the arrest of 14 defendants and the unsealing of an indictment charging a conspiracy to distribute kilogram quantities of heroin in and around Middletown, New York.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated, “This case is yet another example of this office’s unrelenting efforts at purging the Hudson Valley of alleged violent drug trafficking gangs through the coordinated efforts of the FBI and our state and local law enforcement partners.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge George Venizelos stated, “The arrests today target individuals who allegedly were involved in moving heroin into Middletown. These types of crimes are all too common in this area and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force will continue to work with our partners to eradicate violent gangs and drugs in our communities.”
Middletown Police Department Chief Ramon Bethencourt, Jr. stated, “Along with Mayor DeStefano, I want to praise the work of all of the law enforcement agencies involved. Once again our commitment to working together will have a positive influence on the quality of life for our residents. By ridding our streets of these drugs we are reducing the violent crimes that go along with them, making the city of Middletown a safer community.”
New York State Police Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico stated, “A significant amount of heroin will not make it onto the streets of Middletown as a result of the dedication and due diligence of local, state, and federal investigators and prosecutors working collaboratively to put a stop to these types of drug operations. It is through this cooperative effort among our partners in law enforcement that we will continue to target and remove from our streets those who choose to engage in this type of illegal and dangerous activity. I thank all of the members of this team for their hard work and dedication to the citizens of New York.”
According to allegations in the indictment unsealed in White Plains federal court:
Fourteen people
are charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute kilogram quantities of heroin. The defendants have operated a large-scale heroin trafficking organization that distributed heroin throughout Middletown, New York, since at least 2007. During the investigation, the defendants unwittingly sold heroin to confidential informants and an agent in an undercover capacity. One defendant and a co-conspirator also discussed the possible murder of two individuals in or around Middletown.
All the defendants charged in the indictment were arrested last night or today or have previously been taken into custody. Twelve of the defendants are to be presented in White Plains federal court this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa Margaret Smith. One defendant is to be presented in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire, and one defendant is to be presented in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, the City of Middletown Police Department, the New York State Police, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, the Town of Wallkill Police Department, and the Town of Ramapo Police Department. Mr. Bharara also thanked the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for its invaluable coordination and continuing support.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gerber is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated, “This case is yet another example of this office’s unrelenting efforts at purging the Hudson Valley of alleged violent drug trafficking gangs through the coordinated efforts of the FBI and our state and local law enforcement partners.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge George Venizelos stated, “The arrests today target individuals who allegedly were involved in moving heroin into Middletown. These types of crimes are all too common in this area and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force will continue to work with our partners to eradicate violent gangs and drugs in our communities.”
Middletown Police Department Chief Ramon Bethencourt, Jr. stated, “Along with Mayor DeStefano, I want to praise the work of all of the law enforcement agencies involved. Once again our commitment to working together will have a positive influence on the quality of life for our residents. By ridding our streets of these drugs we are reducing the violent crimes that go along with them, making the city of Middletown a safer community.”
New York State Police Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico stated, “A significant amount of heroin will not make it onto the streets of Middletown as a result of the dedication and due diligence of local, state, and federal investigators and prosecutors working collaboratively to put a stop to these types of drug operations. It is through this cooperative effort among our partners in law enforcement that we will continue to target and remove from our streets those who choose to engage in this type of illegal and dangerous activity. I thank all of the members of this team for their hard work and dedication to the citizens of New York.”
According to allegations in the indictment unsealed in White Plains federal court:
Fourteen people
- Miguel Margolla, 29 MARGOLLA, 29,
- Jesus Irizarry Nergon, a/k/a/ “Pablo,” 22
- Mario Margolla, 32
- Roberto Margolla, 22
- Carlos Martinez, a/k/a “B-Way,” 33
- Sharlim Omar Morales, a/k/a “Moreno,” 32
- Ricardo Ramos-Mendez, a/k/a “Keeke,” a/k/a “Brian,” 23
- Teddy Rivera, a/k/a “Teddy Guns,” a/k/a “TG,” 20
- Christina Rodriguez, 23
- Johnathan Rodriguez, a/k/a “J-Whispers,” a/k/a “Bigz,” 26
- Manuel Santiago, 28
- Jessica Slocum, 24
- Alex Torres, a/k/a “Broccoli,” a/k/a “Broc,” 28
- Christian Vera Maldonado, 22
are charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute kilogram quantities of heroin. The defendants have operated a large-scale heroin trafficking organization that distributed heroin throughout Middletown, New York, since at least 2007. During the investigation, the defendants unwittingly sold heroin to confidential informants and an agent in an undercover capacity. One defendant and a co-conspirator also discussed the possible murder of two individuals in or around Middletown.
All the defendants charged in the indictment were arrested last night or today or have previously been taken into custody. Twelve of the defendants are to be presented in White Plains federal court this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa Margaret Smith. One defendant is to be presented in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire, and one defendant is to be presented in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, the City of Middletown Police Department, the New York State Police, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, the Town of Wallkill Police Department, and the Town of Ramapo Police Department. Mr. Bharara also thanked the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for its invaluable coordination and continuing support.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gerber is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
A Senior Bank Official at Venezuelan State Development Bank Pleads Guilty to Participating in Bribery Scheme
A senior official in Venezuela’s state economic development bank has pleaded guilty in New York federal court to accepting bribes from agents and employees of a New York-based broker-dealer (broker-dealer) in exchange for directing her bank’s security-trading business to the broker-dealer.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara of the Southern District of New York, and Assistant Director in Charge George Venizelos of the New York Office of the FBI made the announcement.
Maria De Los Angeles Gonzalez De Hernandez, 55, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer in the Southern District of New York to conspiring to violate the Travel Act and to commit money laundering, as well as substantive counts of these offenses. Sentencing for Gonzalez is scheduled for August 15, 2014, before Judge Engelmayer.
At all times relevant to the charges, Banco de Desarrollo Económico y Social de Venezuela (BANDES) was a state-run economic development bank in Venezuela. The Venezuelan government had a majority ownership interest in BANDES and provided it with substantial funding.
According to court records, Gonzalez was an official at BANDES and oversaw the development bank’s overseas trading activity. At her direction, BANDES conducted substantial trading through the broker-dealer. Most of the trades executed by the broker-dealer on behalf of BANDES involved fixed income investments for which the broker-dealer charged the bank a mark-up on purchases and a mark-down on sales.
From early 2009 through 2012, Gonzalez participated in a bribery scheme in which she directed trading business she controlled at BANDES to the broker-dealer, and, in return, agents and employees of the broker-dealer shared the revenue the broker-dealer generated from this trading business with Gonzalez. During this time period, the broker-dealer generated over $60 million in mark-ups and mark-downs from trades with BANDES. Agents and employees of the broker-dealer devised a split with Gonzalez of the commissions paid by BANDES to the broker-dealer. E-mails, account records, and other documents collected from the broker-dealer and other sources reveal that Gonzalez received a substantial share of the revenue generated by the broker-dealer for BANDES-related trades. Specifically, Gonzalez received millions in bribe payments from broker-dealer agents and employees.
Additionally, Gonzalez paid a portion of the bribe payments she received to another BANDES employee who was also involved in the scheme.
To further conceal the scheme, the kickbacks to Gonzalez were often paid using intermediary corporations and offshore accounts that Gonzalez and others held in Switzerland, among other places.
