Vladimir Putin Named Organized Crime Man of the Year

Vladimir Putin has been named the 2014 Person of the Year by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), an award given annually to the person who does the most to enable and promote organized criminal activity.

Putin was recognized for his work in turning Russia into a major money-laundering center; for enabling organized crime in Crimea and in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine; for his unblemished record of failing to prosecute criminal activity; and for advancing a government policy of working with and using crime groups as a component of state policy.

“Putin has been a finalist every year so you might consider this a lifetime achievement award,” said Drew Sullivan, editor of OCCRP. “He has been a real innovator in working with organized crime. He has created a military-industrial-political-criminal complex that furthers Russia’s and Putin’s personal interests. I think Putin sees those interests as one and the same.”

Putin, a former KGB bureaucrat, began arresting most major organized crime figures in Russia several years ago, but then quietly released them. That was the start of Russia’s state policy of working with organized crime. OCCRP believes that Putin agreed to tolerate criminality in exchange for criminals’ support in advancing what he defined as Russian interests.

"Vladimir Putin and his siloviki fused a Cold War mentality with modern organized crime strategies and technology to create a new level of transnational organized crime,” said Paul Radu, executive director of OCCRP. “The Russian-backed money laundering platforms have exploited the lack of transparency in the global financial and offshore company registrations systems to create a new criminal financial infrastructure used by crime groups from as far away as Mexico and Vietnam".

Vladimir Putin has been named the 2014 Person of the Year by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), an award given annually to the person who does the most to enable and promote organized criminal activity.

For example, OCCRP looked at a sophisticated money-laundering system set up with the help of Russian and Moldovan organized crime that used Russian banks (including one connected to Vladimir Putin’s cousin Igor), fake bank loans, and corrupt Moldovan judges. The system moved the money of oligarchs, crooked government officials and organized crime into Europe through a Latvian bank. Money moved through the system was used to support Putin’s political interests.

In another project, OCCRP's partners aired a documentary which looked at the links between the state owned Russian Railways (which is close to Putin), a notorious banker known as the Black Banker who was shot in London, a slew of organized crime figures and hired assassins and a Russian/Moldovan businessman who also ran a pro-Russian political party in Moldova. The video was responsible in part for a decision by the Moldovan government to ban the Patria party on the eve of the elections because they received illegal financial assistance from Russia. Patria’s leader, fearing arrest, fled to Russia where Russian officials defended him publicly.

Organized crime figures have served as intermediaries for weapons transfers between the Russian army and Russian-backed separatist rebels in Ukraine. Working undercover, OCCRP reporters bought weapons from organized crime figures in Moldova; the weapons originated with the Russian 14th army in the breakaway region of Moldova known as Transnistria.

Putin’s government has forced the closure of media and civil society groups that have looked at its corrupt practices and ended the year in ironic fashion by finding its fiercest critic, blogger Alexey Navalny, guilty of corruption.

Putin was chosen as Person of the Year by more than 125 OCCRP-affiliated investigative reporters and 20 investigative reporting organizations in countries from Europe to Central Asia.

“For years Putin has created buffer states run by organized crime thugs, like Transnistria, Ossetia, Abkhazia and now Crimea and the Donbass,” Sullivan said. “While there is a long history of criminal groups working with governments around the world, both in the West and in the former Soviet Union, Putin has institutionalized these connections in ways never seen before.”

Runners up to Putin this year were Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic. Previous winners include theRomanian Parliament for its role in legalizing crime in 2013 and Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, in 2012 for his role in taking large cuts of state business.

Thanks to The People's Cube.

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How can a nation that spawned the Renaissance have produced the Mafia? - The Italians

How can a nation that spawned the Renaissance have produced the Mafia? How could people concerned with bella figura (keeping up appearances) have elected Silvio Berlusconi as their leader—not once, but three times? Sublime and maddening, fascinating yet baffling, Italy is a country of seemingly unsolvable riddles.

John Hooper’s entertaining and perceptive new book is the ideal companion for anyone seeking to understand contemporary Italy and the unique character of the Italians. Digging deep into their history, culture, and religion, Hooper offers keys to understanding everything from their bewildering politics to their love of life and beauty. Looking at the facts that lie behind the stereotypes, he sheds new light on many aspects of Italian life: football and Freemasonry, sex, symbolism, and the reason why Italian has twelve words for a coat hanger, yet none for a hangover.

Even readers who think they know Italy well will be surprised, challenged, and delighted by The Italians.

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Today is Arthur J. Bilek Day to Honor His Retirement from the Chicago Crime Commission, @ChiCrimeCommiss

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago City Council officially proclaimed today Arthur J. Bilek Day in Chicago.  The honor is in recognition of Bilek as he concludes a law enforcement career that spanned more than 60 years, culminating with his retirement from the Chicago Crime Commission.