Previously, three former employees of the broker-dealer—Ernesto Lujan, Jose Alejandro Hurtado, and Tomas Alberto Clarke Bethancourt—each pleaded guilty in New York federal court to conspiring to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and conspiring to violate the Travel Act and to commit money laundering, as well as substantive counts of these offenses, relating, among other things, to the scheme involving bribe payments to Gonzalez. Sentencing for Lujan and Clarke is scheduled for February 11, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe. Hurtado is scheduled for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Harold Baer, Jr. on March 6, 2014.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI, with assistance from the SEC and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. Assistant Chief James Koukios and Trial Attorneys Maria Gonzalez Calvet and Aisling O’Shea of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant United States Attorneys Harry A. Chernoff and Jason H. Cowley of the Southern District of New York’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force are in charge of the prosecution. Assistant United States Attorney Carolina Fornos is also responsible for the forfeiture aspects of the case.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara of the Southern District of New York, and Assistant Director in Charge George Venizelos of the New York Office of the FBI made the announcement.
Maria De Los Angeles Gonzalez De Hernandez, 55, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer in the Southern District of New York to conspiring to violate the Travel Act and to commit money laundering, as well as substantive counts of these offenses. Sentencing for Gonzalez is scheduled for August 15, 2014, before Judge Engelmayer.
At all times relevant to the charges, Banco de Desarrollo Económico y Social de Venezuela (BANDES) was a state-run economic development bank in Venezuela. The Venezuelan government had a majority ownership interest in BANDES and provided it with substantial funding.
According to court records, Gonzalez was an official at BANDES and oversaw the development bank’s overseas trading activity. At her direction, BANDES conducted substantial trading through the broker-dealer. Most of the trades executed by the broker-dealer on behalf of BANDES involved fixed income investments for which the broker-dealer charged the bank a mark-up on purchases and a mark-down on sales.
From early 2009 through 2012, Gonzalez participated in a bribery scheme in which she directed trading business she controlled at BANDES to the broker-dealer, and, in return, agents and employees of the broker-dealer shared the revenue the broker-dealer generated from this trading business with Gonzalez. During this time period, the broker-dealer generated over $60 million in mark-ups and mark-downs from trades with BANDES. Agents and employees of the broker-dealer devised a split with Gonzalez of the commissions paid by BANDES to the broker-dealer. E-mails, account records, and other documents collected from the broker-dealer and other sources reveal that Gonzalez received a substantial share of the revenue generated by the broker-dealer for BANDES-related trades. Specifically, Gonzalez received millions in bribe payments from broker-dealer agents and employees.
Additionally, Gonzalez paid a portion of the bribe payments she received to another BANDES employee who was also involved in the scheme.
To further conceal the scheme, the kickbacks to Gonzalez were often paid using intermediary corporations and offshore accounts that Gonzalez and others held in Switzerland, among other places.
Previously, three former employees of the broker-dealer—Ernesto Lujan, Jose Alejandro Hurtado, and Tomas Alberto Clarke Bethancourt—each pleaded guilty in New York federal court to conspiring to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and conspiring to violate the Travel Act and to commit money laundering, as well as substantive counts of these offenses, relating, among other things, to the scheme involving bribe payments to Gonzalez. Sentencing for Lujan and Clarke is scheduled for February 11, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe. Hurtado is scheduled for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Harold Baer, Jr. on March 6, 2014.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI, with assistance from the SEC and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. Assistant Chief James Koukios and Trial Attorneys Maria Gonzalez Calvet and Aisling O’Shea of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant United States Attorneys Harry A. Chernoff and Jason H. Cowley of the Southern District of New York’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force are in charge of the prosecution. Assistant United States Attorney Carolina Fornos is also responsible for the forfeiture aspects of the case.
Monday, November 18, 2013
The Top Five Conspiracy Theories on JFK Assassination
As the 50th anniversary of the JFK assassination draws nearer
, the debate over who actually pulled the trigger rages on. Did Lee Harvey Oswald, as the The Warren Commission Report: The Official Report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, concluded, use an Italian bolt-action Mannlicher-Carcano rifle to fire three shots from the Texas School Book Depository building, hitting President John F. Kennedy once in the neck and once in the back of the head? Or were there larger forces at work?
The belief that there was conspiracy to assassinate the president has only become more widespread with the passage of time. As ABC News reports, the House Select Committee on Assassinations concluded in 1978 that Kennedy was “probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy.” A 2003 ABC News poll showed that 70 percent of Americans believed the JFK assassination was “not the act of a lone killer,” with 7 percent believing that Oswald was not involved at all.
So what is the truth? What really happened on Nov. 22, 1963, at Dealey Plaza in Dallas? We’ll probably never know, but we can continue to speculate. Below is a list of the top five JFK assassination conspiracy theories that have been bandied about over the years.
1.) The CIA Killed JFK
The Central Intelligence Agency has always been shadowy
, mysterious organization, which lends itself perfectly to a conspiracy theory involving the JFK assassination. According to the Mary Ferrell Foundation, Kennedy made an enemy out of the CIA after the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in April 1961. As a result of that failed operation, CIA Director Allen Dulles (who would later serve on the Warren Commission) was forced to resign and many allegedly began to see JFK as a threat to CIA interests.
As the New York Post reports, author Patrick Nolan surmises that the CIA wanted “power, self-preservation and to stop the Kennedys’ plan to make peace with Cuba and the Soviets.” Nolan theorizes that a group of rogue CIA agents, including Richard Helms (who became CIA director a few years later), James Angleton, David Phillips and E. Howard Hunt (of Watergate infamy), used three shooters placed at different locations in Dealey Plaza -- the Book Depository building, the Grassy Knoll and the Dal-Tex building -- to pull off the assassination. In his book, “CIA Rogues and the Killing of the Kennedys: How and Why US Agents Conspired to Assassinate JFK and RFK,” Nolan uses physical, medical and film evidence, as well as eyewitness accounts, to reach his conclusion.
2.) The Mafia Killed JFK
The relationship between organized crime and the Kennedy family stretched back decades prior to the assassination
, as President Kennedy’s father, Joseph P. Kennedy, allegedly engaged in bootlegging during the Prohibition era of the 1920s. As the Los Angeles Times points out, it’s also believed that Joseph Kennedy used his Mafia connections to help his son win the crucial state of Illinois during the 1960 presidential election against Richard Nixon. However, the mutually beneficial relationship between the Mafia and the Kennedy family would soon come to an end.
According to ABC News, one version of this theory posits that Mafia was angered with JFK after the botched Bay of Pigs invasion, as they had hoped to re-exert their presence in Cuba, which had been erased after Fidel Castro rose to power. Additionally, JFK’s brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, had become a crusader against the Mafia in his position as the nation’s top cop.
As the Post reports, Lamar Waldron, author of the book “The Hidden History of the JFK Assassination: The Definitive Account of the Most Controversial Crime of the Twentieth Century,” theorizes that the assassination was masterminded by New Orleans mob boss Carlos Marcello, with help from Santo Trafficante of Florida and Johnny Roselli of Chicago. According to the Waldron, Marcello used Italian hit men, smuggling them into the country from Canada, to commit the crime. Marcello reportedly bragged about pulling off the assassination to an inmate at a prison where he was serving time in 1985. “Yeah, I had the son of a bitch killed,” he allegedly said. “I’m glad I did. I’m sorry I couldn’t have done it myself.”
3.) Lyndon B. Johnson Killed JFK
If one wants a definitive answer as to who killed JFK
, look no further than the man who benefited the most from his assassination. At least, that’s what author Roger Stone says in his new book, “The Man Who Killed Kennedy: The Case Against LBJ.” In an interview with Voices of Russia, Stone says that LBJ -- who was sworn in as president on a plane in Dallas just hours after the JFK assassination -- used longtime associate and hit man Malcolm Wallace to do the deed. As the Post points out, Stone alleges that Wallace’s fingerprints were found on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository Building, where the Warren Commission says Oswald fired his fatal shots.
According to Stone, Johnson insisted on both the trip to Dallas and the route through Dealey Plaza, where none of the buildings in the area were sealed off. Stone thinks LBJ both reduced the number of police officers on motorcycles on either side of the president’s car and ordered off the Secret Service agents that would have been riding on the rear bumper of the car. In the interview with Voices of Russia, Stone believes that LBJ can be tied to as many as eight murders in Texas prior to the JFK assassination, in order to cover up his corruption, voter fraud and more.
4.) The Russians Killed JFK
To examine the theory that the Soviet Union killed President John F. Kennedy, one must look at the geopolitical situation in 1963. This was the height of the Cold War and the peak of anti-Communist sentiment in the United States. According to ABC News, conspiracy theorists frequently cite the notion that Soviet Premier Nikita Krushchev was incensed at having to back down to JFK during the Cuban Missile Crisis the year before, and had the president killed by the KGB in retaliation.
Another interesting connection is Oswald’s time spent in the Soviet Union. In October 1959, Oswald -- a former Marine -- defected to the Soviet Union, where he met his future wife, Marina. Marina’s uncle was a colonel in the MVD, which is the Russian Interior Ministry service.
According to Stratfor, there are numerous anomalies about Oswald’s time in Russia, including how the two were able to get permission to marry (a requirement for any Soviet citizen marrying a foreigner), as well as why Marina, an upper-middle class woman with an uncle in the government, would agree to marry an American defector with little prospects whom she had just met one month before.
In early 1962, Oswald, Marina and their daughter left the Soviet Union for the United States. As Stratfor points out, Marina Oswald was granted permission to leave the the country with an American defector within weeks of her request, an extremely rare, if not completely unheard of, turnaround. Why? Conspiracy theorists point to questions like these as evidence of Soviet involvement in the assassination of JFK.
5.) The Cubans Killed JFK
There are two separate sub-theories surrounding Cuba and the JFK assassination. The first, as ABC News points out, is that Castro had JFK assassinated in retaliation for the numerous attempts on his life during the Kennedy administration, courtesy of both the CIA and the Mafia. In 1968, Johnson told ABC News that “Kennedy was trying to get to Castro, but Castro got to him first.”
During an interview with Bill Moyers in 1977, Castro said the theory was “absolute insanity.”
The second, perhaps more plausible, theory involves a mixture of militant anti-Castro Cuban exiles in Miami, the Mafia and the CIA. As the Mary Ferrell Foundation points out, the anti-Castro Cubans were enraged by Kennedy’s failure to provide crucial air support during the Bay of Pigs invasion. This could have been seen as emblematic of Kennedy’s “soft” approach to communism, a charge that had already been leveled at him after he chose not to invade Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Did anti-Castro Cubans, working in conjunction with the CIA and the Mafia, assassinate JFK?
Thanks to Andrew Berry.
, the debate over who actually pulled the trigger rages on. Did Lee Harvey Oswald, as the The Warren Commission Report: The Official Report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, concluded, use an Italian bolt-action Mannlicher-Carcano rifle to fire three shots from the Texas School Book Depository building, hitting President John F. Kennedy once in the neck and once in the back of the head? Or were there larger forces at work?The belief that there was conspiracy to assassinate the president has only become more widespread with the passage of time. As ABC News reports, the House Select Committee on Assassinations concluded in 1978 that Kennedy was “probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy.” A 2003 ABC News poll showed that 70 percent of Americans believed the JFK assassination was “not the act of a lone killer,” with 7 percent believing that Oswald was not involved at all.
So what is the truth? What really happened on Nov. 22, 1963, at Dealey Plaza in Dallas? We’ll probably never know, but we can continue to speculate. Below is a list of the top five JFK assassination conspiracy theories that have been bandied about over the years.
1.) The CIA Killed JFK
The Central Intelligence Agency has always been shadowy
, mysterious organization, which lends itself perfectly to a conspiracy theory involving the JFK assassination. According to the Mary Ferrell Foundation, Kennedy made an enemy out of the CIA after the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in April 1961. As a result of that failed operation, CIA Director Allen Dulles (who would later serve on the Warren Commission) was forced to resign and many allegedly began to see JFK as a threat to CIA interests.As the New York Post reports, author Patrick Nolan surmises that the CIA wanted “power, self-preservation and to stop the Kennedys’ plan to make peace with Cuba and the Soviets.” Nolan theorizes that a group of rogue CIA agents, including Richard Helms (who became CIA director a few years later), James Angleton, David Phillips and E. Howard Hunt (of Watergate infamy), used three shooters placed at different locations in Dealey Plaza -- the Book Depository building, the Grassy Knoll and the Dal-Tex building -- to pull off the assassination. In his book, “CIA Rogues and the Killing of the Kennedys: How and Why US Agents Conspired to Assassinate JFK and RFK,” Nolan uses physical, medical and film evidence, as well as eyewitness accounts, to reach his conclusion.
2.) The Mafia Killed JFK
The relationship between organized crime and the Kennedy family stretched back decades prior to the assassination
, as President Kennedy’s father, Joseph P. Kennedy, allegedly engaged in bootlegging during the Prohibition era of the 1920s. As the Los Angeles Times points out, it’s also believed that Joseph Kennedy used his Mafia connections to help his son win the crucial state of Illinois during the 1960 presidential election against Richard Nixon. However, the mutually beneficial relationship between the Mafia and the Kennedy family would soon come to an end.According to ABC News, one version of this theory posits that Mafia was angered with JFK after the botched Bay of Pigs invasion, as they had hoped to re-exert their presence in Cuba, which had been erased after Fidel Castro rose to power. Additionally, JFK’s brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, had become a crusader against the Mafia in his position as the nation’s top cop.
As the Post reports, Lamar Waldron, author of the book “The Hidden History of the JFK Assassination: The Definitive Account of the Most Controversial Crime of the Twentieth Century,” theorizes that the assassination was masterminded by New Orleans mob boss Carlos Marcello, with help from Santo Trafficante of Florida and Johnny Roselli of Chicago. According to the Waldron, Marcello used Italian hit men, smuggling them into the country from Canada, to commit the crime. Marcello reportedly bragged about pulling off the assassination to an inmate at a prison where he was serving time in 1985. “Yeah, I had the son of a bitch killed,” he allegedly said. “I’m glad I did. I’m sorry I couldn’t have done it myself.”
3.) Lyndon B. Johnson Killed JFK
If one wants a definitive answer as to who killed JFK
, look no further than the man who benefited the most from his assassination. At least, that’s what author Roger Stone says in his new book, “The Man Who Killed Kennedy: The Case Against LBJ.” In an interview with Voices of Russia, Stone says that LBJ -- who was sworn in as president on a plane in Dallas just hours after the JFK assassination -- used longtime associate and hit man Malcolm Wallace to do the deed. As the Post points out, Stone alleges that Wallace’s fingerprints were found on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository Building, where the Warren Commission says Oswald fired his fatal shots.According to Stone, Johnson insisted on both the trip to Dallas and the route through Dealey Plaza, where none of the buildings in the area were sealed off. Stone thinks LBJ both reduced the number of police officers on motorcycles on either side of the president’s car and ordered off the Secret Service agents that would have been riding on the rear bumper of the car. In the interview with Voices of Russia, Stone believes that LBJ can be tied to as many as eight murders in Texas prior to the JFK assassination, in order to cover up his corruption, voter fraud and more.