"As Executive Vice President of the Chicago Crime Commission since 2010, Art Bilek has been one of the organization's greatest assets," according to J.R. Davis, Chairman and President of the Chicago Crime Commission. "Among his many accomplishments, Art Bilek spearheaded efforts to join forces with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in naming a new Public Enemy Number One.  The title, originally coined for Al Capone by the Chicago Crime Commission in 1930, was assigned to Joaquin Guzman Loera in 2013. Guzman, one of society's most vicious, ruthless and powerful drug kingpins, was captured in Mexico in 2014," he said.

Art Bilek is considered to be one of the most knowledgeable and experienced persons in the field of organized crime in Chicago.  "His initial exposure to organized crime was as a special investigator for the Cook County State's Attorney, working as one of the arresting officers in the Summerdale Police District's 'Burglars in Blue' scandal.  He also worked on the Chicago Outfit's infamous 'floating crap game' and led the successful raid and arrest of Mafia Don Rocco Fischetti," Davis continued.

Under the leadership of Sheriff Richard Ogilvie, Bilek was named police chief and reorganized and reformed the corrupt Cook County Sheriff's Police Department and drafted legislation for improving law enforcement and crime fighting in Illinois.

"Art Bilek also contributed to academia by developing and writing the curriculum for the first baccalaureate program in criminal justice in the United States and served as founder, chairman and professor of the University of Illinois, Chicago, Criminal Justice Department," Davis added.

Bilek also served as the first corporate director of security for the Hilton Hotel Corporation and later as the Vice President and Corporate Director of Security and Investigations for the First National Bank of Chicago.  He has been involved with the Chicago Crime Commission for 30 years and is a life member of the commission.

"While we wish our friend Art a well-deserved retirement, I told him to expect a periodic call from the Chicago Crime Commission looking for his invaluable advice," Davis concluded.

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Led by Ambush Attacks, 2014 Saw 126 Law Enforcement Officer Fatalities Nationwide

Law enforcement fatalities in the U.S. rose 24 percent in 2014, reversing what had been two years of dramatic declines in line of duty deaths, based on preliminary data compiled and released by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF).

According to the NLEOMF report, 126 federal, state, local, tribal and territorial officers were killed in the line of duty this year, compared to 102 in 2013. The number of officers killed by firearms in 2014 (50) was 56 percent higher than the number killed by gunfire in 2013 (32). Ambush-style attacks, as evidenced earlier this month by the shooting deaths of New York City Police Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos while sitting in their marked patrol car, were the number one cause of felonious officer deaths for the fifth year in a row.  Fifteen officers nationwide were killed in ambush assaults in 2014, matching 2012 for the highest total since 1995.

Forty-nine officers were killed in traffic-related incidents this past year, which was an 11 percent increase from 2013.  Twenty-seven officers died due to other causes in 2014, including 24 who suffered from job-related illnesses—such as heart attacks—while performing their duties.

In 2011, officer fatalities spiked to 171, which led to a number of new initiatives and policy changes aimed at promoting law enforcement safety.  The result was a sharp decline in line-of-duty deaths to 123 in 2012 and 102 last year—the lowest fatality figure since 1944.  Over the past decade the average annual number of officer deaths has been 151.  The deadliest year ever for law enforcement was 1930 when 300 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty. The deadliest single incident was the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, resulting in 72 officer deaths.  There are more than 20,000 names of officers killed in the line of duty inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, dating back to the first known death in 1791.

“We issue this report each year as a stark reminder that some 900,000 sworn law enforcement officers go out each and every day putting their lives on the line for our safety and protection,” explained NLEOMF Chairman and CEO Craig W. Floyd.  “These brave men and women are willing to lay down their lives for us.  The least we should do is honor and remember their service and sacrifice, support their families and do all that we can to make it safer for those who continue to serve.”

The statistics released by the NLEOMF are based on preliminary data compiled and do not represent a final or complete list of individual officers who will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in 2015.

For a complete copy of the preliminary report on 2014 law enforcement fatalities, go to: www.LawMemorial.org/FatalitiesReport.
Key Data as of December 29, 2014:

• Firearms-related incidents were the number one cause of officer deaths in 2014, with 50.  This was a 56 percent increase over the 32 officers shot and killed in 2013.
• Ambush attacks resulted in 15 officer deaths, the leading felonious cause of deaths among officers in 2014 and for the fifth straight year.  The other leading categories of felonious deaths in 2014 were traffic stops or pursuits (8), investigating suspicious persons or activities (7), disturbance calls (6), attempting arrests (4), investigative activities (3), accidental shootings (2), burglary in progress (2), investigating drug-related matters (1), robbery in progress (1), and tactical situations (1).
• Traffic-related incidents were the second-leading cause of officer fatalities in 2014, with 49. This was an 11 percent increase over the 44 traffic-related deaths in 2013. Of these 49 officers, 35 were killed in automobile crashes, nine officers were struck and killed outside their vehicle and five officers were killed in motorcycle crashes. 
• Of the 27 officers who died due to other causes this year, 24 were caused by job-related illnesses; one officer was strangled to death; one officer drowned; and one officer was killed in a fire-related incident.
• During the past year, more officers were killed in California (14) than any other state; followed by Texas (11); New York (9); Florida (6) and Georgia (5).
• Six officers killed in 2014 served with federal law enforcement agencies. Two of the officers who died during the past year served with correctional agencies, two were tribal officers and one was a military officer.  Three of the 126 fatalities were female. On average, the officers who died in 2014 were 41 years old and had served for 12 years.