4.) The Russians Killed JFK
To examine the theory that the Soviet Union killed President John F. Kennedy, one must look at the geopolitical situation in 1963. This was the height of the Cold War and the peak of anti-Communist sentiment in the United States. According to ABC News, conspiracy theorists frequently cite the notion that Soviet Premier Nikita Krushchev was incensed at having to back down to JFK during the Cuban Missile Crisis the year before, and had the president killed by the KGB in retaliation.
Another interesting connection is Oswald’s time spent in the Soviet Union. In October 1959, Oswald -- a former Marine -- defected to the Soviet Union, where he met his future wife, Marina. Marina’s uncle was a colonel in the MVD, which is the Russian Interior Ministry service.
According to Stratfor, there are numerous anomalies about Oswald’s time in Russia, including how the two were able to get permission to marry (a requirement for any Soviet citizen marrying a foreigner), as well as why Marina, an upper-middle class woman with an uncle in the government, would agree to marry an American defector with little prospects whom she had just met one month before.
In early 1962, Oswald, Marina and their daughter left the Soviet Union for the United States. As Stratfor points out, Marina Oswald was granted permission to leave the the country with an American defector within weeks of her request, an extremely rare, if not completely unheard of, turnaround. Why? Conspiracy theorists point to questions like these as evidence of Soviet involvement in the assassination of JFK.
5.) The Cubans Killed JFK
There are two separate sub-theories surrounding Cuba and the JFK assassination. The first, as ABC News points out, is that Castro had JFK assassinated in retaliation for the numerous attempts on his life during the Kennedy administration, courtesy of both the CIA and the Mafia. In 1968, Johnson told ABC News that “Kennedy was trying to get to Castro, but Castro got to him first.”
During an interview with Bill Moyers in 1977, Castro said the theory was “absolute insanity.”
The second, perhaps more plausible, theory involves a mixture of militant anti-Castro Cuban exiles in Miami, the Mafia and the CIA. As the Mary Ferrell Foundation points out, the anti-Castro Cubans were enraged by Kennedy’s failure to provide crucial air support during the Bay of Pigs invasion. This could have been seen as emblematic of Kennedy’s “soft” approach to communism, a charge that had already been leveled at him after he chose not to invade Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Did anti-Castro Cubans, working in conjunction with the CIA and the Mafia, assassinate JFK?
Thanks to Andrew Berry.
Inside the Kwame Kilpatrick #PublicCorruption Case
When Kwame Kilpatrick became mayor of Detroit in 2002, he promised to revitalize the city. Instead, he shamelessly used his position to steal from the citizens he had vowed to serve.
“Criminal activity was a way of life for him, and he constantly used the power of his office to look for new opportunities to make money illegally,” said Federal Bureau of Investigations Special Agent Robert Beeckman, who investigated the mayor and his corrupt regime for eight years.
Last month, a federal judge sentenced Kilpatrick to a 28-year prison term for his role in a wide-ranging racketeering conspiracy that included extortion, bribery, and fraud. Thirty-two others have also been convicted of crimes in connection with the case, including Kilpatrick’s contractor friend Bobby Ferguson, who received a 21-year jail term.
Kilpatrick and Ferguson established a “pay to play” system that made breaking the law standard operating procedure. Kilpatrick extorted city vendors, rigged bids, and took bribes. He used funds from non-profit civic organizations to line his pockets and those of his family. And he was unabashed about it.
“His crimes were not the result of a momentary lapse in judgment,” said a document prepared for the court by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. “He systematically exploited his office to enrich himself, his friends, and his family.” For example, Kilpatrick and Ferguson obtained more than $500,000 from the state of Michigan and private donors for non-profit organizations they controlled. The organizations were supposed to help the community. Instead, the mayor spent large sums on himself for luxury vacations, spa treatments, and golf clubs.
The FBI opened a case on Kilpatrick in 2004, two years after he moved into the mayor’s mansion. “Initially, we had sources and a few cooperating defendants from other cases who revealed a pay to play scheme and that the mayor was behind it,” Beeckman said.
As the investigation unfolded, FBI agents—along with investigators from the Internal Revenue Service and other agencies—used court-ordered wiretaps and undercover operators to gather evidence. “Over the years, we employed every investigative technique we could,” Beeckman said.
A significant break in the case came when investigators discovered that Kilpatrick’s cell phone provider had kept an archive of all his text messages. “The messages were explicit,” Beeckman said. “He talked about bid rigging, bribes, and other criminal activity. He had no idea there would be a record of those messages.”
Investigators also followed the money, which left no doubt about Kilpatrick’s corruption. Before he became mayor, Kilpatrick’s paycheck from the state of Michigan was electronically deposited into his bank account, and he made regular withdrawals to pay bills and to get cash. After his election, he stopped making withdrawals and instead made only large cash deposits.
Kilpatrick’s bank records revealed more than $840,000 in unexplained expenditures above and beyond his salary as mayor—and none of that money was disclosed on his tax returns. “There were times,” Beeckman said, “when the mayor would hand one of the officers on his protective detail an envelope with cash and tell him to take it to the bank and pay his credit card bill.”
The beleaguered mayor pled guilty to two felony counts in 2008 and resigned his office. Two years later, he was indicted for mail fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion; in March 2013 he was found guilty of the wide-ranging racketeering conspiracy charges.
Why was Kilpatrick so brazen about his crimes? “He thought he was above the law,” Beeckman believes. “He thought he could do whatever he wanted and get away with it.”
That turned out not to be the case, thanks to the dedicated work of the investigators and prosecutors who ultimately brought Kilpatrick and his co-conspirators to justice.
“Criminal activity was a way of life for him, and he constantly used the power of his office to look for new opportunities to make money illegally,” said Federal Bureau of Investigations Special Agent Robert Beeckman, who investigated the mayor and his corrupt regime for eight years.
Last month, a federal judge sentenced Kilpatrick to a 28-year prison term for his role in a wide-ranging racketeering conspiracy that included extortion, bribery, and fraud. Thirty-two others have also been convicted of crimes in connection with the case, including Kilpatrick’s contractor friend Bobby Ferguson, who received a 21-year jail term.
Kilpatrick and Ferguson established a “pay to play” system that made breaking the law standard operating procedure. Kilpatrick extorted city vendors, rigged bids, and took bribes. He used funds from non-profit civic organizations to line his pockets and those of his family. And he was unabashed about it.
“His crimes were not the result of a momentary lapse in judgment,” said a document prepared for the court by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. “He systematically exploited his office to enrich himself, his friends, and his family.” For example, Kilpatrick and Ferguson obtained more than $500,000 from the state of Michigan and private donors for non-profit organizations they controlled. The organizations were supposed to help the community. Instead, the mayor spent large sums on himself for luxury vacations, spa treatments, and golf clubs.
The FBI opened a case on Kilpatrick in 2004, two years after he moved into the mayor’s mansion. “Initially, we had sources and a few cooperating defendants from other cases who revealed a pay to play scheme and that the mayor was behind it,” Beeckman said.
As the investigation unfolded, FBI agents—along with investigators from the Internal Revenue Service and other agencies—used court-ordered wiretaps and undercover operators to gather evidence. “Over the years, we employed every investigative technique we could,” Beeckman said.
A significant break in the case came when investigators discovered that Kilpatrick’s cell phone provider had kept an archive of all his text messages. “The messages were explicit,” Beeckman said. “He talked about bid rigging, bribes, and other criminal activity. He had no idea there would be a record of those messages.”
Investigators also followed the money, which left no doubt about Kilpatrick’s corruption. Before he became mayor, Kilpatrick’s paycheck from the state of Michigan was electronically deposited into his bank account, and he made regular withdrawals to pay bills and to get cash. After his election, he stopped making withdrawals and instead made only large cash deposits.
Kilpatrick’s bank records revealed more than $840,000 in unexplained expenditures above and beyond his salary as mayor—and none of that money was disclosed on his tax returns. “There were times,” Beeckman said, “when the mayor would hand one of the officers on his protective detail an envelope with cash and tell him to take it to the bank and pay his credit card bill.”
The beleaguered mayor pled guilty to two felony counts in 2008 and resigned his office. Two years later, he was indicted for mail fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion; in March 2013 he was found guilty of the wide-ranging racketeering conspiracy charges.
Why was Kilpatrick so brazen about his crimes? “He thought he was above the law,” Beeckman believes. “He thought he could do whatever he wanted and get away with it.”
That turned out not to be the case, thanks to the dedicated work of the investigators and prosecutors who ultimately brought Kilpatrick and his co-conspirators to justice.
Friday, November 15, 2013
State Department Offers $1 Million Dollar Reward for the Dismantlement of the Transnational #OrganizedCrime #Xaysavang Network
Per Secretary of State John Kerry: "I am proud to announce the State Department’s first-ever reward for information leading to the dismantling of a transnational criminal organization, as part of our new Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program.
"The involvement of sophisticated transnational criminal organizations in wildlife trafficking perpetuates corruption, threatens the rule of law and border security in fragile regions, and destabilizes communities that depend on wildlife for biodiversity and eco-tourism. Profits from wildlife trafficking, estimated at $8–10 billion per year, fund other illicit activities such as narcotics, arms, and human trafficking.
"That is why the Department of State is offering a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to the dismantling of the Xaysavang Network.
"Based in Laos with affiliates in South Africa, Mozambique, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and China—the Xaysavang Network facilitates the killing of endangered elephants, rhinos, and other species for products such as ivory.
"Several major seizures of illegal wildlife products have been linked to the Xaysavang Network.
"You can visit the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program website for more information on the program and reward offers.
"I encourage anyone with information on the members or illegal activities of the Xaysavang Network to contact the rewards hotline in Laos at +856 21 219565 and/or by email at TOCRP-Xaysavang@state.gov. All communications are strictly confidential. Rewards and amounts will be considered on a case-by-case basis." ~ John Kerry
"The involvement of sophisticated transnational criminal organizations in wildlife trafficking perpetuates corruption, threatens the rule of law and border security in fragile regions, and destabilizes communities that depend on wildlife for biodiversity and eco-tourism. Profits from wildlife trafficking, estimated at $8–10 billion per year, fund other illicit activities such as narcotics, arms, and human trafficking.
"That is why the Department of State is offering a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to the dismantling of the Xaysavang Network.
"Based in Laos with affiliates in South Africa, Mozambique, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and China—the Xaysavang Network facilitates the killing of endangered elephants, rhinos, and other species for products such as ivory.
"Several major seizures of illegal wildlife products have been linked to the Xaysavang Network.
"You can visit the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program website for more information on the program and reward offers.
"I encourage anyone with information on the members or illegal activities of the Xaysavang Network to contact the rewards hotline in Laos at +856 21 219565 and/or by email at TOCRP-Xaysavang@state.gov. All communications are strictly confidential. Rewards and amounts will be considered on a case-by-case basis." ~ John Kerry
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Kevin Trudeau, Weight Loss Infomercial Pitchman, Convicted of Criminal Contempt
Author and television pitchman Kevin Trudeau was convicted today of criminal contempt for violating a 2004 federal court order that prohibits him from making deceptive television infomercials that misrepresent the contents of his weight loss cure book. A federal jury deliberated approximately an hour after a week-long trial in U.S. District Court.
Trudeau, 50, of Oak Brook, had his bond revoked, and he was ordered taken into custody by U.S. District Judge Ronald Guzman, who set a schedule for post-trial motions but no sentencing date.
Criminal contempt has no statutory maximum sentence. The Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The guilty verdict was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Tony Gómez, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Chicago; and Robert J. Holley, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to the evidence at trial, Trudeau appeared in three television infomercials between December 2006 and November 2007 in which he willfully misrepresented the contents of his book The Weight Loss Cure “They” Don’t Want You to Know About. In April 2010, U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman issued an order to show cause why Trudeau should not be held in criminal contempt of a September 2, 2004 settlement in which Trudeau agreed not to directly or indirectly produce and broadcast any deceptive infomercials that misrepresented the contents of any book, including the weight loss cure book. (Federal Trade Commission v. Trudeau, No. 03 C 3904.)
In closing arguments today, prosecutors listed a litany of blatant lies and misrepresentations made by Trudeau in his infomercials. These included his claims that his book was not a “diet,” when in fact it required at least three weeks of eating 500 calories or less a day, and that a hormone found only in pregnant women that was required to be injected daily could be obtained “anywhere,” when in fact it could be obtained in the United States only through a doctor’s prescription. He also claimed that after finishing the diet, consumers could eat anything they wanted without regaining weight, when in fact the diet required severe food deprivation that lasts for life.
The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys April Perry and Marc Krickbaum.
Trudeau, 50, of Oak Brook, had his bond revoked, and he was ordered taken into custody by U.S. District Judge Ronald Guzman, who set a schedule for post-trial motions but no sentencing date.
Criminal contempt has no statutory maximum sentence. The Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The guilty verdict was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Tony Gómez, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Chicago; and Robert J. Holley, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to the evidence at trial, Trudeau appeared in three television infomercials between December 2006 and November 2007 in which he willfully misrepresented the contents of his book The Weight Loss Cure “They” Don’t Want You to Know About. In April 2010, U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman issued an order to show cause why Trudeau should not be held in criminal contempt of a September 2, 2004 settlement in which Trudeau agreed not to directly or indirectly produce and broadcast any deceptive infomercials that misrepresented the contents of any book, including the weight loss cure book. (Federal Trade Commission v. Trudeau, No. 03 C 3904.)
In closing arguments today, prosecutors listed a litany of blatant lies and misrepresentations made by Trudeau in his infomercials. These included his claims that his book was not a “diet,” when in fact it required at least three weeks of eating 500 calories or less a day, and that a hormone found only in pregnant women that was required to be injected daily could be obtained “anywhere,” when in fact it could be obtained in the United States only through a doctor’s prescription. He also claimed that after finishing the diet, consumers could eat anything they wanted without regaining weight, when in fact the diet required severe food deprivation that lasts for life.
The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys April Perry and Marc Krickbaum.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Eleven Members of #TwoGunzUp Gang Charged in Federal Court with Narcotics Trafficking and Firearms Offenses
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; George Venizelos, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Charles Gardner, the Commissioner of the Yonkers Police Department; and George N. Longworth, the Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, announced the unsealing of an indictment charging 11 defendants with a series of crimes, including the distribution of narcotics and the use of firearms in Yonkers, New York.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated, “Our drive to remove armed drug gangs from Yonkers remains unrelenting, as evidenced by today’s arrests and charges. With motivated and cooperative law enforcement partners involved, we are a step closer to our goals.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge George Venizelos stated, “Combating the scourge of drugs in our cities remains a focus for this office. Like we’ve seen so many times before, these drugs also brought guns and violence. We will continue to work with any law enforcement agency to clean up our cities’ streets.”
Yonkers Police Commissioner Charles Gardner stated, “This operation is yet another example of our successful partnership with federal authorities in targeting a violent street gang on a local level. It should be a warning to any other groups in Yonkers who choose to engage in this activity. I want to thank U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, the FBI, and the Westchester County Department of Public Safety for their efforts in this investigation.”