“With the increasing number of ambush-style attacks against our officers, I am deeply concerned that a growing anti-government sentiment in America is influencing weak-minded individuals to launch violent assaults against the men and women working to enforce our laws and keep our nation safe,” declared NLEOMF Chairman and CEO Craig W. Floyd.  “Enough is enough.  We need to tone down the rhetoric and rally in support of law enforcement and against lawlessness.”

Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to telling the story of American law enforcement and making it safer for those who serve. The Memorial Fund is now working to create the National Law Enforcement Museum, which will tell the story of law enforcement through high-tech, interactive exhibitions, historical artifacts and extensive educational programming.

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Statement on Yearly Law Enforcement Officer Fatality Statistics

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund released preliminary fatality statistics for 2014.  The data in the report shows that 126 federal, state, local, tribal and territorial officers were killed in the line of duty this year.  The report further showed that in 2014, 50 officers were killed by firearms, 49 officers were killed in traffic-related incidents, and 27 officers died due to other causes including 24 who suffered from job-related illnesses—such as heart attacks—while performing their duties.

Attorney General Eric Holder made the following statement:

"These troubling statistics underscore the very real dangers that America's brave law enforcement officers face every time they put on their uniforms.  Each loss is both tragic and unacceptable -- a beloved father, mother, son, or daughter who never came home to their loved ones.
"That's why, over the last six years, my colleagues and I have taken action to support these courageous men and women.  As we speak, the Justice Department continues its efforts to empower local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement personnel to do their jobs as safely and effectively as possible.  In 2011, I created an Officer Safety Working Group in response to concerns about violence directed at law enforcement.   The department is currently funding thorough analysis of 2014 officer fatalities, including ambushes of law enforcement and other incidents, so we can mitigate risks in the future.  And through groundbreaking initiatives like VALOR, we are providing cutting-edge training to help prevent violence against law enforcement, to improve officer resilience, and to increase survivability during violent encounters.
"Through our Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program, we're helping to provide lifesaving equipment to those who serve on the front lines.  And through the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program, we're offering our strongest support to our brave officers and their loved ones in the toughest of times.
"Going forward, this unshakeable commitment to those who serve will continue to guide our efforts to improve 21st-century policing and build trust between law enforcement and the communities they protect.
"I have always been proud to support these selfless public servants.  All Americans owe our courageous law enforcement personnel a tremendous debt of gratitude for their patriotic service, for their often-unheralded sacrifices, and for the dangers they routinely face in the name of public safety."

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80 Year Prison Sentence For 2009 Gang Related Murder

A Chicago man has been sentenced to 80 years in prison for shooting a rival 13 times in a gang related attack.

Martell Hill, 31, was previously convicted by a jury for the 2009 murder of Jamar Taylor, 26. The unarmed victim was sitting in his car when Hill approached and opened fire.

According to prosecutors, during the afternoon hours of October 25, 2009, the victim was in his vehicle at 3938 W. Grenshaw St. on the city’s West Side when Hill approached the driver’s side and abruptly fired 13 shots into the car. Taylor was hit eight times in the head and four times in the chest, killing him instantly.  After assassinating the victim in broad daylight and in front of a crowd of people, Hill casually walked away from the scene.

Nearly one year after the murder, several witnesses came forward and identified Hill as the shooter; he was subsequently arrested and charged with the brazen attack.

Cook County Judge Angela Petrone sentenced Hill to the 80 year prison term during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building in Chicago.

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Bio for James Dinan - Director of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Program

James H. Dinan was named director of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Program and an associate deputy attorney general in the Justice Department in 2010. The job of the task force is to improve coordination of anti-drug efforts among Justice Department agencies.

Dinan  grew up in Arlington, Virginia, and attended Washington-Lee High School, where he played baseball. He also played one year at the University of Richmond, where he graduated with a B.A. Dinan received his J.D. from Drake University in 1986.

Dinan has worked as an assistant U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C., since July 1989, most recently as chief of the criminal division. He specialized in gangs, organized crime and drug trafficking. He helped prosecute the K Street Crew, a street gang involved in murders and drug dealing near the Capitol, as well as the Fern Street Crew and the L Street Crew, among others.

Dinan is married to Monica Dinan and has coached and helped administer youth baseball.

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