Westchester Public Safety Commissioner George N. Longworth stated, “This is another example of the tremendous results that occur when federal and local law enforcement work together to maximize our resources to combat drug trafficking and the violence that goes along with it. We remain committed to working with all our law enforcement partners to keep the people of Westchester safe.”
A two-count indictment, United States v. Joaquin Thatcher, et al., charges 11 members and associates of a violent street gang hailing from Riverdale Avenue, known both as Two Gunz Up and simply Riverdale, with narcotics and firearms offenses. Specifically, the following 11 members of Two Gunz Up—Joaquin Thatcher, a/k/a “Wu"; Paul Foster, a/k/a “Pauly Pistols"; Charlie Jiminez, a/k/a “350,” a/k/a “Gucci"; Torrel Smith, a/k/a “Assassin"; Craig Major, a/k/a “Millz"; Reese Moore, a/k/a “Loc"; Anthony Oliver, a/k/a “Ant Pooh"; Daquon Powell, a/k/a “DP"; Dwayne Carr, a/k/a “Weezy"; Jimmie Hughes, a/k/a “Jim Jim"; and Alexander McCray, a/k/a “AWOL”—are charged with conspiring to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, crack cocaine and marijuana from about 2006 up to about October 2013. Eight of these defendants are also charged with using, carrying, possessing, and discharging firearms during the narcotics conspiracy.
The indictment is the result of a long-term investigation conducted by federal, state, and local law enforcement officers working with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and supported by the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force. As part of that investigation, in March 2009, this office obtained indictments charging three members of Two Gunz Up and the Elm Street Wolves, an allied Yonkers street gang—Gregory Fuller, Davon Young, and Thomas Chambliss—with the January 2008 murder of a narcotics dealer in northern Yonkers. Fuller, Young, and Chambliss were each convicted after trial of murder, conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, robbery, and firearms offenses and were sentenced to 100, 65, and 45 years of imprisonment, respectively.
In August 2011, 66 Yonkers gang members—47 members and associates of the Elm Street Wolves, 12 members and associates of the Cliff Street Gangsters, and seven other individuals—were charged with narcotics trafficking and firearm offenses. Five of the Elm Street Wolves defendants were also charged with the murder of Christopher Cokley, a/k/a “Bracks,” a leading member of the Strip Boyz, a rival Yonkers gang. Each of those defendants has since been convicted, many of them facing mandatory minimum sentences of between 10 and 18 years of imprisonment. Only one of those defendants, Steven Knowles, the leader of the Elm Street Wolves, proceeded to trial. After trial, Knowles was convicted of murder, racketeering, narcotics, and firearms offenses and now faces a mandatory term of life imprisonment.
Two Gunz Up, from Riverdale Avenue, has historically been aligned with other street gangs, including the Elm Street Wolves and the Cliff Street Gangsters, in a violent dispute with a number of rival gangs, including the Strip Boyz from the nearby Schlobohm Housing Project on Schroeder Street in Yonkers. In June 2012, 23 members and associates of the Strip Boyz were arrested and charged with narcotics trafficking and firearm offenses. Fifteen of these defendants have pled guilty, with all but one facing mandatory minimum sentences of between 5 and 12 years of imprisonment. The remaining cases are not yet resolved.
All 11 defendants charged in the indictment were arrested or have previously been taken into custody. They were presented in White Plains federal court. The case is assigned to United States District Judge Vincent L. Briccetti.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the Yonkers Police Department. He added that the investigation is continuing.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division and Violent Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Hartman and Andrew Bauer are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated, “Our drive to remove armed drug gangs from Yonkers remains unrelenting, as evidenced by today’s arrests and charges. With motivated and cooperative law enforcement partners involved, we are a step closer to our goals.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge George Venizelos stated, “Combating the scourge of drugs in our cities remains a focus for this office. Like we’ve seen so many times before, these drugs also brought guns and violence. We will continue to work with any law enforcement agency to clean up our cities’ streets.”
Yonkers Police Commissioner Charles Gardner stated, “This operation is yet another example of our successful partnership with federal authorities in targeting a violent street gang on a local level. It should be a warning to any other groups in Yonkers who choose to engage in this activity. I want to thank U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, the FBI, and the Westchester County Department of Public Safety for their efforts in this investigation.”
Westchester Public Safety Commissioner George N. Longworth stated, “This is another example of the tremendous results that occur when federal and local law enforcement work together to maximize our resources to combat drug trafficking and the violence that goes along with it. We remain committed to working with all our law enforcement partners to keep the people of Westchester safe.”
A two-count indictment, United States v. Joaquin Thatcher, et al., charges 11 members and associates of a violent street gang hailing from Riverdale Avenue, known both as Two Gunz Up and simply Riverdale, with narcotics and firearms offenses. Specifically, the following 11 members of Two Gunz Up—Joaquin Thatcher, a/k/a “Wu"; Paul Foster, a/k/a “Pauly Pistols"; Charlie Jiminez, a/k/a “350,” a/k/a “Gucci"; Torrel Smith, a/k/a “Assassin"; Craig Major, a/k/a “Millz"; Reese Moore, a/k/a “Loc"; Anthony Oliver, a/k/a “Ant Pooh"; Daquon Powell, a/k/a “DP"; Dwayne Carr, a/k/a “Weezy"; Jimmie Hughes, a/k/a “Jim Jim"; and Alexander McCray, a/k/a “AWOL”—are charged with conspiring to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, crack cocaine and marijuana from about 2006 up to about October 2013. Eight of these defendants are also charged with using, carrying, possessing, and discharging firearms during the narcotics conspiracy.
The indictment is the result of a long-term investigation conducted by federal, state, and local law enforcement officers working with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and supported by the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force. As part of that investigation, in March 2009, this office obtained indictments charging three members of Two Gunz Up and the Elm Street Wolves, an allied Yonkers street gang—Gregory Fuller, Davon Young, and Thomas Chambliss—with the January 2008 murder of a narcotics dealer in northern Yonkers. Fuller, Young, and Chambliss were each convicted after trial of murder, conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, robbery, and firearms offenses and were sentenced to 100, 65, and 45 years of imprisonment, respectively.
In August 2011, 66 Yonkers gang members—47 members and associates of the Elm Street Wolves, 12 members and associates of the Cliff Street Gangsters, and seven other individuals—were charged with narcotics trafficking and firearm offenses. Five of the Elm Street Wolves defendants were also charged with the murder of Christopher Cokley, a/k/a “Bracks,” a leading member of the Strip Boyz, a rival Yonkers gang. Each of those defendants has since been convicted, many of them facing mandatory minimum sentences of between 10 and 18 years of imprisonment. Only one of those defendants, Steven Knowles, the leader of the Elm Street Wolves, proceeded to trial. After trial, Knowles was convicted of murder, racketeering, narcotics, and firearms offenses and now faces a mandatory term of life imprisonment.
Two Gunz Up, from Riverdale Avenue, has historically been aligned with other street gangs, including the Elm Street Wolves and the Cliff Street Gangsters, in a violent dispute with a number of rival gangs, including the Strip Boyz from the nearby Schlobohm Housing Project on Schroeder Street in Yonkers. In June 2012, 23 members and associates of the Strip Boyz were arrested and charged with narcotics trafficking and firearm offenses. Fifteen of these defendants have pled guilty, with all but one facing mandatory minimum sentences of between 5 and 12 years of imprisonment. The remaining cases are not yet resolved.
All 11 defendants charged in the indictment were arrested or have previously been taken into custody. They were presented in White Plains federal court. The case is assigned to United States District Judge Vincent L. Briccetti.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the Yonkers Police Department. He added that the investigation is continuing.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division and Violent Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Hartman and Andrew Bauer are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The CIA Conspiracy to Murder John F. Kennedy is Explored on #CrimeBeatRadio
On November 14th, a command appearance by Peter Janney, author of Mary’s Mosaic: The CIA Conspiracy to Murder John F. Kennedy, 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.
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.
Robert J. Holley Named Special Agent in Charge of FBI's Chicago Division
Outgoing Director Robert S. Mueller, III named Robert J. Holley special agent in charge of the FBI’s Chicago Division. Mr. Holley most recently served as deputy assistant director of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, Operations Branch I. In this role, he oversaw personnel and resources assigned to counterterrorism investigations.
Mr. Holley began his career as a special agent with the FBI in 1995. He first reported to the Chicago Division, where he was promoted to supervisory special agent of an international terrorism squad.
In November 2005, Mr. Holley was promoted and assigned to FBI Headquarters as a unit chief in the Counterterrorism Division. He transferred back to the Chicago Division in 2008 to serve as the assistant special agent in charge of the National Security Branch.
In June 2010, Mr. Holley was appointed to serve as a section chief in the Counterterrorism Division, where he was responsible for all U.S.-based international terrorism investigations. He was then selected to be the special agent in charge of the Indianapolis Division in October 2011.
An Indiana native, Mr. Holley served nine years in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer.
Mr. Holley is a 1977 graduate of Peru High School in Peru, Indiana, and a 1981 graduate of Ball State University.
Mr. Holley began his career as a special agent with the FBI in 1995. He first reported to the Chicago Division, where he was promoted to supervisory special agent of an international terrorism squad.
In November 2005, Mr. Holley was promoted and assigned to FBI Headquarters as a unit chief in the Counterterrorism Division. He transferred back to the Chicago Division in 2008 to serve as the assistant special agent in charge of the National Security Branch.
In June 2010, Mr. Holley was appointed to serve as a section chief in the Counterterrorism Division, where he was responsible for all U.S.-based international terrorism investigations. He was then selected to be the special agent in charge of the Indianapolis Division in October 2011.
An Indiana native, Mr. Holley served nine years in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer.
Mr. Holley is a 1977 graduate of Peru High School in Peru, Indiana, and a 1981 graduate of Ball State University.
Federal Charges Brought Against 8 Alleged #BlackDisciples Gangsters, Accused of Dealing Narcotics in Chicago
A federal investigation targeting narcotics trafficking on the west and south sides of Chicago has resulted in charges against eight alleged members of the Black Disciples street gang. The charges are contained in eight separate criminal complaints filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago and unsealed following the arrests of six of the defendants. The charges were announced by Robert J. Shields, Jr., Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.
Each of the defendants faces one count of distribution of a controlled substance, either cocaine or heroin. One of the charged individuals was arrested in Peoria, and five others were arrested at various locations in and around Chicago by members of the FBI’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force. One defendant avoided capture and is considered a fugitive.
Those charged with distributing heroin are identified as John Smith, aka “Dope Boy,” 34, of 3050 Bella Court, Lisle, Illinois; Randy Porter, 37, of 1329 N. Stever Avenue, Peoria; Nigel Webb, aka “Niger,” 36, of 3101 West Monroe Street, Chicago; Sylvester Hudson, aka “Cool J,” 39, of 2001 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago; and Jethro Lacking, 37, of 7148 South Green Street, Chicago.
Those facing cocaine distribution charges are identified as Tavares Garrett, aka “Toot,” 34, of 545 North Monticello Avenue, Chicago; Gerard M. Liles, aka “Keppis,” 30, of 2930 West Harrison Street, Chicago; and Darnell McMiller, aka “Murder,” 28, of 1615 West 78th Street, Chicago.
The investigation that led to the charges began in 2010 and is part of the ongoing coordinated efforts by federal, state, and local agencies and departments to dismantle drug trafficking organizations operating in and around the Chicago metropolitan area. Agents and officers employed the use of sophisticated surveillance techniques and the controlled purchases of narcotics. According to the complaints, each defendant engaged in the sale of narcotics with individuals who were cooperating in the investigation. To date, the investigation has resulted in the recovery of one handgun and the seizure of approximately seven kilograms of powder cocaine, 1.3 kilograms of crack cocaine, 3.5 kilograms of heroin, one vehicle, and over $28,000.
Those taken into custody appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judges in Chicago and Peoria, and all were ordered held pending their next scheduled court appearances. The defendants face maximum penalties of 20, 30, or 40 years or life in prison. Depending on the charged offense, some may also face a mandatory minimum sentence of either five years or 10 years. The defendants also face maximum fines ranging from $1 million to $10 million.
Defendant Gerard M. Liles remains a fugitive and is the subject of a nationwide manhunt.
The Chicago FBI’s Safe Streets Gangs Joint Task Force is comprised of FBI special agents and officers from the Chicago Police Department.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Each of the defendants faces one count of distribution of a controlled substance, either cocaine or heroin. One of the charged individuals was arrested in Peoria, and five others were arrested at various locations in and around Chicago by members of the FBI’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force. One defendant avoided capture and is considered a fugitive.
Those charged with distributing heroin are identified as John Smith, aka “Dope Boy,” 34, of 3050 Bella Court, Lisle, Illinois; Randy Porter, 37, of 1329 N. Stever Avenue, Peoria; Nigel Webb, aka “Niger,” 36, of 3101 West Monroe Street, Chicago; Sylvester Hudson, aka “Cool J,” 39, of 2001 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago; and Jethro Lacking, 37, of 7148 South Green Street, Chicago.
Those facing cocaine distribution charges are identified as Tavares Garrett, aka “Toot,” 34, of 545 North Monticello Avenue, Chicago; Gerard M. Liles, aka “Keppis,” 30, of 2930 West Harrison Street, Chicago; and Darnell McMiller, aka “Murder,” 28, of 1615 West 78th Street, Chicago.
The investigation that led to the charges began in 2010 and is part of the ongoing coordinated efforts by federal, state, and local agencies and departments to dismantle drug trafficking organizations operating in and around the Chicago metropolitan area. Agents and officers employed the use of sophisticated surveillance techniques and the controlled purchases of narcotics. According to the complaints, each defendant engaged in the sale of narcotics with individuals who were cooperating in the investigation. To date, the investigation has resulted in the recovery of one handgun and the seizure of approximately seven kilograms of powder cocaine, 1.3 kilograms of crack cocaine, 3.5 kilograms of heroin, one vehicle, and over $28,000.
Those taken into custody appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judges in Chicago and Peoria, and all were ordered held pending their next scheduled court appearances. The defendants face maximum penalties of 20, 30, or 40 years or life in prison. Depending on the charged offense, some may also face a mandatory minimum sentence of either five years or 10 years. The defendants also face maximum fines ranging from $1 million to $10 million.
Defendant Gerard M. Liles remains a fugitive and is the subject of a nationwide manhunt.
The Chicago FBI’s Safe Streets Gangs Joint Task Force is comprised of FBI special agents and officers from the Chicago Police Department.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Statement from Wynn Resorts, @WynnLasVegas, Regarding Its Developments in Pennsylvania
The 
Wynn Resorts Board of Directors recently met to carefully examine the feasibility and opportunities associated with the company's domestic development in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . At this time, the Board has decided that the best course for the company is to pursue business opportunities elsewhere.
The board took a host of factors into consideration, including the Philadelphia market performance over the past year and the competition which will result from the recent approval of gaming in the State of New York . Consequently, the company will withdraw its licensing applications in Pennsylvania.
Wynn Resorts Board of Directors recently met to carefully examine the feasibility and opportunities associated with the company's domestic development in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . At this time, the Board has decided that the best course for the company is to pursue business opportunities elsewhere.
The board took a host of factors into consideration, including the Philadelphia market performance over the past year and the competition which will result from the recent approval of gaming in the State of New York . Consequently, the company will withdraw its licensing applications in Pennsylvania.
John "Junior" Gotti Stabbed
Former Mafia boss John "Junior" Gotti has been stabbed in a car park in Long Island after what he said was his attempt to break up a fight.
Gotti reportedly drove himself to a Long Island hospital with a bleeding gut on Sunday night. He had allegedly been assaulted outside a CVS store in Syosset.
Police are investigating the incident and his claim that a stranger stabbed him in the stomach after he got in the middle of a fight. The New York Post and other reports said he has declined to provide any more information to police.
Gotti, 49, was the reputed head of the Gambino crime family for much of the 1990s while his father, the late mobster John "Dapper Don" Gotti, was in prison. The elder Gotti - who had avoided conviction for a long time, earning the nickname of "Teflon Don" - died in prison in 2002.
His son said he left organised crime in 1999, when he pleaded guilty to racketeering charges that sent him to prison for six years. Since 2005, Gotti has been tried several times for racketeering. Each trial ended in a hung jury.
He says he now manages properties on Long Island.
His wounds are not life-threatening and he is said to be recovering at home.
Gotti reportedly drove himself to a Long Island hospital with a bleeding gut on Sunday night. He had allegedly been assaulted outside a CVS store in Syosset.
Police are investigating the incident and his claim that a stranger stabbed him in the stomach after he got in the middle of a fight. The New York Post and other reports said he has declined to provide any more information to police.
Gotti, 49, was the reputed head of the Gambino crime family for much of the 1990s while his father, the late mobster John "Dapper Don" Gotti, was in prison. The elder Gotti - who had avoided conviction for a long time, earning the nickname of "Teflon Don" - died in prison in 2002.
His son said he left organised crime in 1999, when he pleaded guilty to racketeering charges that sent him to prison for six years. Since 2005, Gotti has been tried several times for racketeering. Each trial ended in a hung jury.
He says he now manages properties on Long Island.
His wounds are not life-threatening and he is said to be recovering at home.
Friday, November 08, 2013
Michael Fassbender to Star in The Story of the #CutlerCrimeFamily in the upcoming movie #TrespassAgainstUs
The film is titled Trespass Against Us, and is the feature debut of director Adam Smith. The narrative will tell the story of three generations of the Cutler crime family. The protagonist, Chad Cutler (Michael Fassbender), seeks an escape from the criminal life his family has known for so long. Elements of action, crime and humor will be infused for what could prove to be an original take on the modern crime drama.
Alastair Siddons will pen the script, while British musical group The Chemical Brothers will compose and perform an original score for the film. Siddons, Gail Egan and Andrea Calderwood will produce for the successful London-based company Potboiler Productions.
Even with a recent string of successes, Fassbender is showing no signs of slowing down. While he has two films currently in theaters (The Counselor, 12 Years a Slave), he is also in the process of filming Slow West. After production wraps up Fassbender will be working on more of his highly anticipated projects including X-Men: Days of Future Past, the film adaptation of the popular videogame Assasin’s Creed (he will star as well as produce) and an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
Alastair Siddons will pen the script, while British musical group The Chemical Brothers will compose and perform an original score for the film. Siddons, Gail Egan and Andrea Calderwood will produce for the successful London-based company Potboiler Productions.
Even with a recent string of successes, Fassbender is showing no signs of slowing down. While he has two films currently in theaters (The Counselor, 12 Years a Slave), he is also in the process of filming Slow West. After production wraps up Fassbender will be working on more of his highly anticipated projects including X-Men: Days of Future Past, the film adaptation of the popular videogame Assasin’s Creed (he will star as well as produce) and an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
Thursday, November 07, 2013
The Man Who Killed Kennedy: The Case Against LBJ, Tonight on #CrimeBeatRadio
On November 7th, Roger Stone and Mike Colapietro, co-authors of "The Man Who Killed Kennedy: The Case Against LBJ" appear 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.
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.
Wednesday, November 06, 2013
Free Day Offered by @TheMobMuseum on November 15th
The Mob Museum has an offer you can’t refuse.
Friday, Nov. 15, the museum, officially known as The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, will offer free admission for Nevada residents and buy one, get one free admission for tourists to mark the 62nd anniversary of the Kefauver Committee hearings in Las Vegas.
The U.S. Senate Special Committee to Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce began a series of hearings in 1950 to focus a spotlight on organized crime in America. The hearings were held in 14 cities across the United States.
On Nov. 15, 1950, U.S. Senator Estes Kefauver (Democrat-Tennessee) led the hearing in Las Vegas, which took place at the federal courthouse and U.S. Post Office (now The Mob Museum).
The hearings were instrumental in focusing the nation’s attention on the prevalence of organized crime in America.
“While these hearings shed light on the prevalence of organized crime throughout the United States, their outcome arguably shaped the evolution of Las Vegas as much as any other single event,” said Jonathan Ullman, executive director, The Mob Museum. “The crackdown on illegal gambling that followed the hearings drove operators to Las Vegas and Nevada — known as the ‘open city’ — and the only city/state in the country where gambling was then legal.”
Additionally, the hearings were televised. Estimates are that 20 to 30 million people watched the hearings — double the audience of the 1950 World Series. The hearings weren’t censored and the American public heard frank and, at times, risqué comments. The hearings were considered history in the making and school systems even dismissed students early so they could watch them with their parents.
Exhibits at The Mob Museum detail not only the history of organized crime in the United States but also of law enforcement and the views of popular culture like comic books and movies.
“November 15 is an especially important date to us at The Mob Museum because our building houses the restored Federal courtroom where, on that date in 1950, the Las Vegas Kefauver Committee hearing took place,” Ullman said.
The Mob Museum, located in Downtown Las Vegas, will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15.
Friday, Nov. 15, the museum, officially known as The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, will offer free admission for Nevada residents and buy one, get one free admission for tourists to mark the 62nd anniversary of the Kefauver Committee hearings in Las Vegas.
The U.S. Senate Special Committee to Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce began a series of hearings in 1950 to focus a spotlight on organized crime in America. The hearings were held in 14 cities across the United States.
On Nov. 15, 1950, U.S. Senator Estes Kefauver (Democrat-Tennessee) led the hearing in Las Vegas, which took place at the federal courthouse and U.S. Post Office (now The Mob Museum).
The hearings were instrumental in focusing the nation’s attention on the prevalence of organized crime in America.
“While these hearings shed light on the prevalence of organized crime throughout the United States, their outcome arguably shaped the evolution of Las Vegas as much as any other single event,” said Jonathan Ullman, executive director, The Mob Museum. “The crackdown on illegal gambling that followed the hearings drove operators to Las Vegas and Nevada — known as the ‘open city’ — and the only city/state in the country where gambling was then legal.”
Additionally, the hearings were televised. Estimates are that 20 to 30 million people watched the hearings — double the audience of the 1950 World Series. The hearings weren’t censored and the American public heard frank and, at times, risqué comments. The hearings were considered history in the making and school systems even dismissed students early so they could watch them with their parents.
Exhibits at The Mob Museum detail not only the history of organized crime in the United States but also of law enforcement and the views of popular culture like comic books and movies.
“November 15 is an especially important date to us at The Mob Museum because our building houses the restored Federal courtroom where, on that date in 1950, the Las Vegas Kefauver Committee hearing took place,” Ullman said.
The Mob Museum, located in Downtown Las Vegas, will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15.
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